Prior to hostilities breaking out in the colonies Sir William Howe decided to train his soldiers as light infantry. During the French and Indian War Howe had commanded a light infantry battalion. He was chosen by General Wolfe to lead the men up the cliffs at Quebec in In 1774 Howe established a light infantry camp in Salisbury, England to train the men on his new theory, that formed the line into two lines, instead of three, and the column would always be created by files of two from the center.

There is no existing copy of the light infantry drill for the Continental Army. We do know that they operated in open order (files to be at four feet intervals) and we know that the American lights carried their weapons at trail when moving. Other than that, it is a mystery. However Sir Henry Clinton wrote, in his “The American Rebellion” that Howe's formation of moving in two ranks and at open order would not be changed because “We have always succeeded with it; the enemy have adopted it; they have no cavalry to employ against it...“ So the Americans were copying what the British used on the field, because it worked. Armies throughout time have always copied their enemies, if their tactics worked. Prior to Von Steuben creating his “new” drill, modified from the Prussian drill that he had been trained on, the Continentals mainly used the British drill

Battalion – the main element consisting of about 300 to 500 men Grand Divisions – a company sized element consisting of about 50 men Sub-Division – a platoon sized element consisting of about 25 men Howe added that “wings and platoons might be added in the table and the same movement might take place from them” For our drill the Carolina Light Infantry would never be larger than a company sized element, so for ease of control and less confusion, the term “company” will be used in all commands

Signals for the Drum Bugle or Whistle 1 st 1 Short sound - Flankers to go out 2 nd 1 long sound - Flankers & all other partys to come in 3 rd 2 short sounds - to march 4 th 2 (very) long sounds - to form the Batt'n & prepare for action 5 th Three short sounds - to run or advance without dispersing in rough fighting order 6 th the same frequently repeated - Rangers to pursue at full speed 7 th a short sound - followed by a long if marching to halt if firing to cease 8 th the same three repeated - to retreat

North Carolina sent ten regiments north to fight under Washington’s command. In August 1777 when Washington moved his army to intercept Howe’s attempt to capture Philadelphia he ordered the creation of a light infantry corps under the command of General William Maxwell of the New Jersey Brigade. Maxwell’s force was made up of handpicked men from each of the divisions that included several men from Nash’s North Carolinians under the command of Colonel Alexander Martin (commander 2 nd North Carolina Regiment). A local Pennsylvania militia regiment also augmented Maxwell’s force. All the men were picked for their marksmanship and maneuverability. Many of the men had rifles. Captain Walter Stewart wrote that the light infantry consisted of “about three thousand men mostly with rifles.” This light infantry saw action at Cooch’s Bridge (September 3, 1777) and at Brandywine (September 11, 1777). Maxwell’s lights fought the British for two hours, delaying their attack on the main force across Brandywine creek. After the battle Maxwell’s light infantry was disbanded and the men sent back to their regiments.

The North Carolina Light Infantry was formed when the British invaded Georgia in Prior to the Battle of Briar Creek (March 1779) the North Carolina Light Infantry consisted of two companies of riflemen drafted from the General Richardson’s North Carolina Brigade, three companies of expert riflemen from General Rutherford’s North Carolina Brigade, and some 9-month North Carolina Continentals from western North Carolina. They were outfitted with stores from South Carolina. The “9 months men” were levies who were ill armed and poorly equipped and had originally marched to reinforce Savannah before it fell to the British. This 200 man unit consisted of four companies under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Lytle, former commander of the 6 th North Carolina Regiment. After Briar Creek the North Carolina Light Infantry was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, former aide de camp to George Washington. The unit then consisted of the original soldiers from Briar Creek, but added to its ranks soldiers from the 1 st, 2 nd, 3 rd and 5 th South Carolina Regiments. At times they were also augmented by cavalry from Captain William Clay Snipes Troop of Horse. The unit was disbanded after the Siege of Savannah in 1779 and the soldiers were dispersed back to their original Regiments.