Inniskillings etc at the Boyne

[Alan]

Hello everyone.

What a lovely bank holiday. Sun is shining... day off. Rotherham still promoted...(that lad stevie evans, he eats what he wants) not forgotten wedding anniversary today... Anyway, onto the main point. And its a long shot...

Has anybody done the Williamite 2nd line infantry at the Boyne, the Inniskillings etc? I am doing them in Grey, after a bit of research, reviewing the LOA forum and making a decision that would result in me putting some paint on something. What I would like to know is how they were made up. Has anybody used a mix of scythemen and pikes or just gone with pikes? Were the scythes all replaced by the Boyne? I hope I can throw some in, as that would look proper mint, but I don't want to be totally wrong with it all. What does everyone think?

lots of love,

Alan

[julesav]

I would've thought they had quite a high proportion of pikes - most 'second line' (in quality not position) troops tended to lack firepower not aged ECW pikes from armouries! On the other hand they put up an awesome performance in the early  'Derry campaign so maybe they were well tooled up with muskets?

I'd probably opt for muskets pikes and scythes so I could also use them as Sedgemoor rebels (with a change of flags)!

Cheers

Jules

[Sunray]

Its not my primary period, but did my history degree dissertation on 1690s, and a  long family connection with the 27th foot.  Zachariah TiffinsInniskillen Regiment of Foot  were raised on 20th June 1689, and many of the men would have been blooded at the battle of Newtownbutler.  The Enniskillen Castle museum depicts the uniform as Light Grey with a white trim. (the grey was retained in the 27th's hackle unitl amalgmation into the RIR.)  The ratio of pikes to muskets would be about 1:5.  C Alan Sapherson  did a decent research paper (published in 1987 by Raider Games) where he quotes Tiffin's muster as 11 companies, 37 officers, 22 Sgts, 11 drummers and 396 privates. Musket would have been probally matchlock - but might well have been the snaphance - both with plug bayonet (only the Huguenots complained about lack of bayonets at the Boyne. 

They won the nick name of the WhiteShirts as they often stripped to the shirt for "work" ie battle.

Unlike the majority of Irish raised regiments, the Skins were not disbanded and where added to the Regular British Army line in by Royal Warrent on 10 June 1694

Trust this is useful

Sunray out

[Alan]

Guys thats absolutely prima info. I got another big pile of LOA lead from the show today, (got everything in one bag and fooled the terror weapon into thinking it was "just bits and pieces") so this info is great. I've got a pack of the scythemen today and they are lush, so I am throwing them in the mix. I think the 5:1 musket to pike works well and I'm going with a couple of shades of grey. Unlike the terror. She went with 50. ha! See what I did there?

I've read, although I cannot remember where, that they would have had a FEW red coats following Newtownbutler, so there might be one or 2 of them in red as well. I've got moving today and have them all based, textured and undercoated. This is the most I've done in a while! 

[Sunray]

Spot on - and appreciate "shades of grey" its a wargame not a museum diorama - and its your wargame.  The Williamite campaign was a religious crusade for Ulster Protestants - remains so 300 years after the event, so play your scythmen. 

Don't forget the 27th's mounted cousins - the wild Inniskillen horse - William was impressed by their elan. "You are my Guards today" - also clad in shades of Grey.  The field at Oldbridge is one of the best preserved in these islands.   

Sunray out

[Alan]

I am going to try to get to Oldbridge for sure. I have a bucket full of relatives in the north so when I go next (August) I will take the time to visit. I'm definitely getting there on the research. The numbers is an issue. I've gone with 6 bases of 8 figures, (I had in my mind something like 10:1 ratio) which would give 480 men with a pike to musket ration of 1:4. This lands somehwere between Sapherson and the OOB in the Osprey Boyne book.

By pure luck and lots of unhappy basing styles before hand, I think I might have landed on something here.

Of course it means the blue gards will have something like 24 bases... What am I doing? I mean seriously, what am I doing?

[Sunray]

Had a look at my 1980s notes.  It is  suggested by Carman  The Infantry Regiments , 56 (Webb& Bow 1985) that as early as 1689, Tiffin's were in "red coats with blue breeches" . This is possible as the lull between the lifting of the Derry siege and Schomberg's campaign would have allowed new red coat uniforms to have come in from England/Scotland.  Happy gaming

Sunray out

[clibinarium]

I can't recall the source but I seem to remember reading that they were reluctant to give up the red coats taken at Newtown for the grey ones issued before the Boyne? (But they did).

[Sunray]

Very interesting and quite possible.

The unique aspect of the Williamite war is that both sides claimed to be fighting for the rightful king of Britain and hence entitled to wear British Redcoats ! 
I witnessed a most impressive reenactment at Sligo in 1995 and it was a little confusing to see redcoats fighting redcoats admid the fog of black powder.  ( Indeed, it is claimed that William was nearly killed at the Boyne by his own troops)

There must have been quite a  few "friendly fire" incidents in 1690 - now would you call that "red on red" ?

Sunray

[Alan]

And not only red jackets, but having similar flags must have been such a lark!

"What side are you on"?
"errrm... yours"?

So, what have I learned? The Londonderry and Inniskilling regiments wore grey with white facings. Or cream facings. Or no facings. And some civilian clothes. That they might have replaced with uniforms. With red jackets. That might have white facings. Or blue. Or red. That they might have given back before the Boyne. Or not.

They were armed with muskets, definitely and pikes. A lot of pikes, but possibly not so much. And scythes, that they probably replaced at some point.

Right, I had better get my paintbrush out! Seriously though, thanks for all this. I really like this period for this kind of thing. 2 kings, 2 british armies, full of different nationalities, fighting in Ireland. Great stuff! 

[Sunray]

So, what have I learned? The Londonderry and Inniskilling regiments wore grey with white facings. Or cream facings. Or no facings. And some civilian clothes. That they might have replaced with uniforms. With red jackets. That might have white facings. Or blue. Or red. That they might have given back before the Boyne. Or not.

They were armed with muskets, definitely and pikes. A lot of pikes, but possibly not so much. And scythes, that they probably replaced at some point.

Quite, welcome to the reality of 1690s civil war. In the distance you knew the formation facing you was the enemy, but at close quarters you were looking for the token - the piece of paper or green branch that had been agreed prior to the battle.  

Its a wargame so suit yourself.    I have dabbled in the Franco Prussian and got a lot of enjoyment by basing my figures in little mini dioramas.  Real eye candy inspired my some of the masters who frequent this forum and turn their Pendraken figures into works of art.

Have fun and do post a few images of  those "Green grassy slopes of the Boyne...where William and his men they did join"

Sunray  out