The black & white uniform illustrations that accompany the text (see Uniform Guide) relating to the regular infantry are drawings by Lawson, taken from the paintings of David Morier. Not all regiments are represented. Lawson also provided the following descriptive table that serves to illustrate the uniform colors.

Independent Companies

Independent companies were formed for service throughout the British colonies. These were of the regular establishment and their officers bore the King's commission, however their pay, training, and combat effectiveness were not on a par with those of the established regiments. [29]

They were deployed where needed on the company level. Troops of this type served throughout the colonies from the backwoods of Pennsylvania to the siege of Havana as well as in other operations in the Caribbean.

At the commencement of hostilities, there were only an estimated 550 soldiers in the independent companies ranged from New York to South Carolina. [30] Four of these were in New York, three in South Carolina, and one in Rhode Island. [31] In South Carolina, the three Independent companies had been formed from the remnants of Oglethorpe's Regiment of Foot, disbanded after the conclusion of the War of the Austrian Succession. An ad hoc company of draftees from the three South Carolina Independent Companies under Captain MacKay served alongside Washington's men during the Fort Necessity Campaign. Three companies of Independents served in the Braddock campaign, two from New York under Captains Rutherford (82) and Horatio Gates (84), of Saratoga fame later in life, and one of 96 men from South Carolina under Captain Demerie. [32] Three New York Independent companies comprising 218 men served at the siege and surrender of Fort William Henry. [33] The 155 men of Captain Ogilvie's Independent Company from New York served in the assault on Fort Frontenac in 1758. [34]

Later in the war, the men from the South Carolina units were transferred into the newly formed 50th Regiment (see below), while their officers returned to South Carolina to recruit new companies. A New York Independent company under Captain Cruikshanks is known to have garrisoned Fort Number 4 in 1759. [35] One of these new companies surrendered to the Cherokee at Fort Loudoun in 1760. Four companies served in the Havana expedition. Two companies of "recovered men" from the Havana expedition were used in the recapture of St. John's, Newfoundland. One company under Captain Maxwell comprised 103 men and the other under Captain McDonnel had 88. [36]

The coats were red and the facing color was described as "Popinger green." Those independent companies serving in the West Indies also wore green facings but with coats lined with brown linen. [37]