"British Light Infantry 1790s" Topic

What did British Light Infantry and Grenadiers look like in the 1790s? I specifically looking for info on the expedition to the Netherlands where they cooperated with the Russians.

I have seen the pictures of all the volunteers on the NYPL
digital collection site. Are they like those?

V/R

Joe

My knowledge is partial, but I think the Guards at least wore a sort of top hat with a fur roach, though whether other regiments did this I am not sure (tarletons are another possibility).
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Various grenadiers are depicted in these plates;
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The 6/60th (Royal American) Regiment was also there. Despite their name they were considered a German regiment and so allowed to wear mustaches. They wore black shakos with green cords, dark green jackets with buff belts and white breeches (according to the Osprey by Mike Chappell). However, Haythornthwaite (Uniforms of the French Revolutionary Wars) lists them as having black leather equipment.

They fought as light troops alongside the light companies from other line regiments, who were formed into ad hoc light battalions.

In 1790 there were no dedicated light infantry regiments I think.

Light troops were drawn from line infantry regiments light companies. So would mainly be wearing line uniform with flank company distinctions.

A variety of uniforms were worn in different theatres. In the Netherlands I think only the guards were sporting the fur crested top hat. The line infantry had a bicorne. So I think the majority of light troops in holland would have worn them.

Light infantry volunteers in the UK seem to have been more adventurous in their head wear. And in Egypt, India and the Caribbean the top hat more popular.

This was a period of great transition and by the time of the Helder campaign 1799 (in cooperation with the Russians)jackets were beginning to be fastened all the way down (no waistcoats visible) not sure about head gear – Grenadiers are probably still wearing fur caps. Shako's are not far around the corner but I think light coys would still be wearing various caps and round hats. loose trousers proably worn on campaign

Afaik in the 1792-1795 there were no dedicated light regiments in the british army although Hessian, Hanoverian and other german troops plus French emigré units were used in the light infantry role. Also combined light companies were used. Also, don't forget that combined grenadiers could be used in the light infantry role.
Uniforms were line cut but changed to light infantry role so caps, top hat (tith our without fur crest), light infantry distinctions, shortened coats, trousers; all could be worn.

In the 1799 campaign in Holland the uniforms were mostly the same. I have seen no light or rifle regiments in all the OOB I have seen for this campaign. All the plates I have seen don't show the closed coat or the shako. This isn't proof they couldn't be worn, just that most painters haven't noticed.

I am not an expert on the 1799 campaign but it might be worth checking that your particular regiments had their flank coys with them. In the 1793-5 campaigns several regiments, including Wellington's 33rd, were stripped of their flank coys before they left for Flanders. The flank coys were sent to the West Indies instead.

caseshotpublishing.com

in the 1793-95 period in Hollad, light troops were a mixture of foreign toops with the odd ad hoc battalion of flnak companies. By the 1799 campaig in North Holland, the only dedicated battalion would have been the aforementioned 6/60th Royal Americans (if they were indeed present--I don't recall seeing them listed). Otherwise, flank companies.

BTW, some of the unit from the earlier campaign, like the York Rangers and other hired foreign units are really an intersting variety.

@GeorgeII

I've checked and I am not certain that the 6/60th were there. Mike Chappell, in the Osprey 'Welington's Peninsula Regiments' says they were but I found this OOB on Scribd which doesn't mention them:

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I didn't think so. Still out sweltring in the Indies, no doubt. I wonder if they'd have prefered the Dutch polder anyway.

I would like to thank everyone for their input.

When I mentioned "Light Infantry" I was thinking about the
Light Companies from the Regiments rather than whole Light Infantry Regiments.

V/R

Joe