The Light Infantry Division at Yorktown (1781)
Encyclopedia
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 with the division infantry 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. When formed, companies of this brigade were proscribed to have 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 proscribed 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 proscribed by Washington's orders of 1 November 1781. The brigade consisted of the following three regiments: from the following regiments:
The 2nd Brigade was commanded by Brigadier General (brevet) Moses Hazen
, and comprised the Canadian Regiment
, Scammell's light infantry regiment
, and a battalion of light infantry under the command of LTC Alexander Hamilton
. Scammell's regiment was formed from picked men of the New England Regiments on 17 May 1781, and Hamilton's battalion was formed on 31 July 1781 and consisted of two companies from New York and two from Connecticut.
The light infantry division performed two notable services during the Siege of Yorktown. The first was to participate through fatigue
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 capture Redoubt
#10 on the night of 14 October 1781.
Siege of Yorktown
The Siege of Yorktown, Battle of Yorktown, or Surrender of Yorktown in 1781 was a decisive victory by a combined assault of American forces led by General George Washington and French forces led by the Comte de Rochambeau over a British Army commanded by Lieutenant General Lord Cornwallis...
, and it comprised two brigades. These brigades were formed on Washington's orders of 24 September 1781. This division was on the American Right with the division infantry under Major General Benjamin Lincoln.
The 1st Brigade was commanded by Brigadier General Peter Muhlenberg
Peter Muhlenberg
John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg was an American clergyman, Continental Army soldier during the American Revolutionary War, and political figure in the newly-independent United States...
, and consisted of the light infantry brigade that was formed on 1 February 1781 and which was initially commanded by LaFayette. When formed, companies of this brigade were proscribed to have 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 proscribed 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 proscribed by Washington's orders of 1 November 1781. The brigade consisted of the following three regiments: from the following regiments:
- Commanded by Colonel Joseph Vose, were the light companies from 1st - 8th Massachusetts regiments
- Commanded by LTC de Gimat were the light companies from the 9th & 10th Massachusetts, the 1st Rhode Island Regiment, and the 1st - 5th Connecticut Regiments
- Commanded by LTC Francis BarberFrancis Barber (Colonel)Francis Barber was a Colonel in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He served in the Sullivan Expedition and at the Siege of Yorktown with the 3rd New Jersey Regiment. Barber was wounded at the Battle of Monmouth and then again at the Battle of Newton...
were the light companies from the 1st and 2nd New Hampshire Regiments, the Canadian Regiment, the 1st and 2nd New Jersey Regiments, and three New Jersey Line Companies.
The 2nd Brigade was commanded by Brigadier General (brevet) Moses Hazen
Moses Hazen
Moses Hazen was a Brigadier General in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Born in the Province of Massachusetts Bay, he saw action in the French and Indian War with Rogers' Rangers. His service included particularly brutal raids during the Expulsion of the Acadians and...
, and comprised the Canadian Regiment
2nd Canadian Regiment
The 2nd Canadian Regiment, also known as Congress' Own or Hazen's Regiment, was authorized on January 20, 1776, and raised in the province of Quebec for service with the Continental Army under the command of Colonel Moses Hazen. All or part of the regiment saw action at the Staten Island,...
, Scammell's light infantry regiment
Scammell's 1781 Light Infantry Regiment
On 17 May 1781, General George Washington ordered Colonel Alexander Scammell to form a regiment of picked light infantry. The unit was referred to as Scammell's light infantry, light corps, regiment, or detachment...
, and a battalion of light infantry under the command of LTC Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton was a Founding Father, soldier, economist, political philosopher, one of America's first constitutional lawyers and the first United States Secretary of the Treasury...
. Scammell's regiment was formed from picked men of the New England Regiments on 17 May 1781, and Hamilton's battalion was formed on 31 July 1781 and consisted of two companies from New York and two from Connecticut.
The light infantry division performed two notable services during the Siege of Yorktown. The first was to participate through fatigue
Fatigue
Fatigue may refer to:*Fatigue , structural damage from repeated loading*Fatigue , a state of physical and/or mental weakness*Fatigue , safety implications of tiredness...
s and pickets
Picket (military)
In military terminology, a picket refers to soldiers or troops placed on a line forward of a position to warn against an enemy advance. It can also refer to any unit performing a similar function...
in the advance of the American lines around Yorktown; this work began on in earnest on 30 September 1781. The second was to capture Redoubt
Redoubt
A redoubt is a fort or fort system usually consisting of an enclosed defensive emplacement outside a larger fort, usually relying on earthworks, though others are constructed of stone or brick. It is meant to protect soldiers outside the main defensive line and can be a permanent structure or a...
#10 on the night of 14 October 1781.