The Light Infantry Division was a large unit of the Continental Army that fought in the American Revolutionary War. It was formed by unifying the detached light infantry companies from several infantry regiments in September 1781. Its two brigades were made up of three battalions each, though the second brigade was later reorganized into four. The light infantry were regarded as the elite troops of the army. As such they participated in an important assault during the Siege of Yorktown in October 1781.
History
Major General Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette commanded the light infantry division at the Siege of Yorktown, and it comprised two brigades. These brigades were formed on Washington's orders of 24 September 1781. This division was on the American right flank with the infantry division under Major General Benjamin Lincoln. The 1st Brigade was commanded by Brigadier General Peter Muhlenberg, and consisted of the light infantry brigade that was formed on 1 February 1781 and which was initially commanded by LaFayette. Companies of this brigade originally were authorized twenty-five men, but on 16 February 1781 Washington ordered that this become fifty men, making the size consistent with his orders of 1 November 1780 that described the composition of the Army and size of units to take effect on 1 January 1781. The companies that comprised this unit were the designated light infantry companies for their respective regiments as designated in Washington's orders of 1 November 1781. The light infantry division performed two notable services during the Siege of Yorktown. The first was to participate through s and pickets in the advance of the American lines around Yorktown; this work began on in earnest on 30 September 1781. The second was to captureRedoubt #10 on the night of 14 October 1781.
Organization
The 1st Brigade consisted of three provisional Continental battalions:
Vose's Battalion, Colonel Joseph Vose, light infantry companies of the 1st through 8th Massachusetts Regiments;
Barber's Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Francis Barber, light infantry companies of the 1st and 2nd New Hampshire Regiments, the Canadian Regiment, and the 1st and 2nd New Jersey Regiments. Three companies of the New Jersey Line were also attached to the battalion.
The 2nd Brigade was commanded by Brigadier General Moses Hazen, and comprised the:
Scammell's light infantry corps, Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Scammell, three provisional light infantry companies from Connecticut, three from Massachusetts, and two from New Hampshire, formed on 17 May 1781,
Hamilton's Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Hamilton, light infantry companies of the 1st and 2d New York Regiments and two provisional companies from Connecticut, formed 31 July 1781.
Scammell was wounded and taken prisoner on September 29, 1781, and died on October 4. On October 8, the light infantry companies of the 2nd Brigade were reorganized into three battalions, the first consisting of three New Hampshire and two Connecticut provisional companies, the second four Connecticut companies, and the third by Hamilton, with the Massachusetts companies exchanged for his former Connecticut companies.
