80th Foot

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Origin and History

This regiment of light infantry was raised on May 5 1758 in North America by Thomas Gage. It consisted of:

• 1 colonel
• 1 major
• 1 surgeon
• 1 assistant-surgeon
• 3 captains
• 1 captain-lieutenant
• 14 subalterns
• 20 sergeants
• 20 corporals
• 5 drummers
• 500 men in 5 companies of 100 men each

During the Seven Years' War, the regiment was commanded by:

• since June 23 1743: Thomas Gage

The regiment was disbanded after the war in 1764.

Service during the War

In July 1758, the unit was part of the expedition against Carillon (actual Ticonderoga). On July 5, a detachment formed part of the vanguard along with Rogers' Rangers. The rest of the regiment formed the rearguard. On July 6, at daybreak, the British flotilla reached the narrow channel leading into Lake Champlain near Fort Carillon and disembarkation began at 9:00 AM. The same day regiment the regiment was involved in several skirmishes with French and Indian light troops. On July 8, it fought in the disastrous battle of Carillon. At daybreak on July 9, the British army re-embarked and retreated to the head of the lake where it reoccupied the camp it had left a few days before.

In 1759, the regiment joined Amherst's force in a new and successful expedition against Carillon.

In August 1760, the regiment joined the army under the command of Amherst who participated to the three pronged attack against Montréal whose garrison surrendered on September 8.

To do: details of the campaigns from 1759 to 1762.

Uniform

Privates

Uniform in 1758 - Source: Ibrahim90 from a template by Frédéric Aubert

Uniform Details

Headgear	cut-down tricorne
Neckstock	white
Coat	dark brown jacket without lace and with black buttons Collar none Shoulder Straps dark brown fastened with a black button Lapels dark brown without lace and with black buttons Pockets horizontal pockets Cuffs dark brown without lace and with black buttons Turnbacks none
Waistcoat	brick red without lace, with small black buttons
Breeches	brick red
Gaiters	dark brown with black buttons
Leather Equipment	Crossbelt natural leather Waistbelt natural leather Cartridge Box black Bayonet Scabbard black Scabbard none Footgear black shoes

Troopers were armed with a "Brown Bess" muskets, a bayonet and a hatchet.

Officers

No information available yet.

Musicians

Drummers had brown coat.

Colours

The regiment had no colour.

References

Chartrand, R.; Colonial American troops, 1610-1774, Osprey Publishing, 2002

Fortescue, J. W., A History of the British Army Vol. II, MacMillan, London, 1899

George II, The Royal Clothing Warrant, 1751

Lawson, Cecil C. P., A History of the Uniforms of the British Army - from the Beginnings to 1760, vol. II, p. 90-103; vol. III, p. 207

May R. and Embleton G. A., Wolfe's Army, Osprey Publishing, London, 1974

Mills, T. F., Land Forces of Britain the Empire and Commonwealth (an excellent website which unfortunately seems to have disappeared from the web)

N.B.: the section Service during the War is mostly derived from our articles depicting the various campaigns, battles and sieges.