The 1st NH Regiment

The following information contains all currently known sources regarding the uniform along with attached ancillary information regarding the unit:

February 17, 1777

The Continental Congress begins ordering readymade uniforms from France, through the Secret Committee. A contract dated Aug 6, 1777 is issued for 5,000 uniform coats in blue or brown, both faced with red and lined in white.

Source: Zlatich, Marko; General Washington’s Army 1: 1775 -1783; Osprey; London; 1994

May 27, 1777

A deserter description from Capt Amos Morrill’s Co. wearing “Brown clothes”, appears in the (Exeter) NH Journal.

Source: Lefferts, Lt Charles M.; Uniforms of the American, British, French and German Armies in the War of the American Revolution; W.E., Inc; Old Greenwich, CT; Pg 117

July 19, 1777

A description of 2 deserters from Capt. Isaac Farwell’s Co. wearing different uniforms appears in the Independent Chronicle. The descriptions include:

• A Suit of white clothing bound with black ferret and buttons.
• A sailor’s jacket and long trousers.

Source: IBID

July 19, 1777

A description of a deserter from Capt. Nathaniel Hutchin’s Co. wearing a blanket coat and blanket overalls appeared in Freeman’s Journal (Portsmouth, NH). A second deserter’s clothes were not described.

Source: IBID

Sept 6, 1777

From an order of Congress: “It might be impracticable to obtain a sufficient quantity of clothing for regimental coats for the troops, and for that reason 2 hunting shirts were to be substituted…(but) the clothier general has been (able) to furnish most of the troops with regimental coats instead of hunting shirts…”

Source: Kidder

January 21, 1778

New Hampshire Board of War established to clothe and equip Continental regiments from NH.

Source: Zlatich (Vol 1) Pg 37

March 1778

Board of War sent to Exeter green serge to be made into coats, waistcoats and breeches.

Source: IBID

March 16, 1778

“Exeter, March 16th 1778 – Sr by the Bearer have sent to you the Following Articles for Clothing which is wanted immediately to be made up:

• 12 Ps Green Serge for Coats & Breeches – 2 3/4 allow’d for Coats & 1 1/4 for breeches
• 37 1/2 yds fine plain for facing Coat &  3/8 yd to each Coat
• 6 Ps Druggett for Coat Lining  1 1/2 yd each
• 2 Ps Coating for Waistcoats 3/4 yd each
• 9 Ps Linen & 44 yd fine tent cloth for Breeches Lining 1 1/2 yd each
• 12 1/2 lbs thread  2 oz to a suit
• 111 1/2 yd Duck for Coat Lining & Staying for Waistcoats 1 3/4 yd each
• 200 Hooks & Eyes for Coat 2 Pr. Each
• ~ 290 doz Buttons for Coat 2 3/4 doz each
• 175 doz Ditto for Breeches & Waistcoat
• 10 Buttons each & 2 Larger for Breeches

The above are Computed to make about 100 suits of Regimentals, about the same Quantity is left at Exeter for 100 suits more, the price we give at Exeter is 4 Dollars a suit but perhaps you may have them done for less – there is 300 suits of the same making in Boston at 3 Dollars per suit – they must be well made as they will be examined by some person appointed for that purpose – I am in great haste”Capt. Ephraim Robinson to Board of War

Source: New Hampshire State Papers, XVII, 219, 220