The 5th Battalion of the 60th (Royal American) Regiment was the
first rifle battalion in the regular British Army. Raised in 1797,
it marked a significant step in the development of British light
infantry and rifle corps. Lieutenant Colonel Francis de Rottenburg,
the battalion's commander for almost 10 years, formulated the first
British Army light infantry manual. After serving in Ireland during
the 1798 rebellion, in the West Indies, and in the Americas, the
battalion rose to fame during the Peninsular War. It was one of
only three battalions to be present from the initial landings in
Portugal through to the invasion of France, and victory six years
later. Divided between the brigades of Wellington's army to provide
specialist rifle and skirmishing capability, the riflemen often
formed advance or rear guards, patrols and outposts. Frequently
praised by Wellington and his divisional commanders, the battalion
won 16 battle honours. Drawing on official records, memoirs, court
martial transcripts, inspection reports, and unpublished letters,
Riflemen recounts not only the campaigns in which the battalion
fought, but also many personal stories of the soldiers who served
with it. Riflemen includes tales of murder, promotion from the
ranks, desertion, prisoners of war, and small actions that are
often overlooked. As the first history of the battalion written in
almost 100 years, it sheds new light on a vital component of
Wellington's army and its important place in the history of the
British Army.
General
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