| The
Light Company
of the 17th Foot
The Regiment left its garrison station in Ireland in the fall
of 1775 as part of the
reinforcement destined for the British forces besieged in Boston
Massachusetts. Upon arrival the Light Company was detached and
formed part of the Corps of Light Infantry established under Major
Musgrave. With the evacuation of Boston in March in 1776, the
Regiment sailed with the main army to Halifax, Nova Scotia. It
was here, in the reorganization of the British forces, that all
of the Grenadier and Light Infantry Companies were officially
detached from their respective regiments and placed in composite
battalions for service in North American. The Light Company of
the 17th was placed in the First Battalion of Light Infantry and
served with this organization for the remainder of the war. It
is generally accepted that during the stay in Halifax the Light
Infantry Battalions were instructed in the new “Light Infantry
Drill” as developed by General Howe and published in 1774.
It is possible that the whole army was trained in this open order
drill for use in North America, but most certainly the Light Infantry
was expected to make use of this new system of maneuver.
The First Battalion of Light Infantry participated
in almost all of the major engagements in the middle colonies
and the most major battles of the southern campaign. Throughout
the war, the Light Company’s participation was mirrored
by the 17th’s Grenadier Company, which served in the First
Battalion of Grenadiers.
The Light Infantry Company’s fought in the
following engagements, Long Island 1776, White Plains 1776, Trenton-Princeton
Campaign 1776-1777, Brandywine 1777, Germantown 1777, Monmouth
1778, Siege of Charleston 1780, Virginia Campaign 1781.
During the war it was a standard practice to keep
the Light and Grenadier Companies of the respective regiments
at full strength through drafts from the battalion companies and
first call on replacements from Britain. As such, the remainder
of the Regiment served as an often under strength battalion throughout
the remainder of the war. This did not hinder the battalion companies
of the 17th from also participating in most major actions. The
majority of the 17th, represented by the battalion companies,
distinguished itself at the battle of Princeton in 1777 where
its determination and bravery was remarked upon by friend and
foe alike. The 17th also holds the distinction as the only British
regiment in the American Revolution to be captured twice. Once
at Stony Point in 1779 and following its exchange, again at Yorktown
in 1781. |
