80th Foot
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Origin and History
This regiment of light infantry was raised on May 5, 1758 in North America by Thomas Gage. It consisted of:
- 1 colonel
- 1 major
- 1 surgeon
- 1 assistant-surgeon
- 3 captains
- 1 captain-lieutenant
- 14 subalterns
- 20 sergeants
- 20 corporals
- 5 drummers
- 500 men in 5 companies of 100 men each
During the Seven Years' War, the regiment was commanded by:
- from June 23, 1743: Thomas Gage
The regiment was disbanded after the war in 1764.
Service during the War
In July 1758, the unit was part of the expedition against Carillon (actual Ticonderoga). On July 5, a detachment formed part of the vanguard along with Rogers' Rangers. The rest of the regiment formed the rearguard. On July 6, at daybreak, the British flotilla reached the narrow channel leading into Lake Champlain near Fort Carillon and disembarkation began at 9:00 AM. The same day regiment the regiment was involved in several skirmishes with French and Indian light troops. On July 8, it fought in the disastrous battle of Carillon. At daybreak on July 9, the British army re-embarked and retreated to the head of the lake where it reoccupied the camp it had left a few days before.
In 1759, the regiment joined Amherst's force in a new and successful expedition against Carillon.
In August 1760, the regiment joined the army under the command of Amherst who participated to the three pronged attack against Montréal whose garrison surrendered on September 8.
To do: details of the campaigns from 1759 to 1762.
Uniform
Privates
| Headgear | cut-down tricorne | ||||||||||||
| Neckstock | white | ||||||||||||
| Coat | dark brown jacket without lace and with black buttons
| ||||||||||||
| Waistcoat | brick red without lace, with small black buttons | ||||||||||||
| Breeches | brick red | ||||||||||||
| Gaiters | dark brown with black buttons | ||||||||||||
| Leather Equipment |
|
Troopers were armed with a "Brown Bess" muskets, a bayonet and a hatchet.
Officers
No information available yet.
Musicians
Drummers had brown coat.
Colours
The regiment had no colour.
References
Chartrand, R.; Colonial American troops, 1610-1774, Osprey Publishing, 2002
Fortescue, J. W., A History of the British Army Vol. II, MacMillan, London, 1899
George II, The Royal Clothing Warrant, 1751
Lawson, Cecil C. P., A History of the Uniforms of the British Army - from the Beginnings to 1760, vol. II, p. 90-103; vol. III, p. 207
May R. and Embleton G. A., Wolfe's Army, Osprey Publishing, London, 1974
Mills, T. F., Land Forces of Britain the Empire and Commonwealth (an excellent website which unfortunately seems to have disappeared from the web)
N.B.: the section Service during the War is mostly derived from our articles depicting the various campaigns, battles and sieges.
