In the last issue of Smoke & Fire, John Curry wrote a fine article attempting to justify the common use of walnut dyed hunting shirts. John’s skill and interest in the history of the 18th Century Woodsmen is well noted and admired. Though, the article is well written and researched, I have found contrary data that shows a different outlook to the colors that were actually worn.

The term "hunting shirt" is not noted to any documented sources until the middle of the 1770’s. I have not found that term used before 1774. However Washington describes his Virginians wearing shirts while on campaign during the French & Indian War. Too bad that he doesn’t mention the colors.

Now to actual colors found... Since John used a description of a Revolutionary War Regiment so will I. Lt. Charles Lefferts collected numerous newspaper listings of deserters from Washington’s little army. Lt. Leffert’s efforts are a big help to us and I have gone through them to tally up which colors were used by civilian militias in the 1775 - 1777 campaigns. I went through to make sure that these were men from rural communities and were wearing clothing from home rather than issued dress. I was extremely careful to make sure that a true picture was presented to you. here is what I found:

White - 25

Black - 18

Purple - 9

Yellow - 8

Natural - 7 {or lye}

Brown - 5

Blue - 4

Green - 2

Red - 1

Orange - 1

Olive - 1

Brown came in 6th place with green in 8th place. Not a good showing in that race. Notice what came in first.......WHITE!

There is further data to back that up. A Hessian Officer that was serving with the Crown Forces during the Revolutionary War describes the dead Riflemen of Washington’s Army on Long Island in 1776: "they wear black, white, or purple linen blouses with fringe on their sleeves and collars in Spanish fashion", pg. 39, Sept.. 2, 1776 - Adjutant General Major Carl Baurmeister of the Hessian Forces.

Another observer wrote: "Their hunting or rifle shirts, they have also died[sic] in a variety of colors, some yellow, other red and many wear them quite white". - J.F. Smyth, Tour in the United States of America, 1784.

Notice the term "variety of colors". Yellow and White again being mentioned. that is a far cry from what I have been seeing at several events and treks of late.

We have original artwork to back up the use of white as a primary color with Rifle troops. In 1781 Jean-Baptiste-Antoine de Verger a French Officer with Rochambeau’s Army illustrated a Rifleman wearing a White Hunting shirt. Look to seeing a copy of this in Joe D. Huddleston’s book "Colonial Riflemen in the American Revolution", pg. 63.

Then we have John Trumbull’s painting of Dan Morgan, Commander of a Rifle regiment wearing a white pull over shirt with fringe around the collar, cuffs and bottom hem. John Trunbull was Deputy Adjutant General of the Northern department under Major General Horatio Gates and knew and served with Dan Morgan during the Saratoga campaign of 1777. His eye witness painting of the white frock again demonstrates the prominent use of white.

So my question is since Morgan’s Riflemen were the modern equivalent of snipers, then why were white shirts being worn? Is our interpretation of 18th century camouflage way off base? Here then we have another group of master woodsmen wearing white also. If we look at Intelligence Reports of white men observing Native American war parties, these reports also mention the use of white trade shirts being worn. Fact after fact show the white shirt in the majority not the minority.

Of course there is more data to show and prove that the use of brown was in fact only occasionally used. This will be covered in an up and coming article in On The Trail Magazine. Ideas are fine, but we must be careful to research what was actually worn rather than what we wish was worn.

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