Gloucester Light Infantry is an active independent military organization of the

Rhode Island militia The Rhode Island Army National Guard (RIARNG) is the land force militia for the U.S. state of Rhode Island. It operates under Title 10 of the United States Code, Title 10 and Title 32 of the United States Code, Title 32 of the United States Code ...

that was founded in 1774 and currently serves primarily as a ceremonial honor guard and educational group. The Gloucester Light Infantry operates an armory museum behind the town hall at 33 Dorr Drive in

Chepachet, Rhode Island Chepachet is a village and census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Glocester in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. It is centered at the intersection of U.S. Route 44 ( Putnam Pike) and Rhode Island Route 102 (also ...

which was the former ell of the Chepachet Elementary School. The Gloucester Light Infantry was first organized in Chepachet through an “Act of the Colonial Legislature” which was passed in October 1774 creating the “Company of Light Infantry of the Town of Gloucester.” During the Revolutionary War in December 1776 the Infantry was reorganized as the 5th Company of the 1st Regiment of the Brigade to defend Rhode Island during the War. Later in the War on May 6, 1780, the company was mustered out and reverted to being Gloucester Light Infantry. The history Infantry group participated in most American wars and armed conflicts including the

War of 1812 The War of 1812 was fought by the United States and its allies against the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom and its allies in North America. It began when the United States United States declaration of war on the Uni ...

, The Dorr Rebellion of 1842,

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

(as Company 1, 2nd Rhode Island Volunteers),

Spanish American War Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas **Spanish cuisine **Spanish history **Spanish culture ...

(1898), and

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. In 1923 The Gloucester Light Infantry was reorganized as Battery F, 243rd Artillery. The Gloucester Light Infantry still remains part of the Rhode Island militia but serves a largely ceremonial role using period muskets and cannon for special events and helping to educate the public.

References

{{reflist Military in Rhode Island Historical reenactment groups Organizations established in 1774 1774 establishments in the Thirteen Colonies Organizations based in Rhode Island