I'm trying to tie down the genesis of Campbell's guide for light infantry. He served in the 43rd and 95th and makes reference to the practices in those units and the rest of Sir John Moore's brigade. However, by the time he wrote the book he was in the 54th. In the introduction he writes:
'In carrying into execution General Orders which were circulated by the Commander of the Forces, upon a foreign station, in the year 1807, prescribing to all the corps under his command a very extensive and constant practice of file movements, changes of position in DOUBLE QUICK time and other light infantry duties, adapted to an enclosed country, it became necessary, in obedience to this orders, to draw up a course of instruction for one of the regiments then stationed there.'
In 1807 8 companies of the 54th were in Jamaica (the rest were in Montevideo). The commander in Jamaica there was, I think, Sir Eyre Coote. Coote had commanded a battalion of light infantry during Grey's campaign. So what I am thinking is that Campbell wrote his manual for the 54th, based partly on his previous experience in the 43rd and 95th, but also on Coote's orders, whatever they were. It was Campbell's work that was later translated by William Warre for the Caçadores. Any thoughts?
A bit late to the party on this one! However, I was wondering - having read the document listed in the penultimate post in the thread, how did the odd company of riflemen operate within the framework of the ad hoc light "battalion" formed in each brigade? Were there any printed regulations for their inclusion in the skirmish line? Did they break down into the four half-platoons described by Campbell and operate one with each light company? Did they simply spread themselves along the skirmish line once it had formed? Any help would be gratefully received as a friend has asked this on a wargaming forum and has had nothing useful come back to him.
BM
thanks for sharing
In the context I would imagine it would have to be 'Rules and Regulations for the Formations, Field-Exercise and Movements of His Majesty’s Forces,' presumably the latest edition. His 'Principles of Military Movements: Chiefly Applied to Infantry' was published in 1788 so probably outdated 30 years later. You can download Campbell from my Dropbox: https://www.dropbox.com/s/lezrd7ek2w053nj/Instr%20for%20Lt%20Inf%20and%20Rfn-Campbell-2nd%20ed.%201813.pdf?dl=0
It would be very kind of you if you share Campbell's book. I will compare with the Caçadores Regulation, that is not digitised.
I have Warre's letters and that he was behind the translation work but do you know which Dundas book and version he was referring to?
Rui,
Thank you. I can share Campbells book with you want.
Here is the reference to the translation:
Warre, W., Letters from the Peninsula (London: Murray, 1909).
p.97
Letter to his father.
Thomar, December 31st 1809
'Marshal Beresford is gone with Lord Wellington to Torres Novas to
see the Algarve Brigade men, and left me to continue my translation of Instructions for Light Infantry, a tiresome undertaking, but most necessary, and for the appearance of which I am much hurried. While in Lisbon Dundas' Book was translated under my direction, and has, I am happy to say, already been of essential use, and gained me some credit.'
Rob a second post on a different issue. The Portuguese Regulation is from 1810, with the second print in 1811: Beresford, W.C. (1810). Systema de Instrução e Disciplina para os Movimentos e Deveres dos Caçadores. Lisboa, 1810. 75 pp. https://arqhist.exercito.pt/details?id=68866 http://bit.ly/1811_Caçadores http://bit.ly/1810_Caçadores I do have access to this book but I do not have access to Campbell's Book, so I cannot say that one is a translation or not. According to Challis "Peninsula Roll Call", Neil Campbell (54th) joined the Portuguese Army in May 1811 as the Colonel of the 16th and the 7th of the Line:
However, the Portuguese Army Regulation dates from 1810.
Rob
There are four english earlier references, that I am aware of, written by a swiss officer of the Dutch Brigade (Major Albert Gross) or translated from the German of an original text of an officer with experience in the American Wars (Colonel von Ehwald), later becoming regulations published by the war office. Here are the books.
Gross, Baron (1801). Duties of an officer in the field and principally of light troops, whether cavalry or infantry,. London: Printed by C. Roworth for T. Egerton. https://books.google.pt/books?id=jSFEAAAAYAAJ
Ehwald, C. Von, & (Trad.), a. M. (1803). A treatise upon the duties of light troops. Retrieved from https://books.google.pt/books?id=M2816vEHvhgC
Jarry, F., M., L. A., & L. A. M. (1803). Instructions concerning the duties of light infantry in the field. Retrieved from http://books.google.com/books?id=dPlAAQAAMAAJ
Britain, G., & Army. (1803). Regulations for the exercise of riflemen and light infantry, and instruction for their conduct in the field. Retrieved from https://books.google.pt/books?id=QZ8ZAAAAYAAJ