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/ 65
Warrior
Hungarian Hussar
1756-1815
David Hollins - Illustrated by Darko Pavlovic Fst pubishedin Great Bataln 2008 by Osprey Publishing Eins Cou,
(Chapa Way, Botiey,Ontord OX2 9LP, Unite King.
Ema: nfeBospreypblhing com
(©2008 Osprey Pubishing Lt.
[rights reserva, Aart rom any fie desing forthe purpose of rate stu
researc, etic or review, as parmttd under the Copyrih, Designs and
Patents Act, 198, no par of his pubcaion may be reproduce, stores i &
revievl esto, or ranean any form or by any means, electron,
‘ectieal, chemical, mechani, ape, photocopying, recording or thers,
‘itout the peer wren permission of the copyright owner: Enqutes should be
‘acested to he Pubieners,
NCP eatalogue recor for he book save om the Bich Library
‘S0N 7 84176 524 4
‘Dad Holins has asserted his ight unde the Copyright Design and Patents
‘Act 1988, oe Kein a the Author ofthis We
Desig: Ken Val raphe Desgn, Cambrige, UK
Index by Aan te |
(hignated by The Electronic Page Company, Cumbran, UK
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FOR A GRTALOGUE OF ALL BOOKS PUBLISHED BY OSPREY MILITARY AND,
[AVIATION PLEASE CONTACT:
The Marking Manager, Osprey Direct UK, PO Box 140.
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Artist’s note
Readers may care to note that the original paintings from
hich the colour plates in this book were prepared are
available for private sale. All reproduction copyright
whatsoever is retained by the Publishers. All enquiries
‘should be addressed to:
Darko Paviovie
‘Modecova 3
Zagreb
10090
Croatia
‘The Publishers regret that they can enter into no
cortespondence upon this matter.
Author’s Acknowledgements
| would particulary like to thank Romain and Margot
Baulesch for their generous hospitality | would also lke to
thank the Director and the staff of the Kriegsarchiv (KA); Frau
Rita Antoniou of the Albertina Collection (ALB); Frau Anna
Plattner of the Austrian National Library (ONB), and Frau
‘Mag. Ulrike Polnitzky of its Bildarchiv (BA); Mrs Kottra and
Colonel Zachar of the Hungarian Army Museum (HAM) for
their help in obtaining illustrations. | should also lke to thank
Istvan Nagy for translating some Hungarian anecdotes,
‘Michael Wenzel for his rapid solutions to the location of
‘material and John Cook for providing the Napoleonic
regulations. The song was provided by Jonathan Cooper,
land for their advice, | must thank Hans-Karl Weiss, Vlado
Brnadic and Michael MacGillivray. | am grateful to Herr
Berger of Burg Forchtenstein for permission to reproduce
‘some photos and to Darko Pavlovic for ilustrating the plates.
Author’s note
Many of the basic features of a soldier's lfe were covered in
Warrior 24: Austrian Grenadiers and infantry 1788-1816 and
this book builds on that data.
‘This book can be read with the following Osprey tiles:
MAA 181: Austrian Cavatry of the Napoleonic Wears
MAA 271: Austrian Cavalry 1740-1780
WAR 24: Austrian Grenadier and Infantry 1788-1816 CONTENTS
A LAW UNTO THEMSELVES
CHRONOLOGY
RECRUITMENT
TRAINING
LIFE IN THE GARRISONS
HORSES AND THEIR CARE
ON CAMPAIGN
DER KLEINE KRIEG
CHARGE!
AFTERMATH
BIBLIOGRAPHY AND COLLECTIONS
COLOUR PLATE COMMENTARY
INDEX
i
13
16
18
25
30
42
50
51
64 HUNGARIAN HUSSAR
1756-1815
A LAW UNTO THEMSELVES
nequalled in any other army, the Hussars became a source of
skilled light cavalry, which could be rapidly called up and then
stood down to save money in peacetime. They were particularly
proficient in reconnaissance, harrying the enemy, surprise attacks and
aids or pursuing a beaten enemy. The name ‘Hussar’ derives originally
from Latin cursarius, meaning raider, and originally referred to
marauders in the northern Balkans. However, it was adopted by the
Magyar people of Hungary as the name for irregular light cavalry. The
uniform was based on the style of another Turkic group, who had
arrived with the Magyars ~ the Jazgygier and Kumanier peoples ~ all of
the units raised in their areas retaining their ligheblue uniform.
Hungarian folklore ascribes its origin to hus: meaning twenty and ar
meaning price — hence the value of twenty other men. The Jazygier and
Kumanier people settled in the upper Theiss valley and their fashion was
widely adopted and developed by the Hungarian nobles. Under the
direct control of the Palatine (Viceroy) of Hungary, their Insurrection
(local militia) units would be regularised several times to raise new army
Oberst (Colonel) Josef Simonyi
leads his men from the ath
Hussars over a burning bridge
after Wagram in 1809 (Tull)
(HAM). Simonyi also distinguished
himself at Salo, Neresheim,
Neuburg, Lesenfeld, Kulm,
Giesshiibel and Leipzig. He was
awarded both the Maria Theresa
Order and the Order of Leopold
to mark the extraordinary career
of ‘the most valiant Hussar’,
hho is more widely known, ‘the
craziest Hussar’. regiments. Another Turkic people associated with the Magyars were the
Szeckels, who were moved to guard the eastern Carpathian passes
following the reconquest of Hungary in the 17th century. They would
provide the core of the Szeckler (later numbered as the 11th) Hussars
in addition to two Grenz (Military Frontier) infantry regiments
The oldest regular regiment (9th Nadasdy) was formed in 1688 and by
1756, with the formation of the Kaiser Hussars and regularisation of a
JagzyierKumanier unit in that year as the Seven Years War (1756-63)
began, there were 12 regiments. Each regiment was made up of five
squadrons totalling 600-610 officers and men with 865-400 horses. That
winter, with a large intake of horses, the regiments expanded to 800
personnel and the same number of horses, organised in six squadrons
(divided into two companies each). The wild irregulars of the early 1700s
were steadily regularised into army units, albeit financed by their Jnhaber
(proprietary Colonels), who were drawn from the magnates and major
landowning nobles of Hungary. However, following the first regulation
of 1751, these light cavalry began fighting on the battlefield. While
maintaining their reputation for swift movement and unexpected
appearances, they became more effective on the battlefield. Six regiments
massed for a decisive charge during the first defeat inflicted on Frederick
the Great of Prussia at Kolin in June 1757, employed in the same way as
Schlachtenkavallerie (battle cavalry — Kurassiers and Dragoons). Four
months later in October, Andreas Hadik raided and ransomed Berlin
From the end of the Seven Years War, light cavalry began to play a larger
part in battles, often attacking infantry or supporting the main attacks by
heavy cavalry with a mix of firing weaponry and sabres. They had to be
able to deal with both European and Turkish troops, especially the latter,
who relied on light cavalry in their own armies. The 12 Hussar regiments
were now reduced to 730 men, although in reality some were down to 685.
The 1769 reforms introduced a single numbering series for all the cavalry,
the Hussar regiments maintaining a peacetime strength of 1,536, rising to
2,248 in wartime. In addition to the Juhiaber’s name the companies were
abolished leaving the division (of two squadrons) as the main tactical unit.
The regiments now had a peacetime strength of 1,558, expanded in
wartime with larger squadrons of 170-180 men and an extra division
expanded from the depot squadron to 2,248. In reality, it was about 1,400
in peacetime with as few as 824 horses. However, after 25 years of almost
complete peace, the eight regular and the Szeckler regiments were able
to field a total of 14,700 men at the start of the last Turkish war in 1788,
where they were particularly effective in countering Turkish light cavalry.
The Hussars continued to prove their capabilities in the more difficult
Italian terrain of the French Revolutionary Wars (1792-1801). The
formation of three new regiments and the regularisation of the Szeckler
regiments in 1798, each with a strength of four divisions, provided 12
regiments for battlefield use during the Napoleonic Wars (1805-15).
Prior to the 1751 changes, Hussars had been raised and financed by their
Inkabers, being paid mostly in loot and from the Inhaber’s largesse. He
would continue to exercise considerable power over the unit until 1769,
appointing and promoting officers as well as deciding who could marry
and imposing disciplinary punishment. The regiment was commanded by
an Oberst (Colonel) with an Oberstleumant (Lieutenant Colonel) as
deputy and was formed from three to four divisions, each under the Rear views of a 1767 1st Hussars
trooper (J.C. Brand = left) and a
reconstructed 1798 Wurmser
Hussar without equipment
(BA~ right). Note the different
‘styles of shako, length of Zopf
(ponytail) and positions of the
‘sabre, hooked up and unhooked.
command of a staff rank officer, after whom each division was named — a
total of eight squadrons, which were reduced to three divisions plus a
depot squadron in 1772, totalling 1,022 men per regiment. A First and
Second Rittmeister led each division, with Oberleutnants and Leutnants,
Each squadron had a Wachtmeister (sergeant major) and eight Korporals
(junior NCOs) with two Vize-Korporals, learning the duties for
promotion. The squadrons were subdivided into two Fliigels (wings)
further subdivided into two Ziige (platoons). These split into two
Korporalschafien and then into three patrols (or Kameradschaften) who
shared a tent. Each division now had a single standard carried by the
Estandartenfithoer, As Austria's heavier cavalry became outnumbered, the Hussars were
deployed in increasing numbers and larger formations on the battlefield
= nine regiments would be deployed at Dresden in August 1813.
Nevertheless, their origins were never forgotten by local populations. A
Hussar sporting a beard arrived in a Styrian (south east Austria) village,
where he was asked by a superstitious old woman: ‘Is it true that
Hungary is inhabited by cannibals?” Jokingly, the Hussar answered:
“There are some, but they are becoming fewer. My grandfather ate man
for lunch, but my father ate man only on Fridays.’ The old lady became
rather anxious and asked: ‘And you, Mr Hussar?” Wishing to avoid
inquisitive younger locals, he laughed and replied: ‘T only like children,
but not too much and only occasionally.” The children disappeared
from the village and didn’t disturb the Hussar’s sleep that night,
CHRONOLOGY
1751 First uniform and dril regulation.
1756-63 The Seven Years War.
4757 Six regiments in Nadasdy's charge at Kolin; Hadik’s raid on Berlin,
1769 Lacy's reforms: new drill and service regulations.
1778-79 War of the Bavarian Succession against Prussia,
1784 Consolidated regulations issued.
1786 Consolidation of the Cavalry and other regulations.
1788-91 Last Turkish War
1782 Outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars,
1796 Four regiments fight at Woraburg.
1798 _Regularisation of 11th Hussars and formation of two regiments.
1801 Treaty of Lunevile ends the French Revolutionary Wars.
4802 Length of service standardised at 12 years for cavalry
1805 New interim regulations formalise two ranks as the usual formation, The
Napoleonic Wars start — five regiments fight at Second Caldiero.
1806-7 New regulations issued alongside the new more humane Dienst (service)
Regulations.
1809 Five regiments fight at Wagram.
1811 Length of service extended to 14 years.
1813 Nine regiments fight at Dresden, five at Leipzig,
1815 End of the Napoleonic Wars.
RECRUITMENT
Under a 1715 law, all recruitment of Hussars was on a volunteer basis,
drawing men from those authorised for recruitment by the local
Hungarian and Siebenburgen authorities (Stdnde). Officially, the cavalry
‘were only to take men who had already served in the infantry, but this
vas never enforced, Most men came from what was then Hungary, which
included modern Hungary and Slovakia, together with part of Romania,
which in 1780 had a population of approximately 3.35 million
Magyars, 0.9 million Germans, 1.2 million Slovaks, 1.5 million
Romanians, 65,000 Croats plus about 400,000 others. There was no
systematic recruitment in the areas to the south, which made up the civil
parts of Croatia and the Banat. These areas were used to raise part of the
four shortlived but separate Grenz (Military Frontier) Hussar
regiments, but were mostly used to raise infantry and support the
Frontier areas facing Turkey. At the end of the War of the Austrian To avoid suspicion that it was
cover for the unpopular infantry,
the recruitment party would
display a full uniform and
‘equipment, while ensuring a
plentiful supply of beer and
a lively atmosphere as the
Werbungsdudach (piper
= see Warrior 24) played in the
background (ONB). The party
itself was made up of an officer,
‘8 Wachtmeister, a Fourier (clerk),
1a Feldschor (medical orderly)
plus assorted musicians, a
Korporal and a Gemeiner, the
last being chosen ‘from the
best and the tallest men in
the regiment! for effect.
Succession, Empress Maria Theresa decreed in
December 1748 that there was to be ‘constant
recruitment’, but selection was to be strict so
that the recruits taken were useable and
under no circumstances were they to include
‘dishonourable professions (hangmen and horse
butchers), notorious people, gypsies, Jews, and
any foreigner born outside the Imperial lands or
Holy Roman Empire’ (Jews were recruited from
their 90,000 strong community from 1781). The
recruits were not to be less than 18 nor more than
30 years old since ‘the former are too weak for the
military drills and the latter are too stiff and
awkward’ (grey hair was considered an automatic
bar) and preferably over 5 Fuss 4 Zoll (1.68m) tall
‘The volunteers would sign a Capitulation to serve
for two to three years or, during wartime, for the
duration of hostilities (see Plate B). The reforms,
of 1802 standardised all cavalry service to 12 years,
although this was extended to 14 in 1811, Until
1781, recruits received a Handgeld (bounty) of
1 Ducat (1 Ducat = 8 Florins/Gulden). This was
then increased to 5 Ducats (40 Gulden) or
2 Ducats for transfer from another unit
Mounted regiments looked for men brought
up with horses and used to hard work ~ blacksmiths, ploughmen, cart
drivers and cattle drovers. Although they had to be careful not to clear
the area of men for the infanury, the potential pool was more than
adequate as mounted service was seen as less strenuous than the infantry
and the potential for seizing battlefield booty was much greater for
Hussars than other troops. In 1757, the Mayor of Kobersdorf could
report that ‘there are more than enough men, who know the Hungarian
or Croat language and could serve as Hussars in the future’. However,
after the enthusiasm, the following morning brought the reality
home: ‘The first night,’ Cognazzo pointed out at the end of the Bavarian
Succession War, ‘on the hard bed in the recruitment house can destroy
the image portrayed by the recruiters and the recruit may regret his
decision on waking,’ but he went on to say that recruitment of
volunteers was better than by force, as there were many reasons for
joining up: ‘love of the homeland, drunkenness, escaping the miseries
of life, love of idleness, avoiding useful employment, pressure of
paternal ambition, seldenial of comfortable living, educated hopes of
freedom, disgraceful crimes and the fear of punishment, doubts, and all
the immoral reasons of a good-fornothing’. For most, the prospect of
excitement and the glamorous uniform compared with the humdrum
Peasant life would have been sufficient encouragement,
‘The Hungarian Sidnde imposed difficult limits on recruitment, since
their priority was to maintain the agricultural workforce. After 13 years of
nearcontinuous warfare, 2nd Hussars were only permitted to take 400
men from 17 towns in Siebenburgen in 1802 and the recruitment parties
were only allowed to work on Sundays. Two years later, the Stande only put
‘up 28,000 Gulden, enough for 280 Wallachian ponies, when the regiment required one for each recruit. In all, the regiment was 300 men and
horses short, As casualties mounted in the Wars of Liberation (1813-14),
the depot division (7th and 8th squadrons) was formed around the
officer and NCO cadres, along with a small number of dismounted men.
The local Stiinde found itself unable to supply enough men to form a new
depot squadron as the numbers of men in the base varied by 50-60 per
day (due to a mix of new recruits, unfit men made supernumerary and
deserters), and so were forced to resort to the services of a Seelenkiiufer
(literally: buyer of souls) called Moischel Schein, who travelled the
neighbouring imperial provinces of the Banat and Bukovina and brought
in about 60 men by offering the 5 Gulden Handgeld (bounty)
The requirements of being skilled in patrolling and small unit
leadership also held open the possibility of faster promotion in the light
cavalry so that, unlike the infantry, most officer cadets (who paid a fee to
hold the rank) would advance through the ranks before being
commissioned. Joseph Paczanyi joined Ist Hussars as a 15-year-old cadet
in 1797, gaining the formal rank of
Korporal in November 1800 and then
Wachtmeister in December 1804.
Commissioned as an Unterleutnant
in September 1805, he was promoted
to Oberleutnant in March 1809
before being killed, aged 27, in that
year's campaign. Those men winning
the gold bravery medal, such as
Michael Molner of Esterhazy Hussars
in 1762, were usually promoted auto-
matically to Unterleutnant, Volunteer
troopers had an equal chance of
advancement, especially if, like
Joseph Dutsck of Ist Hussars, he ‘auf
bestindig assentier’ (volunteered for
life). Recruited in May 1795, he was
promoted to Vize (acting) Korporal in
June 1800 and (substantive) Korporal
in November. The 1805 war brought
further promotion to Wachtmeister
and in 1809 he was commissioned asa
Leutant before being quickly pro-
moted to Oberleutnant by September.
Joining the 1812 Auxiliary Korps in
Russia, he died from 13 wounds
engaging Cossacks at Szechniowice.
Originally a butcher's apprentice,
Josef Simonyi, volunteered as a
Gemeiner with 8th Hadik Hussars,
before being commissioned and
leading new troopers in Ist Uhlans as
an Oberleutnant (for which he won
the Maria Theresa Order). He then
returned to the 4th Hussars and rose
to become its commanding Oberst,
‘The familiar image of the
Hungarian Hussar, with his long
‘side-plaited hair and smoking the
ubiquitous pipe in the mid-18th
‘century style of uniform worn
before the 1769 reforms. This
style, with the pelisse worn off
the left shoulder, would become
ular all across Europe and
later, North America. (Gerasch) 10
winning the Commander Cross of the
Order of Leopold in 1814. Western
volunteers, especially bettereducated
southern Germans, were welcomed,
including the famous Constantin von
Ettingshausen, who had taken a boat trip
down the Danube from his home in near
Mainz and presented himself in Vienna
to join the Ist Hussars as a Gemeiner,
Rising rapidly through the NCO ranks,
he became the Oberst commanding the
9th regiment before being promoted to
the Generalcy. Although a German, he
was able to demonstrate the two most
important Hussar ideals — honour and
real intelligence.
Although Vienna was increasingly
deploying its eastern cavalry in central
Europe, the authorities still had to watch
the military frontier with the Turks,
Aside from the four regiments of Grenz
Hussars, an additional regiment was
raised in 1762 from the south eastern
Military Frontier. Known as the Szeckler,
it recruited from both the Szeckel and
Romanian populations (usually known
as Wallachs, these Romanians came from
the Haromszak and Aranya districts),
although its officers were a mix of Germans from the colonies in
southern Siebenburgern, local Szeckels, Hungarians and adventurers
such as the Swiss Ludwig von Buckhardt. The Szeckels themselves were
described in a 1792 report as:
a beautiful and strong people, of a stocky and medium-sized build.
‘The usual shape of the face is oval and their features [include] a flat
forehead, small bent nose, small mouth with smooth protruding
lips, a completely rounded chin ... a pair of fiery eyes. Their
complexion is rather brownish and the hair is usually black,
although often blond amongst the younger men of the Upper Csik
district... Their simple way of life allows them to enjoy longylasting
good health, The ordinary man has ... great good sense, is very
superstitious, stubborn and honourable, but is also good natured,
industrious, Joyal, brave in war deriving from a mix of
Gircumspection and inborn courage.
Farms were held by families in return for military service and every
male was enrolled at birth. Those in the Frontier districts were liable for
service from the age of 14, but no more than one brother per family
could serve at any one time. There was no possibility of purchasing a
replacement, but those who could prove they were crucial to the smooth
running of their farm could exchange their liability to service with
another volunteer.
standard bearer of the ath
Kienmayer Hussars, who was
probably the only Hussar to have
served across the entire period.
Born in 1735, he volunteered as
@ Gemeiner in 1752 and retired
in 1825, aged 90, after 73 years
of service, (BA) TRAINING
The 1751 Regulament und Ordwung fiir gesammte kk. Husaren- Regimenter
largely copied the regulations for the heavy cavalry. Whilst it attempted
to standardise the uniforms and equipment, which became more
glamorous, and was soon copied by most European armies, it made no
special allowance for the Hussar style of warfare, except in the key
emphasis on the lowest ranks to use their own initiative
The drill regulations began with the 2u Fuss (foot) drills, where men
learnt basic dismounted drill which emphasised the mass use of firing
weaponry to guard outposts. The men learned to stand in ranks, adopt
positions and make turns; the correct handgrips and loading of weaponry;
volley fire and Lauffeuer (rolling fire); forming two or three ranks from
Ziige (axes of march); tums and wheels. Most drill was conducted in two
ranks with marching at 80 and 120 paces per minute. One tall, 1.8m recruit
faced a short Korporal, ‘Stand upright and keep your head up!" shouted
the Korporal. “In that case,’ came the reply, ‘Twill have to say goodbye to
you, Korporal, because I'll never see you again.”
Beyond the more heavily populated ai
around Pest and Pressburg, on ‘the treeless
Hungarian plain [where] towns of
10-12,000 inhabitants are scattered far
from one another’, most Hungarians
learned to ride in childhood, and when
out riding soon acquired a natural
sense of direction, making them the
ideal recruits for light cavalry
duties. Those less proficient
began their training on a wooden
frame ‘to learn the correct
posture’ and the handgrips
required on the bridle and
saddle. Having progressed to a
horse, cach recruit learned the
seated position, improving
their balance by riding the
horse without and then with
stirrups, while the instructor
controlled the horse on a long
Next he would learn to
ride in small units to practice
regulation manoeuvres, after
which he would practice jumping
fences and ditches. Units initially
moved at the walk, then progressed
© a trot at about 300 paces per
minute and finally the gallop at 500
paces per minute. The stirrups were
positioned so that, when standing in them,
the man was 15cm above his saddle. Firing the
carbine was conducted by individual and volley
fire, both on foot and mounted.
rein,
‘The greatest Hussar commander
of all, Andreas Hadik
ransomed Berlin in 1757 (HAM).
A brilliant organiser and skilled
strategist, he was a daring and
imaginative cavalry leader,
‘whose men were devoted to him.
Joining as a Hussar ensign in
1792, he rose to Major early in
the Succession War (1740-48)
and by Its end was a
Generalmajor. Fluent
Hungarian, German, French and
Latin, his surprise attack at
Lobositz on pursuing Prussian
cavalry prevented a disaster,
while at Kolin he led his brigade
In Nadasdy's charge.
ia 12
Once riding was mastered, the men learned zu Pferd (mounted)
drills. The first of these, conducted in ranks, were mounting and
dismounting, postures and small unit formation, These were followed by
training ‘on the square’ (see Plate C), opening and closing ranks, turns,
turning about, sabre grips, loading the carbine and pistol, volley and
rolling fire, moving forwards and back in line, the three gaits, halts and
echeloned advances, and wheels (conducted at the gallop close to the
enemy). In the Ziige, the men learned: defiling by files, weapon drills,
turning about, axes of advance, halts, and echeloned advances and
wheels. From two ranks, they would form one, plus deploying for
skirmishing and mounting/dismounting drills.
A Ist Hussars Beschdftigungsjournat (training diary) from a large drill
camp held in the late summer of 1776 reflects a typical week's training
(during which it was recommended to the officers that they ‘treat their
men with firmness, but in a good way"):
Monday, 22nd August: Morning — Mounted drill: Mounting and
dismounting; position on the horse; moving off from the halt at the
walk, trot and gallop; march to the rear; deploying into line to the
left and right. After drill: Officer and NCO training. Afternoon —
Drill on foot: Positions; hand grips for drawing and holding weapons;
march to the front at various paces; turning to the right and left.
Tuesday, 23rd August: Morning — Mounted drill: Various
positions; march in line forwards at the walk, trot and gallop,
march to the rear; march to the front, together with deploying
into line to the left and right, and wheeling in line to the right
and left. After drill: Officer and NCO training. Afternoon - Drill
‘on foot: Loading and firing to the front and rear, then by ranks
formed from Zugs; volley fire, rolling fire (one man after another
down the line); and the preparatory orders from: Man wird laden
(the men will load)
Wednesday, 24th August: Morning ~ Mounted drill: Opening
and closing the ranks; opening the files and forming small
detachments by doubling up the third ranks and reverting to the
usual formation; loading at the halt, while advancing and retiring;
turning on the spot; marching forwards in line and deploying to
the left and right in line. Afternoon — Drill on foot: Turning in
column; turning to face in various directions; marching in files
and making turns; marching in files and at the double; marching
in files and passing a defile. Withdrawal to the rear and various
tums pivoted on the third rank.
Thursday, 25th August: Morning — Mounted drill: A repeat of
yesterday's drills etc.
On most bases, the lack of covered riding schools made mounted
training almost impossible during the winter and also limited it during
the other seasons. By Tuesday, 30 August, it was raining heavily, so the
men practised sword drills, while in the afternoon there were extended
training sessions for NCOs and officers. Throughout the period, there
was increased use of massed cavalry formations in battle, but the cost of
the drill camps required to practise this kept such training to a
minimum in the Austrian Army. Only the 3rd and 11th Hussar regiments attended the Ubungslager (drill camp) held at Minkendorf in
1803, alongside 21 battalions of infantry and three Kurassier regiments,
Although their service regulations were essentially the same, it took
much longer to train cavalry than infantry, so most men remained with
their units in peacetime. Light cavalry were the most multi-skilled part
of the Army and had to be trained for a wide range of functions. All
regulations were issued in German and alll officers and NCOs had to be
literate in the language so that they could then explain the instructions
to their men in their native language. The newly recruited men had to
learn many complicated names and orders. One new recruit posted as a
sentry on a road saw a figure approach. ‘Halt! Who are you?" The reply
came back: ‘Deserter’. Thinking ‘Deserter’ was a high rank, the recruit
responded: ‘Then pass.’
LIFE IN THE GARRISONS
It was considerably cheaper to garrison cavalry on the vast Hungaria
plains, and the authorities also based several German regiments in
western Hungary, The Hussars were dispersed over central and eastern
Hungary and south into Croatia, with some units sent into the territories
acquired under the First Partition of Poland (1772) and the Bukovina,
taken from the Turks in 1775.
‘Training @ Hussar cavalryman,
‘Just after the Napoleonic wars, a
‘man learns the correct posture on
2 horse, carrying just the blanket
over the saddle. The trainer
‘exercises control on a long rein
‘and uses a light whip. (HAM)
13 44
BELOW Camp scene from the
1790s (Kobell - ALB). These
appear to be Irregular Hussars,
although they retain common
features with thelr regular
counterparts ~ note the large
quantity of hay carried by the
horse on the right. The men wear
wraparound shake covers ~ note
the large haversack carried on a
cord above the sabretasche. This
was moved to a hook on the right
front side of the saddle in the
19th century.
‘The 1751 regulations put the Hussars on a regular footing, no longer
reliant on plunder. The Hussar was now granted regular pay, food and
lodging, each man also receiving a Mund-Portion or BrotPortion
(food/bread ration) with a Pferde-Portion (fodder) for the horse. The pay
scales from 1759 were as follows (1 Florin (fl) /Gulden = 60 Kreutzer
(kr), 1 Kreutzer very approximately having the purchasing power of
US$1 in 2000) and were no different across the period, since the army
ensured that food, which the men bought, was supplied ata fixed price:
Wachimestor | 22k; two bread, one horse rations per dey.
Koxporal 72k par day (13 in wari) one bread ration
Gomainer ‘le par day Bakr for dsmounted men; 7 in ware); one bread ration,
Korporals and Gemeiner received 15kr monthly for horse furniture, 6lb
of straw and 8Ib of hay. Each man who was fit for duty received 1f1 50kr
monthly, paid on an annual basis.
‘The new Cavalry Dienst (Service) regulation of 1769 laid the primary
emphasis on taking the oath of loyalty, obedience and devotion to the
monarch as the primary duties of every soldier. ‘Cleanliness must be
observed thoroughly” as it was good for the soldier and his health, The
men were to ‘wash their hands daily with soap, comb their hair and wear
itin the regulation style and powder it regularly; put on a clean shirt at
least twice a week; shave often enough that any facial hair was worn in
the regulation style; cut his finger- and toenails regularly’. Cleaning his
kit was equally important: “The Montur [uniform] is to be brushed daily
to be clean and polished ... work shoes are to be brushed daily, have
black wax applied and swapped over [shoes were not left or right] for even wear, but boots only
had to cleaned as often as
they were worn,’ The
carbine belt and box and
all leather equipment was
to be waxed in black as
required, while white parts
were cleaned with pipeclay
and chalk, although gums
and rubber solutions were
not to be used as they
caused the leather to
harden and crack, Flints
were secured with a lead
surround and the man
was always to carry a ball
extractor and tou
clearer. At all times when
on duty, including on foot,
the man was to wear his
sabre hanging on. his hip,
orhold itin his left hand or
under his arm.
Whether the Hussars
‘were in camp, garrison or
illeted out in townhouses,
the day began with Tagwacht
(Reveille). If the whole
regiment was in one place,
the trumpeters would assemble outside the Oberst’s quarters at
regimental headquarters. They would sound Tagwacht at cach cardinal
point of the compass, and then if in a town, repeat the call in the main
squares, There was no set time — just ‘when it was possible to see to read’,
followed by the Gebet (call to prayers), which was also sounded during the
hhole
evening. Following prayers, the troops fed and watered their horses,
saddling and equipping them if necessary, for which approximately an
hour was permitted (more in the mid-18th century) as packing scythes
and fodder-ropes for marches or long patrols took time. As preparations
were concluded, the Abbruch (dismiss) was sounded, at which the men
would parade in their designated unit positions, where their commanders
called the roll and inspected men and equipment. All was done with the
men dismounted at Rast (at ease). After muster parade, the troops moved
to the departure point or drill area. Except when collecting fodder, if a
squadron or larger unit was to leave the base, the colour was collected,
without which they were not permitted to leave the camp or barracks. The
standard bearer who was to carry the colour was guarded by two NCOs
and a Halizugunder an officer, and the party would go to headquarters to
collect the colour. The HQ guard received them with drawn swords and
handed over the colour, which would then be cased on leaving the town
or garrison under a protective canvas cover.
Guard duties, for which the Hussars were usually dismounted, began
and ended at noon, when the Mitiagsbettstunde (an hour's break) was
Three Hussars, probably
attending an 1804 dill camp
(Kobell ~ ALB). The longth of the
cloak is clear from this and
three men are wearing overall
trousers, although one man
‘wears the full plume.
15 16
Hussars in 1814 (Klein),
ilustrating the actual horse sizes.
‘The blanket is just visible under
the saddle and the outer girth
strap Is clearly shown. (Nurnburg)
sounded. Half an hour before, the men designated for that day's duty
would assemble for a full inspection on the garrison square or if in camp
in front of the tent line. The Retraite (or Zapfensireich — Last Post) was
ceremonial, usually happening around 8 pm, although the unit or
garrison commander would designate a time depending on nightfall
‘When it was sounded, the gates and barriers were closed and all cooking
fires had to be extinguished. The Profass (provost) would make a tour of
inspection and close the drinks tents, marking barrels with chalk. The
night guard was kept in three watches, changed at three-hour intervals,
small patrols led by a Gefreiter moving between the posts. Towards dawn,
the Tagwacht (day guard) took over and its buglers would sound Reveille.
HORSES AND THEIR CARE
‘The Hussars preferred Hungarian and Transylvanian horses or Polish
between four and seven years old, standing 14-15 hands, wl
were purchased by both the regiment/central military authorities and
partly by the Hungarian provinces. Horses had to be at least 14 Faust
(hands) 2 Zoll (inches) high, although a suitable good-quality horse a Zoll
shorter was acceptable. Hungarian horses were similar to the lighter
version of the modern Nonius breed, usually coloured wholly dark bay,
brown or black, although each squadron tried to maintain as little variation
in colour as possible. Most horses were around 14 hands, Each cavalryman
employed in buying horses was instructed to look for those with ‘a lively
temperament, combining speed and stamina. A narrow head and neck,
lively eyes, even shoulders and muscleless shanks usually signify such
horses’, noted the 1807 regulations. Each officer on the buying party
would carrya horse measure (‘Hippometer’), more than 18 Faust high and
a fingerthickness in width. The special status of the Szeckler as part of the
Grenz system required each family with a farm of 50 Joch (acres) or smaller
combined family units to provide a horse. Once acquired, the horse was
branded with the imperial
cipher and on reaching the
regiment was branded with
a number. However, as early
as 1770, the shortage of
horseflesh forced the
authorities to buy in horses
from Russia, and in wartime,
demand was outstripping
supply. By 1780, the price of
a Hussar horse had reached
50-105 Gulden and
115-140 Gulden by 1788.
The last’ Turkish war
required 6,136 horses from
Hungary and 5,438 from
Siebenburge driving
prices to 15 Ducats and as
high as 19 Ducats in Galicia
(southern Poland), Horses were broken in on the ranches or by their vendors, but
taining them was the primary duty of a subaltern officer and was
considered a rewarding activity as maltreatment or mishandling could
lead to troopers falling and suffering serious injury. One Hungarian
trick to stop a horse biting was ‘[to] hold a boiled piece of mutton or
calf leg, as soon as it is off the fire, in front of such a horse and if the
horse bites, it burns its lips and tongue and thus warned, it doesn’t bite
again’. The German Kurassier officer von Thielen considered this too
unreliable a method, Without a covered riding school, it was difficult to
conduct much mounted training in the winter (when lighting fires was
a major activity), so this was the ideal time to get the horse used to the
saddle and bridle, ready for the new recruits in the spring.
A well-trained horse was as important as its rider’s skills: “The horse
is the inseparable companion of the rider in the most important
moments of his life,” declared the 1807 Dienst Regulation. ‘It carries
him to glory, it helps him to be victorious, it rescues him from danger;
reasons enough that he should love it, care for it and cherish it! It is
however an expensive item for the Monarch and he must endeavour to
keep it for as long as possible.’ The Reilsdoceur had been introduced in
1776, whereby 12
Ducats, altered in 1807 to ten years but with a reduced reward of three
Ducats and one more for each year thereafter. Horses that could not be
trained for effective use in action were auctioned off locally:
The 1769 Dienst Regelement (Service Regulation) emphasised the
importance of feeding, watering and cleaning the horse:
rs use of the same horse was rewarded with six
(The rider] must in particular love his horse, never in the
slightest drag it away from its allotted food as a severe
punishment, but must clean its stall, feed and water it at the right
times, and also groom it diligently, ensure that the eyes, mane,
main body, feet and tail are clean and also that the hair does not
become matted, comb it apart, and at the time of the new moon,
Hungarian ranchers worked on
the ‘militirische Stuten’ (imperial
breeding ranches), which were
‘established in 1770 in eastern
Hungary and in 1807 in the
Bukovina, The ranches were
also a good recruiting ground
for cavalrymen. clip it; the long hair around the mouth, chin, eyes and feet is to
be gently plucked, but shorn around the ears ... the hooves must
be regularly smeared with hoof blacking ... In wet weather, the
tail will be tied up short or the tail bound up to half its length, but
otherwise it will hang freely.
‘The man was to feed his horse at approximately 5am, 8am, 12n00n,
4pm and 8pm every day. The horses were given salt and checked by
regimental vets every eight days. From 1 November until the end of
April, horses were fed on hard tack, while throughout the summer until
bad weather set in, they were out on the grazing meadows. The
Pferdefutter (forage) had to be adjusted in July for the rest of the summer
because of the shortage of old hay and straw. It then comprised a third
of old hay, with half of the hay portion being made up of forage straw,
while a third of the hay portion was made up of barley or corn, The
more humane 1807 regulation emphasised that:
‘The rider should get to know the nature and temperament of his
horse and treat his animal accordingly; he should never
mishandle it, but seek to stop its bad habits with patience and
affection ... after each strenuous ride or in hot weather, he must
first lead it round, loosen the bridle, nosestrap, girth and tail
straps, wash its eyes and not feed or water it until it has cooled off
calmed down!
Every day, the stalls were to be cleared of excrement, which was to be
placed on designated heaps. After taking the horse outside and hooking
it to a picket stake, the man was to clean the hay and equipment racks,
remove any cobwebs and air the stall.
If the horse became unfit, it was the responsibility of the Korporal to
make the initial examination and then inform the smith but, as immediate
attention would not always be possible, the 1769 regulations required the
Gemeiner to know about potentially dangerous conditions such as worms
and frothing around the mouth, and the initial treatment required.
ON CAMPAIGN
When a unit left its base, the men would carry: two Zopf (ponytail)
bands, a comb, two neck stocks and one spare neck-stock button; two
German pattern shirts, a spare pair of overall trousers, forage cap and
two handkerchiefs; a pair of plain boots without spurs, a boot brush and
a clothes brush; knife, fork and spoon; shaving kit and a water bottle
(most also took a brandy bottle). The Mantel cloak was rolled and
secured with two leather straps and carried across the horse's shoulders.
For his horse, the man would need a horsebrush, curry comb and
cleaning sponge/rags; a tail comb and band; cordage for securing hay
and forage; two horseshoes and 30 nails; a picket stake and a small
scythe. Each Kameradschaft also required a tent, three poles (each in
three pieces) and 30 tent pegs, a cooking pot with its cover, three
barrels, a large two-handled scythe with its cover, a Zelthacke (hatchet), a
hammer and a sharpening stone. For baggage, each squadron had three draught animals with a driver (in the Netherlands, a fourhorse wagon)
plus a fourhorse provisions wagon. Each regiment had two field
smithies and, from 1776, a field chapel tent wagon. To present a
disciplined impression on the march, the 1769 Service Regulation
expressly prohibited the smoking of tobacco, eating and drinking,
‘chattering, shouting and racing about’ on the march and at no time,
even when off duty, was the Gemeiner to be drunk,
In the mid-18th century, there could be long periods of little activity
on campaign. A Swiss mercenary in the Esterhazy Hussars observed the
routine in the camp in Marklissa in Bohemia
There was a great crowd of sutlers and slaughtermen there.
Throughout the whole day, along all the long rows, there was
nothing but boiling and roasting of food. There everyone could
have what he wished or more accurately, what he could pay for
meat, butter, cheese, bread, all types of fruit and so on. Aside
from the guards, everyone could do as he wished: Playing skittles
or other games, walking around inside and outside camp. Only a
few sat idly in their tents; one busied himself with cleaning his
gun, another with his washing; a third cooked, a fourth patched
his trousers and a fifth his shoes; a sixth made something out of
‘wood and sold it to a local peasant. Each tent had its six men and
one supernumerary. Among these seven, one was always relieved
from duties (or ‘gefreit’, which was the origin of the later rank of
2nd Erzherzog Josef Hussars on
pleket duty. A man Is on duty on
the far right facing in the
resumed direction of the enemy,
‘while an NCO and officer discuss
the deployment. The men attend
to various activities ~ collecting
‘wood to maintain the fire was a
key priority, once the horses had
been fed. (BA) 20
Hussars from 1799 around a
campfire (Seele), wearing the
1769 shako with its improvised
‘sun visor at the back, so the
‘shako had to be turned round for
use and plumes covered in black
‘cloth covers. Nearly all the men
have moustaches in the narrow
Hungarian style and some are
wearing the service overall
trousers with an understrap. (BA)
Gefreiter), as his duty was to maintain discipline. Of the
remaining six, one would be on guard, one had to cook, another
had to fetch supplies; one sought out firewood, another located
straw; the last was the purse-holder, arranging everything for this
small household and its table.
Although playing cards for money was prohibited, a favourite
pastime amongst the Hussars was dancing, the Szeckler using the same
style as the Hungarians, the men often dancing with spurs still on their
boots, giving maximum effect as they jumped and struck their heels
together. The dances would begin with a few steps in a circle as the
spurs were hit together. As the music, often the popular ‘Turkish music’
played on the regimental drums and assorted wind instruments, was
played increasingly faster, ‘the moves become more complex with more
frequent moves of the whole body, until his feet get tired and he is
forced to stop ... The music reflects the national character, [played at]
a raucous rapid allegro [fast speed], which drives the dancer to ever
more rapid moves.”
On campaign, the light cavalry were expected to be able to move
about 60km per day across open, flat land, the troops making a brief halt
after every 30 minutes at the trot. When working with the main armies,
the troops could be allocated daily supplies ~ at Koblenz in 1793, the
men were allotted 2lb of bread, 4 Ib of meat, vegetables, two Seidel
(pints) of beer or a pint of wine in return for a payment of 8kr; the
horses were allocated 61b of oats, 10Ib of hay and 3ib of straw at a cost of
18kr. However, on long-range patrols, the Hussars could only carry two
to three days’ supplies and so could only sustain themselves by obtaining
additional sustenance through force when in enemy territory, which
would often turn into looting:
Each man stuffed his haversack with anything he could — as it was,
understood in foreign lands ~ ‘lay his hands on’, Cornmeal, turnips,
strawberries, chickens, ducks and the like, and whoever couldn't
get hold of these things, was
roundly mocked by _ his
comrades, something which
regularly happened to me.
Whata lot of panicked hubbub
went up from the women,
children, geese, pigs etc. when
we went through a village,
Then every man had to grab
everything he could carry off.
Hush! Wring its neck and put
it in your haversack, Then the
men broke into all the stalls
and gardens, thrashed about
in the trees and ripped off
branches with their fruit
No-one could complain about
it, if the officer allowed it or
turned a blind eye. Not even the formal prohibition of torture across the Imperial Lands
in 1776 could restrain the wilder elements and despite attempts during
the Napoleonic wars by the senior command, this kind of activity
continued even in areas such as southern Germany, where they wished to
gain popular support. Forage for the horses was obtained by foraging
parties from local peasants (usually for payment) or cach Gemeiner used
his own scythe or the large two-handled version to collect grass and corn.
Outposts and pickets were a key role for the Hussars on campaign,
men found drunk or asleep on outpost duty being subject to execution,
Whether during the day or night, they were only permitted to take
cover in the Schilderhaus (guard shelter) in wet or bad weather. If no
Shilderhaus was available, then the men would protect their loaded
carbines by holding them muzzle downwards and under the cover of the
left side of the long cape. Eating and drinking on guard duty were
stricly forbidden as were playing games, shouting and squabbling, as
well as firing weapons. No gifts, be it money or food, were to be accepted
from local people. Led by senior Gemeiner or Gefreiter, there would be
aline of outposts together with patrols moving between them and ahead
of them, formed by about half the force, The other half remained
formed up, such as at Judenburg in 1805:
The 3rd and 4th squadrons were manning the outpost line. The
3rd squadron held the forward posts with the 4th forming the
support behind them. Around noon on 12th November, enemy
cavalry approached the outer outposts of 3rd squadron, which
was commanded by Korporal Szentpeteri, who was the senior
Hussars on picket duty 1799
(Secle). This small group has
been left By the main column,
which continues up the raad to
the loft. These small pickets
‘were a significant training
‘ground for NCOs (Umhey).
Sentries and pickets were
usually dismounted to spare
the horses. In 1809, Gemeiner
‘Miki6s Bozéky was on sentry
duty, when he perceived the
presence of enemy soldiers
‘sneaking up on him. ‘Be quiet,
Hussar,’ he heard in German.
‘Red shako! The enemy are
‘coming! shouted the Hussar, just
hhe was bayoneted, but he had
bbeen able to alert his comrades,
24 The speed of cavalry attacks
‘meant that a man who was
wounded or whose horse fell
rarely avoided capture. However,
Oberst Ott of the 2nd Hussars
was rescued by two of his
bravest men at Bellheim on
47 May 1792, (Umhey)
Korporal. (The enemy formed up 130 men and attacked the
outpost.) Our outposts were already mounted up; ignoring the
enemy superiority and their rapid assault, Korporal Szentpeteri
led his ten troopers against them, halted them and until the whole
lot fell on him in the narrow defile and Oberlt, Szarvas could come
to their aid, they held the enemy on their own. In the course of
this, the Korporal was badly wounded by a sabre blow, his horse
was killed under him and all his comrades suffered a similar fate.
‘The Korporal ignored the danger and grabbed the horse of a man
who had been felled, mounted it and encouraged the troopers
coming to help and despite his wounds, again attacked the enemy
so that the rest of the squadron could arrive in time and engage
the enemy. The enemy superiority eventually forced the Korporal
and Oberlt Szarvas to fall back on the support (and the enemy
continued to attack). However, the support squadron had arrived,
amongst whose ranks Wachtmeister Dzurik and Korporal Martin
Barnat set the example to their men with extraordinary bravery
their example had the desired effect and a murderous cavalry
massacre took place.
After the Seven Years War, the Hussars were increasingly armed with
short carbines and rifles, together with a pair of pistols. As well as
mounted duties in der kleiner Krieg (literally: the small war) and firepower
in battle, they were essential for dismounted outposts, such as one led by
Gemeiner Boj of the 6th Squadron of the 2nd Hussars near Brescia,
Italy, on 31 May 1796, Based with five men in a house, he held off a
French advance guard with carbine and pistol fire until reinforcements 19-25 2630-31-35 36-40 AAS 5-52
Years of Age
arrived. The two local regiments, the nd and Szeckler Hussars, were
also deployed defensively to support the infantry guarding the main
Siebenburgen passes of Vulkan, Torzburg and Rotenthurm, into Turkish
territory during the 1788-91 war
Four Hussar regiments joined of the Austrian Auxiliary Korps which
endured the same terrible weather as the infantry (see Warrior 24: Austrian
Grenadiers and Infantry 1788-1816, pp. 29 & 61), formed the right wing of
Napoleon's invasion of Russia in 1812. During the retreat, on
30 November, the 7th Hussars were bivouacked behind the Muchiavec at
Pulkow as the main Korps fell back to reach Slonim by 7 December.
Although Oberleutnant von Tamassy and 60 volunteers had gained some
supplies by mounting a raid against Russian troops on the Divin causeway,
during which 60 wagons were captured, the desperate state of the area was,
described by Oberst Fiirst Hohenlohe:
te
‘The area around Slonim was very lacking in supplies anyway, but
has already been so stripped out by the presence and passage of
various forces, that many local inhabitants had fled and those who
{Age profiles of the mounted mon
of the Grd Squadron Gemeiner of
the 3rd Esterhazy Hussars in
41759 (ight) and 41785 (dark). This
regiment recruited to the west of
Budapest, although having taken
‘some men from disbanded units,
the 1785 squadron includes a
large contingent of Slovaks from
the Neutra area east of Prossburg
(Bratislava), with others from the
agyzier/Kumanier peoples and
Tolna district. Three years into
the Seven Years War, 91 of the
141 Gomeiner had served throe
years or less, whereas in
peacetime, just one out of 113
hhad served less than six years. In
both cases, nearly all the officers
‘and NCOs are aged 95-50. Most
horses are aged five to eight
years old, although some are as
‘old as 17 and 18; the majority
were 14.2-14.8 hands, although
‘overall they vary from 15.1 to
413.3. The taller and shorter men
appear to have been allocated
the taller horses. The detailed
1785 records show 11 men taller
‘than 5 Fuss 6 Zoll and eight less
‘than § Fuss 3 Zoll. There were
just two Lutherans, the rest being
Catholic, while 15 had a former
miners, coachmen, metal workers
and farriers. The horses were
‘mostly dark-brown Wallach
ponies, although some were
hhoney and light brown. (Based on
‘muster rolls in the KA)
23 RIGHT Esterhazy Hussar making
a sweeping slash No.5 from his
loft side (Morier c.1750) (Roy:
Collection 2003). The Esterhazy
family were the most powerful
Hungarian magnates and could
afford to equip their Hussar
rogimonts In ornamental horse
furniture. On the chest joint was
a large leather rosette and a
black leather square with a cut
pattern and a brass button in the
contro, togathor with the tassels,
BELOW Female camp follower
(Engelbrecht) probably from
Siebenburgen. Her dress is a
‘copy of the Hussar style, which
was widely worn as civilian attire
In this area. Soldiers’ wives
usually washed clothing and
‘cleaned barrack rooms. Duffy's
‘analysis suggests about 8 per
ccont of troopers were married.
had remained behind survived mostly on
roots and meat without salt and without any
bread. There had not been any talk of
regular supplies for some time. The cold
had however become much worse; tow:
morning, the temperature fell to minus
3-24 degrees. The outposts and guards
had to be changed every fifteen minutes and
even in this short period, many men
suffered frostbitten fingers. Packs of wolves
broke into the camp and thereby spread an
awful panic amongst the horses of Ist
Hussar regiment; they also attacked the
outposts, who had to fire whole volleys to
defend themselves, causing more fear
amongst the already exhausted troops.
rds
Reconnaissance patrols from the Ist Hussars
reached Luck and Witjebsk, while Pauliny led a
raid on Minsk and won the Order of Maria
Theresa at Kolodessno in January 1813. The
horses however were unable to survive the winter
and many of their riders were forced to walk on
the retreat: “The men have neither food nor tobacco; there hasn't been any pay since August, but despite everything,”
complained one letter home, ‘the officers and men endure these
hardships with a stoic calm. Amidst their ranks, their devotion to duty
still produces self-denial, good order and unquestioning discipline.”
DER KLEINE KRIEG
A Hungarian proverb reflects the real role of Hussars: ‘Hussars are first
on the field and first off,’ because their inborn traits suited them to
reconnaissance, harrying the enemy, ambushes, surprise raids and
pursuing beaten enemy. It was as the armies closed that Hussars were
‘most effective — they would establish the first contacts with the enemy in
ter kleine Krieg as they undertook reconnaissance patrols, foraging and
skirmishing with enemy outposts. Small raids and laying ambushes both
unsettled the enemy and gathered intelligence on their positio
especially from captured enemy dispatches. The Hussar regiments had
been reduced to about 400 men at the start of the Seven Years War and,
mounted on horses of poor stock, they had lost their traditional
dominance in these duties, as well as being unfit for battlefield service,
senior commanders maintaining that ‘they can only be employed if the
main action turns out well and then only to pursue scattered enemy’
However, this was more related to poor deployments by those
commanders and, once new recruits were trained, the Hussars soon
returned to their traditional activities,
Smallscale operations assumed great importance in the more
mountainous and forested parts of Europe, where small Hussar units
often operated with Grenzers. During the advance into Saxony in 1757,
300 men of the Esterhazy Hussars were accompanying 1,000 Grenzers on
a raid towards Kamnitz, On 18 July, near the village of Hasel, they
encountered a Prussian convoy and its cavalry escort. After a brief
exchange of carbine fire, the Prussians gave up, but aware of large
Prussian forces nearby, the Austrians could not carry off all their plunder,
Instead, they smashed up the
ammunition wagons, nailed the
cannon touchholes and rendered the
pontoons unusable, but were still able
to carry off some 500 horses back to
their camp. In 1794 in Belgium,
Korporal Franz Poor of the Ist Hussars
led a small unit on his own initiative to
take a convoy of ten French wagons
Joaded with bread and forage, cutting
down the escort and freeing a
captured comrade in the process.
‘Two years later, Rittmeister Graf
Wallmoden led a raid which captured
complete French depot at Bruchsal.
The psychological effects of
Hadik’s 1757 raid on Berlin (see
Plate E) prompted more Handstreiche
(large raids) into enemy territory,
1762 manuscript illustration of a
‘man on foot (Albertina). The two
men are from the Hadik (lef) and
Kalnoky (right) regiments. The
Hadi trooper is smoking the
popular long pipe. Both wear the
Turkey (madder) red trousers and
have their Inhaber's symbols on
the sabretasches. (ALB) 41780 shako of the simpler
construction without the outer
housing. Its elaborate decoration
to the sido (the flat VitezkStos -
warrior knots) contrasts with the
very simple rosette in the centre
and pom-pom below the
rim. (HAM)
including a spectacular raid on Halle in August 1759:
[these Hussars] had made appropriate preparations for the
expedition and brought along the necessary equipment, such as
axes, hatchets and jemmies. When the householders were slow to
open the doors, the Hussars burst them open and pushed their
sabres at the householders’ throats, threatening to hack them to
pieces on the spot if they did not unlock all the doors and chests
and yield up their money and treasure.
‘The tactic continued through the Seven Years War ~ Oberstleutnant
Kiss of the Ist Hussars won the Maria Theresa Order for his many raids,
reaching as far as Windisch-Borna in Silesia in 1762. These light troops
thus spread fear amongst central Europe's peasants, but could expect no
merey from these people if they fell into their hands ~ a major factor in
the low rates of desertion from the Hussars and Grenzers.
Following raids into Serbia in 1790, the Hungarians still spread fear
among their opponents during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars,
especially veterans in their forties, who had joined soon afier the Seven
Years War. At Christmas 1799, there was a peasant insurgency in the Alpine
Major Mesko of the 7th Hussars found it sufficient to
‘dispatch a Korporal and six men to restore order’. Lightning raids
continued to prove equally effective — Major Graf Gattenburg of the Ist
Hussars captured a French battalion in a surprise raid on Jedlinsko in
Poland in 1809. Even towns were no problem — during Bonaparte’s
advance across Italy in 1796, 30 men from the
8th Hussars launched a surprise raid on the
Frenclrheld city of Brescia on 30 June and
quickly chased the guards from the walls. The
gates were opened and the rest of the squadron
swept in, reaching the town drill square, where
the garrison troops were scattered and many
taken prisoner, The Ist Hussars adopted a
typically resourceful approach when facing the
barricaded gates of Bamberg in August 1796.
Ordered by the senior command to break it,
they simply ripped the hinges from the wall and
the gates fell in.
Leadership of both light infantry and
cavalry beyond the main battle lines required
both officers and NCOs to demonstrate
independence and initiative. Most officer
cadets would learn their trade as NCOs in the
‘small war’ for up to ten years before being
commissioned and for the Gemeiner, it was
the quickest route to promotion. He would
initially be made a Vize-Korporal (Acting
Korporal), which required that he be able to
write to the same standard as he could read
and could undertake all the duties of a
Korporal, especially setting a good example to
the men. ‘Mounted patrols,’ noted the 1769
valleys west of Turi Service Regulations, ‘are one of the most important functions
for a cavalryman; consequently, all normal caution is required.”
Their primary purpose was gathering intelligence about enemy
movement, and so smalll patrols of a few men under an NCO or
larger units under junior officers were dispatched. The first
message sent back might typically be one sent by an
Oberleutnant of the Szeckler Hussars leading a Zugin Germany
in 1796, reporting that: ‘the enemy is advancing from Turkheim
with large infantry and cavalry units and this force has already
reached Ellstadt’. Once contact had been established, small
patrols would be dispatched in all appropriate directions, whose
teports would then be collated by the junior officer for onward
transmission by messenger to headquarters. A Korporal leading
4 patrol would now try to assess the numbers involved and report
back: ‘the advance, by my judgement, is of a thousand-strong
force of French cavalry, who are heading at a steady trot towards
Karlsruhe and are now up in line with the main French column’,
useful information an Oberleutnant would add might
ypically be ‘that this road is now also blocked by the French’
Pauliny had been promoted to Wachtmeister by March 1794,
when he led his first major patrol against the French
Revolutionary troops in Belgium:
Along with one Korporal and eight troopers, Iwas ordered to
get as close as possible to the fortress at Cambrai and report
back on enemy positions and movements. [Approaching]
Boussieres, I could see the seven windmills there and from
the movements of their sails, I realised that the millers were
signalling my approach to the French. However, this also
meant that I was aware that the enemy were nearby, just as the two
Hussars riding at the front informed me of the advance of a large
enemy column by firing two shots as they reached a smalll rise in the
ground. I ordered the patrol to halt and remain silent, galloped to
a nearby hill, and observed two squadrons of French Dragoons,
whose commander was just preparing to dispatch some patrols to
assess my own patrol’s strength. I ordered my patrol to fall back as
quickly as possible and designated the point where they should
await me, at which stage, I challenged the enemy commander to a
duel by firing a single shot. In a flash, he charged me with
20 Dragoons, so that I and my brave horse had hardly the
opportunity to eseape and rejoin my men. We withdrew, fighting all
the way, but then halted as the Dragoons had captured Gemeiner
Emei and severed Gemeiner Stephan Nagy’s right hand. My
instruction to save our comrades was immediately answered by the
brave Hussars, as they ferociously engaged the enemy, who were
twenty [!] times stronger. Korporal Menyhard shot one Dragoon
and fatally wounded another. Fortunately, I managed to fight my
way through to Gemeiner Emei and after taking five wounds myself
but also drawing blood from several Dragoons ... freed him.
Having successfully withdrawn, Pauliny dispatched Emei to the local
outpost with the news and Leutnant Barga was soon rushing to his aid.
Sabre of Andreas Hadik ~ note
‘the sun and crescent moon
symbols, which are often seen
on Hussar sabres and reflect an
adoption
Christian symbols. Although gold
mounted, itis stil the simple
pattern of handle, summing up
the paradox of Hussar life. (HAM)
27 LEFT The local people are
obviously rather impressed as
Hussars swoop through their
town in the late 18th century
in their impressive uniforms
{the officer still wears the Kalpak
and Is carrying holster covers).
‘The carbines are too long, but
were carried upright. Note the
fodder sacks on the forward right
Long-range patrols were effective
in causing confusion in the enemy
rear. In 1814, the 4th Huss:
Simonyi swam the Rhone near Lyons
to cut the communications of the
retreating French Army. Patrols were
not to enter a village or defile without
first sending forward one or two men
(depending on their own strength)
and checking around the left and
right flanks. In open ground, they
were to ride up on to the slightest rise
or small hill, to obtain a better view
of the locality and continue from
there. Pauliny was leading another
patrol towards Katzenellenbogen in
September 1795, when
s under
With the help of a local guide, 1
managed to make my way through
the cnemy outposts unnoticed to
reach the first houses in the town
and discovered that two squadrons of French Chasscurs & Cheval ABOVE A Hussar uses his two
were fast asleep. As it was pitch black and raining heavily, I was very pistols to launch a surprise
keen to risk a surprise attack; however the small size of my patrol Siincke-on (rencti revoiorety,
prevented me undertaking one, and so I decided to wake the light cavalry down a side street
7 {Scole ~ ALB) as he stands up
enemy from their slumbers with some pistol shots and loud in his stirups, Hie sabre is
shouting. We fell back on to a nearby hill and to our great suspended from his right wrist
amusement, saw everyone running about the roads with la om Its leather strap, while he
the buglers blowing the Alarm and the outposts standing to, ‘wosa hia left hand to control
his horse. Note the angle of
without any of them knowing where their enemy were. ‘ el
y 5 uy the pistol to ensure ignition
of the charge.
tern
‘The most difficult terrain was encountered typically in northern Italy
and southern Germany ~ ground covered with bushes or small areas of woodland. On approaching such ground, the main unit halted and men
were despatched from the front 15 to 30 minutes march ahead to check
for ambushes. If there were tracks leading off the main route through,
then side patrols of two men each rode along them, however this meant
that there was always a danger of being cut off, so it was recommended
that they retumed by a different route.
The other main role of the light cavalry was explained in detail
1806-7 drill regulations, which required that
in the
In no circumstances is a cavalry force to march without advance-
and rearguards or side patrols; these detachments will themselves
send their most reliable, capable and best-mounted men out as
flankers and pickets, and these are the ones directly designated to
seek out the enemy, engage their outposts, harass them while
retreating or repel them during our own withdrawal and to mask
the movements of the main army.
In battle, the regiments were usually deployed by divisions to guard
the whole army, such as at Second Caldiero in 1805, where the three
divisions of the 3rd Hussars were deployed ahead of the main parts of
the army in the villages of Castelvecchio, Villanuova and San Pietro,
although the regimental staff remained at Caldiero. During night
movements close to enemy positions, the men were forbidden to sleep
and had to be wide awake — being alert was not to be achieved by
lighting a pipe. Leading a ten-man flank guard for an infantry column
at Magnano on 5 April 1799, Korporal Timko was moving through
“broken terrain, cut up by numerous ditches and impenetrable
hedgerows’. He used the terrain to launch an attack through a hedge to
surprise French infantry, taking 70 prisoners. The Hussars continued to
operate with Grenzers in both advance- and rearguards to protect the
army, Near Drausendorf in August 1813, the Ist Hussars were fending
off French pursuers, when:
Hussars engage French
Joons during the Napoleonic
wars, by H. Cotta. The man in
the centre Is using his sabre at
the drilled angle both to parry
the French Dragoon's sabre and
to protect his head in particular. 30
Sixty-nine Peterwardein
Grenzers led by Oberleutnant
Drasenovich arrived and. after
the enemy had put up
determined resistance and
beaten off several attacks, some
Hussars sprang from their
horses and joined them in an
action on foot. Among them
was Korporal Johann Videky,
who was able to break down a
post from the manorhouse
outbuilding and followed by
Gemeiner Stephan Csernus and
thirteen brave Peterwardeiners,
broke his way into the manor
through this opening, spreading fear and confusion amongst the
enemy and taking 39 prisoners.
‘These small units would also interrogate prisoners ~ in 1797 a Hussar
major interrogated a captured enemy soldier. ‘From which regiment are
you?’ asked the major, ‘I'm an Italian volunteer on the French side.’ ‘The
whole regiment is the same as you?” "Yes, we are all brave.’ ‘Well, in that
case you go back to your colonel. I wish all good to him. Tell him that we
will meet in your field fortification.’ This was not unusual, as the versatile
Hussars could be used against established positions, and even in urban
actions. Two squadrons from the Szeckler Hussars stormed a ditch held
by French infantry at Famars in 1794, while the 9th Hussars participated
in the assault on the Riazenstadt suburb of Belgrade in 1789.
Der kleine Krieg continued after the battles. Korporal Andreas Nagy, of
the 5th Squadron of the 7th Hussars, was leading a fourman patrol in Italy
in 1799 when they encountered a group of Austrian prisoners from IR41
being escorted by French infantry. Nagy led a surprise attack, freeing his
colleagues and capturing five of the escort. That same July, while forming
the last rearguard outpost covering a retreating force, Gemeiner Johann
Sinkovits of the Ist Hussars fell into a deep ditch and finished up under
his horse. The French Chasseurs 4 Cheval who were pursuing him
dragged him out to take him prisoner, However, Wachtmeister Siga
Kakonyi and Gemeiner Paul Ursik saw their comrade’s predicament and
rode in to save him, assailing the Chasseurs and putting them to flight.
Other Chasseurs then advanced and Ursik quickly dismounted, helped
Sinkovits up and then the two dragged the horse out, while the
Wachtmeister called in further troopers to engage the French.
CHARGE!
The style and swagger displayed by the Hussars was justified by their
bravery and their greatest advantage was their speed - in surprise
attacks, which they would launch by firing their weapons, following
through with their sabres, they would attack at full gallop, causing panic
and heavy casualties amongst their enemy in a few minutes. The first
[Attack by Hussars. A slightly
later illustration shows the lead
being taken by the officer and
the bugler. With the emphasis on
‘speed, Hussars were not boot to
boot as heavy cavalry were. (BA) tactical directive to the Hussars had been issued in 1722 and reflected
Furor hungarius ~ skilled and rapid movement to outflank and disrupt
enemy formations:
‘The Hungarian cavalryman customarily prefers to use the sword at
every opportunity in battle. Therefore, he advances upon the
enemy and heads for him in a calm, courageous fashion. He dashes
from his position, heads for them and is upon the enemy like a
speeding bullet. He attacks front on and strikes the enemy with his
sabre. If the enemy flee, he gives chase, and until he catches them,
fires carbine and pistol, not allowing them to turn and face him. If
the enemy does turn, then he attacks them with his sabre, as he
must save his carbine ammunition as much as possible. If the
‘enemy should regroup, then let him forcefully turn and face them
again, reorder his unit, fire on them with his carbine and again ty
with all his might to break the enemy unit up and put it to flight. If
ne enemy is reinforced, then he must withdraw in good order.
Inareference to the ‘one worth twenty’ of the Hungarian ‘huss’, during
the Napoleonic Wars four Hussars wanted to attack 40 enemy light
cavalrymen, Their Oberleutnant ordered them to fall back as they were
so outnumbered. ‘Eh?* grumbled an unhappy Gemeiner, ‘I have never
heard that we have to count the enemy before we attack.”
In common with the other cavalry types, the 1751 regulation decreed
that the Hussars would fight in three ranks usually, although two ranks
were not uncommon, and by the end of the Seven Years War, Oberst
Nauendorff was already pressing for Hussars to be trained for standard
cavalry actions, despite their real usefulness in der Kleine Krieg. Aside from
the last Turkish war, there was less emphasis on cavalry firepower in the
Erdédy Hussars engage Turkish
cavalry (Heicke), ilustrating the
larity betwoon the Turkish
Scimitar and Hussar sabre. Heavy
cavalry had proved ineffective in
‘the Turkish wars and on difficult
Balkan ground, Hussars bore the
brunt of the fighting. (HAM)
34 A triumphant Erd6dy Hussar
rides off with his captured
‘Turkish trophies. These could
bbe ransomed for considerable
‘amounts of money.
32
later 18th century, in preference to
the shock of the sabre. The light
cavalry would usually deploy on
the flanks as battle was joined,
preferring the effect of sabres in
an attack or any pursuit which
might result. On the battlefield,
Hussars could fire their carbines
by squadron, and for morale effect
they were held high during an
advance against Turkish troops.
Under the 1769 changes, the
cavalry also used columns on the
field of a squadron, Zug or
fourman frontage, while all
Pauken (kettle-
