British Private, of Foot, Service Dress

During the war the rank and file of the British line infantry regiments serving in North America wore similar brick red, wool coatee (or short-tailed coat). Individual units were distinguished by the colour of their collors and cuffs and the shape of the lace adorning the button holes. The red coats were long service professionals, well trained, and well led, and constituted a tough opponnet for the less experienced American army.