Professional Documents
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NAPOLEON'S GERMAN
ALLIES (3):
SAXONY 1806-15
- •• g
Saxon musket, lBog. The weapon is about sixty inches long, and is shown here with the
ftint lock in the half.coc:ked position. Metal fittings are brassj note the nunrod stored
below the barrel, and the lug under the muzzle on to which the bayonet 50Cket fits.
(After an actual example in the MUseuD1 fUr Deutsche Geschichte, East Berli.n.)
3
JENA 14 th OCTOBER 1806
~french
IlItIIJ pruss ian
~Baxon
~~1_~-,--2~
0L' 500::;;Oyds
&ttka~~eIUJ, 14 October 1106: A = Pruuia.D-SasOll forces who had thrown away their weapons and who no
in the . t 13/14 October. B = Tauenzien, early OD. 14 October.
C = l..azmes' attack on the mornia.g of the I .. th. D = Soult's longer heeded their officers' commands, con-
advance. E = Holtundorfl' figbtiag Soult. F = Hohenlobe's tinuously attacked by the enemy, these men
advance. G = *011.8. H = Colonel Boguslawski'. po.itioD., J
= Augereau'. advance. K = Imperial Guard. (Lefebvre). L = withdrew in full control, with regular pace and
Ney. M = French advance against Hohen1ohe. N = General
von Riiebel'. Corps. with band playing. The battalion had formed an
open square and whenever the enemy came too
close they halted to give battJe. Neither the French
cavalry, constantly charging them, or the relentless
4
parently heartless betrayal of his ally Prussia must
be explained: between Prussia and Saxony there
had existed a mutual suspicion and hostility since
before the Seven Years' War, and in 1756 this
culminated in a Prussian invasion ofSaxony and an
attempt to make the Saxon army serve as part of the
Prussian military machine. The hatred between the
states was so great that almost all Saxon soldiers
(and officers) deserted from their regiments and
made their way to Austria or France, where they
re-enlisted in Saxon emigre regiments and fought
against Prussia for the duration of the war. The
Prussian-Saxon alliance of 1806 must thus be seen
as a brittle expedient rather than a genuine act of
friendship.
BaUuojPod,"'mu (Gorod4!CZ1UI). 11-111 A",rut 11,11: Russians:
A.8-=Markowj C-D-E-Kameaskii F-G = Lambert. Allies:H =
Scbwarzea.berg, II August;! = Reynier, II and 12 August;J =
Wcoq's divisioD; K = Lilienberg's brigade; L = Funck'.
division; M = Hessen.Homberg's division; N = Siegenthal'.
divisioDjO = Trautenberg'sdivisionandFrirnont'.divisioDjP Saxon Line Infantry Regt., 1806
= Austria.o and Saxon cavalry. Regimental staff: 1 Oberst (colonel), 1 Oberst-
licUlenant (lieutenant-colonel), 2 Majors
(majors), 1 Regiments-Quartiermeister (regi-
fire of the lirailltuTJ could shake them. As soon as mental quartermaster), 2 Adjutanten (ad-
they had won themselves a respite, they beat jutants), 1 Auditeur (auditor), 1 Re-
"columns of platoons" and marched off with band gimentsfeldscheer (regimental surgeon), 1
playing as if they had been on the parade ground. Stabs-Felseheer (battalion surgeon), 1 Profoss
(provost).
Whenever the enemy came too close the drums
10 companies (2 grenadier and 8 musketeer) totall-
rolled and the battalion stood ready to receive them ing: 7 Kapitans [senior captains, also called
again.' 'Hauptleute' (infantry) or 'Rittmeister' (cav-
Following these lightning victories Napoleon, alry)), 3 Stabs-Kapitans (junior captains), 10
recognizing the martial value of the Saxon army, Premierlieutenants, 12 Souslieutenants, 8
immediately wooed the Elector and concluded a Fahnrichs (ensigns), 30 Sergeanten (sergeants),
military alliance with him. In return for political 10 Fouriers (company quartermasters), 10
and military support, the Electorate was to be Feldscheers (company surgeons), Bo Korporals
(corporals), 30 Tambours (drummers), 20
elevated to a kingdom and given nominal suz- Pfeifers (fifers), 20 Zimmerleute (pioneers), 300
erainty over the Grand Duchy of Warsaw, thus Grenadiers, 1,200 M usketiers.
reviving, if in name only, an ancient historic Grand total 1,753 all ranks
connection.
Until the battle of Leipzig in October 1813, the
axons were to fight and die in the service ofa man
who regarded them at best a efficient but expend- The 1807 Clllllpaign against Prussia and
able cannon fodder; and their ruler, King Fried- Russia
rich August orSaxony, was to lose over halrhis state The Saxon contingent with the French army was as
in 1814 to Prussia, in repayment for his faithful follows:
support for the Corsican dictator. Grenadier-Bataillon 'von Siissmilch' (grenadiers of
On 1 1 December 1806 the Elector of Saxony the regiments 'Prinz Clemens' and 'von
became king and promised to support France with Oebschelwitz')
a military contingent of 20,000 men. For the Grenadier-Bataillon 'von Cerrini' (grenadiers of
immediate campaign against Prussia and Russia, the regiments 'von Sanger' and 'von Low')
however, only 6,000 were required. This ap- Infantry Regiments 'Prinz Anton' (two battalions),
5
Konig Klirassiers again distinguished themselves
and were later rewarded with the title
'Lei b-Klirassier-Garde'. After the PeaceofTilsit the
Saxons returned home.
Sauk of Kobryrl, 37 JtJy ,Iu. It was here that von K1ens-el's impending d.isutu. A. the left can be SeeD the initial Russian
isolated b~de was overwhelmed by vasdy superior Russian cavalry attack i the Russian Dlain body came up from west lUld
£01"«5. Havmg only three squadrons of cavalry, the Saxons' south. The Saxon last st:aJ:l,d was on the old earthworks by the
intelligence gathering was DOt adequate to warn of the abbey.
to Anwpol
Bulkow
'"
Bnelk
to Antopol
!
A
7
the sharpshooters of the various Saxon infantry
regiments were concentrated officially into two
battalions each of four companies of ISO men.
These later became the Light Infantry of the army.
On 31 May the Saxons moved off to Vienna,
where they arrived on 4 June and remained until
fortified position of the Piistlingsberg. On 8 May 'Prinz Clemens', 'von Low' and 'von Cerrini';
Schutzen-Bataillon 'von Egidy'
2nd Brigade (Oberst von Steindel): Regiments
'Prinz Anton', 'Prinz Maximilian' and 'Prinz
Friedrich'.
Having been defeated for the first time in his
imperial career by the Austrians at Aspern-Essling
on 21 May 1809 Napoleon called up all available
forces to avenge this insult. The result was the battle
of Wagram (S-6 July 1809) in which the Saxons
stormed the Austrian centre at Wagram itself, and
lost forty per cent of their strength in the bitter
fighting ofthe first day. That nightthey slept on the
battlefield and renewed their struggle next morn-
Musketeer private'. hat, . . . . 8.0. Compared with
the officers' aDd the cavalry hats, this bicof'D was ing in the area of Aderklaa village, next to the
extremely suuill, and was copied from the Pru••ia.n Hessians. By 4pm on 6 July the Austrians acknow-
equivalent. The edgin~ was white, the pompon in the
£acing colour over white, the corner tassels crUnson ledged defeat and withdrew north on Znaim.
within white.
Saxon losses were 132 officers and 4,103 men dead,
(. =dt'tached 10 Dupas' French division of the IX Corps)
8
wounded and missing out ofa starting strength on 5
july of almosl 8,000. Bernadotte published a
congratulatory order of the day to the IX Corps on
7july 18og, for which he was sharply criticized by
Xapoleon, with whom his relat.ionship was already
cool. The fighting ended when the armistice of
Znaim was signed on 12 July, and the Saxons
rCLUrned home on 22 January 1810.
Reorganization,181O-1812
TheeventsofthecampaignsoflB06, IB07and IBog
had made it plain that extensive reforms were
needed ifthe Saxon army was to function efficiently
as pan of Napoleon's war machine. King Friedrich
Augusllhus instituted a military review committee
under Generalmajor von Gersdorf in spring 1810,
and within a few weeks they produced an agreed
plan which included the following points:
I. A permanent General Headquarters was set up. CreD&dier officer's bearskin, .806-.8.0. The pt
plate encloses a central area of aaam.elled devices in
2. A general staff was established. the following colours: crimson aad white electoral
3. The army was to be divided permanently into its cap; black over white shield with red sword.
(Polandh black and yello_ stripes -ith su.per-
war formations of divisions, brigades and imposed green 'clover-leaf' band. (Sas.ony); crimson
field with silver cypher 'FA'. (Alter a contemporary
regiments. colour plate by Hess.)
4. The responsibility for clothing, equipping,
feeding and providing training ammunition was
removed from the captains who commanded the
companies and given to the state.
general staff and there was a further staff for the
5. Military legal affairs and courls martial were
king as commander-in-chief.
regularized.
The infantry regiments 'Oebschelwitz' l 'Cerrini',
6. Finance and rations were improved.
'BurgsdorP and 'Dyherrn', the cavalry regimem
7. Tactics and drill were simplified (and modelled
'Karabiniers' and the artillery company of the
on the French method).
Royal Household were disbanded, and the men
8. Provision of recruits was now to be by con-
used to reinforce the remaining regiments.
scription and no longer by enlistment of vol un-
Each infantry division had two brigades each of
leers-this to raise the 'moral quality' of the
two regiments, each of two battalions, each of two
soldiers.
grenadier and eight musketeer companies. The
g. Selection of officers and COs to be made with
four grenadier companies of each brigade were
a bias towards younger men.
concentrated imo 'Combined Grenadier Bat-
These proposals received the royal assent on 7 talions' in peace as well as in war. The two Light
March 1810, and the army was at once re-formed Infantry Battalions were expanded into regiments;
from its old 'Inspectorates' (IWO each for the the 'jager-Corps' (formed on 31 August 1 Bog) was
infantry and the cavalry, with lhe artillery under retained.
direct control of the elector) imo three divisions, The cavalry division was formed of three heavy,
two infantry and one cavalry. Each division had its rour light and one hussar regiments each of four
9
directed more towards efficient battlefield perfor-
mance rather than parade-ground precision. New
infantry muskets from Suhl were issued to the Light
Infantry; the Line used French or Austrian
weapons. Bayonets were now longer than before,
and new pattern sabres replaced the old. The new
muskets were effective up to 200 paces, while
artillery could throw solid shot 1,800-2,000 paces,
and canister was used up to 400 paces. The use of
massed artillery was particularly emphasized.
The cavalry remained least affected by these
reforms, and then mainly in the matter of the new
uniforms.
On 22 and 23 July 18 t I, thirtccn infantry
battalions, five cavalry regiments, three foot
artillery and two horse artillery batteries were
concentrated at Miihlberg, where they exercised as
brigades in the new regulations.
Russia, 1812
Bean.k:iD cap, other ra.nks, Saxon Garde-GreDadiere,By spring I ~ I I relations between the French
1815' This item isUDusual ill that there is no 'calo" or
dictator and the Tsar had deteriorated to such an
doth top patch as was the custOID at that tUne. This
is taken CrolD a.o actW c:.aDI.ple in Strallibourg extent that Napoleon issued orders to all his vassal
IDUseWU, and it is possible that it is a later
reconstruction usillg an original brass plate. The states to prepare to mobilize their armies for a
cords are white. punitive expedition against Russia. The cause of
this breach was the attempt by Napoleon to exelude
all British goods from Europe by a blockade (the
squadrons, and was organized into three brigades. Continental System as defined in the Berlin
The regimental artillery (those pieces attached Decrees of 1806). As Britain then truly ruled the
to individual infantry battalions) was disbanded global waves this meant an almost total crippling of
and the guns concentrated into one regiment of trade, and Tsar Alexander, never a convinced ally
foot artillery of sixteen companies plus an artificer of France, turned a blind eye to continued Russian
company and a horse artillery brigade of two imports of British goods via the Baltic ports. This
batteries. An artillery train battalion was raised. enraged Napoleon so much that he embarked on
On the administrative side, an lnspectcur general the campaign that was to destroy halfa million Illen
aux reuues and three SOUs-lllspectellrs were appointed and to achieve nothing but his own downfall.
to ensure that malpractices were kept to a min- The Saxon contingent was mobilized on 15
Imum. February 1812 in two infantry divisions as the VII
Changes in the uniform reflected the influence of Corps of the Grande Armce, and in March the
Saxony's new ally in that the shako replaced the French General Reynicr assumed command over
bicorn, and French-style rank and company it.
badges were introduced. The pigtail and powdered
hair were finally abolished. In the tactical field, the Saxon Order aJ Battle, 1812, as VII Corps oJthe Grallde
old linear infantry formation gave way to the new Annee:
French system of the column and the protective, Commander: General Reynier; Senior Saxon General:
advanced swarm of skirmishers. Training was now Generallieutenant Edler von Lecoq; Chiif oj staff:
10
Saxon Line Infantry Regt., 1810
Regimental staff: I Oberst, I Oberstlieutenant, 2
Majors, 2 Aerzte (doctorsL J Regiments-
Quartiermeister, I Ober-Auditeuf, I Ober-
Regimems-Chirurgus (senior surgeon), 2 Fah-
nenjunker (ensigns), I Stabsfourier, I Stabs-
Chirurgus, I Regiments-Tambour (regimental
drum major), I Bataillons-Tambour (battalion
drum major), 8 Hautboisten I. Klasse (first
class musicians), 12 Hautboisten 2. Klasse, I
Biichsenmacher (armourer), 1 Biichsenschafter
(musket woodworker), 1 Profoss, I Proross-
Knecht (provost's lad).
8 musketeer and 2 grenadier companies totalling: 6
Kapitans I. KfaSse, 4 Kapitans 2. Klasse, 10
Premierlieutenants, 20 Souslieutenants, 10
Feldwebel (sergeant-majors), 20 Sergeants, 10
Fouriere, 5 Chirugen, 100 Korporals, 6
Grenadier-Tambours, 24 M uskelier-
Tambours, 4 Grenadier-Zimmerlcute, 16 Bearskin cap, officer, Saxon Leib-Grenadier-Garde,
Musketier-Zimmerleute, 360 Grenadiere, J8JO-J8JS, The gilt plate shows the black, yellow and
green Saxon crest over a silver-edged crUnson field
1,440 Musketiere. bearing ffAR' in silver. The cords are silver. (After
Grand Total, 2,073 all ranks. Sauerweid's contetnporary watercolour.)
Oberst von Langenau; ChiifofLogistics: Major von 'Konig' and 'von Niesemeuschcl')
Ryssel; Commander of the Artillery: Oberstlieutenant Infantry Regiment 'Konig' -2 battalions and four
von Hoyes; Commander if the Engineers: Hauptmann 4pdr. regimental guns
Damm Infantry Regiment 'von Niesemeuschel'-2 bat-
talions and four 4pdr. regimental guns
2 J st
Division
2nd Brigade (General major von Sahr) :
Generallieutenant Edler von Lecoq
Grenadier-Bataillon 'von Anger' (Regiments
1St Brigade (Generalmajor von Steindel):
'Prinz Anton' and 'von Low')
Grenadier-Bataillon 'von Liebenau' (Regiments
Grenadier-Bataillon 'von Spiegel' (Regiments
'Prinz Friedrich' and 'Prinz Clemens')
'Prinz Maximilian' and 'von Rechten')
Infantry Regiment 'Prinz Friedrich'-2 battalions
2nd Light lrifantry Regimenl-2 battalions
and four 4pdr. regimental guns
3rd Foot Artillery Battery-four 6pdr. cannon and
Infantry Regiment 'Prinz Clemens'-2 battalions
two 8pdr. howitzers
and four 4pdr. regimental guns
Divisional Artillery Park and sapper company.
2nd Brigade (Generalmajor von Nostitz) :
Infantry Regiment 'Prinz Anton'-2 battalions
23rd Light Cavalry Brigade (Generalmajor von
and four 4pdr. regimental guns
Gablenz) :
tst Light Infantry Regiment-2 battalions
'Prinz Clemens' Ulans-4 squadrons
4th Foot Artillery Battery- four 6pdr. cannon, two
'von Polenz' Chevauxlegers-4 squadrons
8pdr. howitzers
Hussars-s squadrons
Divisional Artillery Park and sapper company.
Heavy Cavalry Brigade (Generallieutenanl von
22nd Division Thielmann) :
Generallieutenant von Gutschmidt Garde du Corps-4 squadrons
lsi Brigade (Generalmajor von Kleugel): Kurassier-Regiment 'von Zastrow'-4 squadrons
Grenadier-Bataillon 'von Brause' (Regiments 'Prinz Albrecht' Chevauxlegers-4 squadrons
II
r
Ri.rllt :
Saxon infantry ...br~, 1806. The simp-
l~r brass hilt rdlects th~ gradual move
towards functional weapons without
excessive Ol'DJUDeDtation.. Blade 59CID
x 2·8ani total length ']2C1D, weight
'62kg. (Source, Hi.eb ..Nod Sticllwaff_.)
FAT "lilt:
PalUucli of Saxon Kiirasaien (other
ranks), 1806. The bra•• basket hilt
bears the cypher 'FA' under the dft>
tom caPi the sheath i. in brown
Saxon infantry ... br~, pre-I806. The leather; brass tip, steel rings. Blade
grip is brass, the blad~ S8'7CID long, 93"SCID x 3"3C1D, total leagth IOg'SCID,
2'gan wide; total I~gth. 7OC"'. W'eight W'eisbt 1'27Kg. (Source, Hieb uNJ.
"16kg. (Source, Hi~b .. Nod Stiehwaffen.) StieIlUiaffera.)
2nd Horse Artillery Battery-four 6pdr. cannon After these reductions the VII Corps numbered
and two 8pdr. howitzers. t8 battalions, 16 squadrons, 5 balteries of artillery
each of 6 guns (including Roth's horse artillery
Corps Artillery Reserve
baltery) and 20 regimental pieces. The lack of
1St Horse Artillery Ba ttery } each of four 6pdr.
cavalry and the subsequent lack of adequate
1St Foot Artillery Battery cannon and two
reconnaissance was to prove nearly disastrous for
2nd Foot Artillery Battery 8pdr. howitzers
the Saxons later in the campaign.
Artillery Park
The V 1\ Corps now joined the V (Poles under
Pontoon train
Poniatowski) and the VIII Corps (Westfalians
On 9 April the corps reached Kalisch, where the under Vandamme) as the right wing of the Grande
Saxon Kiirassier Brigade under General von Armee, under Napoleon's younger brother King
Thielmann, together with Hiller's horse artillery Jerome of Westfalia, near Lublin on the ViSlula.
battery, was detached as the 20th Heavy Cavalry On the extreme southern flank was the Austrian
Brigade, and the Chevauxlegers Regiment' Prinz Corps (35,000 men) under Prince Schwarzenberg.
Albrecht' was detached to join two Bavarian At the end ofMay the allies were opposed by Prince
Chevauxlegers regiments as the t 7th Light Cavalry Bagration with eight Russian divisions and 200
Brigade. The Saxon infantry regiments 'von guns on the right bank of the Bug from TarnopollO
Rechten' and 'von Low' were detached as garrison Brest-Litowsk.
troops in the fortresses of Danzig and Glogau Napoleon invaded Russia with the main body of
respectively. his army on 28June t8t2 and the Saxons advanced
12
Undismayed by this disaster, Reynier and
Schwarzenberg united their forces and moved
against an 8,000-strong Russian force with twelve
guns under General Lambert at Pruszana, and
attacked them on 10 August. Lam bert fell back on
Kobryn, but stood behind a boggy stream at
Gorodeczno on I I August. The allies came up,
found the crossing points covered by artillery, and
set about outflanking Lambert that night. They
found an unguarded crossing to the Russian left,
and the 2nd Battalion, I st Light Infantry Regiment
VIII secured it. By gam on 12 August a considerable
Saxon force had been developed across the stream
and in the rear of the Russian flank. To counter
this, Lambert had to change front hastily. There
now followed a battle between 30,000 Russians
(reinforcements had arrived) and '5,000 Saxons,
with the Austrians pressing forward against the
guarded crossings to the north. By 7pm the
Austrians had crossed the river in the north and had
also sent a division to support the Saxons in their
day-long battle, and Lambert began to withdraw
towards Kobryn. Saxon losses were '75 men and go
horses dead, 688 men and 32 horses wounded, 68
men captured or missing. The allies pursued the
Russians and occupied Kobryn on 13 August;
Tormassow evacuated Volhyniaand withdrew past
Dywin.
The Saxon cavalry was now so weak that
to Kleck (Lithuania), which they reached on '5 infantry units were used for outpost duty, and on 24
July, while the Austrians to their right were at August they had a successful clash at Luboml with
Pruszana on the 20th. Reynicr now ordered the two the ubiquitous Russian cossacks. In late August-
corps to exchange their positions, and the Saxons early September the Saxons remained in the area
marched to Pruszana and Kobryn. Klengel's Kuszelin-Macowice-Toczyn, with the Austrians to
brigade was detailed to garrison Kobryn, a little their left at Golowi and Kolki with a 5,000-man
wooden town, and early on 27 July his 2,400 men, detachment at Pinsk. Constant outpost bickering
with eight 4pdr. regimental guns and three with the numerically superior Russians further
squadrons of Ulans, were surprised by General reduced the Saxon cavalry strength. Allied strength
Tormassow with 12,000 men. The Saxons fought here along the River Styr was now 40,000 men, but
until their ammunition was exhausted and the the opposing Russians had 65,000, as
town was in flames before being forced to sur- Tschitschagoff's Army of Moldavia had joined
render. Tormassow was so impressed by their Tormassow. This reinforcement was made possible
gallant conduct that he permitted the captured by the conclusion of a Russo-Turkish peace treaty
officers to retain their swords. Saxon casual ties were which released the Moldavian army for duties
108 dead and 178 wounded, the rest captured. agains Napoleon.
Russian losses were about 600 dead and wounded. On 25 September the Russians attacked and
Had the Saxons had more cavalry, a better drove back a Polish brigade under General
reconnaissance would have revealed the Russian Kosinski at Pawlowice ; as their flank was now
force in time for the brigade to withdraw intact. turned, the Austrians and Saxons fell back over the
13
holding on grimly by Wolkowysk, not daring to fall
back as they were so weak, when cannon shots from
the rear of the Russian lines (at Izabelin) heralded
the arrival of Schwarzenberg's Austrians. The
Russians withdrew-there was no pursuit as the
Saxon cavalry had practically ceased to exist.
Saxon losses from 2-16 November were 1,300 dead
and wounded.
The Austrians and Saxons now moved to Rudnia
and thence to Brzesc, chasing Sacken's corps and
capturing a large part of his baggage train. On 29
November an order was received from Napoleon to
'act against Tschitschagoff', but the Russian was
already over the Njiemen and pursuit was in vain.
By 7 December the Saxons were in Rozanna, the
Austrians in Slonim having lost over 800 men en
route due to exhaustion and frostbite. It was here
that the allies received news of the dreadful
Officer's gorget, 1806. The gilt gorget had a crimson velvet catastrophe which had overtaken the Grande
centrepiece framed in silver and carrying the silver cypher
IFA' under the electoral cap. (Museum tiir Deutsche Ges- Annc.::c. ReYllier was lefllo do as he thought best by
chiebte, East Berlin.)
Napoleon, and he withdrew to Brzesc by 20
December while the Austrians went their own way
River Tara at Turysk to Kowel and later to to Ostrolenka. Saxon strength was now down to
Lubom\. By now the allies had 36,000 men, the 6,000 men, but on that day the Grenadier-
Russians 70,000, and Schwarzenberg ordered a Bataillon 'Eychelberg' with 900 men joined them
further withdrawal over the River Bug. The Saxons from Bialystock, where they had been serving as
crossed that river near Opalin on I October at garrison since 5 July. Reynier now pulled further
loam. On 4 October the allies stood again at Brest- back to Siedlce, Sokolow and Losyce, and Schwar-
Litowsk, until to October when Russian pressure zen berg also moved west to Pultusk. The Russians
forced them to withdraw over the River Lesna. occupied Brzesc and crossed the frozen River Bug.
Things remained fairly static until 27 October On 28 December the VII Corps withdrew over the
when the enemy suddenly and inexplicably fell Liwiec at Liw and Wengrow, and the Russian
back, and contact with them was lost until pursuit slackened olf. On 3 January 1813 the
Durutte's division arrived to reinforce the allies and Saxons were around 'vVarsaw, and were attacked on
a reconnaissance in force was undertaken. It was 10 January by large numbers of cossacks; on 30
discovered that the Russian main body had moved January Reynier crossed the frozen Vistula north of
away to Sionim (Tschitschagoffwas moving up to Warsaw, where he was joined by Bianchi's Austrian
attack the remnants of the Grande Armee as they division next day. By this time the Austrians had
stumbled back towards the Beresina). Although the adopted almost a neutral attitude, as they knew
allies followed by forced marches, they were unable that their emperor would change sides and join the
to catch the enemy-again the lack of cavalry was Tsar against Napoleon as soon as possible. The VI I
severeIy fel t. Corps now numbered about 4,000 men; Reynier,
The Saxons became separated from the Aus- knowing of the probability of an Austro-Russian
trians and were suddenly confronted by superior alliance, withdrew to Petrikau on 6 February and
Russian forces under Generals von Sacken and
Essen III. On 14 November the battle of Wol- The Saxon I von Zastrow' Kiirassiers stonning the Rajewski
redoubt at Borodino. The impractical old cavalry bicorn was
kowysk took place; Reynier withdrew that night replaced in 1810 by the much more impressive brass helmet
but was caught again next day, and the struggle shown here. Officers wore a wreath of gilt oak leaves around
the black fur turban; only the front plate of the Kiirass was
was renewed. The 16th found the Saxons still worn. (After Knotel.)
14
15
chwarzenberg surrendered Warsaw (and 1,500
Saxon sick and wounded) to the Russians.
Reynier continued westwards to Kalisch. On 13
February the Saxons were dispersed in widely
scattered cantonments around that town. In view
of the proximity of the enemy th~ axon generals
advi ed Reynier to concentrate the corps, but
Reynier ignored them and the result was that at
3pm that day they were attacked by superior
Ru ian force and uffered heavy 10 ses as each
mall detachment fought its way back to Kalisch.
One uch force (600 men and 200 horses and a
battery of horse artillery under Generalmajor von
Gablenz) was completely cut off, and did not rejoin
the main body for some month (after the battle of
Liitzen) during which it wandered through
Poland, Moravia and Bohemia. Saxon combat
losse on 13 February were over 1,000 men and six
4pdr. regimental guns, all ofwhich could have been
avoided.
The VII Corps-now orily one weak division-
crossed the Oder at Glogau on 17 February; by 1
March they were in Bautzen, and reached Dresden
* * *
The Saxon units attached in 18/2 to the main body of the
Grande Armee were:
20th Heavy Cavalry Brigade (Generallieutenant von
Thielmann and General Lorge): Saxon Kiirassier
Regiments 'Garde du Corps' and 'von Zastrow',
and a horse artillery battery-fought at Borodino
and successfully stormed the Grand Redoubt at
2pm (Thielmann was created a baron for this
victory). Destroyed in the course of the campaign.
17th Light Cavalry Brigade (General de Brigade
Domanget) : Saxon Chevauxlegers Regiment
'Prinz Albrecht', Bavarian Chevauxlegers Regi-
ments os. I and 2. Fought at Smolensk and
Borodino; ground to pieces in the retreat.
31St Light Cavalry Brigade (General Delaitre) in the
IX Corps: Saxon Chevauxlegers Regiment 'Prinz
Johann', Baden Hussars. The Saxons were cap-
tured at the Beresina Crossing in November 1812.
Irifantry Regiments 'von Rechten' and 'von Low' Entered
Russia in August 1812 and joined the IX Corps;
fought at the Beresina Crossing as the rearguard in
Girard's division; destroyed at Wilna, 4 December
1812.
18
(160,000 men, 450 guns). On 21 May the battle of
Bautzen began. ot surprisingly, the numerically
superior French won the day, but the Russo-
Pru sians withdrew in good order. Due to lack of
cavalry, apoleon was unable to reap the fruits of
this tactical victory; the VII Corps spearheaded his
pur uit. In the next few days heavy skirmishing
took place during which the Russo-Prussians fell
back slowly. By 24 May they had withdrawn
over the River eisse. Saxon combat losses from 2 I
to 24 May were 40 de£!.d, 508 wounded and 98
mi ing (most of the missing rejoined within the
next few day). othing more of note occurred
before hostilities ended for six weeks on 4]une, in
accordance with the armistice of Poischwitz.
By the end of]uly the Saxons were joined in their
camp near Garlitz by new battalions which
permitted the formation of two divisions again:
I st Division (24th of the Grande Armee)
Commander: Generallieutenant Edler von Lecoq
Chief of General Staff: Major von Koppenfels
1st Brigade (Oberst von Brausse) : Leib-Grenadier-
Garde (I bn.), Light Infantry Regiment 'von Hussar sabretasche, Banner of Saxon Volunteers, 1813.
Although an iteJn worn by troopers, there is a considerable
aJDount ofexpensive decoration on this exaJllple. (Musewn fUr
Deutsche Geschichte, East Berlin.)
19
Infantry Regiments 'Konig' and 'von Niesemeus-
chel' (I bn. each)
2nd Brigade Oberst von Ryssel:
Infantry Regiments 'Prinz nton' and 'von Low'
(2 bns. each)
ArtiLLelY (Major Gau): 3rd and 4th foot batteries
(eight 6pdr. guns each) under Hauptmann
Dietrich and Hauptmann Zandt
Light Cavalry Brigade (Generalmajor von Gablenz):
Husaren (8 qn .), lanen (5 qns.)
Two horse artillery batteries each of six guns-
Hauptmann von Prob thayn
Reserve ArtiLLery
One battery of eight 12pdr. guns-Hauptmann
Rouvroy Artillery Park
On I August the strength of the corps was 18,344
all ranks including sick and wounded; battalions
w re under 600 strong, batteries below 160, and the
two cavalry regiments had 1,200 horses between
them. Durutte's division (the 32nd) now had about
8,000 m n.
20
the Saxons were attacked by 30,000 infantry and French Cuirassiers stonning the Grand Redoubt, Borodino.
Repeated charges and counter-eharges were made at this
12,000 cossacks under Bulow and, when Durutte's defence work, which changed hands several tUnes during the
division crumbled and fell back, leaving them day. Russian casualties in this battle were higher than they
need have been due to their close, deep fonnations.
completely unsupported, they had no alternative
but to withdraw, fighting heavily all the way.
Saxon losses were General von Sahr badly woun- support from the XII Corps (the re erve) and to the
ded, 116 dead, 359 wounded and 1,564 captured. appearance of the Russians and wedes at 4pm, the
Oudinot fell back on Wittenberg. day was lost. The axons withdrew, again in
On 29 August a Prussian column of their IV squares, to guard against the ubiquitous enemy
Corp, under Generalmajor von Wobeser, attacked cavalry. ey reported to apoleon that the Saxons
the village of Luckau, whose garrison consisted of had failed in this battle-in truth they and the
100 French and Italian gunners and sappers and Bavarians had saved a withdrawal from becoming
600 men of the Saxon Infantry Regiment 'Prinz a debacle and the withdrawal was caused by ey's
Maximilian' and forced them to surrender after bad general hip.
etting fire to the place. The Saxons fell back on Torgau in good order,
apoleon would not tolerate Oudinot' retreat the IV and XII Corps were in much worse
and replaced him with Marshal ey on 4 Septem- condition. In the last eight days the Saxon 10 es
ber. ext day the IV, VII and X II Corps began an were 1,098 men dead and wounded, 2,000 cap-
advance on]uterbogk. On 6 Septem ber the battle tured, 12 guns and 40 waggons lost. Each infantry
of ]iiterbogk occurred in which von Bulow and regimen t was now re-formed in to one battalion, and
Tauenzien defeated the French and their allies. on 21 September the VII Corps was reduced to one
The IV Corps was overrun, the Saxon infantry division again:
advanced in square to help them, but due to lack of
21
Commander: Generallieutenant von Zeschau
Chief if staff: Major von Cerrini
1St Brigade Oberst von Brause
Ojficers Men Horses
Light Infantry Regiment 'von Lecoq' (I bn.) 17 75 0
Infantry Regiment 'von Rechten' (I bn.) 12 300
Infantry Regiment 'Prinz Friedrich' (I bn.) 15 580
Infantry Regiment 'von Steindel' (I bn.) 17 620
1st Grenadier-Bataillon 'von Spiegel' 9 33 0
Feldjager (I company) 3 74
Totals 73 2,654
2nd Brigade (Generalmajor von Ryssel):
2nd Grenadier-Bataillon 'von Anger' 9 320
Infantry Regiment 'Konig' (I bn.) 9 300
Infantry Regiment 'von Niesemeuschel' (I bn.) 6 540
Infantry Regiment 'Prinz Anton' (I bn.) 9 600
Infantry Regiment 'von Low' (I bn.) 7 25 0
Light Infantry Regiment 'von Sahr' (I bn.) 16 700
Totals 56 2,7 10
At the same time the XII Corps was disbanded On 9 October apoleon reviewed the VII Corps
and Guilleminot's division was given to the VII near Eilenburg, and delivered the following
Corps. address:
Meanwhile the other two Allied armies-those 'Soldiers of the VII Corps! You French and
of Silesia and Bohemia-advanced and made Saxons! You have been very unfortunate in the last
contact with the Army of the North; Napoleon affair. I have come to put myself at your head and
concentrated his forces at Dresden. The Prussian to give you revenge I It is nothing new to see the
General Yorck (Army ofSilesia) crossed the Elbe at French eagle and the Saxon flag together, as this
Wartenberg, and beat off the IV Corps which alliance has existed since the Seven Years' War!
opposed him. 'You should remember that you are the same
22
soldiers as at Friedland and Wagram! The Grande Annee crossing a river during the advance into
Russia in 1812. Although only a nUnor strelUll, this picture
'I have not made peace so that the enemy can gives some idea of the disruption and chaos which could be
caused by a water obstacle. The steepness of the banks was as
extend his frontiers to the Elbe. The king, who is considerable a problem as the depth of the water when
your father has given his army into my hand; he considering the passage of horse-drawn vehicles of the
artillery train.
who cannot erve his king faithfully can go!'
Thi addre s, translated imultaneously into juncture that the Saxons, voted with their feet,
German by Caulaincourt for the benefit of the leaving the French lines to march into the arms of
Saxons, was greeted by the French officers with the their natural allies. The German defections suffered
u ual cries of'Vive l'Empereur!' and by the Saxons by apoleon at this period were as follows:
with an eloquently stony silence. Their enthusiasm As the tide of events turned against apoleon in
for the French cause had wilted as they had seen the autumn of 1813, his German vassal states'
their homes plundered and destroyed by contingents began to fall away from him on the
apoleon's men during 18[3. All they wanted was battlefields. On the night of 23 September at
tojoin the Allie, and throw the dictator out oftheir Worlitz near Oranienbaum, the Saxon 'Bataillon
country. Konig' of the 2nd Brigade (eight officers and 300
apoleon thrust forward at the Army of Silesia men under Major von Bi.inau) went over to the
at Wartenburg, but his quarry crossed to the left Swedes. On 22-23 August the 1st and 2nd
bank of the Saale on 12 October, joined Westfalian Hussars had defected to the Allies at
Bernadotte's Army of the orth, and marched up Zittau, and the 25th (Wi.irttemberg) Light Cavalry
the course of that river. apoleon re-concen trated Brigade under Generalmajor Graf ormann did
hi forces around Leipzig. The VII Corps arrived the same on 18 October. The King of Saxony
near Paunsdorfat 4am on 17 October, remaining in publicly condemned this action, and Major von
re erve on that and the next day. It was at this Bi.inau was court-martialled in absentia.
23
On 30 September the Army ofSilesia crossed the PlatolPs cavalry to hinder the French pursuit. The
Elbe at Wartenburg, and on 3 October they broke Saxon generals (Zeschau and Gersdorf) refused to
through the IV Corps (Bertrand) which opposed sanction this movement, but General von
their bridgehead; Napoleon had to abandon the Gersdorfs ambiguous written reply to a request to
line of the Elbe. The three Allied armies con- defect did not help e1arify matters: 'Even now
centrated east of Leipzig and pushed Napoleon every brave Saxon must fight with increased vigour
back; he decided to stand at that city, and this for the good of the Fatherland and for the King'.
resulted in the 'Battle of the Nations' (16--18 Thus Napoleon lost a division, complete with
October 1813). thirty-eight guns, at a most critical moment. The
Describing the mood of the Saxons on hearing Saxon troops were sent to Leipzig after the battle to
Napoleon's address to the VII Corps quoted above, be reorganized.
a Saxon officer wrote: 'I t must have been obvious to
any bystander of this scene that the Saxon reaction
was not rehearsed but spontaneous. This mood was
not solely the result of their recent battle losses but
certainly of the time spent in Torgau fortress [April
InAlliedService
and May 1813] during which hopes ran high that
On 19 October Generalmajor von R yssel assumed
they \vauld soon join their German brothers in the
command of the Saxon division, which was sent to
common fight against their arrogant French
join Tauenzien's Prussian corps at the blockade of
oppressors. Fate had decreed otherwise, but there
Torgau. On 28 October King Friedrich August of
was certainly no Saxon soldier there that day who
Saxony was taken into captivity by the Allies and a
followed the French eagles with a light heart. Their
Russian, Prince Repnin, was appointed to govern
discontent had grown throughout 18 I 3 as they had
Saxony. Generallieutenant von Thielmann (pre-
seen their homeland desolated, plundered and
viously commander of Torgau and now in Russian
burnt by their French "allies". It cost the officers
service) assumed command of the Saxon army.
immense trouble to maintain order in their units.'
Dresden capitulated to the Allies on I I November.
At dawn on I i October, Reynier and the VII
On 14 November remnants of the Saxon army left
Corps reached the outwork 'Zum Heitern Blick' at
Torgau and marched to Merseburg, where on the
Leipzig when the battle had already been raging
15th a reorganization took place. Four old infantry
for more than a day; they moved to Paunsdorfthat
regiments ('von Niesemeuschel ', 'von Rechten ',
evening, VI/here news reached them that the Saxon
'von Low' and 'von SteindeJ') were disbanded, and
division was to march o[fto Torgau. (Napoleon had
the following units established:
just heard that the Bavarians had defected to the
Allies, and no longer trusted any German troops.) Provisional 'Garde-Regiment' of three battalions: 1st
Enemy aClion prevented this order being carried Bn.-the old 'Leib-Grenadier-Garde'; 2nd
out, however, and the Saxons had to take up Bn.-the old Bataillon 'Konig'; 3rd Bn.-the
position at Paunsdorf opposing the Russians and grenadiers of all remaining infantry regiments
Austrians under Bennigsen, Platow and Bubna. Provisional 1st Line Infantry Regiment of two bat-
During the morning of 18 October the Saxon talions: mainly from the old regiment 'Prinz
Bataillon 'Prinz Friedrich' and some French units Anton'
were captured in Taucha by the Army of the Provisional 2nd Line Infantry Regiment of two bat-
North, and the Saxon division was ordered to cover talions: mainly from the regiment 'Prinz Max-
Ney's Left flank in the ensuing crisis. It was here imilian' and the disbanded regiments 'von
that the defection of the Saxons occurred. The first Rechten' and 'von Steindel'
to go was the Light Cavalry Brigade (Hussars and 1St Light Infantry Regiment of two battalions: the 1st
'Prinz Clemens' Ulans), then the Schlitzen- Bn. out of the old regiment 'von Lecoq', the 2nd
Bataillon and, between 4 and 5pm, the infantry and Bn. of reconvalescents and ex-prisoners of war
artillery. The Allies, informed ofwhat was about to 2nd Light Infantry Regiment of two battalions: the 1St
happen, greeted the Saxons with cheers and sent Bn. formed of ex-prisoners of war, the 2nd Bn. of
24
1 Grenadier officer, Inf.Regt. 'Kurfiirst', gala uniform, 1806
2 Sergeant, Inf.Regt. 'Prinz Friedrich', 1806
3 NCO, Saxon Hussars, 1806
RICHARD HOOK A
1 Musketeer, Inf.Regt. 'von Thummel', 1806
2 Corporal, Inf.Regt. 'Prinz Anton', 1806
3 Artillery officer, everyday dress, 1806
2
3
,. ,
\
l . r '•
'---~--------------~/
B RICHARD HOOK
, Artillery senior NCO, parade dress, ,806
2 Musketeer officer, Inf.Regt. 'von Biinau', everyday dress, ,806
3 Grenadier, Inf.Regt. 'von Biinau', parade dress, ,806
RICHARD HOOK
c
(
o RICHARD HOOK
NCO, Chevauxlegers Regt. 'Prinz Clemens', 1806
RICHARD HOOK
E
(
RICHARD HOO
Officer of Hussars, Banner of Saxon Volunteers, 1813
ueHARO HOOK G
1 Private, axon Landwehr, 181 3
2 Field officer, Saxon Landwehr, 181 3
3 Jager zu Fuss, Banner of Saxon Volunteers, 181 3
2 3
.'
.-
; I
H RICHARD HOD
men of the old Light Infantry Regiment 'von The Saxons joined the II [ German Army Corps
Sahr' on 8 December. It was commanded by the Duke of
A battalioll ofJagers Saxe-Weimar (a Russian general ofcavalry) and in-
A Kiirassier-Regimelll} h f h cluded only the Saxons and a Fusilier Battalion from
. cae 0 tree
All Ulallell-Reglmellt d Saxe-Weimar. During t8t4 the III Corps operated
A Husaren-Regiment squa rons in the Netherlands and invested the fortress of
The artillery was re-formed into two foot batteries Maubeuge, which agreed to an armistice on 12
each of eight guns, and two horse batteries each of April following Napoleon's abdication. While the
SIX guns. Saxon Landwehr now went home, the army moved
A company of ellgilleers alld a bridgillg Iraill to Aachen and, on 2t June, to the area Koblenz-
After the Austrian and Prussian models, a 'Land- Bonn on the Rhine. On 9 August they moved to
wehr' (territorial defence force) was set up, take possession of the Electorate of Hessen-Kassel,
consisting of four regiments each of three bat- which was being revived after having been sup-
talions, and a 'Banner' of Volunteers of two pressed by Napuleun in 18u6. By 25 August they
battalions of light infantry and five squadrons of returned to the Rhine. On 8 November 1814, in
hussars was also raised. accordance wi th a decision by the Congress of
There was a desperate shortage of everything Vienna, the Russian administration of Saxony was
from shirts to weapons, and uniformity of dress was handed over to Prussia, with Minister von der
scarcely to be seen. On 12 November, in an order Recke taking over the government and General
of the day, Generallicutcnant von Thielmann von Gaudi the army. The Saxon army remained
changed the national cockade from white to green, around K61n on the Rhine. The King ofSaxony was
yellow and black. still a prisoner of the Allies in Berlin.
Standard, Garde du Corps, .8.0-.812. White cloth, gold and blue borders, gold
embroidery and pike tip, red pike. This standard was lost in Russia. (Geschichte der
SiU:hsi&CMn Fahxex un.d StGftdarlcm)
25
the Saxon senior olficers on the evening of 2 May
1815 near Liege to discuss details of the division of
the army neXI day, some members of the Pro-
.. ",:
visional Garde-Rcgimem mutinied and conducted
, a noisv demonstrauon outside Blucher's headquar-
~
-,~ , " ~ ,
._ • ...!:.- ters in protest at the impending division, breaking
, ' 0 •
26
· ., .. _,. ... .... ....
,~ ~
oX
Saddle furniture, trooper, Garde du Corps, 1806. Oearly shown are the black
sbeepskin saddle cover, red sbabraque and pistol bolster covers, white greatcoat,
regi.menta1lace, and the musket in the muzzle-up position.
in all Europe-the name "Saxon" will only be the reserve was at Colmar. Schlettstadt capitul.ated
spoken with honour. For my part you will always be on 25 August, Neu-Breisach somewhat later. The
assured of my consideration and paternal affection. Saxons marched home at last on 20 November
Laxenburg, 22 May 1815 , 8t 5·
Friedrich August'
Heavy Cavalry
Regimenl Facings Lace
Garde du Corps dark blue yellow with (\,,'0 red stripes
Karabiniers red yellow with red and black edges-disbanded 181U
Kiirassier 'Kurftirst' red yellow with red edges-2o Dec. 1806 'Konig'; 24June 1807
'Leib-Kiirassier-Garde'
Kiirassier 'KochLitzky' yellow yellow with black and white edges-18og 'von Zastrow'
29
Swiss Life Guard (Schweizerleibgarde)
Bicorns edged silver, yellow coats, light blue
facings, breeches and stockings, white buttons. The
uniform was edged in blue and white striped lace.
Nobel Cadet Corps
Bicorn, red coats, white facings, buttons, breeches
and stockings, silver epaulettes.
Generals
Large bicorns with gold lace edging loop and
button, silver and crimson cords, double-breasted
dark blue coat with gold embroidery to collar, cuffs,
front and pocket flaps, full, dark blue skirts; red
breeches; heavy cavalry boots with buckle-on steel
spurs, silver and crimson sash.
32
Trumpeters 1810-1813 'Prinz Maximilian' - yellow and orange wi th
Heavy Cavalry small green leaves.
As for troopers except: red crest and plume, silver 'von Thiimmel' -as for 'Prinz
trumpets, blue and white cords. Garde du Corps Maximilian' but
and Leib-Kiirassier-Garde-red tunics with blue orange like their
and white facings respectively; vacant 'von Zastrow' facings and silver
Kiirassiers yellow tunic, white facings. grey like their
Light Cavalry buttons; the small
Red shako and plume, white cords; tunics in the leaves were dark
facing colour faced red, brass trumpets, blue and gold.
white cords. 'Prinz Fr. August' - black ground, green
Hussars oak leaves, brown
Light blue shako red plume and dolman, light blue acorns, small yellow
peE se and breeches, white lace and buttons, black flowers (the button
fur; bra s trumpets, blue and white cords. colour).
Horse Artillery Brigade 'von Low' -as above but white
Green shako, red cords, plume and tunic, dark flowers (button
green facings, yellow buttons and edging to coll<}.r colour).
and cuffs, brass trumpet, yellow, red and green 'Prinz Xaver' -yellow and blue.
cord.
* * *
In October 1813, after Saxony had joined the
Allies against France, the cockade changed from
white to white-round-yellow-round-green. Uni-
form (as such) was scarcely to be seen; the country
was economically crippled and soldiers wore
anything which would keep out the cold and rain
with little regard for smartness or uniformity.
Officers' ranks were indicated by epaulettes in the
Russian style and the gorget was discarded. From
7 June 1815 the cockade became white with a
green rim, and officers' sword knots and hat tassels
were silver with green.
'Prinz Clemens' } -blue and yellow. each sleeve. The saddle furniture is in the facing colour-dark
blue-and is edged with two bands of the regimental lace.
33
'von R yssel' - blue and silver grey
'von Rechten' -ponceau & silver grey,
gold clover leaves.
'von iesemeuschel' -as above but silver grey
clover leaves.
The new flags were presented at Strie sen in
September 1802 and were carried until 181 I.
The 1810 pattern flags included a new central
crest with cypher 'FAR' under a king's crown, and
the corner badges were 'RS' on a shield and the
Saxon arms on a shield on the reverse and obverse
sides respectively. The light blue ribbon and star of
the Order of the White Eagle was replaced by the
green ribbon and star of the Order of the Saxon
Crown.
Tips were gold and showed the electoral/royal
cypher. Gold cords and tassels were attached below
the spearti ps. J agers, Schii tzen and artillery carried
no colours.
Cavalry Standards
Cavalry carried one standard per squadron and
used their old (1735 pattern) standard until 1811.
These were embroidered, fringed and came in two
versions, the white 'Leibestandarte' and the red
'Ordinarestandarte'. The heavy cavalry had four
white 'Leibcstandarten', the Chevauxlegers regi-
ments one 'Leibestandarte' and three red ones.
All fringes cords and tassel were white and
crimson and the regimental borders were a shown
in the diagrams with colours as below:
'Leib-Kurassier-Garde' -crimson shaded.
Karabiniers -ponceau and green
'Kochtitzky' -yellow haded
The Chevauxlegers standard edgings were as
follows:
'Polenz' -light blue shaded
with old gold.
'Prinz Clemens' -green shaded with
small violet dots
between the
leaf-like
Officer, Leibgrenadier-Garde, parade dress, 1810-1813. ornaments.
Sauerweid's plate clearly shows the Austrian Savour of the
bearskin cap with its gilt plate and silver cords. For parade 'Prinz Johann' - black and green
wear officers had this expensive red tunic, with much silver -green and brown oak
embroidery on the collar, lapels and euft"s. The sash had been
'Prinz Albrecht'
discarded in 1810, but the silver gorget was worn when on twigs
parade, as were the bearskin cords.
All other detailit as for the heavy cavalry.
To differentiate between the four squadrons of a
regiment an 'ell' of taffeta ribbon was tied with
cords of the same colour to the lance-head. The
34
colours were: white (Leib-Eskadron); red (2nd
gn.); blue (3rd gn.); yellow (4th Sgn.). The
hus ar carried no standards.
The Landwehr carried white or green colours
with the Saxon crest on one side, the Landwehr
cross on the other (in silver or gold) and optional
mottoes and regimental designations.
The Plates
A is 0 often the case when studying evidence of
uniform of the Napoleonic and earlier periods,
minor or major variations may be found between
written regulation and contemporary illustrations.
Since it is unusual for the researcher to be blessed
with exact knowledge of the sources used by
contemporary arti t, or the circumstances in
which their work was prepared, it is pointless to
peculate. That variations should occur is a matter
of no urpri e to tudents with a reasonable general
knowledge of the actual condition of military life
of the period.
36
saluted with the left hand, and cavalry officers with
the right. (After a contemporary colour plate by
Adolph Heinrich Hess.)
38
~ o 0
Saxon Infantry Colour and Cavalry Standard edg- Saxon Cavalry Standard edgings, 11109-15; top to
ings, 11109-15; top to bottom: I.F. 'Prinze Xaver' and bottom: Leib-Kiirassier-Garde-crUnson on white.
'von Rysse1'-fonner yellow and blue stripes, latter Chevauxlegers Regt. 'Prinz CleJnens'-white
grey and blue stripes. Garde du Corps-white ground, green leaves, violet dots. Chevauxlegers
ground, blue edging, gold elDbroidery. Regt. 'Prinz Johann'-white ground, green edging
Karabiniers-white ground, gold edging, red '9S' and leaves, black crescents and diaInonds. Chevaux-
and green leaves. Kochtitzky Kiirassiers-white legers Regt. 'Prinz Albrecht'-white ground, red
ground, orange edging, yellow dots and leaves. edging, green leaves, brown acorns.
hako, tunic cut, and rank and company badges. were handled by drill ergeants with considerably
Drummers' distinctions included the red shako more respect than other recruits.
plume and cords, and the swallow's nests edged in
black and yellow diagonal 'twist' lace on white HI Private, Saxon Landwehr, 1813
between green edging. ote 'duck-foot' shoulder- Another widespread German practice in that year
straps and tunic turnbacks piped green. (After ofcrisis was the raising of Landwehr or Home Guard
Alexander Sauerweid.) units on the Austrian model. The example illus-
trated is unusually well and completely dressed and
G Officer oj Hussars, Banner ofSaxon Volunteers, 1813 equipped and probably represents an ideal hardly
In common with other German states which fell ever achieved. Shortages were endemic, and mo t
under Allied control in 1813, Saxony was required of these enthusiastic but (initially) not very effective
to rai e as many armed men as possible, as quickly troops wore whatever they could lay hands on.
a pos ible. To make the prospect of soldiering as Civilian coats and clogs were to be seen in plenty,
palatable to the middle classes as was feasible, they with arms and accoutrements of every source and
were urged to join Freiwillige or volunteer units; the vintage. 'Shakos' of wickerwork covered with
requirement for membership of these selective units oilskin were not uncommon. After the armistice,
was sufficient money to arm and equip oneself. however, when inten ive training was given and
Such units were thus usually well dressed, and stocks of French, British and Austrian weapons
39
were distributed, the Landwehr performed very H3 Jager zu Fuss, Banner rifSaxon Volunteers, 1813
well in the autumn fighting. This soldier has Jagers of this period were often recruited from
complete French equipment and a French musket. among peacetime state forestry employees, whose
ote the new white-yellow-green cockade. marksmanship and above-average fieldcraft were
invaluable in the skirmishing role. The broad-
H2 Field olficer, Saxon Landwehr, 1813 brimmed felt hat is typical ofGermanjagers, as is the
Badges of rank were normally as for the Line, but octagonal-barrelled rifle (here, a Westfalian
uniforms were often very simple. The litewka or model) and the Hirschfanger sword-bayonet. The
double-breasted coat, as illustrated here, was very cross was typical of the insignia of Landwehr units;
popular. The gold collar lace adds to the Prussian note the brass lion mask and looped chain above it.
flavour. Dark blue or black coats were normal, so A single shoulder-strap is balanced by gold
that men could dye civilian coats of other shades aiguillettes on the right. It was unusual to have a
and achieve a degree of uniformity. Retired Line complete unit armed with rifles, due to their
officers frequently received appointments in Land- relatively slow rate of fire. The tunic turnbacks are
wehr regiments. ote that the sash fell from the double; that is, both corners of each tail folded
bow under the left arm in two long tasselled ends. inward to meet at the point, exposing the red lining.
AI Die Parademurze aus Barenfell mit Goldleinen verzieTl, die Epaulenen, cler AI Le bonnet poilu agremente de cordons d'or pour la tenue de parade, les
Karabiner mit reichgeschmucktem Bajonell aussergewohnlicher AusfUhrung epaulenes, ainsi que la carabine avec sa bayonnene omementee d'un motif
waren aile Kennzeichen des Grenadieroffiziers. A2 Die hochrot und silbeme insolite, etaient particuliers a I'uniforme d'officier des grenadiers. A2 Le
Degenquaste, die HUlumrandung, der Stock, die Handschuh, die Pike und die pommeau d'epee cramoisi et argent, la bordure du chapeau, la cane, les gants, la
Pistole bezeichnelen alle den Sergeant. A3 Typische Husarenuniform der pique et Ie pislolel (voir B2) indiquaient Ie rang de sergeant. A3 Uniforme
Pcriode-bemerkenswert iSl der sellsame, miL blauem Schnurhesatz umranrletc typique des hussards de I'epoque-noter, en particulier, la piece de cuir au
Lederflicken am Ellenbogen. coude, qui est bordee d'un filet bleu.
BI Der Hut war mit gelb oder weiss umrandel, je nach der Farbe der BI Le chapeau i:tail borde de blanc et jaune, suivanl la couleur des boUlOns du
RegimenlS-knopfe, die Quaste war in der Mille geteilt mit Regi- regiment; Ie pompon, divise en deux, etail couleur du regiment sur fond blanc.
menlSaufschlagfarbe uber weiss. B2 Die Unterschiedszeichen des Oberge- B2 oter les distinctions marquant Ie rang de capora!: la bordure du chapeau, la
freilcnranges sind bemerkenswert: die Umrandung des Hutes, der Stock, das cane, Ie differem motifde la pique, et la position speciale du pi tolet, relenu par
unterschiediche Pikenmuster, die ungewohnliche Disposition der Pislole, die sich un crochet a ressort a I'interieur d'une eSpf:ce de sacoche. B3 Pour la grande
auf einem gefederten Haken innerhalb einer Art VOn Beutel befand. B3 Bei der tenue, la redingole, d'un autre genre, hail a revers main tenus par des boulons,
Paradeuniform wurde die Jacke durch eine andere, mit zuruckgeknopften revelant Ie gilet brode de couleur chamois.
Aufschlagen erselzl, wobei eine gestickte, lederfarbige Weste sichlbar wurde.
C, La riche broderie de dentelle d'or au chapeau et a la redingote souligne
C, Durch reiche Goldtressenzierde an Hut undJacke wurde der Elitestand der l'importance de l'artillerie, elite de I'annee. Les caporaux n'avaiem droit qu'a
i\rtillerie betont. Obergefreiler trugen nur eine Reihe Goldlresse auf den une seule rangee de dentelle au poignet. c,. La simple bordure d'argent au
Armelaufschlagen. C2 Einfache silbeme Unrandung am Hut bezeichnen den chapeau indique.le rang d'officier subalterne. Pour parader avec les troupes, un
Rang eines untergeordneten Offiziers. Auf Parade mit den Truppen halle er gorget el une ceioture en echarpe se portaient de surcroiL C3 La partie
zusiitzlich ein gorget (Ringkragen) und Leibbinde getragen. C3 Der oberste culminante du bonnet poilu comporte une croix blanche sur un fond all"
Tuchslreifen der Barenfellmiitze tragt ein weisses Kreuz aufcinem Hintergrund couleurs du regimem; des cordons blanes s'y ajoutent pour la parade. Noter la
der Regimentsaufschlagfarbe, weisse Leinen kamen daw bei der Paradeuniform. bandouliere rouge du mousquet.
Bemerkenswert ist der role Tragriemen an der Flinte.
D Les troupiers ordinaires de ce regiment d'elite avaient eux aussi une bordure
D elbsl die gemeinen Reiter dieses EliteregimenlS hatten Goldumrandung an doree a leur chapeau. Les regiments de cavalerie lourde avaie.nt chacun leur
den Huten. Jedes Regiment der schweren Reiterei halle Goldtressenzierde motif de dentelle, dont etaient omes la lunique et Ie hamachement du cheval.
eigenartiges Musters auf Waffenrock und pferdeschmuck.
E Les indices de rang de ce sous-officier comprennem: la pointe de plume noire,
E Die schwarzen Spilzen seines Federbusches und der Slock, der vome am et la cane, portee sur Ie devant de la jambe droile. La tunique est fennee sur Ie
rechlcn Rein Yom Salle! hangt, gehoren zu den Rangskennzeichen dieses devant par deux rangees de boutons.
nteroffiziers. Vome am Waffenrock sind zwei Reihen Knopfe mil je achl
FI Lc port de I'uniforme vert a revers noirs date de 1810. F2: Noter Ie noir a filet
Knopfen.
rouge des revers de poignets et de col, qui contrastem avec l'envers des pans de la
FI Die grUne Uniform mit schwarzen Aufschlage~. wurden im Jahre 1810 redingotc a queue, qui sont vert clair a filet rouge. F3 Unifonne typique de
eingeftihrl. F,. Es ist zu merken, dass wiihrend die Armelaufschlage und der I'infanterie de 1810, comportant de nombreuses caracteristiques fTanlYaises.
Vorderteil des Kragens au' schwarzem Stoffe mil rotem Schnurbesalz hergestellt
G Les officiers et les hommes de ces unites de volontaires etaient souvent
sind, die Aufschlage des Waffenrockschosses hell-grun mit rotem Schnurbesalz
bourgeois; leur affluence leur pennettait de se procurer I'uniforme a leurs
sind. F3 Typische Infanterieuniform c.t8to mit vielen franzosischen Eigen-
propres frais, ce qui explique souvent I'elegance de leur tenue.
schaften.
HI L'elegance raffinee de ce Landwehnnann represente un ideal rarement
G Offiziere und Soldaten dieser freiwilligen Einheilen waren Oflers Burger, die
pratique; dans les premiers mois de 1813 du moins, nombreuses etaient les
reich genug waren ihre eigene Uniforme und Waffen ziemlich verschwenderisch
troupes qui manquaient de vl:temenlS el d'equipement. Ih La populaire
anzuschaffen und deshalb oft besonders gut angezogen waren.
redingote Litewka prete une apparence prussienne a I'unifonne, dont Ie col
HI Dieser sehr gut angezogene Landwehrmann steUt wahrscheinlich das Ideaie comporle des galons de dentelle. La plupart des uniles de volontaires portaienl
dar, dass selten tatsachLich e.rreicht wurde; in den fruhen Monaten des Jahres l'uniforme noir ou bleu fonce, ce qui, en co temps de penurie, permertait de
t8'3, wenigstens, waren viele dieser Truppen schabig angezogen und schlecht teindre assez facilement les velemenlS civils. H3 Uniforme]iiger typique de cette
ausgeriislet. Ih Einen preussischen Ansehen wurde durch den bewahrten periode, avec chapeau de feutre retrousse sur les cOtes, tunique verte, et beau fusil
Litewko-Rock mit Goldtrellstabchen aufdem Kragengeliehen. Der Hauptteil der de forestier. La croix au chapeau etait un insigne courammenr choisi par les
freiwilligen Regimente trugen entweder schwarz oder dunkelblau. sodass, unites de volontaires allemands.
wahrend der Knappheiten dieser Periode, ZivilkJeider leicht zu einer ungefiihr
rich tiger Farbe umgefarbt werden konnten. H3 Typische ]iigeruniform der
Periode, mit aufgeschlaglem Filzhut, grunem Waffenrock und des Forsters
feinhergestelltes Gewehr. Das Kreuzemblem auf dem Hute wurde sehr haufig
VOn deulSchen freiwilligen Einheiten getragen.
40
mm:D ~1E~-~\T-~\Ri\lS SERIES mm:D
MILITARY MILITARY
An unrivalled source of infonnation on the history, organisation., appearance and equipment of the
world's fighting men of past and present. The Men-at-Anns titles cover subjects as diverse as the
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Concise, authoritative accounts of the great conflicts of history. Each 96-page book contains more than
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maps that mark the critical stages of the campaign.
THE ANCIENT WORLD I.... Medieval Burgundy 1364-1477 .... Nap's German Allies (I)
218 Ancient Chinese Armies I 13 Armies of Agincourt 43 Nap's German Allies (2)
109 Ancient Middle East 145 Wars of the Roses 90 Nap's German Allies ~3~
137 The Scythians 700-300 B.C. 99 Medieval Heraldry 106 Nap's German Allies 4
69 Greek & Persian Wars 500-323 B.C. 122 Nap's German Allies 5
148 Army of Alexander the Great 16TH AND 17TH CENTURIES 199 Nap's Specialist Troops
121 Carthaginian Wars 191 Henry VIII's Army 211 Nap's Overseas Army
46 Roman Army: 58 The Landsknechts 227 Nap's Sea Soldiers
( I) Caesar-Trajan 239 Aztec Armies 88 Italian Troops
93 (2) Hadrian-Constantine 101 The Conquistadores 176 Austrian Army ( I): Infantry
129 Rome's Enemies: 235 Gustavus Adolphus (I) 181 Austrian Army (2): Cavalry
I ): Germanics & Dacians 14 English Civil War Armies 223 Austrian Specialist Troops
158 2): Gallic & British Celts 110 New Model Army 1645-60 152 Prussian Line Infantry
175 3): Parthians & Sassanids 203 Louis XIV's Army 149 Prussian Light Infantry
180 4): Spain 218-19 B.C. 97 Marlborough's Army 192 Prussian Reserve & Irregulars
243 5): The Desert Frontier 86 Samurai Armies 1550-1615 162 Prussian Cavalry 1792-1807
184 Polish Armies I 569- 1696 (I) 172 Prussian Cavalry 1807-1 5
THE MEDIEVAL WORLD 188 Polish Armies 1569-1696 (2) 185 Russian Army (I): Infantry
247 Romano-Byzantine Armies 4th-9th C 189 Russian Army (2): Cavalry
154 Arthur & Anglo-Saxon Wars 18TH CENTURY 84 Wellington's Generals
125 Armies of Islam, 7th-I I th C I 18 Jacobite Rebellions 114 Wellington's Infantry (I)
150 The Age of Charlemagne 236 Frederick the Great ~ I) 119 Wellington's Infantry (2)
89 Byzantine Armies 886-1 I 18 240 Frederick the Great 2) 126 Wellington's Light Cavalry
85 Saxon, Viking & Norman 248 Frederick the Great 3) 130 Wellington's Heavy Cavalry
231 French Medieval Armies 1000- I 300 48 Wolfe's Army 204 Wellington's Specialist Troops
75 Armies of the Crusades 228 American Woodland Indians 167 Brunswick Troops 1809-15
171 Saladin & the Saracens 39 Brit Army in N. America 98 Dutch-Belgian Troops
155 Knights of Christ 2.... French in Amer. War Ind. 206 Hanoverian Army 1792-1816
200 EI Cid & Reconquista 1050-1492 226 The American War 1812-14
105 The Mongols NAPOLEONIC PERIOD 96 Artillery Equipments
222 The Age of Tamerlane 79 Napoleon's Egyptian Campaign 77 Flags of the Nap Wars ~ I)
50 Medieval European Armies 87 Napoleon's Marshals 78 Flags of the Nap Wars 2)
151 Scots & Welsh Wars 1250-1400 64 Nap's Cuirassiers & Carabiniers 115 Flags of the Nap Wars 3)
94 The Swiss I 300-1 500 55 Nap's Dragoons & Lancers
136 Italian Armies 1300-1500 68 Nap's Line Chasseurs 19TH CENTURY
166 German Armies 1300- 1500 76 Nap's Hussars 232 Bolivar and San Martin
195 Hungary & E. Europe 83 Nap's Guard Cavalry 173 Alamo & Texan War 1835-6
1000-1568 141 Nap's Line Infantry 56 Mexican-American War I 846-8
140 Ottoman Turks 1300-1774 146 Nap's Ught Infantry 63 American-Indian Wars 1860-90
210 Venetian Empire 1200-1670 153 Nap's Guard Infantry (I)
II I Crecy and Poitiers 160 Nap's Guard Infantry (2) Title list continued on inside bock cover
Please note that (or spoce reasons abbreviated Avec annotations en fran~is sur les ISBN 0-85045-309-7
titles are given above; when ordering, please quote planches en couleur.
the title number, e.g. 'MAA 109' (or 'Ancient Mit Aufzelchnungen auf Deutsch llber den
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