A military dictionary

by William Duane

The French monarch, though more slowly, and with greater difficulty, accustomed the impetuous spirit of their people to subordination and discipline; and were at such pains to render their national infantry respectable, that as early as the reign of Louis XII. several gentlemen of high rank had so far abandoned their ancient ideas, as to condescend to enter into their service.

The Spaniards, whose situation made it difficult to employ any other than their national troops in the southern parts of Italy, which was the chief scene of their operations in that country, not only adopted the Swiss discipline, but improved upon it, by mingling a proper number of soldiers, armed with heavy musquets, in their battalions; and thus formed that famous body of infantry, which, during a century and a half, was the admiration and terror of all Europe. The Italian states gradually diminished the number of their cavalry, and, in imitation of their more powerful neighbors, brought the strength of their armies to consist in foot soldiers. From this period the nations of Europe have carried on war with forces more adapted to every species of service, more capable of acting in every country, and better fitted both for conquests, and for preserving them. See Robertson’s View of the State of Europe, book I., pages 105 and 107.

Infanterie aventuriere, Fr. a species of French infantry, which succeeded to the legions that were established under Francis I. in imitation of the Roman legions. This infantry was kept up as late as during the reign of Henry IV. when the whole of the foot establishment was reduced into regiments.

Heavy-armed Infantry, among the ancients, were such as wore a complete suit of armor, and engaged with broad shields and long spears. They were the flower and strength of the Grecian armies, and had the highest rank of military honor.

Light-armed Infantry, amongst the ancients, were designed for skirmishes, and for fighting at a distance. Their weapons were arrows, darts, or slings.

Light Infantry have only been in use since the year 1656. They have no camp equipage to carry, and their arms and accoutrements are much lighter than the common infantry, or battalion men. Wherever there is light cavalry, there should be light infantry to act in conjunction.

Foreign Infantry (Infanterie étrangere, Fr.) Foreign troops were taken into pay, during the old monarchy of France, at a very early period. In the reign of Philip surnamed le Bel or the handsome, treatises and agreements were severally entered into for this purpose, with John Bailleul king of Scotland, Eric king of Norway, Albert duke of Austria, and many other German princes, and with Humbert duke of Viennois.

Philip of Valois likewise made use of foreign troops, and under Louis XI. the Swiss were taken into French pay; since that period and until the revolution, which was accomplished on the 10th of August, 1792, several regiments were maintained under the different denominations of Swiss, German, Italian, Catalonian, Scotch and Irish corps or brigades. During the present war the same system has been more or less adopted by the British government. Independent of foreign subsidies, it has been judged expedient to admit foreigners of rank, and we presume, of military merit, within those native limits, from whence heretofore every stranger was jealously excluded. A reference to the official army list will readily point out the corps that come under this description. With respect to the 60th or loyal American, it is necessary to observe, that the original principles upon which those battalions were established, have been totally altered. One battalion in particular, instead of being called American, should be named German. For the colonel is a German by birth and education, and the majority of the corps are from that country.

In thus adverting to the 60th regiment, we think it right to explain away an absurd and contradictory opinion, which has prevailed of late years to the prejudice of that gallant corps. It has been called the condemned regiment, from an idle, and unfounded notion, that the different battalions, though forming a considerable part of the British infantry, were excluded from home service, on account of some imputed misconduct. Their uniform good behaviour is a sufficient refutation to the latter supposition; and when we state that at the close of the American war, the battalions of the 60th were formed for the express purpose of garrisoning the British possessions in Canada, and as the means of providing for those Americans who had suffered by their attachment to the royal cause, we may leave the subject without further explanation; merely adding, that instead of being exiled from Europe, they have during the present war, done duty in Ireland and at the Isle of Wight. With respect to foreign troops in the pay of and actually serving in Great Britain; there are five Dutch regiments under two Dutch generals, which in every sense of the word, come under the description of foreign infantry. Indeed from the general convulsed state of Europe, and the gradual introduction of coercive measures, the business of arms seems necessarily to have taken an ascendancy over every other calling or profession.

The foreign infantry, in the service of Great Britain, according to the returns delivered in on the 1st of November 1800, consisted of loyal French emigrants, Castries, Mortemart, Roll, and Dillon; Meuron ditto; four ditto Dutch, each having a company of artillery attached, and one Dutch rifle with a company of pioneers; Lowenstien’s corps, which was not completed, and one corps of foreign invalids. Staff to a foreign hospital. There were besides sixteen unattached foreign officers who received full pay, 166 ditto on half pay, 504 aged and wounded ditto, 46 foreign officers widows, 44 children of foreign officers who died in the king’s service. There was also a small corps of estafettes, which were attached to the waggon train, and consisted wholly of foreigners.