Osprey Men-at-Arms 126 : Wellington's Light Cavalry

In April 1756 the Horse Guards agreed, with some reluctance, to the addition of a single 'light troop' to most cavalry regiments. These troops had an establishment of three officers, a troop quartermaster, five NCOs, two drummers and 60 'light and active' young troopers. They were mounted on small, nimble horses, and dressed in the same uniforms as the remainder of their regiments except they were given a new-pattern headdress - a small japanned leather helmet with an upright comb and front plate mounted with brass and a drooping feather. They were armed with carbines, pistols and straight swords without basket guards. From their formation these troops were fashionable and treated as having a special character, and they became so useful that by 1759 it was decided to form complete regiments of light cavalry. Bryan Fosten provides an in depth account of the organisation, uniforms and history of Wellington's Light Cavalry in a text backed by numerous illustrations including eight full page colour plates by the author himself.

Contents

• Introduction
• Light Cavalry Establishments
• Drills, Tactics and Movements
• Representative Orders of Battle
• The Plates