Colours of the 7th Regiment of Foot
Each regiment in the British Army at the time of the American Revolution carried two flags. The official order state:
Colours.
The King's, or first Colour of every Regiment, is to be the great Union throughout.
The second Colour to be the colour of the facing of the Regiment, with the Union in the upper canton; except those Regiments which are faced red, white, or black.....
In the centre of each Colour is to be painted, or embroidered, in gold Roman characters, the number of the rank of the Regiment within the wreath of roses and thistles on the same stalk; except those Regiments which are allowed to wear any royal devices, or ancient badges; on whose Colours the rank of the Regiment is to be painted, or embroidered, towards the upper corner. The size of the Colours to be six feet six inches flying, and six feet deep on the pike. The length of the pike (spear and ferril included) to be nine feet ten inches. The cords and tassels of the whole to be crimson and gold mixed(1).
The ancient badge of the 7th, which appeared in the center of the regiment's colours, was a, "...rose within the garter, and the crown over it..." with "the white horse in the corners..." of the second colour (2).
When the 7th arrived in Canada in 1773, they brought with them a set of regimental colours. When the Rebel forces invaded Canada in 1775, the regiment's colours were in storage at Fort Chambly on the Richelieu River. The Rebels laid siege to that post with over 400 men and 2 row galleys armed with heavy cannon. For Chambly, built in 1711, was never intended to be defensible against armies armed with cannons. The 83 men defending the post capitulated very quickly. With the surrender of the fort, the colours of the 7th Regiment were captured by the Rebels. The King's Colour was presented to Congress, and survives in the West Point Museum. It is not known what happened to the second colour.
Colours.
The King's, or first Colour of every Regiment, is to be the great Union throughout.
The second Colour to be the colour of the facing of the Regiment, with the Union in the upper canton; except those Regiments which are faced red, white, or black.....
In the centre of each Colour is to be painted, or embroidered, in gold Roman characters, the number of the rank of the Regiment within the wreath of roses and thistles on the same stalk; except those Regiments which are allowed to wear any royal devices, or ancient badges; on whose Colours the rank of the Regiment is to be painted, or embroidered, towards the upper corner. The size of the Colours to be six feet six inches flying, and six feet deep on the pike. The length of the pike (spear and ferril included) to be nine feet ten inches. The cords and tassels of the whole to be crimson and gold mixed(1).
The ancient badge of the 7th, which appeared in the center of the regiment's colours, was a, "...rose within the garter, and the crown over it..." with "the white horse in the corners..." of the second colour (2).
When the 7th arrived in Canada in 1773, they brought with them a set of regimental colours. When the Rebel forces invaded Canada in 1775, the regiment's colours were in storage at Fort Chambly on the Richelieu River. The Rebels laid siege to that post with over 400 men and 2 row galleys armed with heavy cannon. For Chambly, built in 1711, was never intended to be defensible against armies armed with cannons. The 83 men defending the post capitulated very quickly. With the surrender of the fort, the colours of the 7th Regiment were captured by the Rebels. The King's Colour was presented to Congress, and survives in the West Point Museum. It is not known what happened to the second colour.
King's Color, captured at Ft. Chambly on the 17th of October, 1775.
(Photo courtesy of the West Point Museum Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/WestPointMuseum/photos/a.10155719866855790.1073741864.126297960789/10155719866975790/?)
(Photo courtesy of the West Point Museum Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/WestPointMuseum/photos/a.10155719866855790.1073741864.126297960789/10155719866975790/?)
When it was decided that the Royal Fusiliers would be rebuilt rather than drafted in 1777, Lord Robert Bertie ordered a new set of regimental colours. If the colours were not in the colonies by the time of the assaults on forts Montgomery and Clinton, they were most likely in the hands of the regiment by the time it was sent to Philadelphia in late November of 1777.
Early in January of 1781, the fit men of the Royal Fusiliers were sent from Wynnsboro, SC to Ninety Six, along with their colours in the baggage wagons. Before they had gotten far, the detachment was handed over to the command of Lt. Colonel Banaster Tarleton. When his force was captured at Cowpens on January 17th, the colours of the 7th Regiment fell into the hands of the Rebels a second time. Neither flag survives today.
Early in January of 1781, the fit men of the Royal Fusiliers were sent from Wynnsboro, SC to Ninety Six, along with their colours in the baggage wagons. Before they had gotten far, the detachment was handed over to the command of Lt. Colonel Banaster Tarleton. When his force was captured at Cowpens on January 17th, the colours of the 7th Regiment fell into the hands of the Rebels a second time. Neither flag survives today.
Orders for the Regiment's Flags
The following are transcriptions of the the purchase orders for both sets of regimental colours captured by the Rebels during the American Revolution:
"The Commander of the 7th Regt. of Foot to Robt. Horne. (3)
1771 Jan 20.
To five ydds [yards] of Crimson in Grain Silk at 9-6 2 7 6
To 12 ydds Garter Blue and White Silk at 8-6 5 8 –
To 2 Pr [pair] Rich Crimson and Gold Tasells 2 12 6
2 Coulor Staves and Spears and Gilding ______ 1 1 –
To 2 Ticken Colour Cases and Lined with Bayes and Painted 1 5 –
To Embroidering on the two Colours the Rose within the Garter
and Crowns and White Horse at the Croners 10 10 –
To Making the 2 Sheets 1 8 6
To Lineing the Hole - 2 –
To 2 Cemi Circle Fife Cases and Engraved with Badge of Regt. &c. 2 12 6
£27/7/0
Recieved of Mr Ross Esqr. the Contents in full
Robt. Horne."
"The Commander of the 7th Regt Foot to Robt Horne (4)
1777
June 20th To 5 ydd Crimson in Grain Silk at – 9.6. 2 7 6
To 12 ydd Blue and White ----- 9 -- 5 8 -
To two Pairs of Crimson and Gold Tassels - 2 12 6
To two Colours Staves Gilt Spears &c - 1 1 -
To two Colours Cases Copper Caps and Painted - 1 5 -
Lining the Staf ----- - 2 -
To Embroidering on the two Sheets
The Rose within the Garters and Crown with
White Horses &c. --------------- 10 10 –
To Making the Union and Regt Sheets 1 8 6
To a Long Deal Packing Case - 5 -
£24 19 6
Recd Jany 26 1778 of Mssrs Ross and Gray the above Twenty four Pounds Nineteen Shillings and Six pense.
Robt Horne"
"The Commander of the 7th Regt. of Foot to Robt. Horne. (3)
1771 Jan 20.
To five ydds [yards] of Crimson in Grain Silk at 9-6 2 7 6
To 12 ydds Garter Blue and White Silk at 8-6 5 8 –
To 2 Pr [pair] Rich Crimson and Gold Tasells 2 12 6
2 Coulor Staves and Spears and Gilding ______ 1 1 –
To 2 Ticken Colour Cases and Lined with Bayes and Painted 1 5 –
To Embroidering on the two Colours the Rose within the Garter
and Crowns and White Horse at the Croners 10 10 –
To Making the 2 Sheets 1 8 6
To Lineing the Hole - 2 –
To 2 Cemi Circle Fife Cases and Engraved with Badge of Regt. &c. 2 12 6
£27/7/0
Recieved of Mr Ross Esqr. the Contents in full
Robt. Horne."
"The Commander of the 7th Regt Foot to Robt Horne (4)
1777
June 20th To 5 ydd Crimson in Grain Silk at – 9.6. 2 7 6
To 12 ydd Blue and White ----- 9 -- 5 8 -
To two Pairs of Crimson and Gold Tassels - 2 12 6
To two Colours Staves Gilt Spears &c - 1 1 -
To two Colours Cases Copper Caps and Painted - 1 5 -
Lining the Staf ----- - 2 -
To Embroidering on the two Sheets
The Rose within the Garters and Crown with
White Horses &c. --------------- 10 10 –
To Making the Union and Regt Sheets 1 8 6
To a Long Deal Packing Case - 5 -
£24 19 6
Recd Jany 26 1778 of Mssrs Ross and Gray the above Twenty four Pounds Nineteen Shillings and Six pense.
Robt Horne"
References:
1. "His Majesty's Warrant for the regulation of the Colours, Clothing, etc. of the Marching Regiments of Foot." Miscellany Book. 19th December, 1768. National Archives, Kew. W.O. 30/13B.
2. Idib.
3. The Downshire Collection, Papers of Lord Robert Bertie, Berkshire Records House. D/ED 038 bdl 2.
4. The Downshire Collection, Papers of Lord Robert Bertie, Berkshire Records House. D/ED 037 bdl 1.
1. "His Majesty's Warrant for the regulation of the Colours, Clothing, etc. of the Marching Regiments of Foot." Miscellany Book. 19th December, 1768. National Archives, Kew. W.O. 30/13B.
2. Idib.
3. The Downshire Collection, Papers of Lord Robert Bertie, Berkshire Records House. D/ED 038 bdl 2.
4. The Downshire Collection, Papers of Lord Robert Bertie, Berkshire Records House. D/ED 037 bdl 1.