95th Rifles Deployment Questions.... (1 Viewer)

[Napoleon1er]

Does anyone know if the 95th Rifles ever fought as a united battalion, as opposed to in company detachments? Also, did they ever serve in North America? I seem to recall them being at New Orleans.... This is to settle an argument I had with a kid who thinks he can outsmart me- what does he know, he thinks Napoleon was an inferior commander....{sm4}{sm4}
-Sandor:salute::

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Sandor,

You are thinking of the 60th Rifles. That Rifle Regiment was raised in the Americas and saw service in the Americas as well as Europe. They had a battalion serve in the War of 1812. The 7th Battalion to be specific served against us in that war. The 95th sent a battalion to fight in South America, during the War with Napoleon at Buenos Aires the units in the campaign in SA were the 1st BN 95 and a detachment of the 2nd BN 95th. This campaign ended poorly and the British suffered a defeat that sent them packing from the theater. There is a lot of information out there on the Rifle Regiments and subsequent Brigades they became part of. Check out Wikipedia and you will find a lot of good info.

Dave

 

[larso]

I think part of the confusion is that the 60th was at some point designated a 'Light' infantry unit. So it was uniformed and equipped in a similar manner to the 95th. Deing designated a 'Light' regiment was also an honour/reward for meritous service. As time went on the various 'Light' regiments were amalgamated, to the point that all are part of the one regiment these days. Sad to see the many individual histories largely lost.

 

[Napoleon1er]

Thanks for the info., but still one question- did the 95th ever field as a battalion, in other words, not separate out into companies placed at different points in support? I had thought they fought as one at Corona, but were there any pitched battles where they did this?

 

[Scott]

Rifles
Six Years with Wellington's Legendary Sharpshooters
By Mark Urban


I read Urban's book on the fusiliers in the AWI and the one above could be good. There is the Wellington story about mistaking then 95th for a "moving rag fair" on the Penninsula which may imply a battalion formation.

 

[Phantom Warrior]

Thanks for the info., but still one question- did the 95th ever field as a battalion, in other words, not separate out into companies placed at different points in support? I had thought they fought as one at Corona, but were there any pitched battles where they did this?

Probably yes on the Peninsula. Previously 5 companies of 1st Battalion and 3 or 4 companies of second battalion went together as part of a mission to south america. Both battalions were on the Peninsula, usually in separate locations but I believe occasionally together. They almost certainly fought in battalion or close to battalion strength

Terry