British Grenadiers of the American Revolutionary War, 1775–1783

In many 18th century armies, the strongest, tallest and most reliable soldiers of an infantry regiment were typically assigned to the grenadier company, which deployed on the vulnerable right flank of the regimental line. When the need arose, these elite flank companies could be detached from their parent regiments to form adhoc or provisional grenadier battalions for an upcoming engagement or even for the duration of a campaign. The opening shots of the American Revolutionary War were fired on April 19, 1775, when a detachment of 700 light infantry and grenadiers, drawn from eleven of the 13 British regiments stationed in Boston, marched to Concord, Massachusetts, with orders to seize and destroy all military stores located there.

In 1776, Major General William Howe, the British commander in chief in North America, ordered the formation of four “flank battalions”, two of light infantry and two of grenadiers, from the converged flank companies of the infantry regiments in his command. At the time, the British infantry regiment consisted of eight companies of foot, one of grenadiers and one of light infantry. Regimental strength varied, ranging from an average of 600 all ranks in a typical foot regiment to 700 in the Guards and well over 1.000 in the 71st (Fraser‘s Highlanders) Regiment of Foot. Having commanded a light infantry battalion in the 1759 Siege of Quebec, Howe must have appreciated the value of elite flank battalions.

Available Miniatures

• American Revolution: British Grenadiers, 1:32 A call to Arms 8
• British Grenadiers Command, 28 mm Brigade Games AWI221
• British Grenadiers, marching, 28 mm Brigade Games AWI222
• British Grenadiers, firing, 28 mm Brigade Games AWI224
• British Grenadiers, charge bayonets, 28 mm Brigade Games AWI226
• British Grenadier Command, standing, 28 mm Perry AW66
• British Grenadier Command, advancing, 28 mm Perry AW70
• British Foot Guards Grenadier Companies, marching, 28 mm Perry AW 210
• British Grenadiers, advancing, shouldered arms, 28 mm Perry AW68
• British Grenadier Firing Line, 28 mm Perry AW67
• British Grenadiers, charging, 28 mm Perry AW69
• Highland Grenadier Company, in fur Cap, charging, 28 mm Perry AW4
• Highland Grenadier Company, advancing, shouldered arms, 28 mm Perry AW5
• Queen‘s Rangers Grenadier Company, advancing, 28 mm Perry AW25
• British Grenadiers, advancing, 25 mm RSM AR-BGA
• British Infantry 1775 (Lights & Grenadiers), 1:72 A Call To Arms 65
• British Grenadiers, 1:76 Airfix 01740
• Highland Lights & Grenadiers, defending, 20 mm Frying Pan & Blanket 104
• British Grenadiers, 15 mm Jeff Valent Studios RWB03

Interestingly, the valuable, heavy and relatively warm bearskin caps were worn on parade, but replaced by a more practical hat on campaign. Fusiliers of the 23rd (Royal Welsh Fusiliers) Regiment of Foot apparently were the only British infantrymen wearing bearskin caps in the American Revolutionary War¹.

Organization

• 1st Battalion of Grenadiers
  • Lt. Colonel William Meadows (55th Foot)
  • Major Edward Mitchell (5th Foot)
  • Grenadier Company, 4th (King‘s Own) Regiment of Foot
    • Captain
    • Lieutenant
    • Second Lieutenant
    • Sergeants (6)
    • Corporals (6)
    • Drummers (2)
    • Fifers (2)
    • Grenadiers
  • Grenadier Company, 5th Regiment of Foot
  • Grenadier Company, 10th Regiment of Foot
  • Grenadier Company, 17th Regiment of Foot
  • Grenadier Company, 22nd Regiment of Foot
  • Grenadier Company, 23rd (Royal Welsh Fuzileers) Regiment of Foot
  • Grenadier Company, 27th (Enniskillen) Regiment of Foot
  • Grenadier Company, 35th Regiment of Foot
  • Grenadier Company, 38th Regiment of Foot
  • Grenadier Company, 40th Regiment of Foot
• 2nd Battalion of Grenadiers
  • Lt. Col. Henry Monkton (45th Foot)
  • Major Charles Stuart (43rd Foot)
  • Grenadier Company, 43rd Regiment of Foot
  • Grenadier Company, 44th Regiment of Foot
  • Grenadier Company, 45th Regiment of Foot
  • Grenadier Company, 46th Regiment of Foot
  • Grenadier Company, 49th Regiment of Foot
  • Grenadier Company, 52nd Regiment of Foot
  • Grenadier Company, 55th Regiment of Foot
  • Grenadier Company, 63rd Regiment of Foot
  • Grenadier Company, 64th Regiment of Foot
  • Grenadier Company, 1st Marines
  • Grenadier Company, 2nd Marines
• 3rd Battalion of Grenadiers
  • Lt. Colonel
  • Major
  • Grenadier Company, 15th Regiment of Foot
  • Grenadier Company, 28th Regiment of Foot
  • Grenadier Company, 33rd Regiment of Foot
  • Grenadier Company, 37th Regiment of Foot
  • Grenadier Company, 46th Regiment of Foot
  • Grenadier Company, 54th Regiment of Foot
  • Grenadier Company, 57th Regiment of Foot
• 4th Battalion of Grenadiers
  • Lt. Colonel
  • Major
  • Grenadier Company, 42nd (Highland) Regiment of Foot
    • Captain
    • Lieutenants (3)
    • Sergeants (5)
    • Corporals (5)
    • Drummers (2)
    • Pipers (2)
    • Grenadiers (100)
  • Grenadier Company, I/71st (Fraser‘s Highlanders) Regiment of Foot
  • Grenadier Company, II/71st (Fraser‘s Highlanders) Regiment of Foot

Bibliography

• Carrington, H. B.: Battles of the American Revolution 1775–1781
• Embleton, G. A.: The British Army in North America 1775–1783 (Reading 1974)
• Fortescue, J. W.: A History of the British Army

American Revolutionary War Miniatures