Officer and Fusilier 1792

Edward Dayes made excellent engravings of many of the regiments in the 1790s, including officers as well as other ranks. These two images of an officer, on the left and a fusilier on the right are good examples. The officer faces us directly and holds a fusil. The arming of officers with fusils was for a very brief period between c1785 and 1792. Previously they had carried an 'espontoon' which was a pike, but an order of 31st July 1770 stated that officers may carry fusils instead. But an inspection return of 10th Jun 1784 said that the officers had not yet been provided with fusils. Normally an officer would have only one shoulder belt, over his right shoulder, to carry his sword, but since he has a fusil he would need the second belt, over his left shoulder to carry his ammunition case. Where they crossed there was a gilt belt plate which has the crowned garter and rose, on a star. He also has a gilt gorget just above this beltplate, and gold epaulettes on each shoulder. His black fur cap has a black and gilt plate at the front, a white plume on the left side, and a gold cord plaited and ending in tassels on the right side. On the back was a circle of red cloth with a white Hanoverian horse embroidered. The coat is red with a dark blue collar, cuffs and long lapels, all decorated with gilt buttons and lace loops. The front is fastened at the top with hooks and eyes but is cut away to show the white waistcoat and crimson waist sash. The Fusilier on the right of the picture is loading his fusil with a ramrod and is in marching order, with his folded cloak strapped to his back. He has two belts over his shoulders for the bayonet on his left hip (no sword), and ammunition pouch on his right hip. His coat has tails at the back which hang quite low. The buttons are pewter and the lace white with a blue stripe. The shoulders have blue straps and fringed wings which lie quite flat against his sleeve. All the men of the regiment would have these, not the tufts as worn by 'hat-men' on other regiments. There is no match-case on his shoulder belt to indicate that he is a grenadier. The men of the grenadier company would have worn them though. His cap is similar to that of the officer except that the cord is white and the front plate is black and white metal.