"Question about British brigade light "battalions"" Topic

IIRC, in about 1809 (?) Wellington ordered that the light companies of the regiments forming a brigade should be combined together with the brigade's rifle company into a single light battalion. Am I remembering correctly?

Assuming I am, my question is about how they were deployed. Did they all skirmish, or were some men formed as supports? If the former, did the formed regiments provide supports? If the latter, how many would be skirmishing and how many formed? Would each light company contribute to each (Skirmish line and support line) or did one regiment's light company form the support for the others? Would regiment X's light company provide both skirmishers and supports in front of Regt X? If so, what's the purpose of forming a light battalion?

Given how much frontage a British brigade in line would occupy, I tend to think the lights would pretty much all have to be skirmishing to cover the frontage. But I really don't know. Maybe covering the whole frontage wasn't a concern?

Does anyone have any ideas?

Going from memory, it was a "battalion" only in that they trained together, separately from the line.

They were deployed as individual companies.

Supports would be from the company itself. Half up half back…although this part I am most hazy on.

Some one will be along presently to correct me.

Bob

I don't think it was that formal in the sense of them operating as a Battalion with a capital 'B'. Think of them more as a battalion sized skirmish screen, principally utilised, for battle, in skirmishing, and on campaign more generally in screening and outpost work when the Cavalry were nowhere to be found, gadding around foxhunting or whatever…

Probably the Brigade Major's 'go to' formation for any tricky,sticky work that needed doing…

Composed not always from consitituent Light companies, sometimes detachements of Rifles or Cacadores were allocated to either bolster or replace the light companies.

I think the screen would have had supports to fall back on, but these would have been drawn from this formation rather than the line units.

Equally however, the Brigadier may have preferred, for a particular engagement, to have each light company return to its parent battalion, either to screen it or to return to the line. All pretty flexible really, just as in the French service.

Different situations would require different tactics.

A whole company could deployed in Extended Order. The men are in pairs, each pair is at least 2ft apart. Officers stand behind the skirmish line.
Open Order in which is in two ranks but two paces apart between the files. Chain Order, groups of four men at 10 pace intervals, one man advances to fire while the others are reloading, or covering him. And close order, like the line.

Exactly how many men would be used for what purpose I think would be dictated by the situational needs, available man power and the personal preferences or competence of their officers.

A single company screening close to its parent battalion I think would probably deploy the whole company in extended order. If they are then sent forward into the fog of war away from the close support of its line companies they might split into two or three platoons, keeping some in reserve in close order, some in support in close or open order and some up front in extended or chain order.

If four or five companies are skirmishing together, then two or three companies might provide the support and the remainder the skirmishers.

Quite fortunate I'm sitting reading Ospreys British Infantry tactics 1792-1815 today. Pretty good airial view of some various skirmishing tactics in it.

See "The General Orders of Field Marshal the Duke of Wellington …" p.205 for the Order forming the Light Cos. into a separate unit:
link

It says that the light cos. and rifle co. of the Brigade are to be formed together and used on the front, flank or rear of the main body of the Brigade as required according to circumstances and would deploy as a skirmish screen as needed. Normally this would mean the other Bns. had no other skirmishers to deploy.

I play General de Brigade and we assume that all of this 'light co.' bn. can skirmish.
The light cos. are only 1 co. out of ten, so don't amount to many skirmishers for the whole Brigade – only 4 or 5 cos. for a normal Brigade.

Camcleod,

One presumes that the Cacadores from the Portuguese 3rd Bde would be added to the skirmish line as well to flesh it out. The Portuguese Bde was usually held as a reserve to the 2 British Bdes.

huevans

Certainly possible.
The Order only talks about Brigade level.
I'm not sure how well the Lights from three Bn. or understrength Brigades could have undertaken their skirmish roll.
The British always seem to be adding Rifle or Brunswick Jager or Cacadore cos. to the individual Brigades to strengthen their skirmish strength.

My understanding was that this battalion was under the orders of a single officer when in action, so the battalion commanders in the main line would not have been able to order "their" light company around.

A couple of other observations from the 1815 perspective. At Waterloo I remember reading of one light company officer saying that the skirmishers simply took refuge in the nearest square when the cavalry came – without regard to parent battalions, etc.

Secondly, Robinson in his book on Quatre Bras shows that as the battalions arrived, the light companies were still part of the parent formations, and the light battalions only came into being later in the battle – and in some cases I don't think they did so at all.

Robinson says that it was quite common for British battalions to train up the 8th company as light infantry, so that that the battalion could have their own skirmishers when the official light company was elsewhere. Also a source of reserves in more prolonged skirmish encounters, I guess.

Wellington issued three sets of General Orders regarding Brigade Light Battalions as follows:
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Wellesley lands at Mondego Bay, Portugal – 1 August 1808.

Extract from General Order issued at Lavos on 3 August 1808

The Lieutenant General requests the General officers commanding brigades will, on all occasions of march and formation of the line of their respective brigades, place the light infantry companies belonging to the several regiments under their command in a separate corps under the command of a field-officer. In the ordinary formation on parade, and in route marches, these corps of light infantry will be on the left of the brigade. In formation in front of the enemy they will be in front or in rear, according to the circumstances; and in marches of columns to take up a position, they will be on the reverse flank of the column. The light infantry companies will, however, encamp and do all duties with the regiments.

Wellesley returns to Portugal (Lisbon) – 26 April 1809.

Extract from General Order issued at Coimbra on 4 May 1809

3. The light infantry companies belonging to, and the riflemen attached to each brigade of infantry, are to be formed together, on the left of the brigade, under the command of a Field Officer or Captain of light infantry of the brigade, to be fixed upon by the Officer who commands it. Upon all occasions, in which the brigade may be formed in line, or in column, when the brigade shall be formed for the purpose of opposing an enemy, the light infantry companies and riflemen will be of course in the front, flanks, or rear, according to the circumstances of the ground, and the nature of the operation to be performed. On all other occasions, the light infantry companies are to be considered as attached to their battalions, with which they are to be quartered or encamped, and solely under the command of the Commanding Officer of the battalion to which they belong.

Wellington arrives at Anglo_Allied Headquarters Bussels – 4 April 1815.

Extract from General Order issued at Bruxells on 9 May 1815

1. The light infantry companies belonging to each brigade of infantry, are to act together as a battalion of light infantry, under the command of a field officer or captain, to be selected for the occasion by the General Officer commanding the brigade, upon all occasions on which the brigade may be formed in line or column, whether for a march, or to oppose the enemy.

2. On all other occasions, the light infantry companies are to be considered as attached to their battalions, with which they are to be quartered or encamped, and solely under the command of the commanding officer of the battalion to which they belong.
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Each Brigade Commander appointed an officer, normally a Major, to command their Brigade Light Battalion. I have traced about half of these officers (as below) and it is clear that they were permanent appointments to command their temporary Brigade Light Battalions.
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Extracts from the Royal Military Calendar concerning Light Battalions in Peninsula

Originally researched 1820 Edition

Volume 1

Wellington's report on Fuentes de Onoro, written at Villa Formosa on 8 May 1811:

Lt Col Williams (60th Regt) commanding light battalion of Maj Gen Picton's 3rd Div.
Maj Dick (42nd Regt) commanding light battalion of Maj Gen Nightingall's Bde.
Maj M'Donnell (92nd Regt) commanding light battalion of Maj Gen Howard's Bde.
Maj Ally (3rd Line Bn KGL) commanding light battalion of KGL Bde.

Wellington's report on Salamanca, written at Flores de Avila on 24 July 1812:

Lt Col Woodford commanding light battalion of Brigade of Guards.

Wellington's report on Vittoria, written at Salvatierra on 22 June 1813:

Lt Col Cadogan commanding light battalion of Maj Gen Walker's Bde.

Volume 4

Col Hepburn (3rd Foot Guards).
He commanded a light battalion composed of the light infantry of the Guards and riflemen of the 60th Regiment, during the whole of the campaign of 1813, and was present in all of the actions in which the Guards were engaged including the battles of Vittoria and Nive,for which he has the honour of wearing a medal and one clasp.

Maj Pearson (23rd Regt).
In October 1810, he embarked for Portugal, and joined Lord Wellington's army in the Lines of Torres Vedras. On the formation of the Fusileer Brigade, under the command of the Hon. Col. Packenham, he was appointed to the command of the light battalion of that Brigade of the 4th Division, and commanded them during Massena's retreat from Portugal. He served at the attack of Badajoz under Marshal Beresford, in 1811, and in the action of Albuera; at the latter part of which, in consequence of the fall of all of his superior officers, he succeeded to the command of the remains of the Fusileer Brigade, in which he continued until the retreat of the army from Almandralejo, when he again resumed command of the light battalion, and continued in the same until the advance of Marshal Marmont to the relief of Ciudad Rodrigo when he received a severe wound.

Lt Col Greenwell (45th Regt).
Wounded in one leg at the battle of Orthes, where he commanded the light troops of the 3rd Division.

Lt Col Dodgin (66th Regt).
He commanded a brigade of light companies in Maj Gen Byng's Division, from 1811 to 1814; and was with it during the action at Arroya de Molinas, 28th Oct 1811, with the advance to and retreat from Madrid and Salamanca in 1812; at the battle of Vittoria for which he obtained a medal, and the brevet of Lt Col; at the actions of the Pyrenees for which he received a clasp; at St Pallas, 15th Feb 1814; at Orthes for which he obtained another clasp; and at Aire, 2nd Mar 1814, where he was severely wounded. Lt Col Dodgin has been engaged with the light companies eleven times, exclusive of the above.

Volume 5

Lt Col Gordon (50th Regt).
He was appointed by Lord Hill to the command of a corps of Light Companies in advance of the right column of the 3rd Division of the army on 1st Oct 1813, which corps he led on entering France the 10th Nov. He commanded this gallant corps of light companies in every skirmish and affair which took place with the enemy from the period of his appointment to his command, up to forcing the enemy's lines at Haspaine, 14th Feb 1814, in which affair he was again severely wounded.

Lt Col Auchmuty (7th Foot).
He commanded some light companies at Orthes & Tolouse.

Maj Lightfoot (45th Regt).
He commanded the light battalion of the right brigade of the 3rd Div in the battle of Vittoria.

Maj Faunce (4th Foot).
On the 3rd April 1811, when in pursuit of the French Army under Massena's, and in dislodging them from the heights before Sabugal, Maj Gen Dunlop appointed Maj Faunce to the command of the light infantry companies of the brigade, and a company of the Brunswick Oels, then acting as a battalion which command he retained until the end of the campaign of 1814. He was present and commanded the light infantry companies of the brigade at the battle of Salamanca, for which he has received a medal.

Maj Mullins (28th Foot).
Received a medal for the battle of Orthes, at which he commanded some light companies.

Capt Carthew (39th Foot).
He proceeded with the army under Marshal Beresford, from the siege of Badajoz to meet the enemy on the plains of Albuera, on which occasion (16 May 1811) he commanded the light infantry companies of the brigade. He received the thanks of the Hon Sir W Stewart in front of his Regiment for his conduct during the action.

Subsequently researched 1815 Edition – new material only

Volume 3

Maj Deane (38th Regt).
He commanded the light troops and advance of the army at the battles of Rolica and Vimiero under the Duke of Wellington; and afterwards served under Sir John Moore in Spain, and during the whole of that campaign commanded the light companies of the Division.

Lt Col & Capt Cotton (3rd Foot Guards).
He…commanded the light infantry at the passage of the Adour.

Lt Col Mitchell (92nd Foot – Gordon Highlanders).
From the attack upon Garis on 15 March (1813) till the close of the campaign in 1814, he commanded the Light Companies of the 1st Brigade of the 2nd Division of the Army.

Extract from "Present State of Portugal and of the Portuguese Army" – Halliday – 1812.

Page 327 – 4th Division light battalion commanders during 1st siege of Badajoz – Majors Pearson & Birmingham [note – Maj Birmingham (27th Foot) killed during that siege].

Page 329 – Fuentes de Oñoro – Light infantry battalions (note plural) of Maj Gen Picton's Division under Lt Col Williams of 60th. Light infantry battalions of Maj Gen Nightingale's and Maj Gen Howard's Brigades under Majors Dick (42nd) and McDonnell (92nd). The light infantry battalion of the King's German Legion under Maj Alley supported this corps.

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It is clear to me that the light companies of Wellington's Armies, in the Peninsula and Waterloo, were administratively part of their parent battalions, but tactically operated as converged Brigade Light Battalions, in which latter role they acted as a single battalion under the command of their appointed Light Battalion commander, and not in any way linked to their parent battalions. The drill for such light battalions (Chapter IV Para 4) stated that half of each company deployed as skirmishers with the other half in support. The regulations are available as a free download here:

link

At the date, 1798, that these regulations were written there was only one light battalion in the British Army, 5/60th Rifles. All reference to any other light battalions can only apply to converged light battalions of companies from several regiments.

Rod

Normally this would mean the other Bns. had no other skirmishers to deploy.

Actually, it means that any more skirmishers deployed would be from the grenadier or center companies, which was often done separately, or in support of the light battalion companies.

Lots of examples of this.

Thanks, Mr. MacArthur, that's a pile of useful information.