"Composition of US Army Regt 1814" Topic

Can someone tell me the number of companies in a typical US Army infantry regiment circa 1814? Also, was there a lt & gren company?

10 companies. The existence of flank companies is a matter of great debate and speculation as records seem non-existent. Whether or not a regiment had flank companies seems to have been up to the regimental commanders, most skirmishing being done by riflemen, militiamen or native allies. Certainly by late in the war there is anecdotal evidence for grenadier and light compinies did exist in some regular regiments, hard to say how many.

There really should be no doubt about the existence of flank companies in American infantry during the War of 1812. There may have been no standard practice in all theaters, but examples can be found by reading contemporary accounts, diaries, memoirs, letters, etc. here is a link to several prior discussions that cover the flank companies:

TMP link

FYI, I have found that electronic editions can be the easiest way to research the topic quickly, using a search function. The interesting by product of checking the sources by the way is that you can just as easily find examples of both the US and British infantry using close columns or assault columns in tactical situations, giving a rest to the idea that they were not used. Consider it a twofer. I have found Fredriksen's collection of US primary sources and G. R. Grieg's memoir of campaigning in the Chesapeake and Gulf Coast theaters particularly useful for the latter subject.

Rick

according to Captain Treat's(21st US infantry) own journal, the entire 21st US infantry regiment(a "regular" regiment) was light infantry. so not all skirmishing was done by rifles.

Both Scott's and Ripley's brigades had battalions with flank companies in the 1814 Niagara campaign. And as Glengarry5 states U.S. battalions were generally organized in ten companies throughout the war.

I am trying to find the source (Graves I believe) that states the Ripley was so disgusted with light companies (they had run amok in town during training prior to Chippewa) behaviour that he abolished them and reorganized his battalions to have two grenadier companies, vice one light and one grenadier.

So, we have good evidence for light and grenadier companies, certainly in the Niagara campaign, during 1814. However, the evidence for 1812 and 1813 is sketchy.

Going over some of the order of battles it appears that it was few and far between when a regiment had all 10 companies together at the same time. It also appears that some of the regiments work a battalion system.

I seem to recall reading somewhere that the Grenadier conpanies often acted as the color guard and I think that the Osprey book on the American Army 1812-1815 show this in one of the color plates.
Hope this helps,

Tom

There is the habit of a regiment leaving two companies to guard their baggage, and perhaps another garrisoning a point in the rear, etc.

Thank you for the info gentlemen!!

About the number of companies…
British battalions also detached companies, however I've read it was standard practice before battle to quickly reorganise what companys were on the field into a battalion of what could be called "temporary companies" of 10 and that units that weren't able to do this were considered to have placed themselves in some peril. I have no idea if the Americans followed a similiar procedure but they did follow british practices in many aspects.

I'd like to hear more about the use of column attacks by the two sides!