John Wilmot
During the French and Indian Wars the British Army was faced with an enemy that refused to stand in line and exchange musket volleys. The need for new tactics was obvious. The development of rifling in barrels produced weapons that were much more accurate but took longer to load. Most European armies rejected rifles because they were not practical for the battlefield of the day. The British Army adopted the rifle, in small numbers, for specialized use. Given the need for new tactics and the limitations of rifles a new army unit was called for. On Christmas Day in 1755 the Kings Royal Rifle Corps was formed. Their dark green uniforms and accurate rifles allowed them to operate differently from the line Infantry of the British Army.
Accurate Fire
Riflemen were taught to be marksmen. Rather than killing large numbers of the enemy, they would concentrate their fire on the commanders to cause confusion among the enemy.
Skirmishing
Because a formed body of troops presents a larger target, Rifle tactics spread troops out over a larger area and call for them to use cover and concealment.
Speed of Movement
Riflemen were trained to move quickly so they could avoid being caught by the enemy. Their equipment was designed to allow them to move through the woods easily. They were also deployed in small groups so they could react faster to commands.
Daring
Initiative was praised in the Rifles. Because of the style of fighting they did, Riflemen had to be able to understand the situation and react without waiting for orders. Even when orders came they were usually in the form of bugle calls and the Riflemen had to be able to interpret what they meant.
Riflemen would fight in pairs (a system that is still in use today) crouching one behind the other. The first man would fire and reload his rifle, the second man would move to the front and the pair would advance. When the first rifle was reloaded, both men would crouch and the second man would fire. Advancing this way, they would always have at least one loaded rifle and it would always be the one closest to the enemy. They could use the same system to retreat as well.
Their job was to locate the enemy, cause him to deploy and then lead him back to our killing zone. The use of natural cover and concealment was emphasized and riflemen would be spread out in a long skirmish line. These tactics were ideal for fighting in the woods of North America but they also proved their value on the battlefields of Europe during the Peninsula War. Wellington made great use of his Riflemen.
They could inflict enough damage to stop an enemy on the march and make him deploy but always stayed just out of range of the muskets and never grouped together enough to present a target for volley firing. Imagine the frustration for the enemy commander. You must deploy your troops so they can protect themselves but once deployed you have no target to shoot at. If you try to advance on them, the Riflemen just scamper away. They can move faster because of their lighter equipment and all they do is lead you into the killing zone of the line infantry behind them. All the while, these marksmen are not shooting your private soldiers, they're shooting your officers, sergeants and most of all you.
Often single Rifle companies were attached to other units to provide reconnaissance and protection. These were traditionally cavalry tasks. That is why today Rifle regiments wear the cross belt and busby of the Hussars.
Most infantry regiments carry flags known as The Colours. In battle they served as a rallying point for the unit hence the phrase "rally round the colours". A conspicuous rallying point goes against the principles of Rifle tactics so no Rifle Regiment carries Colours. Instead, the bugle and the drum hold a place of honour for Riflemen. These instruments were used to give commands to skirmishers operating over a wide front. Bugle calls such as The Regiment were used to identify what unit the message was for and The Alarm would warn them of enemy contact.
Many of today's infantry tactics have their origins in Rifle Tactics. The principle Rifle Regiments are founded on is "Everything that is necessary, nothing that is unnecessary." To get more insight into how Rifle Regiments operated during the Peninsula War, read Bernard Cornwell's book series "Sharpe's Rifles". The official web site of the Queen's Own Rifles is maintained by members of the active battalion who volunteer their time and skills. The message boards provide a forum for our current and former members to exchange information and comments.