"How To"
Create and Train Your Color Guard Unit

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Historical    Correctness

The objectives of the S.A.R. are declared to be Historical, Patriotic and Educational.   Therefore, it is absolutely essential that a Revolutionary War uniformed Color Guard fielded by the S.A.R. be historically correct.  To do otherwise would compromise the image of the Society. Pictures and tradition has taught the American people that the majority of our vast Revolutionary War troops were poorly clad and frequently in rags.   This is quite correct, in fact the issuance of clothing (let alone uniforms) was, next to food, a major concern of the officers and the continental soldiers alike.  The seriousness of the problem resulted in several mutinies, many of which were resolved by the promise of clothes and improvement in the food supply.  However, to field a Color Guard in tattered rags or in colonial civilian clothes, however historically correct, would be counter to the ultimate objectives of the SAR.

An examination of preserved Revolutionary War uniforms in any of our Museums quickly discloses the poor quality of the fabrics used in manufacturing clothing and uniforms during the eighteenth century.  All anyone has to do is make a comparison between uniforms and the topography of our eastern woodlands, one can easily imagine the survivability of any uniform made from the fabrics then available to the colonial army.  The British North American Expeditionary Force usually depicted as being in immaculate uniforms did indeed suffer for the want of replacement uniforms to replace those reduced to rags by the rigors of field service.  American privateers, with each capture of a British ship, diminished the appearance of some British Regiments and by the end of the war the entire Expeditionary army.

When reviewing any of the reliable descriptions of Continental Line or the militia uniforms, one can safely assume when first issued, the American uniforms were as sharp looking as any uniform of the day.  Therefore, based on that premise, a clean, sharp appearing uniform can be used and still be historically correct, how ever briefly that the appearance could be maintained, the Regiments of the Continental Line were as dapper as the King's Own, at least for the first few weeks of wear.   Therefore, based on this premise, a colorful, neat, sharp appearing uniform is historically correct.