""Rape, Murder and Pillage"" Topic

The Crimes of Britain's Foreign Companies in Virginia, 1813

" The Independent Companies of Foreigners are one of the most notorious British units of the War of 1812. Recruited from an "appalling collection of ex-French prisoners," they have long been vilified as the worst variety of foreign mercenaries utilised by the British Army during the Napoleonic period as a result of their outrageous and brutal behaviour during the 1813 Chesapeake Bay Campaign and subsequently.[1] While their atrocities, particularly their sacking of the town of Hampton, Virginia on 26 June 1813 are justly regarded as some of the most vicious crimes committed by either side during the War of 1812, they were not without cause. Rather, they were the direct outcome of an unfortunate combination of poor troops and even worse command decisions. This article examines the psychological, command and operational factors that led to their infamous conduct…."
Main page
warof1812.ca/foreigners.htm

Armand

An excellent article that documents the combat history of this frequently misidentified unit and provides a cogent argument as to why they behaved so poorly during the Chesapeake raids.

A good find T, thanks.

I concur.

Rick

A votre service mes amis….

Armand

"an unpromising, volatile collection of personnel"

(smile)

Armand