The Light Corps: Re-enacting the British Light Infantry of the American War of Independence.

By Alan Kael Ball

40th Regiment Light Infantry soldiers storm across a narrow path covered by the regulars

Introduction

Re-enacting the British light infantry of the American Revolutionary War is an exciting and dynamic activity. This page is about what the light infantry is, how it differs from other military impressions of the conflict and what you'll need to get if you decide to join us.

Men of the 40th light company 1777 firing from the trees

We're looking for anyone interested in portraying a British or allied light infantryman during the American War of Independence.⊕ Catch up with all the latest news from our recreated light infantry in the UK over on our Light Infantry Corps Facebook Page and Instagram Profile. For experienced reenactors, there's a wide variety of units to choose from, all of them (along with the grenadiers) considered to be the elite soldiers of the time: from the composite light battalions of the British army, to the Marines, Rangers and German Jaegers.

For members newer to the hobby,⊕ We have a wonderful online community, loads of guides on where to get kit and how to make it yourself. Contact us to join! our focus is the light company of the 40^th Regiment, 2^nd Battalion Light Infantry, as they appeared during the Philadelphia campaign of 1777-1778.

This particular impression (besides covering a crucial campaign of the war and being loads of fun) is probably the most cost effective entry into revolutionary war reenactment. The Light Infantry simplified their kit during the spring of 1777, doing away with the large coat, separate breaches and gaiters, and heavy cap to wear a simple hat, a waistcoat adapted to include sleeves and trousers made from heavy linen canvas. Apart from looking smart and distinctive, it's much more practical for “bush fighting” and much easier to make!

A light infantryman of the 40th regiment 1777, firing from his belly

The Light Infantry Discipline

All regiments in the British army were ordered by the King on December 25, 1770 to establish a Light Infantry Company to augment the 8 regular companies and single grenadier company that made up the battalion. In total, “20 private men were added to each Company, and a Company of Light Infantry of the same Numbers to each Battalion…amounting to 737, Including Officers & Contingent Men.” WO 25/3997. National Archive.

As grenadiers were differentiated from their centre-company counterparts by a bearskin cap, matchcase and 'wings' on thier shoulders, light companies were distinctive for their "Jackets; black leather caps, with 3 chains round them, and a piece of plate upon the centre of the crown; in the front, G.R. a crown, and the number of the regiment; small cartridge boxes, powder-horns, and bags for ball; short pieces, and hatchets." The following is appended to the version in Simes, T (1776) The Military guide for Young Officers

In 1772, regiments on the Irish establishment, which included the 40th, were ordered to practice the 'discipline of the light infantry.' Much of this drill would become common across all regiments serving in the wild and wooded Americas.

Among the goals of the movements and evolutions was to be quickly form fronts without the long and tedious 'wheeling' of close order battalions. One part of this is how a soldier carries his arms: usually a soldier would advance with his 'firelock' [musket] at the shoulder or recover position. Neither are stable for swift movement. In the Light Infantry Discipline, soldiers were told carry them in their right hand in a 'diagonal position' that is called 'trail arms' in later exercise manuals.

All the evolutions — the facing and forming of fronts with which to fire upon an enemy — are done by file rather than rank. That is, the front man and the man directly behind him when drawn up in two ranks. The file partners have 'an entire dependence upon itself' and would run to position rather than forming neat lines shoulder-to-shoulder with others in the ranks.

They were taught to use cover as file pairs, firing from the right of a tree, but they'd make use of large stones, fences — anything. In Townshend's orders, file pairs 'are never to be unloaded at the same time' and is 'by no means to discharge his firelock until the other has loaded.' Smythies, R (1894) Townshend's Rules and Orders for the Discipline of the Light Infantry Companies in His Majesty's Army in Ireland, in Historical Records of the 40th (2nd Somersetshire) Regiment' This would mean alternate fire while the partner readies for the 'mutual defence' of the file. Of course if they were being rushed they might need to fire before retreating...

Amongst other things, Light Infantry practiced firing at marks, made their own cartridges, and had significant training in building field fortification like abatis (felled trees in front of a ditch) and creneaus (battlements), and using houses and other buildings.

In 1774, General Howe ordered light infantry training at Salisbury plain.

Whereas Townshend's instructions were mainly about how a company of light infantry might be expected to perform together, Howe's drill concentrated on how to manoeuver a number of companies in a composite light infantry battalion. It's assumed that when Howe formed the light infantry battalions in Halifax in 1776, they were taught a version of this discipline.

In practice, it wasn't especially different to the regular infantry exercise of 1764. It constituted a section on moving a battalion in broken country in two ranks at open file intervals, and a platoon exercise to take into account the 'two-deep' formation.

Howe specified three different interval “orders” — that is the gap between files in a given rank. He chose “order” (two feet), “open order” (four feet), and “extended order” (ten feet) as the intervals for Light Infantry.

The most impactful part of Howe's drill was quickly changing formations or facings, with troops forming by files instead of marching or wheeling by ranks. No particular cadence of marching was prescribed: the regular troops had 'ordinary time' at 75 paces per minute and 'quick time' at 120. Howe's drill simply has 'slow,' 'quick,' and 'run.'

Before Halifax, Townshend's and Howe's training was only practiced by light infantry on the British and Irish establishments, which was perhaps why the light infantry wasn't quite as effective in Massachusetts at the outbreak of the war, with many regiments there being on American service for some time.

Prior to the light infantry's excursion to Concord in April 1775, the light infantry battalion, made up of the light companies of the garrisoned regiments in Boston, Dr. Robert Honyman witnessed the Light Infantry at Boston training.

"Every regiment here has a company of light infantry, young active fellows; and they are trained in the regular manner, and likewise in a peculiar discipline of irregular and bush fighting. They run out in parties on the wings of the regiment where they keep up a constant and irregular fire. They secure their retreat and defend their front while they are forming. In one part of the exercise they lie on their backs and charge their pieces and fire lying on their bellies."
Colonial Panorama, 1775: Dr. Robert Honyman's Journal For March And April

Men of the 40th light company 1777 firing from their bellies while taking fire from french gatinois

Colonel Edward Hand of the provincial forces wrote in 1781 that at the beginning of operations British Light Infantry were "compact in their movements, regular in their marching and from habit and general instructions they appeared averse to every attempt to screen or cover themselves from danger." General Sir Henry Clinton likewise wrote "Perhaps in all America there is not a worse spot than this we are in for a regular army without light troops [...] I cannot call our light companies such, nor would you if I were to converse with you for five minutes.” Sir Henry Clinton, quoted in Odintz, M. (1988) The British Officer Corps, 1754-83.

But, by the time of the Long island invasion in August 1776, the Light Infantry were effective, particularly with bayonets fixed! There is some evidence that Major Thomas Musgrave (of the 64th at the time, later the 40th), commander of the 1st Battalion Light infantry, oversaw specialist "bushfighting" training during the Army's sojourn in Halifax, which may account for the significant improvement in results.

This engaging, fast and exciting exercise is one of the reasons we chose to portray the Light Infantry – far from being red-coated automatons that marched in perfect lines to deliver volleys at the enemy, the British army was a maneuverable, tactically adaptable force, and the light infantry were at the forefront of it.⊕ Contact us about joining!

40th Light Infantry Company, 1777

A Brief History of the 40th Regiment in America

The 40th Regiment arrived in Boston from garrison duty in Ireland a week after the Battle of Bunker Hill in June 1775. As the situation there became untenable in the spring on 1776, the army was evacuated to Halifax, Nova Scotia. The 40^th Regiment of Foot participated in the invasion of Long Island in the summer of 1776 and, as part of General Howe's army, fought in the Philadelphia campaign of 1777-1778. Both Battalion and Light Infantry companies fought in Pennsylvania at the Battles of Brandywine, Paoli, Germantown, and Monmouth, New Jersey. The 40^th was reassigned to the West Indies in late 1778 but returned, much depleted by disease, to North America to participate in the British raid of New London, Connecticut in 1781, including the bloody assault on Fort Griswold.

While in Halifax in May 1776, the light company was detached into the 2^nd Battalion of Light Infantry commanded by Majors Maitland (Marines) and Straubenzee (17^th Regiment⊕ History of the 17th Regiment in America ) to undergo additional training along with companies from about a dozen other regiments. The light battalions duties were ahead of the army as scouts, or to cover the flanks on the march. They were responsible for outpost watch and reconnaissance, duties that had to be performed even after the rest of the army had gone into winter quarters. As Sergeant Thomas Sullivan of the 2nd Battalion of Light Infantry put it, the light infantry's post was “in the front going out, and the rear coming home.”

The 2nd Battalion was perhaps most famous — or infamous — for the Battle of Paoli. At 10pm on the 20^th September 1777, Major General Charles 'no flint' Grey's Light Infantry Battalion (drawn from 13 regiments, including the 40^th) launched a surprise attack on Wayne's Division near the Paoli Tavern, Pennsylvania.

The Americans were caught completely unaware, and a furious melee broke out. The battalion was ordered to approach without flints, with bayonets-only to prevent accidentally alerting the enemy. Approaching through woods, the British surprise was so complete that they routed the entire division, and running headlong into Smallwood's force to the northwest, drove them off too.

It would become known in the colonies as the Paoli Massacre, though it was no less horrifying to the men involved on the British side.

Lt. Martin Hunter of the 52nd Regiment of Foot's Light Infantry company wrote:

"[General Grey] came to the head of the battalion and cried out "Dash on, light infantry!" and, without saying a word, the whole battalion dashed into the wood, and guided by the straggling fire of the picket, that was followed close up, we entered the camp and gave such a cheer as made the wood echo. The enemy were completely surprised; some with arms, others without, running in all directions in the greatest confusion. The light infantry bayoneted every man they came up with. The camp was immediately set on fire, and this, with the cries of the wounded formed altogether one of the most dreadful scene I ever beheld. Every man that fired was instantly put to death."

The painting below, by Italian artist Xavier Della Gatta in 1782 was likely commissioned by Lt. Richard St. George, also of the 52nd Light Company and present at the battle.

Xavier Della Gatta Paoli Masacre painting — Battle of Paoli, Painted by Xavier della Gatta, Naples, Italy, 1782.Museum of the American Revolution 2003.00.0495.

Front and centre in the painting is Captain William Wolfe, the Irish commander of the 40th Regiment's light company who died leading his troops at Paoli. One of the few British men killed during the battle, he was remembered as “a most brave and attentive officer.”

Captain William Wolfe, the Irish commander of the 40th Regiment's light company who died leading his troops at Paoli. Xavier Della Gatta

Uniform and Accoutrements

Click on the hotspots to see the different items worn and carried by a light infantryman. We have plenty of loaner kit to help get you started at our events too.

Land Service Musket

"Pattern 1768" or Short Land Musket, 42" Barrel, with 'Dublin Castle' stamped on the lock.

Bayonet, Scabbard and Sling

Bayonet with black leather scabbard and brass fittings. 2" wide sling with frog to hold the bayonet and scabbard.

Musket Sling

Veg-Tan Leather, in black.

Cocked Hat

Black wool-felt, 4" rim with a single leaf cocked and dressed with a Horsehair Cockade, 40th Hat Button and Ostrich Feather.

Stock

A horsehair or black velvet stock with brass clasp.

Shirt

A plain linen shirt with breast ruffle.

Belt Clasp

A Brass Belt clasp with '40' engraved on it.

Latchet Shoes

Black leather, late 18th Century Latchet shoes, with brass latchet-buckle, flesh (rough) side out.

Woolen socks

Sleeved Waistcoat

Red broadcloth with Buff facings, lined with wool-bay, with Regimental buttons.

Gaitered Trousers

Medium-Heavyweight linen cloth trousers with integral gaiters.

Rear View.

Blanket and Wallet

Woolen Blanket suspended with a tumpline and Linen Wallet to store provisions

Tin Canteen

Crescent or Kidney shaped canteen of tin.

Haversack

Made of linen, brass buttons, marked with the ordnance 'GR'

Cartridge Pouch and Sling

British 36-hole cartridge pouch on a 2-inch wide black sling.

Using re-production firearms

Redcoats & Revolutionaries uses muzzle-loading reproduction weapons loaded with 'blank' black powder cartridges. Use of these weapons requires the user to have the appropriate licenses, and appropriate storage.

For a Smooth-bore musket firing blanks, you will need a Shotgun Certificate and an Acquire-only Explosives Certificate (to draw black-powder from our stores). You apply through your local Police Constabulary: the Shotgun certificate costs £200 plus a possible additional cost for a letter from your GP. The Explosives Certificate is free to apply for. In terms of storage, your local police will know best — some areas allow a trigger-lock mechanism for storage in an attic, whereas some require a steel gun-locker. Talk with your local Police firearms department for the best guidance for your area.

It is likely that you will need a letter of recommendation, or proof of membership from our society to support your application. We will only grant one if you are an active member and up to date with any fees.

We also support members who would prefer not to fire (or can't for whatever reason) with the use of legally deactivated muskets.

Obtaining Kit & Equipment

In terms of off the peg items, to maintain uniformity we have a list of authorised suppliers. For other items, we can supply the patterns for reputable craftspeople to use, and the same goes for items you'd like to make yourself. Many things, such as haversacks, shirts, and so an can be bought as kits.

The above uniform is the minimum necessary for a good impression of a Light Infantryman of the 40th Regiment. But there are other items you may like to get, such as:

Fatigue Cap (pattern provided by the group, material from waistcoat leftovers)
Hatchet/Tomahawk
Camp Kettle
Soldier's Tent
3-way Musket Tool
Pick and Whisk
Folding Knife, Beakers, Bowls and other eating implements
Wash kit and Sewing Kit
Felling Axe, Bill hooks etc
Blackball, pipe clay etc