A couple of quick Sedgemoor questions.

[Notts Gamer]

Hi,

Would the Royalist foot have had pikes and if so, what would have been the ratio of pikes to musketeers?

What colour would the Royalist guns have been?

Thanks

[Hobbit]

No idea about the guns, but off the top of my head I think that they still used the 2:1 musket to pike ratio. I will check my sources elsewhere and confirm.

[Vern]

Yes, 2:1 is pretty much on the money apart from Dumbarton's, which would is closer to 1:1 (depending on what scale your using).

I've seen references to the gun trails being painted in 'redde lead' (which was common practice at the time?).

[Notts Gamer]

Thanks for the answers.

I am collecting 18-20 figure units using Front Rank figures.

Just out of interest, Vern, Why did Dumbartons have more pikes?

Thanks

Simon

[Vern]

I've revised my 'opinion' somewhat (now I've looked it up, rather than half-remembered ), and I think 2:1 would be fine, but they would be the smallest royal Regt on the field.

Going from the guesstimate by Chris Scott in his (excellent) 'The Armies and Uniforms of the Monmouth Rebellion'. His approximations for Dumbarton's (or more properly, The Royal Regiment of Foot) for Sedgemoor are;

5 coys  = 86 Shot, 68 Pike & 50 Grenadiers.

I don't remember where I read it (maybe the same book), but with a bit of research you could probably justify having bagpiper or two

[Notts Gamer]

many thanks

[carlos marighela]

The ratio for the period was 2:1.

I would suggest getting hold of a copy of either Chandler's or Tincey's works on the subject as well as a copy of John Childs' The Army of Charles II.

[Notts Gamer]

The ratio for the period was 2:1.

I would suggest getting hold of a copy of either Chandler's or Tincey's works on the subject as well as a copy of John Childs' The Army of Charles II.

Hi Carlos,

I assumed the ratio was 2:1, from my research into the NMA but by the time of the Boyne, it all seems to go to pot and ratios appear to be changing.

As for the books you recommend, I would love to but with the current economic climate (both worldwide and household) I find myself in the situation of either books or figures.

I may apply to Brussels for a 'bail-out' or ask my wife for a little fiscal (or quantitative) easing 

Although maybe I should wait until next Saturday, just in case the Mayans knew something I don't.......

[Hobbit]

Hi, I thought I'd got some hard data on this but can't seem to find it - it was only ever on the very periphery of my interests. I seem to recall though from when the SK did the Sedgemore campaign a few years ago that they went with the 2:1 ratio but that doesn't necessarily mean a great deal.

[carlos marighela]

The ratio's did start to change in the very late 1680s and 90s but contemprary returns for armourers, purchase orders etc all show a 2:1 ratio of shot to pike. By Sedgemoor, The Guards and possibly everyone except for Dunbarton's had moved to flintlocks. We can't be sure this is the case but we do know that Dunbarton's still had matchlocks as there are references of the battle that mention them being sighted by their glowing matches. No doubt it was the proverbial thriftiness of the Scots at work here.

Frankly, the trickiest thing to model about Sedgemoor is getting the right mix of pike, shot and improvised weapons amongs the rebels.