2009 August 15 Meeting

Chapter Meeting Saturday August 15, 2009

Ed Forte, Milton High School history teacher spoke on the Colonial Light Infantry

Biography: Ed Forte is a 23 year Marine Corps veteran (1974-1997) having served around the world in various command and staff assignments. His last tour of duty was as the Professor of Naval Science at both UPENN and Villanova Universities. He has undergrad and graduate degrees in American history, the latter from Villanova University. Since his retirement from active duty in 1997, he has been teaching and coaching within the Fulton County School District. He is currently teaching Advanced Placement (AP) US History at Milton High School. Ed is married and has three daughters and one grandson. His wife is Diane Ellen Valantien, who is a descendent of Robert Morris, the latter given the nom de guerre as the "Financier of the American Revolution", signer of the three founding seminal documents: Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation and U.S. Constitution and lastly one of the members of the Maritime Committee which led to the creation of the U.S. Navy and Continental Marines.

Colonial Light Infantry

The Light infantry companies added to the regimental organization of each Continental Army infantry regiment in 1778 had European roots. The American leadership stressed the ideas of French military theorists, which advocated cross-training every soldier to perform both line and light infantry roles to allow mission flexibility. Light companies normally assembled into provisional battalions at the start of each year's campaign and acted as a special strike force in traditional battlefield roles.

Shown in the photo below are some of the types of equipment and personal articles which might have been carried by a Light Infantry Continental Soldier.