British Light Infantry in the American Revolution

The British Army formed light-infantry outfits during the Seven Years War and reinstated them in 1771–72. William Howe formed a training camp at Salisbury in 1774 to practise light-infantry doctrine, but the outbreak of the American Revolution found the British Army wanting. 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 fought in almost every major engagement during the American Revolution. 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 they developed a fearsome reputation and exemplified the psychological characteristics exhibited by crack military units across history.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 64 pages
Publication date: 18 February 2021
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

During the Seven Years War (1755-1763), a significant number of independent light-infantry units served under British command, and dedicated light companies were added to the British Army's regular infantry battalions. However, the light companies were disbanded after the war, and the prominent role played by light infantry was not forgotten. In 1771-1772, 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 practise 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-colour 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.

Weight: 214g
Dimension: 185 x 248 x 8 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781472842497