Puffer
Thanks for getting me to the TMA site.
I would like to hear Sir Michael's and your comments regarding the British development of their rifle corps and the Baker rifle. Do you think that the British made these developments because of their experience with the American riflemen in the revolutionary war?
Hi there chuckpa. I'm not sure I'm the expert that Puffer makes me out to be but here is what I know. Or at least what I think I know.
Starting in 1746 the British Ordnance Board began acquiring rifles. They were issued in small quantities to select men throughout the army from time to time. During the French and Indian War (7 Years War) at most one company from a regiment was equipped with rifles. They tended to be issued for specific operations and then returned to stores for issue the next unit requiring them. This type of use continued through the First American War (The Revolution). The rifles used during this time were essentially German hunting rifles and most were made in Germany.
In 1776 the Board of Ordnance established the Pattern 1776 Infantry Rifle. Something over a 1,000 of these were made and shipped to America. They were used much the same way that earlier rifles had been used ( a few to each regiment depending on operational demands).
Regimental Colonels were also purchasing on their own rifles for issue to their best regimental shots.
The Board of Ordnance also purchased some breach loading rifles designed by Patrick Ferguson but they saw little action and spent most of the war in a warehouse in NY.
After the First American War ended several units in the British Army experimented with rifles and/or equipped some of their best shots with rifles. The British Army also Incorporated several German units into its structure and some of them were equipped with rifles.
In 1797 the 60th Regt raised a 5th Battalion of Germans equipped with German rifles. It was the first all rifle battalion in the British Army. It was trained to fight as light infantry along with several other Line Regiments even though they were equipped with Muskets. The creation of light infantry and the use of rifles was sponsored by General Howe based on his experience in the First American War.
In 1799 the Duke of York established an Corps of Riflemen that was initially organized to train companies of riflemen which when trained were to be returned to their regiments. In 1800, 14 Reg ts sent 30 men each along with officers to be trained as riflemen and equipped with Baker Rifles or more properly the Pattern 1800 Infantry Rifle, this was replaced by the Pattern 1805 and latter by the Pattern 1810. Latter that year necessity forced six of the detachments to be deployed as a single unit. Around this same time the decision was made to keep this Experimental Corps together rather then disperse it after training and it became The Rifle Corp.
In 1802 The Rifle Corps was brought into the line and designated the 95th Regt. Foote (The Rifles).
After the 95th was equipped with Baker rifles the 5/60 Regt was also equipped with them.
During the Napoleonic War the Light Battalions of the Kings German Legion were also equipped with Baker rifles.
During the Peninsula Campaign and after, the 95th, 52nd, and 43rd Reg ts were Brigaded as the Light Division. Although the 52nd and 43rd were equipped with Muskets they were trained in the same manner as riflemen and fought the same way.
All of this is to say that the answer to your question is Yes, the experience in America in both the 7 Years War and the First American War were instrumental in the establishment of the British rifle units. It was also instrumental in their being uniformed in green instead of red.
If you rally want to read more about all this and really get into it, here is a list of references to get you started.
British Military Flintlock Rifles 1740-1840 by De Witt Bailey, Ph.D.
Rifleman, Elite Soldiers of the Wars Against Napoloen by Philipp Elliot-Wright (Military Illustrated)
British Rifleman 1797-1815 by Philip Haythornthwaite (Osprey)
The Royal Green Jackets by Christopher Wilkinson-Latham (Osprey)
