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