Revolutionary War French-Made "Lottery Coat" as Worn by Patriot Forces - Blue & Red
With the outbreak of hostilities during the American Revolutionary War, it soon became apparent that there were going to be major challenges in clothing Patriot forces. For help, the fledgling American Congress turned to their allies, the French. Through the Secret Committee of the Continental Congress, the Congress' commissioners in France were tasked with obtaining 40,000 ready-made soldiers uniforms. By May of 1778, the first ship carrying 12,000 complete uniforms and many other articles arrived in Boston.
The coats that were supplied by the French under the commissions' contracts were made "one half of royal blue cloth and the other half of brown cloth fully lined, with facings and lapels of red." The coats were supplied in three sizes only which corresponded to the standard French uniform sizes of the period. Each coat was lined with woolen serge and fitted with plain white metal buttons. The skirts of the coat were short and the sleeves constructed in the French style, having a slash cuff. The lapels were left long, however, an American preference that would later become part of American uniform regulations.
When the coats reached his army, General George Washington was concerned that the two colors used for the coats would create disagreement within the ranks - with some claiming either slight or preference based on which color uniform their unit received. To prevent such disputes, Washington ordered the color to be chosen by lottery. It is for this reason that the coats are often referred to by historians as "Lottery Coats."
Veteran Arms is pleased to be the exclusive distributor of a new line of premium historical reproductions produced by the historians at Former Times. The coat offered here is patterned after original clothing of the period and incorporates all of the latest research related to the so-called Lottery Coats.
This coat is offered in all regular sizes from 38 through 50. The cut of this jacket is somewhat slim and it is recommended that unless the wearer is of military fitness or prefers a very fitted look that he should select one size larger than is his usual size. In other words, if one usually wears a size 42 jacket, most wearers will find the size 44 coat to be the proper choice. Sizing is standard men's jacket sizing measured around the largest part of the chest under the arms.
Do Not Know Your Size? Let us help.
1) To find your size, measure around the chest under the arms with a tape. This measurement is your size. If you measured 42 inches, your jacket size is 42.
2) BUT...This coat is of slim construction. If you are no longer a trim, fighting-age 20-something, we recommend ordering one size larger than your measured size. In this case, because one measured 42 inches (size 42), we recommend ordering a size 44.
Of course, if the garment does not fit upon receipt, it may be exchanged for another size.
