86th Foot

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Origin and History

The regiment was raised on August 24, 1758 by Colonel Worge as a second battalion for the 76th Foot to serve in Africa. The battalion was soon separated from its parent regiment to become a new regiment numbered 86th.

During the Seven Years' War, the regiment was under the command of:

• from August 1758 to 1763: Colonel Worge

The regiment was disbanded in 1763.

Service during the War

The regiment did not take part in any campaign during the Seven Years' War. However, it was sent in Africa to reinforce the 76th Foot occupying Sénégal.

Uniform

Very few information is available about the uniform of this regiment: its distinctive colour was deep orange and its regimental braid white with a black stripe. The uniform illustrated below is based on these sole details, other details have been reconstructed based on the hypothesis that the uniform followed the instructions of the Royal Clothing Warrant of 1751.

Privates

Uniform in 1760 - Source: Richard Couture based on a template by Frédéric Aubert

Uniform Details

Headgear	Musketeer black tricorne laced white and a black cockade (left side) Grenadier British mitre with: a deep orange front edged white embroidered with white scroll work and with a white King's cypher surmounted by a crown (yellow with red cushions, white pearls and ermine headband); a small red front flap edged white with the white horse of Hanover surmounted by the motto "Nec aspera terrent"; red back; a deep orange headband edged white probably wearing the number 86 in the middle part behind; a white pompom with deep orange inner threads
Neck stock	white
Coat	brick red lined deep orange and laced white (white with a central black stripe) with 3 pewter buttons and 3 white buttonholes (same lace as above) under the lapel Collar none Shoulder Straps brick red (left shoulder only) Lapels deep orange laced white (same lace as above) with 7 pewter buttons and 6 white buttonholes (same lace as above) Pockets horizontal pockets laced white (same lace as above) Cuffs deep orange slashed cuffs laced white (same lace as above) with 4 pewter buttons and 4 white buttonholes (same lace as above) on the sleeve above each the cuff Turn-backs deep orange
Waistcoat	brick red laced white (same lace as above)
Breeches	brick red
Gaiters	white with black buttons black during campaigns
Leather Equipment	Cross-belt white Waist-belt white Cartridge Box black Bayonet Scabbard black Scabbard black Foot gear black shoes

Troopers were armed with a “Brown Bess” muskets, a bayonet and a sword.

Officers

Officers of the regiment probably wore the same uniforms as the private soldiers but with the following differences

• silver gorget around the neck
• a silver aiguilette on the right shoulder
• silver lace instead of normal lace
• a crimson sash

Officers wore the same headgear as the private soldiers under their command; however, officers of the grenadier company wore a more decorated mitre cap.

Officers generally carried a spontoon, however, in battle some carried muskets instead.

Musicians

If this new regiment abided by the Royal Clothing Warrant of 1751:

The drummers of the regiment were clothed in deep orange, lined, faced, and lapelled on the breast with red, and laced in such manner as the colonel shall think fit for distinction sake, the lace, however, was of the colours of that on the soldiers' coats.

The front or fore part of the drums was painted deep orange, with the king's cypher and crown, and the number “LXXXVI” under it. The rims were red.

Colours

Once more, if this new regiment abided by the Royal Clothing Warrant of 1751, its colours would have looked like those illustrated hereafter.

King's Colour: Union with its centre decorated with a rose and thistle wreath around the regiment number "LXXXVI" in gold Roman numerals.

Regimental Colour: deep orange field; centre device consisting of a rose and thistle wreath around the regiment number "LXXXVI" in gold Roman numerals. The Union in the upper left corner.

King's Colour - Copyright: Kronoskaf

Regimental Colour - Copyright: Kronoskaf

References

Fortescue, J. W.: A History of the British Army Vol. II, MacMillan, London, 1899

Mills, T. F., Land Forces of Britain the Empire and Commonwealth through the Way Back Machine

Schirmer, Friedrich: Die Heere der kriegführenden Staaten 1756 - 1763. Edited and published by KLIO-Landesgruppe Baden-Württemberg e.V., Magstadt, 1989

Wikipedia - 76th Regiment of Foot

United Services Magazine 1863, Issue 3

Acknowledgements

Digby Smith for information provided on this junior regiment.