Riflemen, 1813 (c)

Coloured etched aquatint by and after J A Atkinson. Published by John Murray, 1813.

Regular units of Rifles were formed in the British Army in 1800. Both the 60th Regiment of Foot and the 95th Regiment of Foot served during the Peninsular War (1808-1814). Riflemen were armed with Baker Rifles, which were more accurate and of longer range than muskets. They fought in pairs ahead of the main infantry who operated in close formations. Riflemen moved around freely, were trained to use natural cover and could pick off the enemy with aimed shots.