"How To"
Create and Train Your Color Guard Unit

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Side   Arms   and   Flintlocks

In our efforts to create as authenic looking Revolutionary War Color Guards as possible, we often elect to arm our "soldiers."  This article is intended to explain what is or is not appropriate.

Firstly, for the purpose of our Color Guards we will be discussing the men and equipment of the Continental Line - uniformed troops, not irregulars or militia.

The only members of your Color Guard that must be armed are the two guards and they should be carrying muskets, equipped with bayonets.  If your Color Guard h as an officer commanding, he should carry a sword.  The actual color bearers need not be armed.  This is not histoically correct, as during the Revolution (as in all wars) every member of a Color Guard was armed.  Their function was to carry, display and protect the colors.

Every soldier carried a "hunting knife"; however, these were carried under his coat and were not visible.  We have not found a single exception to this in the Continental Line.  Hence, the wearing of knives would be superfluous and should not be encouraged.  The same applies to the commonly carried tomahawk, even though there is evidence that some Regiments of the Line did have them as standard equipment.

American "Committee of Safety" smooth bore flintlock, with bayonette.   A veteran militiaman could load and fire three shots per minute.

American Pennsylvania "Kentucky" rifle, also loaded through the muzzle, the rifle was much longer and very cumbersome to load while in battle.  An expert could load and fire a shot in 1 1/4 minutes.  The advantage was the rifling provided greater distance and accuracy.  The "Kentucky" was well suited for sniping.

Flintlock pistols should never be carried.  they were a mounted (horseback) weapon.  Holsters for pistols were attached to the front portion of the saddle, hence became known as "Horse Pistols."  It is curious that no belt or shoulder flintlock pistol holsters have ever been found.  It appears that if carried while on foot, pistols were simply thrust into one's waist belt.