THE CORPS OF LIGHT INFANTRY STONY POINT, 15-16 July 1779 The Washington Papers for the year 1779 shed more light on the organization of the Corps and its activities. On 12 June 1779 a General Order was issued for the initial organization. It was to draft the Light Infantry from Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia regiments of the Main Army in the vicinity of West Point. The troops from Connecticut, Massachusetts and North Carolina were to join the Corps just two days before the Stony Point action. The Main Army regiments were organized at that time to have 8 infantry companies and one light infantry company. The light infantry was to be filled with the best soldiers of each regiment. The assembly of such men into the Corps of Light Infantry made it the elite of the Army. The Corps of Light Infantry (LI) for the campaign year 1779 was to organized at brigade level with 4 regiments. Brigadier General Anthony Wayne was the commander of this Corps of Light Infantry. The 1st LI Regiment was manned by selected troops from the following VA and PA Regiments. 1st VA, 2nd VA, 4th VA, 5th VA, 6th VA, 7th VA, 11th VA, 1st and 2nd VA State Regiments furnished 6 LI Companies of 2 officers and 41 men each. Later a drummer and a fifer were added to each company. At full strength the company total was 2 officers and 43 men. The PA contingent to the 1st LI Regiment presumably was 2 LI companies from 3rd and 9th PA Regiments with similar strengths. Within this 1st LI Regiment the companies were divided into two battalion of 4 companies each. Lt. Col. de Fleury commanded the 1st Battalion (2 PA Cos. and 2 VA Cos.) , while Major Thomas Posey commanded the 2nd Battalion (4 VA Cos.). Colonel Christian Febiger was the Regimental Commander. The 2nd LI Regiment was made up of troops from PA and MD. The PA Regiments furnishing 4 LI companies were the 1st PA, 2nd PA, and 6th PA. The other 4 companies were provided by MD Regiments: 1st MD, 2nd MD, 3rd MD, and the 4th MD. The PA Battalion was lead by Lt. Col. Samuel Hay and the MD Battalion by Major Jack Stewart. Colonel Richard Butler was the 2nd LI Regimental Commander. The 3rd LI Regiment was made up of the 8 LI companies of the 6th CT Regiment, a unique unit. 4 companies were under Lt. Col. Isaac Sherman and the other 4 under Captain (Acting Major) Henry Champion. Colonel Jonathan Return Meigs was the Regimental Commander. The 4th LI Regiment had not been organized at the time of the storming of Stony Point, however, the designated subordinate units did participate. The MA contingent was 7 LI companies and the NC contribution was 2 companies. The two NC LI companies were furnished by the 1st and 2nd NC Regiments. The regimental source of the MA LI troops has not been developed. Major William Hull commanded the MA detachment, while Major Hardee Murfree lead the 2 NC companies. My interest now is to identify the LI Company Commanders of the Corps. Best regards, Hugh <[email protected]>