Napoleon Series Archive 2008

Re: light battalions at Waterloo ?
In Response To: light battalions at Waterloo ? ()

Oli,

Neither of these orders were rescinded so in my view the forming of converged light battalions from all the light companies of each Brigade was in force for the whole of the Peninsular War and also at Waterloo. There are plenty of "tactical snippets" in memoirs to support this. Some of the best quotes are in Siborne's "Waterloo Letters" as follows:

Letter 138 - Lieut Pratt, 30th Regiment...the Light troops of the Division moved in front to cover and support it. This force consisted…in the following details: Four British Light Companies formed into a Battalion under Lieutenant Colonel Vigoureux 30th Regiment, 1st and 2nd Light Battalions KGL - They occupied the farmhouse and garden of La Haye Sainte -, a Light Hanoverian Battalion and the Jägers von Kielmansegge (Rifles). The orders delivered to me upon that occasion as adjutant of the Light Battalion by Major-General Sir C Halkett were to the following effect:- “To cover and protect our Batteries. To establish ourselves at all times as much in advance as might be compatible with prudence. To preserve considerable intervals between our extended files for greater security from fire of the Enemy’s Batteries. To show obstinate resistance against Infantry of the same description, but to attempt no formation or offer useless opposition to charges of Cavalry, but to retire in time upon the Squares in our rear, moving in a direct line without any reference to Regiments or Nations. When the charge was repulsed to resume our ground”.

No 141 - Capt Harty, 33rd Regiment...being Captain of the Light Company of the Regiment which formed part of flank battalion…The Flank battalion consisted of the Light Companies of the Brigade under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Vigoureux of the 30th Regiment.

No 155 - Lieut Leslie, 79th Highlanders...the light company to which I belonged being extended in the lane and in front together with other light companies of the Division.

No 156 - Lieut Forbes, 79th Highlanders – Quatre Bras. The Light Companies of the 8th Brigade, to which were added the 8th Company and marksmen of the 79th Regiment, were immediately thrown out when the Action commenced.

The effect of these General Orders was that tactically all British brigades thus comprised 3 or 4 close order battalions with a small light battalion. This is of course very similar to the permanent Brigade structure adopted by the Portuguese Army of 4 close order battalions and a light battalion, even to the fact that in the Peninsula both British converged light battalions and Portuguese Cacadores battalions had one rifle company each.

Rod

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light battalions at Waterloo ?
Re: light battalions at Waterloo ?
Great info, many thanks ! *NM*
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Light battalions in the Peninsula
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