FredG wrote:I must admit that I'd associate the blue bonnet more with the Jacobites even if it does have a metal skullcap under it. The Reivers were (where I lived at least) refered to ( when not saying Reivers) as the Steel Bonnets or Mosstroopers. Not too sure about the tartan either as it was more a Highland district weave until the late 18th century (when not banned) and then the Victorians really expanded its use.
Reivers were highly skilled light cavalry on their hobbles and often served as mercenaries so I'm not sure why you'd think they'd "be pretty crap in a battle" as they'd likely have more fighting experience than the opposition.
Apart from that, more close-ups please
Hi, Fred, I'm glad to clear up all the issues you raise.
Blue bonnets. The blue bonnet was a type of soft woollen hat that for several hundred years was the customary working wear of Scottish labourers and farmers. Although a particularly broad and flat form was associated with the Scottish Lowlands, where it was sometimes called the "scone cap", the bonnet was also worn in parts of northern England and became widely adopted in the Highlands. It is a very acceptable for Reivers as "steel bonnets" were expensive & usually only worn by the Heid Mon & the quality.
Tartan. Checks or plaids have been associated with Celtic peoples since prehistoric times. Your response has a tiny grain of truth in that the Victorians artificially imposed organisation on the tartan system but it is utterly wrong to suppose that Borderers would have no tartan cloth. Rather than clan designations, districts long had preferred patterns & colours. Border tartan, sometimes known as Northumbrian tartan, Shepherds' Plaid or Border Drab, or Border check is a design used in woven fabrics long historically associated with the Anglo-Scottish Border, Adding such a bit of plaid to some of the figures is totally accurate & historical.
The ability of the Border Horse. You seem to have fallen into the fallacy that all it takes to make a soldier is ability. The 'Border Horse' at this time had within their numbers some of the fiercest Border Reivers on the Scottish side of the Border: By dint of constant conflict by the eternal forays of the English Borderers these light cavalry were probably the very best in Europe, in terms of ambush & raiding. Stand-up battles was not what they did. Additionally, their loyalty to the nation of Scotland was always sketchy. They joined, in some numbers, the Covenanters in hope of loot more than for do-or-die patriotism. I can recommend several books on the topic if you'd like to fill in the gaps of your knowledge. Alternately, look at the history of the period & see how successful the Covenanting Horse, including the Borderers were. Hint: they weren't.
I hope this was of help to clear up your misapprehensions on the topic.
donald
