Page 190 - (DK) Smithsinian - Military History: The Definitive Visual Guide to the Objects of Warfare

188 BRITISH UNIFORM AND KIT ▶ GREEN-PLUMED LIGHT Green plume of

ONET 1680–1815 OF THE NAPOLEONIC WARS Date 1801 light infantry
INFANTRY SHAKO

Origin UK
The British line and light infantry in the Napoleonic Wars wore
Material Felt, leather
bright red jackets. The eye-catching color was a sensible choice in an
The cylindrical British light-
era when visibility during battles was often severely reduced by clouds
infantry shako was made
of felt with a leather peak.
of gunpowder smoke, making it difficult to distinguish friend from
The bugle-horn badge and
1812. A soldier’s most important piece of equipment was the flintlock
of light infantry.
Land-Pattern musket known as “Brown Bess,” but he also had to carry
Y foe. Infantrymen wore the “stovepipe” shako as standard from 1801 to green plume were symbols
a knapsack, food bag, kettle, overcoat, blanket, and water canteens,
AND BA of up to 15 miles (25km) a day. CLOSED VIEW Leather peak
as well as ammunition. This represented a heavy burden on marches

FLINTLOCK White straps ▶ TUNIC
Date c.1810
Origin UK
were polished
Material Wool, linen lining
with pipe clay
Private soldiers wore a single-
breasted brick-red tunic. The
green facings on the collar and
Musket ball
cuffs and the shape, color,
in cartridge
and spacing of the lace were
all light infantry features.

Lace colors specific
Powder to light infantry
charge

▶ TROUSERS
CARTRIDGES Date c.1810
Origin UK
Material Wool
During the Peninsular War, the light infantryman’s
white breeches and black gaiters gave way to the
OPEN VIEW
White gray trousers shown here. Made of thick wool,
leather strap they were stiflingly hot in summer.

▲ CARTRIDGE POUCH
Date c.1800 Waterproofed
canvas
Origin UK
Material Leather
The bag could hold 60 cartridges,
each of which contained powder
and a musket ball. The powder Leather sling
was used as both primer and
charge, while the paper served
as wadding to keep the musket
ball in the barrel.

◀ MUSKET BALLS ▲ SHOES
Date c.1800 Date c.1800
Origin UK Origin UK
Weight 1oz (32gm) Material Leather
▲ BRITISH LIGHT INFANTRY The envelope (or “Trotter”)
Diameter ⁄4in (1.7cm) “TROTTER” KNAPSACK knapsack, marked with the Shoes were issued “straight-lasted”
3
Musket balls were made of lead. Date c.1805 regimental number, was (with neither left nor right) and
Balls were classified by their “bore,” Origin UK introduced in around 1805 for were often of extremely poor
the number of balls that could be light infantry. By 1812, it was quality. A soldier was issued
cast from 1lb (0.45kg) of lead. Material Wood, canvas being used across the British Army. only two pairs each year.