Photo Credit: Alacia Wright
Reenactors bring history to life for the modern world, and some of them do it with horses. The 4th Continental Light Dragoons carefully replicate one of four mounted units that existed during the American Revolutionary War.
In the 18th century, dragoons were mounted soldiers, which would later be called cavalry. The reenactors have done extensive research to make sure their uniforms, equipment and clothing are as close as possible to historical standards. Some changes have been made to certain aspects of the turnout for practical purposes and educated guesses have been made where information does not exist. The goal is to recreate the history of the 4th Light Dragoons and enjoy yourselves while doing it.
Historically, Stephan Moylan was commissioned Colonel of the Fourth Regiment of Continental Light Dragoons on Jan. 5, 1777, at Philadelphia by his Excellency George Washington. The regiment was known for taking the field in captured British scarlet coats, until Washington directed them to dye their uniforms to avoid confusion with British dragoons.
During the war there were 250 riders in the unit, but you rarely saw all of them together because they were doing a variety of jobs. The dragoons had various responsibilities, including skirmishing with the enemy, scouting, foraging and escorting continental goods. The 4th Light Dragoons played a large part in the Petite Guerre (small foraging war) during the Grand Forage of 1778.
They were the fourth of the four continental dragoon units, recruited from the colonies of Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey and Delaware. The unit fought in the battles of Norwalk, Brandywine, Germantown, and Guilford Court House and held the position of honor on General Washington’s right flank during the Siege of Yorktown. From January 1781 to December 1782, they were sent to Savannah, Georgia and then to Charleston, South Carolina to face the Crown forces and an Indian uprising. In 1783 they returned to Philadelphia, were furloughed in June and disbanded in November of that year.
Information on saddles of the period is very sparce. One example is very similar to modern Australian saddles, so riders often use one of these as a starting point.
“There are only maybe two or three saddles that were definitely known to exist [at that time] and they would be like a hunt saddle. There have been very few changes in English saddles from then to now,” unit leader Jim French said. He noted that one known example is the saddle of Prussian general Johann de Kalb who fought as a continental general, and it has leg bolsters. “We use an Australian saddle without a horn, the type that has the leg bolsters on the front. Once we put on our pistol buckets with the bearskin covers and our portmanteaus or bedrolls you cannot tell the difference.”
Each saddle has period-style stirrup irons made by one of the unit members. French makes most of the halters and bridles that are used, modeling them from well documented examples. The unit even has members who sew their uniforms, and French makes the leather and horsehair helmets.
In the Revolutionary War the standard for the Dragoons was a medium brown horse, with possibly a palomino or grey for the leader or a trumpeter. In reality, recruits might bring their personal riding horse of a different color. Additionally, if a mount was lamed or killed in combat the horseless rider might take the horse of a fallen enemy no matter its color.
“We use any horse that can stand gunfire and crowds and flags,” French said.
Horses in the reenactor unit are a variety of breeds and colors including Quarter Horses, a Morgan/Belgian cross, paints, and grades in colors of bay, chestnut, roan, and spotted. The most important factor is how well they respond to the training. A new horse will first be introduced to the other horses and ridden with the group to see how well he or she gets along with them and where they will fit best in the ranks.
“When we first start riding together, we go for a nice slow ride and you see who wants to be in the front and be in the back and we place them in that order,” French said.
The next challenge is determining how the horse will react to the sound of gunfire.
“Cannons do not normally bother the horses that much, it’s the loud piercing noises. By the time we fire the first round I’m going to know if that horse is going to work for us,” French said noting that for practice they use modern pistols firing blanks which have a higher pitched, more irritating sound than the black powder weapons. Firing begins at a distance of 100 or 200 yards from the horses.
“If the horse shows he or she is going to be OK with this, we move closer and closer and by the end of the training we’re riding around shooting blanks off them,” French said. “There are some, not many, that as soon as you crack a round off you know this horse is never going to be comfortable. It depends on the temperament and mentality of the horse.”
Today’s Continental 4th Light Dragoons take part in a wide range of reenactments across the mid-Atlantic region. Coming up on their calendar of planned events are: Battle of Monmouth, Manalapan Twp., NJ, June 17-19; Ft. Louden Market Fair, Fort Loudoun, PA, June 23-25; Kempton Gun Fair, Kempton, PA, July 28-30; Gosche Hoppen Folk Festival, Perkiomenville, PA, Aug. 11-12; Escorting George Washi9ngton at Princeton, NJ, Aug. 27; School of the Dragoon at Ft. Loudoun, Ft. Loudoun, PA, Sept 29-Oct. 1; and Mt. Harmon Plantation, Earleville, MD, Oct, 13-15.
Most training sessions are held at Fort Louden, in Franklin County, PA, which is the site of a colonial fort built in 1756 during the French and Indian War. “We are all very authentic. We do the things that they did back then, and we try to do as much as we can in the places where they did it,” French said.
To remain true to the history of the Dragoons, the unit generally does not recreate a campground. They sleep on the ground generally among the trees. If they have any tentage at all it will be a piece of canvas.
Currently the unit has nine dragoons and seven horses. Everyone knows in advance what their duties for that day will be, whether it is setting up the picket line, feeding horses, or cleanup. Because they are normally in the trees (when there are trees) visitors may not know they are there until they see them charge the red coats. After battle reenactments they will be one of the last units to visit with spectators where the horses are a big attraction.
“Everybody loves the horses,” French said.
Additional information on the 4th Light Continental Dragoons can be found on Facebook under the name of the unit’s first colonel in the Revolutionary War, Stephan Moylan.
The 4th Light Continental Dragoons welcomes members who may not currently have a horse, equipment or proper clothing. Women are welcome as well as men. “The idea is you have to look the part, that’s all we ask,” French said.
The unit may provide loaner equipment and clothing for new or potential members as well as a list of necessary items and directions on how to get started. Options are also available for the lease or purchase of a horse.
Those interested in becoming a dragoon may contact Jim French at (443) 695-6464 or email 4thlightdragoons@gmail.com