Every regiment of foot had a grenadier company.  In the 1600's up to 1705, the grenadiers lobbed hand grenades in combat.  It was discovered, though, that the hand grenade really wasn't all that effective and was, in fact, about as dangerous to the handler as it was to the intended target.  Grenades were simple iron or ceramic hollow spheres, packed with black powder, and fitted with a cord fuse.  The grenadier would sling his musket over his shoulder (wide-brimmed hats would not allow that, so the tall, brimless mitres were used), produce a slow burning match cord from a special box fitted to his cartridge pouch strap, and light the grenade's fuse.  The grenade would be thrown underhand and, with any luck, destroy the rampart or fortification.  In linear combat they would be, naturally, very difficult to use.  For example, if a grenade was to go off prematurely, the grenadier would be maimed or killed, along with those around him.  It would not be impossible for a "chain reaction" of these events to occur, thus decimating the entire line.  What is even more shocking is the fact that all the grenade actions were done by commands, not individually!  Just imagine the disaster that was built into that system.  So, grenades disappeared from the battlefield, except in certain sieges, until the 20th Century.

Grenadiers survive to the present day in the form of Her Majesty's Grenadier Guards.  In the 18th Century, the grenadiers, while nolonger "demolition specialists," were the hand-picked elite of a regiment.  From the battalion companies, the tallest, fittest, and the most brave soldiers were taken out and put into the grenadier company.  Battalion company officers were often annoyed that the flank companies were always maintained at full strength, while their companies were withering away.

The uniforms of grenadiers also varied from the other companies.  The most obvious feature is the tall bearskin hat, but the grenadier's coats also had "wings" of wool with six strips of regimental lace on each shoulder.  The grenadiers continued to wear the brass matchboxes which carried burning slowmatch on their belt-straps,  mostly as an affectation.  The officers of grenadiers also wore two epaulettes and fusils (short, lighter muskets) whereas the battalion officers had one epaulet and were to have spontoons (pikes) instead of a musket.

Grenadiers took part in the Trooping of the Colours ceremonies, acting as guards for the Colours (the body and spirit of the regiment).   Grenadiers were also frequently banded together to form composite grenadier battalions, becoming a very powerful shock force to unseat (or try to) the most stubborn foe.  The 35th's Grenadier Company was formed into the 1st Battalion of Grenadiers in Boston of 1775 and took part in the Battle of Bunker Hill with 88% casualties.  They also fought in the New York Campaign of Long Island, Pelham Manor, White Plains, Ft. Washington, Philadelphia, and garrison in New Jersey before rejoining the rest of the regiment.  In 1778, the entire 35th was sent to the West Indies as part of General James Grant's 5,000 man expeditionary force.

Nec Aspera Terrent - Nothing Deters Us