Researchers, It was the practice in the British Army to consolidate the Light Infantry Companies from e number of regiments and form into a Corps of Light Infantry for the campaign season. So it was with the American Continental Army in 1779. In the spring of 1779 the British had advanced up the Hudson (North) River to King's Ferry landing sites on either bank of the river, On the east was Verplank's Point and on the west was Stony Point. Fortifying the two points posed a threat to Washington's Army at West Point some 12 miles to the north on the west bank of the river. The Stony Point garrison posed the greatest threat. It was being well fortified with defensive works and cannon as well as a garrison of about 700 men. Washington needed to respond to the presences of the British Army. Thus he caused the Corps of Light Infantry (LI) to be formed using the regimental light infantry companies of his Army around West Point. These troops were from MA. PA, VA, MD, DE, CT and NC. The LI companies contributed to the Corps were formed into companies as follows: 6 from MA, 6 from PA, 6 from VA, 4 from MD/DE, 8 from CT, and 2 from NC. It was 32 companies in all. The Corps was to be commanded by Brigadier General Anthony Wayne. He organized the Light Infantry Corps into 4 Regiments, each with 8 Companies. Wayne selected the senior officers from the most experienced of Washington's Army in the area. The First LI Regiment was commanded by Colonel Christian Febiger of Virginia, the Second LI Regiment by Colonel Richard Butler of Pennsylvania, the Third LI Regiment by Colonel Return J. Meigs of Connecticut and the Fourth LI Regiment by Colonel Rufus Putnam of Massachusetts. Other field grade officers (Lt. Cols. and Majors) were selected for their reputations as leaders and fighters. As the LI companies were already manned by the best junior officers (Captains and Lieutenants) and the most experienced soldiers in each regiment, the whole was a composite of the finest of the Continental Army. Training was rigorous with emphasis on the use of stealth and the bayonet. General von Stueben, himself, oversaw the training. The mission of the Corps was very close hold. It was to attack Stony Point , a fortress built on a rocky promontory located on the west bank of the Hudson River. The troops were to approach at night and assault using bayonet alone. The only firing of muskets was to be by the element which was to cause a diversion. The scheme was to attack Stony Point from south and north while an element created a diversion by musket fire from the center or main approach to the fort. General Wayne lead the attack from the south. The attack was scheduled for midnight 15 July 1779. Due to the difficult terrain it was about 20 minutes late. However, the fort was over run in about 20 to 30 minutes. The ruse of feinting an attack on the main approach worked and the defenders were poorly deployed when the LI flank attacks over came the resistance. "The fort is our own" was the cry of success that night. Often overlooked is the Artillery detachment with Wayne, whose task was to man the captured cannon and turn the guns on the British vessel in the River and on the fortress at Verplank Point on the opposite side of the river. This they did with exceptional effect. They drove HMS Vulture down stream and harassed the opposite fort to the point that they did not react to the action at Stony Point. There were many heroes that night, but several got recognized by Congress. They were Brig. Gen. Anthony Wayne, Lt. Col. Louis de Fleury, Major Jack Stuart, Lt. James Gibbon, and Lt. George Knox. Because this Corps of Light Infantry was a temporary organization, the details of its membership were not recorded or recordings were lost. At present the only way to continue to reconstruct the rosters of the several units is by reviewing personal claims of service at the Storming of Stony Point on 16 Jul 1779 which claims are found in individual pension applications for the most part. Some of the Company Orderly Books of the various LI companies may exist in a limited number of collections. I have found one kept by Captain Gamble of Virginia which was kept after the action at Stony Point, but before the Corps was disbanded for that year. It reveals many of the names, particularly Officers and Noncommissioned Officers who continue to serve in the Corps. Officers and men who were killed or wounded at Stony Point are not accounted for by name in material revealed so far. My attempt is to reconstruct the names of those who served in the Battle of Stony Point. If you have a Revolutionary War Patriot who claims he was at the Storming of Stony Point in 1779, I would appreciate hearing from you. Best regards, Hugh <[email protected]>