Sunday, June 27, 2010

1st Maryland Regiment

The 1st Maryland Regiment was one of the most distinguished American regiments serving during the American War of Independence. Originally organized as the Maryland Battalion, the regiment won acclaim in desperate actions against numerically superior British forces at the battles of Long Island (August 27, 1776) and White Plains (October 28, 1776). During the following winter, the regiment, though much reduced in size, was at the forefront of the fighting at the battles of Trenton (December 26, 1776) and Princeton (January 3, 1777). The following year, the redesignated 1st Maryland helped defend Pennsylvania and fought at Brandywine (September 11, 1777) and Germantown (October 4, 1777).

In 1780, the Maryland line was sent to the Carolinas, where they suffered horrendous losses at the battle of Camden (August 16). The remnants of the Maryland regiments were organized into two regiments. The reorganized 1st Maryland fought with great distinction at Cowpens (January 17, 1781), Guilford Courthouse (March 15, 1781), and Eutaw Springs (September 8, 1781). On each of these occasions the regiment launched a critical bayonet charge that broke well-trained British regulars. The regiment was also heavily engaged at Hobkirk's Hill (April 25, 1781) and the siege of Ninety-Six (May 22-June 19, 1781).

The Maryland Regiment of 1776 wore hunting shirts (in battle). Beginning in 1777, and continuing until the end of the war, the regiment wore blue coats with red facings. Below: An assortment of blue-coated Continentals by several manufacturers that can be used to represent the 1st Maryland or its sister regiments.


Uniforms of the Maryland Battalion of 1776. Left panel: Lefferts' representation of the battalion's field uniform (at left), and the dress uniform of the Baltimore Independent Cadets (one component of the battalion; at right). Right panel: 15mm Minifigs.


15mm Minifigs painted to represent the 1st Maryland Regiment as it appeared beginning in 1777.

15mm Marylanders by other manufacturers. From left to right: Musket Miniatures, Stone Mountain Miniatures, Essex Miniatures, Valent Miniatures.

For the 1st Maryland reenactors, see here.

For 28mm-high versions of the 1st Maryland by fellow bloggers, see here and here.

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6 comments:

  1. Montraville Mullins June 27, 2010 at 3:49 PM

    looking really good with these figures. I am going to start learning the trade soon so I can build a diorama of a parade.

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  2. ADJune 27, 2010 at 11:35 PM

    @General Staff:

    I enjoy painting minis, especially late in the evening when I'm listening to the radio and trying to unwind. When I first started painting 15mm-high miniatures it took me hours to finish a single one. It took me a long time to develop a steady hand and a good feel for the paint. If you're chiefly interested in having a specific finished project, you might consider having someone do the work for you. There are (or so I hear) very good and surprisingly inexpensive painting services out there. A good place to learn about them is at theminiaturespage.com , a web forum I frequent. But if you are looking for a creative outlet and you enjoy painting per se then even the trial-and-error part that goes with getting started can be worth it.

    ReplyDelete
  3. GilesJune 28, 2010 at 1:47 AM

    Great post, AD - excellent run down on the uniforms and battle history. And thanks for the plug!

    Best wishes

    Giles

    ReplyDelete
  4. Christopher(aka Axebreaker)June 28, 2010 at 7:31 AM

    Nice work and great background info.This will probably be my first continental regiment.

    Cheers
    Christopher

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  5. GeorgeOfTampaJune 28, 2010 at 9:54 AM

    Dear AD:

    I am TRANSFIXED by the fact you are such an ardent enthusiast of the American Revolution **AND** that you are so well-studied in the Battle of Cowpens.

    Ever since I visited that battle ground, I have felt that more could be done with the study of that particular day.

    I would like to explore a more dramatic "video representation" of that conflict and think you are the person with whom to discuss the pros and cons, and the challenges and the rewards.

    I used to be a member of the Sons of the American Revolution.

    I hope you will drop me a note to my Yahoo email address:

    dependableconsultant2 at yahoo

    so we could discuss what a mess I'm about to get into.

    Great writing!

    George

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  6. ADJune 28, 2010 at 11:03 PM

    @ Giles:

    Thanks. I hope you know, if it's not already obvious, that I'm a big, big fan of your work.

    @ Christopher:

    Sweet! I look forward to seeing the regiment, when it's ready.

    @ George:

    I just sent an email to your yahoo account.

    ReplyDelete