While preparing for our American Revolution Becoming History Presentation, my son requested a new cockade, representing the years before the French Alliance.
Since my son planned to interpret the time period prior to the French-American Alliance for a portion of our history presentation, he needed a black cockade.
RESEARCH
After looking at many pictures of the CW Fife and Drum Corps and some of the actors, I had the necessary angles to recreate one for him.
PROCESS
Using silk ribbon, I handsewed the bow after fiddling and looking at pictures of historical interpreters at Colonial Williamsburg.
Now that my son understands how to use the lacing in his hat, he carefully switched out cockades.
COCKADE COLOR HISTORY
With the vast array of regimentals for each country’s army, cockades helped identify allegiance to country.
Popularly, black represented Britain while white represented France.
Thus, the American colonies took on the black cockade when they were ruled by Britain.
Once the colonies separated from Britain and declared themselves independent states, General Washington laid out new orders for cockade colors:
As the Continental Army has unfortunately no uniforms, and consequently many inconveniences must arise from not being able to distinguish the commissioned officers from the privates, it is desired that some badge of distinction be immediately provided; for instance that the field officers may have red or pink colored cockades in their hats, the captains yellow or buff, and the subalterns green. -General Washington
Apparently, that did not last long, because the Continental Army resumed wearing their black cockades.
After the French-American Alliance began in 1778, the Americans added the French white on top of their black cockade, which they placed on their hats.
Noticing that action, the French added the American black on top of their white cockades, which they also wore on their hats.
