Fusils and Fusiliers

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Fusils and Fusiliers

FUSILS AND FUSILIERS. During the seventeenth century a light flintlock musket or fusil was developed for artillery guards, and a special type of light infantry called fusiliers was created. Like the grenadiers, they continued to exist as elite units after their original mission had disappeared. Until a few years before the American Revolution, the spontoon was carried by infantry officers; it then was replaced by the fusil, although some were carried during the Revolution (for example, at Trenton).

SEE ALSO Grenadiers; Spontoon.