I've purchased several packages of Old Glory War of 1812 figures and am satisfied overall yet the American Militia figures are particularly intriguing. I wasn't sure if I was getting uniformed militia or troops in civilian dress. What I got was quite useful. First, there are almost no duplicate figures out of the 30. Old Glory mixes heads with torsos to create unique figures and that's what I received. In fact, the only duplicate figure is the officer brandishing sword and uniformed in typical militia fashion. He wears a chapeau bras and his tailed coat features prominent lapels. Many states, at least early in the war, ordered red lapels, collars, cuffs, and red or white turnbacks. Later, some states prescribed the regular uniform, without the red facings, and some militia officers purchased the regular uniform rather than their prescribed militia coat. There are two drummers, differing only in headgear, and two flag bearers, again, identical except for hats. For some reason, the flag bearers do not carry haversacks or canteens. The troops, all different, are all in civilian clothing with military accoutrements. Hats vary from the low crested "slouch" hat to the tall, cylindrical "round" hat. A couple even have the sides pinned up, a common way in which civilian hats were militarized. In my pack, three figures had no hat. The troops are all advancing with bayoneted muskets held high. These militiamen are carrying cartridge boxes, haversacks, and wooden or tin canteens. What I found most interesting was the variety of coats. Some sport long tails while others wear overcoats which come down to the tops of the knees. I have my doubts that militia would turn out in coats with tails. It seems to me that tails are a little more formal and certainly less useful in the field than an overcoat or hunting frock. A few have hunting knives tucked into their belts. This is a wonderfully useful pack as the figures can be used as Upper Canada militiamen as well, at least the ones with round wooden canteens. The figures could also be used as volunteers but this type of troop would be put into uniform soon after mustering if uniforms were available. It struck me that these figures are best representative of militia in the eastern states called out for an emergency or for less than six months. Militia from the western states (Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee etc.) would most likely turn out in hunting shirts. The animation is lively, the sculpting detailed, and the casting clean. All in all, these figures are up to Old Glory's usual high standards. Back to Table of Contents -- War of 1812 #2 Back to War of 1812 List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 2001 by Rich Barbuto. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com