his uncle. This included a Voltigeur Brigade of two regiments, expanded to two brigades by 1857. Drawn from experienced men with good records in the line infantry, the Voltigeur regiments of the Imperial Guard served with distinction in the Crimean and Italian campaigns. In the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 they saw only limited action before the surrender of the main Imperial field army at Metz. The surviving depot companies of the Voltigeur regiments were then incorporated into the provisional regiments de march of the Republican forces. In French-allied states Several Napoleonic French allies based their battalion formation on that of the French and had voltigeur companies in their battalions. The allies using the French battalion system included the following: The Grand Duchy of Baden The Duchy of Warsaw The Kingdom of Bavaria (After 1810) The Kingdom of Holland The Kingdom of Italy The Kingdom of Naples The Kingdom of Saxony (After 1809) The Kingdom of Westphalia The Kingdom of Württemberg Several minor Rheinbund states In addition, the United States organized a "Regiment of Voltigeurs and Foot Riflemen" (1847–1848) for service in the Mexican–American War. Like its French counterpart, the American voltigeur was composed of light infantry trained to fight either in conventional formations or spread out into skirmish lines. In Belgium The Jagers te Paard Battalion is a mounted reconnaissance unit. Its A and B Squadrons have a Voltigeurs platoon for dismounted reconnaissance. See also Canadian Voltigeurs Chasseur Grande Armée Grenz infantry Jäger (military) Les Voltigeurs de Québec Light Infantry Skirmisher References Notes Bibliography Infantry French Army Military units and formations disestablished in 1815 Military units and formations established in 1804 Military units and formations of France Obsolete occupations