Continental Line/1st American Regiment Company Officer Advancing with Spontoon, 1777-87

This officer carries a spontoon – a weapon originating with earlier pole arms when they were the only weapon a foot soldier carried.  By the late 18th century polearms such as the sergeant’s halberd and the officer’s spontoons were only a symbol of rank and were quickly falling out of favor for service in North America. The tradition continued, however, in both the British and early American Army well into the first quarter of the 19th century, although normally confined to full dress in North America. The spontoon easily identified officers in the mass of infantry drawn up in formation, and they could also be used to signal or to dress the lines in movement.