A fully illustrated study that describes the formation, uniform, equipment, doctrine end tactics of Britain's elite light infantrymen during the course of the American Revolutionary War.
Featuring full-color artwork, this is the engaging story of Britain's elite light infantrymen in battle during the American Revolutionary War.
During the Seven Years' War (1755-63), a number of independent light-infantry outfits served under British command and dedicated light companies were added to the British Army's regular infantry battalions. The light companies were disbanded after the war but the prominent role played by light infantry was not forgotten, and in 1771-72 light-infantry companies were reinstated in every regiment in the British Isles.
Although William Howe formed a training camp at Salisbury in 1774 specifically to practice light-infantry doctrine, the outbreak of the American Revolution in 1775 found the British Army wanting, and the light companies were no different. After evacuating Boston in March 1776, Howe began to remodel and drill his army at Halifax, standardizing lighter uniform and emphasizing more open-order tactics. He also brigaded his light companies together into composite battalions, which went on to fight in almost every major engagement during the American Revolution. They spearheaded British assaults, using night-time surprise and relying upon the bayonet in engagements such as Paoli and Old Tappan. They also matched their regular and irregular opponents in bush-fighting, and at times fought in far-flung detachments alongside Native American and Loyalist allies on the frontier. Featuring specially commissioned full-color artwork, this book offers a comprehensive guide to the formation, uniform, equipment, doctrines, and tactics of these elite light infantry companies and battalions, and considers how, over the course of the war they developed a fearsome reputation, and exemplified the psychological characteristics exhibited by crack military units across history.
This is an interesting overview of the development of British light infantry and provides a good entry into the subject. There are plenty of excellent illustrations and contemporary drawings along with photographs of re-enactors. I found the book informative and readable, providing a good insight into the foundations of the light infantry during this period.
