G'Day Gents
If I may assist….
The concept of changing the battalion structure from eight sub-fractions to six sub-fractions was meant to occur in 1805 or 1806.
But due to the 1805 campaign, it was postponed until 1808. Both Napoleon and Meunier envisioned this new battalion structure as an offensive battalion, and one which had less depth while in column formation.
Though both Napoleon and Meunier were progressive in thought, the concept failed because of the regle de endivisionnment in the French military system.
On the other hand, the Young Guard battalions of 1815 were exactly what Napoleon and Meunier envisioned, and just what they wanted. There was no issue of the regle de endivisionnment, since there were no flanking compagnies as modern day historian would think of them (no grenadier peloton).
There is enough first hand accounts to validate that, yes they were considered light infantry, and employed as such.
The Young Guard battalions in 1815 had six sub-factions, because they were expected to be used as an offensive element, just as the line infantry. The Old Guard battalion had four compagnies but were formed tactically in eight sub-factions in 1815, since they were still employed as a reserve force.
Players in wargames that use French battalions with six pelotons, have no idea how complex, and difficult it was to have a grenadier peloton or voltigeur peloton in the same division with a fusilier peloton.
It just was not done, and Bardin and others goes into great detail explaining what to do because of it. It was not until 1818 that the regle de endivisionnment in the French military system was dropped (Bardin).
Best Regards
Art