MEN-AT-ARMS SERIES 1 NAPOLEON’S GERMAN ALLIES 5 HESSE OTTO VON PIVKA BRYAN FOSTENEDITOR: MARTIN WINDROW MEN-AT-ARMS SERIES —_ 1 NAPOLEON’S GERMAN ALLIES 5 HESSE Text by OTTO VON PIVKA Colour plates by BRYAN FOSTENNapoleons German Allies (5) Hessen-Darmstadt © Hessen-Kas The Hessian Lands The process of dividing inherited lands between all surviving male beneficiaries, which steadily reduced Germany to a trivial conglomeration of petty principalities over a period of centuries, was responsible for the splitting of Hessen- Kassel and Hessen-Darmstadt in 1567. The subsequent story of acquisitions and losses over 250 years is too complex to describe here. Suffice it that both states fought against France in the Revolutionary Wars; Darmstadt, on her own account as part of the Holy Roman Empire, and Kassel as a result of the latest in a series of sub- sidy deals by which she provided troops for the English crown. In 1795 Hessen-Kassel_ made peace with France at Basle, Hessen-Darmstadt, under the Landgraf Ludwig X, made peace in 1801 at Luneville. In 1803 both states were enlarged by a sharing- out of previously Imperial free towns and church- states to compensate them for lands lost to France. In addition, Landgraf Wilhelm of Hessen- Kassel secured the coveted title of ‘Kurftirst’ (Prince Elector of the Holy Roman Empire) In 1806 Hessen-Darmstadt was to grow even larger under the patronage of Napoleon. Joining the Rheinbund in that year, she received all remaining Imperial possessions within her borders, and Landgraf Ludwig became Grossherzog Lud- wig when his state was elevated to a Grand Duchy by Napoleon. Hessen-Kassel’s fate was very different, Kur- fuirst Wilhelm I enraged Napoleon by partially mobilising his army when France attacked Prussia in October 1806; and the following month the French dictator took his revenge by dissolving Hessen-Kassel and incorporating it into his brother Jerome’s new Kingdom of Westfalia (see MAA 43, Napoleon's German Allies Centrepiece of a Hessen-Kassel officer's gorget, gold supporters and frame, coloured enamel centr Eaty ‘ented on eller gorges. (chiens Pied (1): Berg and Westfalia). In November Wilhelm returned from exile, resumed the empty title of Kurfiirst, and set about try! put the political, administrative, soci sartorial clock back to 1806. In 1814 the Congress of Vienna made further changes to the borders of Hessen-Darmstadt, and accordingly Ludwig's tide became ‘Grossherzog von Hessen und bei Rhein’. 1813 now- g to and Hessen-Darmstadt: Organisation and Uniforms, 1792 Establishment of Infantry Regiments, 1792 Each regiment had two battalions each of four companies of two platoons. A grenadier or musketeer company consisted of: 1 captain, 2 lieutenants, 1 sergeant major, 2 sergeants, corporal, 3 lance corporals, 1 fifer, 2 drummers 3| rs » @HANOVER of BPppsermainaiden \ pwfeaune \ / a . ¢ | ( } d, HESSEN-KASSEL ; gh a G : GAS HES SEN-DARMSTADTand go privates. A battalion thus had 1 major (commander), 3 captains, 1 ‘staff-captain’ (who commanded the major’s company), 8 licutenants, 1 adjutant, 28 NCOs, 12 fifers and drummers and 360 privates. The regimental commander (usually a lieutenant-colonel) always served with the 1st (or Leib) Battalion, and the regimental staff included the quartermaster, padre, auditor, sur- geon, armourer, musket carpenter, provost, regi- mental and battalion drum majors. Company surgeons were ranked as NCOs and were super- numerary to the figures quoted above. Drill and Tactics Companies formed in three ranks; in the rst Bn. the regimental commander's company (Leib- Kompagnie) formed on the right of the line, the battalion commander's company on the left. Apart from the Leib-Kompagnie all companies were known by the names of their commanders and were arranged in line in accordance with the relative seniority of that officer within the battalion. When companies changed commanders they also changed position in line of battle if an alteration in relative seniority had taken place. In the 1st Bn. the senior captain’s company took place next to the Leib-Kompagnie, the junior captain’s being third in line, In the and Bn. the battalion commander's company was on the right wing, the senior captain's on the left wing, the others in the centre. In the spring recruits were trained for four weeks and then posted to their companies During the summer each company was main- tained at full strength for the annual training period which started with drill at company level (six weeks), and progressed through battalion and regimental (sometimes to brigade) exercises, culminating in a manoeuvre under the eyes of the sovereign. For the rest of the year most of the men were sent home (after having handed in their equipment and weapons — cavalry troopers often took their horses with them) to live as best they could without pay until the annual training cycle began again. Company strength was thus reduced to the officers, NCOs and about 30 privates. Garrison life in autumn, winter and spring was taken up with guard duty and a short daily parade at guard-changing. Arms drill was simplified in comparison to igrafschaft, 1794: Central shield, red-and-white striped Hessian lion, with golden crowa and sword, on blue ground. Peripheral shields, clockwise from 1 o'clock: point silver star on black over a golden Held — County of Tiegenhain; (wo gold rampant leopards on red field Coun of Bier; sllver-over-red rrrounded by d nailsand three silver parts ofa Durgs quartered, red-and-gold heraldic ordinar pality of Hanau), red-and-gold horizontal bars Reineck), the central shield gold over red Milnzenberg); two cightpoint silver stars om a black feld over a gold field County of Nidda; rampant red lion with blue crown, on red ground ~ County of Katzenclabogen; red cross of Lorraine on white ground —Archbishopric of Lorraine and Principality of Hersfeld, The Order of the Garter surrounds the crest. Bottom, Electorate, 1806: The filds, though rearranged, basically ns 1794 but with addition of wo: at clock, a gold sprig crons'on blue (Principality of ritla, so) and a sliver central shield "significance tnkenown. carlier periods. Loading, in 13 separate move- ments, was usually carried out from the ‘order arms’ position, but could be initiated from the ‘shoulder arms’ as well. When firing, the front rank knelt, Fire was given by the platoon of the company, or the battalion of the regiment, the other half of the formation reserving its fire in each case to cover those men who had fired and were committed to the long and vulnerable re- 3‘Two tunics, apparently of troopers of the Hessen-Kassel Garde du Coager 1798 white, Gaenson fa er lace Sind buttons, Nove shoulder strap button on collar itself, and lacing of strap to rear of shoulder. In she foregrownd inthe Patiasth sword carsied by this regiment: brass hilt, (WL tn basket, black ad gold-wire grip. (Schloss Fried ‘UBistein Maceumn) loading process. Another tactice used was the “Heckenfeuer’, in which an officer walked down the rear rank from the right of the line giving fire orders progressively to groups of three files (i.e. nine men). Live musketry practice was supposed to take place during three weeks per year, but economy (or the corruption of company com- manders, who paid for the ammunition) often reduced this. ‘The rate of marching was 75 paces per minutes in 1793 a ‘Doublierschritt’ or double-march was, introduced for changing position on the battle field. In 1808 the custom of re-arranging the companies in the line for each change of com- mander was abolished; and although the three- rank line was retained as the normal formation, a two-rank line was introduced and practised. Light infantry were drilled like line infantry, but also in extended order skirmishing tactics and field outpost duty. 6 Each battalion had two 3-pdr. cannon, their detachments commanded by an artillery officer; in action these were normally posted on each flank. Re-organisation of May/November 1803, 1806 A Feld-Brigade and a Garnison-Brigade were raised in each of the three main provinces (Starkenburg, Oberhessen and Westfalen), the latter soon being retitled Reservebrigaden. These were a type of Landwehr, composed of the cadres only of two battalions each, and bore the name of the province. The field brigades were named and, composed as follows: Starkenburg ~ ‘Leib-Brigade’; Leib-Regiment and Fisilier-Bataillon (formerly Leichtes-Infanterie- Regiment, see below); main garrison at Darm- stadt. Oberhessen— ‘Brigade Landgraf ; Regiment Land- graf and new Fisilier-Bataillon (formerly and Leib-Grenadier-Bataillon) ; two bns. at Giessen, one at Alsfeld. Westfalen ~ ‘Brigade Erbprinz’; Regiment Erb- prinz and Fibsilier-Bataillon Erbprinz; garrisons at Brilon, Werl and Arnsberg. On 18 August 1806 titles were changed when Landgraf Ludwig X became Grossherzog Ludwig 1. The Leib-Bde. became the Leib-Garde-Bde., with the Leib-Garde-Regt. and the Garde- Fiisilier-Bn.; the Brigade Landgraf became the Leib-Bde., with the Leib-Regt. and the rst Leib- Fissilier-Bn.; and the Brigade Erbprinz became the Brigade Gross- und Exbprinz, with the Regt. Gross- und Erbprinz and the end Leib- Fiisilier-Bn, (At the same time the Chevaulegers- Regt. became the Garde-Chevaulegers-Regt. — sce under ‘Cavalry’, below.) In 1803 the infantry company establishment was 1 captain or staff-captain, 2 lieutenants, 1 sergeant major, 2 sergeants, 4 corporals, 3 drummers and fifers, 7 sharpshooters and 83 privates: 103 in all. The staff of a four-company battalion was 1 major or lieutenant-colonel, 1 subaltern, 1 senior surgeon, 1 clerk, 2 junior surgeons, 1 drum major, 8 musicians, and one provost, The battalion total was thus 428 all ranks. ‘The totals for a three-battalion brigade were:colonel, 1 lieutenant-colonel, 2 majors, 8 cap- tains, 4 staff-captains, 12 first lieutenants, 16 second lieutenants (incl, 1 brigade and 3 bat- talion adjutants), 1 staff quartermaster, 1 staff auditor, 1 staffsurgeon, 1 priest, 2 senior surgeons, 12 sergeant majors, 24 sergeants, 48 corporals, 1 brigade clerk, 3 battalion clerks, 6 junior surgeons, 3 drum majors, 24 musicians, 36 drummers and fifers, 3 provosts, 84 sharpshooters, and g96 privates: in all, 1,291 all ranks. Uniforms, 1792 All matters of finance and clothing lay in the hands of the company commanders ~ the ‘che’, or, essentially, owners of their companies, Uni- forms, discipline, tactics and organisation were also closely modelled on the Prussian example. Hair was powdered, curled, and worn in a pigtail extending to the small of the back; moustaches were not worn except as specifically noted below. Officers’ sashes and sword knots were silver and red, Black cockades were worn on black Prussian-style bicorn hats, with white and red plumes for officers and NCOs. The specifies of the various arms and ranks are listed below. N.B. For reasons of space the following abbre- viations have been adopted for the uniform sections throughout this book: Offs. = Officers ORs = Other ranks HL = Hat lace (edging) CLR = Collar c Cuffs CF = Cuff flaps HPF = Hip pocket flap L lapels TB = turn-backs B breeches BTN = buttons Ws = waistcoat F = facings Major-Generals, Town Commandants Wide, scalloped silver HL & White cut-feather edging; silver star below cockade, silver cords, tassels red- within-silver. Dark blue coat and CF; red C, L, CLR; white TB; silver BTN. White W, B; high cuffed boots; sword. Infantry Fligel-Adjutants (ADCs) Plain bicorn Grenadier cap of an NCO, unidentified Hessen-t ment, 17851606. The front plate is silver, 1 piece or backing white with silver lace trim, th yellow edged with silver, and the top tassel red and white. [Schloss Friedrichstein Museum) with star, eockade, cords as above. Sky blue coats and CF; red C, L, CLR; silver right-hand aiguillette fastened to third L BTN; silver laced buttonhole ~ seven on each L, two under each L, three on cach GF, two on each HPF, two in small of back. White W, B; boots, sword, as above. Cavalry General-Adjutants (ADCs) As infantry except: white plume, red base. The CLR bore sky blue patches with a horizontal silver lace in centre. No CF; on each C a silver lace chevron, point down, and two more above the C. Three more chevrons extended down the tails, replacing HPFs. Infantry officers ‘a la suite de U Armée’ (on general staf) As major-generals, but hat lacked silver HL and cut-feather trim. Cavalry offcers ‘a la suite de P Armée’ Hat as cavalry ADC. White coat and CF; red CLR, L, ©, TB; silver BTN, right-hand aiguillette; buff W, B; high, cuffed boots, Black waist belt over W, silverjrectangular plate, stecl- hilted sabre in black sheath, steel fittings.Grenadier cap plates of various unidentified HessemKasoal regiments, 1785 1806: left and centre are in white metal a in brass, with a ‘WL’ cypher in the centre field. (Schloss Friedrichatein Museum) ‘ Line Infantry ~ General Notes Officers’ parade and duty bicorns had wide, scalloped lace edging and star brooches in ‘button colour’ (except where otherwise speci- fied), black cockades, and silver-and-red cords and tassels. Boots were knee-high, those of grenadier officers having knee cuffs; waistcoats and breeches were white; coats dark blue; and gauntlets buff. They carried brown canes with gilt knobs and silver tassels. Corporals had silver lace at the top and front of the cuffs, sergeants and sergeant majors laced cufis and collars. All NCOs had button-colour hat edging, and white pompons with red centres; red and white sabre knots; and carried rifles in- stead of muskets, They had brown canes with brass knobs and red and white tassels. On the black cartridge pouch flap they wore a round brass plate bearing the Hessian lion. Privates’ hats had white edging; they bore a regimental button under a pompon in company colours, and white cords with red-within-white tassels, Their Prussian infantry sabres had brown sheaths, and white fist straps with a company- coloured tassel, These colours were: rst Bn. 1st (or Leib-) Kompagnie, white; end, black; grd, blue; 4th, red. 2nd Bn. 5th, yellow; 6th, black-over-white; 7th, blue-over-white; 8th, red- over-white, Belts, waistcoats and breeches were 8 white, the long gaiters black with brass buttons. Coats were dark blue with red turn-backs; an oblong of regimental facing cloth backed the button fastening these. Ten sharpshooters per company carried rifles. Drummers, and hornists of light infantry, were distinguished by swallows’ nests. in facing colour with a bottom band of white lace, Drums were brass with red and white hoops. Individual regimental title changes and uni- form distinctions were as follows: Leib-Regiment 1 June 1803, Leib-Brigade, with and Fusilier- Bataillon; 18 August 1806, Leib-Garde-Brigade, two bns, Leib-Garde-Regt. and Garde-Fiisilier~ Bn. ; 22 February 1812, Leib-Garde-Regt. of two bns.; 1918, Inf--Regt. Nr. 115. Red F, silver BTN. Buttonholes laced, silver for offs., white for ORs, with end opposite button pointed. Regiment Landgraf 1 June 1803, Brigade Landgraf; 18 August 1806, Leib-Brigade, two bns. Regt, Landgraf and Leib-Fisilier-Bn.; 22 February 1812, Leib-Regt. of two bns.; 1918, Nr. 117. White F, gold BTN; 1803, light blue F, silver BIN. Buttonholes laced, tasselled, gold for off., white for ORs except on L which bore BTN only. Regiment Erbprinz A garrison regiment in-1792; 8 December 1794, Feld-Bataillon Erbprinz raised (1st Bn. of regt.) 1 June 1803, Brigade Erbprinz, two line bns. (and Bn. being former Inf-Regt. von Kleist taken over from disbanded Electorate of Kéln) and 1st Fiisilier-Bn. (ex-1st Leib-Grenadier-Bn.) ; 18 August 1806, Brigade Gross- und Erbprinz, two line bns., 1st Fiisilier-Bn. being renamed and Leib-Fusilier-Bn.; 22 August 1808, Regt. Gross- und Erbprinz, two bns. each of one grenadier, one voltigeur and four fusilier com- panies. Destroyed in Spain; re-raised from re- turned prisoners and new recruits 7 May 1814, two bns. each of four companies; 1918, Nr. 118. Pink F (1803, yellow), silver BTN. Silver laced buttonholes for offs., white for ORs. 1st Leib-Grenadier-Bataillon 26 November 1799, 1st Fiisilier-Bn.; 1 June 1803, attached as Fusilier-Bn. to Brigade Exbprinz; 18 August 1806, 2nd Leib-Fiisilier-Bn.; 23 August1808, amalgamated with line bns Gross- und Erbprinz; 1918, Nr. 118. Crimson F (yellow, June 1803), silver BTN. Silver laced buttonholes for offs., with tassels. ORs wore white laced buttonholes; and silver flaming grenade badge on musketeers’ bicorns in place of button, inclined left. and Leib-Grenadier-Bataillon Disbanded 1803, most personnel to new Fisilier~ Bn., see below. Orange F, gold BTN. Off. had gold button- hole lacing. ORs had white buttonhole lace, and brass flaming grenade, inclined left, replaced hat button Depot Battalion No offs. HL; dull yellow F, unlaced buttonholes. Land-Regiment A type of home guard. No offs. HL; light blue F, silver BIN. Only ORs buttonhole lace, and this into Regt only under each L (two), on C (three), and on HPF (two) Marxburg Fortress Garrison Yellow F, dark blue L, silver BTN. Off. wore plain bicorn, silver right-hand aiguillette. No buttonhole lace. Infantry Surgeons Plain bicorn with silver loop and button, black cockade. Green coat, CLR, C, CF, L; red TB: silver BTN; white W, B; black gaiters, sword. Medical Attendant Inf. ORs’ bicorn, no edging. Dark blue coat, GLR, G, GF, L; red ‘TB, Dark blue W, B; silver BIN; black gaiters, inf. sabre, Provost Bicorn with green edging and pompon. Grey green CLR, C, L, TB, aiguillette; green W, B; black gaiters, inf. sabre. Light Infantry — General Notes Officers’ bicorns had narrow button-colour edg- ing, ORs’ white edging. Officers wore short, light, boots, and carried curved sabres, Officers wore cpaulettes in button-colour, ORs shoulder straps in facing colour. Goats were in a light green; all other details followed line infantry practice, except where specified below. Leichtes Infanterie-Bataillon 26 November 1799, 2nd Fisilier-Bn. ; 1 June 1803, Model of Hessen-Kassel howitzer, «1785, (Schloss Friedrich- stein Museum)of 4 private, Hessen-Darmstadt Leib-Regiment, Dark blue coat faced red, white lace, silver batt Stein Museum. ities were in fact unable to identify this Hessen-Darmstade uniform, which found its way to them in about 1900 from the Kassel theatre, where many items now in the museum had been used for costume pieces! (Schloss Friedrichstein Museum) attached to Leib-Brigade as 1st Leib-Fiisilier-Bn. 18 August 1806, Garde-Fisilier-Bn.; April 1812, combined with 1st Leib-Fibsilier-Bn. as ‘Proviso- risches Leichtes Infanterie-Regiment’; 17 June 1813, provisional title confirmed as Garde- Fisilier-Regt.; 1918, Inf.-Regt. Kaiser Wilhelm 2 Grossherzoglich Hessiches) Nr. 116. 1792, black F, gold BID June 1803, field poppy red F scales added to shako. Fiisilier-Bataillon Bn., see above, and attached to Brigade Landgraf, later the Leib-Brigade, thus from 18 August 1806 this unit became rst Leib-Fisilier-Bn.; April 1812, combined with Garde-Fusilier-Bn. in ‘Pro- visorische Leichte Inf.-Regt’, sce above. 10 1803, light green coat, light blue F, silver BTN. Offs. had short white gloves, ORs wore line inf, hats, NCOs with silver HL. Silver or white lace, according to rank, on L, GF, HPF, and other usual points of coat Fager Corps Disbanded ‘shortly after 1796° (Knotel). All ranks, plain bicorn with gold button, loop, dark green cockade. Offs., white plumes with crimson bases, silver-and-crimson tassels: NCOs, white plumes with crimson tips, white-and-crimson tassels (silver-and-crimson for sergeant majors); privates, dark green plumes, crimson bases, dark green-and-crimson tassels; hornists (*Habmond- bliser’), dark green plumes with three equal crimson stripes incl. base, dark green tip. ‘The coat is described variously as ‘green’ or ‘light green’, but in Vol. IX, Pl. 3 of his Uniformen- kunde Knistel shows a green which can only be called ‘green, to dark green’, In the absence of a regimental history this matter is unlikely to be resolved. The coats were of infantry cut with crimson F shown at CLR, L, C, and shoulder straps; red TB with green hearts at intersections; green double-breasted W; green B (ofis., buff); all ranks wore short knee-boots, White belts and pouch bandolier. Brown leather satchel on brown, strap over right shoulder. Brass-hilted Hirsch- fanger, without strap, in brown sheath at waist. Sergeants and above wore gold-laced Cand CLR, small gold epaulettes, white gauntlets; offs. wore white gloves, Cavalry Garde du Corps Officers’ court uniform Plain bicorn, silver star brooch, black cockade, white-over-crimson plume. Red coat, CF; light blue CLR, L, C, TB; silver BIN. White W, B. Silver right-hand aiguillette: high, cuffed boots; sword. Officers’ undress uniform Coat dark blue, single-breasted, silver BTN and uillette, Hat, W, B, boots, sword as above. Officers’ service uniform Hat, boots as above. Buff Kollet tunic; red C, edged silver; red CLR; buff TB; silver lace edging. Buff leather B, white knee cuffs; heavy cavalry sword, gold basket hilt, black sheath. Other Ranks Bicorn with silver loop, white-below- crimson plume. Kollet as off., but edging whitewith two red stripes. B as offs.; red waist sash; red sabretasche, red and white lace edging, crowned ‘LL’ cypher in brass. White leather pouch and bandolier, edged red and white; brass pouch badge. Heavy cavalry sword, brass basket hilt, black sheath furnished with brass. Husaren-Corps This was more of a gendarmerie force than a line regiment for field operations. White Fligelmitze, no peak; at front top a red rosette over light blue cord loop, silver BTN; red and white cords; off’s. rosette, cords mixed redjsilver; plume black for ORs, white-over-crimson for offs. White dolman, red C, CLR; silver BTN; lace and edging silver or white, off, or ORs, Light blue pelisse, silver ; silver lace, edging, grey fur trim (offs.), white lace, edging, black fur trim (ORs). Waist sash red and white (red and silver, offs.), with white (silver) barrels. Light blue B, white (silver) decoration at sides and thighs. Hungarian boots. silver trim, tassel. Light blue sabretasche, white (silver) edging, crowned gold “LL, White leather bandoliers for ORs, silver for offs.; brass-hilted sabre, black sheath furnished with brass, Offs. undress uniform Bicorn as Garde du Corps; light bluesurtout, single-breasted, mid-calf length, with silver BTN; red CLR, C; light blue CF. White B; plain Hungarian boots Regiment Chevaulegers (1806, Garde-Chevaulegers) Black leather Kasket with vertical front plate cut- outat rightside, edged gold, gold crowned ‘LLX’ Black horse-hair crest front to back. Skulls of off"s. helmets covered with leopard-skin turban, At right side, white plume (crimson base for offs.) under this red and silver tassels (ofis.), rosette in squadron colours (unknown) for ORs. Dark green tunic, red CLR; black L, C, CF; red TB. On each side CLR, horizontal white lace (silver for offs.), silver B'N at rear. White (silver for offs.) lace on L buttonholes, also two under each L; white (silver) chevrons on and above plain G, and on skirts, as cavalry ADGSs, see above. ‘At junction of TB, green patches for ORs, black with silver edges for offs.; red shoulder straps with white (silver) edges, centre stripe. Buff, double-breasted W, buff B; Hungarian boots, black tassel. Offs. carried gold-hilted sabres in black, gold-furnished sheaths; ORs, sabres with steel hilts and fittings. Offs. had silver bandoliers, ORs buff leather. Of’s. undress uniform Bicorn; surtout in coat colours but single-breasted and without embroidery; white W, B; plain Hun- garian boots. In about 1806 the helmet was replaced by the high, domed style worn by Bavarian cavalry. A false, curved front plate was added, with new cypher of crowned ‘L’, Black woollen ‘sausage’ crest for ORs, corporals; sergeants and above wore black bearskin crests. On the left side was a black plume with a red base, above a red-within- white cockade, In 1806 the coat came to be worn with the lapels closed to the waist. ‘Trumpeters were apparently distinguished by Colour-bearer of Hessen-Kassel Landwehr, 1813 — from “Erefwilligen Due Litewka, silver buttons, silver tiiging to-collar and cuffs denoting senior NCO. Facings are SHinvon,indieacing either sst or grd Bn. see text. The colour SEred, with blue shield, silver cross inscribed "Mit Gott fr Farst und Vaterland?, and gold wreath, corner rays, crown fand tip. The black pike has'a gold shoe- The shako cover is incl with a white Landwehr Cross, the greatcoat and breeches are grey, the belts black and the pack brovn calf- ‘iin: Just vishbte under the rolled greatcont at front right of ihe bale isa brown pistol holster. 1of triumph is, perhaps visible in the countenance of this rulers he had {ried for years to achieve this status, investing enormous sums in ful show of pomp in 1803 designed to impress the Imperial representatives in Frankfurt. No- minated an Elector at last, he was ‘abolished’ by Napoleon, {following the battles of Jena and Auerstiidt, (After an engray= ing in the Staatsbibliothek Kassel) red plumes; no lace to L buttonholes; white L edging. It is assumed they rode greys. Brass trumpets, red and white cords. Harness was black with silver fittings; the round portmanteau was green, edged red at the ends, The shabraque was green, edged with white lace having a narrow black central stripe. In the rear corners was the crowned cypher in white; front corners, initially plain, had a white symbol added in 1812. Artillery As for line infantry, with dark blue coats, black F, gold BTN, red TB. Majors and above had gold laced buttonholes; all offs. had wide, scalloped gold HL, gold star brooch, gold aiguillettes. ORs’ hats edged white. White W, B. Straight sword in place of inf. sabre B Train Offs. — plain bicorn, silver star brooch; single- breasted dark blue coat, CF; red C, CLR; white TB, W, B; silver BTN; high boots, sword. Wagenmeister (equivalent to NCO) — silver HL, BIN, and above BIN red-within-white NGO pompon; dark blue coat, two rows BIN, lapels closed over; dark blue W, B; red CLR, C, edged silver; red TB; high boots. Uniform Changes After 1792 1803 Musketeer offs. received white-over-red plumes; Fiisilier offs. had no scalloped HL. Spontoons and halberds were discarded. 1804, NCOs received coat-colour shoulder straps. 1805 Fusilier-Bns, received lightweight Prussian Nothardt muskets. 1806 August: The state became a Grand Duchy. All waistcoats changed from white to dark blue (green for Fusiliers). Black cockades were changed to red-within-white from 12 July. Ors received blue (or green) forage caps piped and tasselled in regimental facing colour. From June to September each year winter legwear of blue cloth breeches and black gaiters was changed to long white linen trousers worn loose over black half: gaiters. December: Instead of being worn ona right shoulder bandolier, the pack was fitted with wo white straps and worn high on the back; for this. reason the coat acquired a right shoulder strap. The pigtail was abolished, Musketeers received cap- tured Prussian muskets. On field servi officers were permitted a blue ‘Uberrock’ ~ lit., overcoat — blue breeches (both green for Fissiliers) with Suvorov boots, and plain bicorns. After some unfortunate incidents during the battle of Jena, officers now wore a red plume with a black base, to avoid confusion with Prussian officers, Officers and ORs lost the hat edging. Regiment Gross- und Erbpring re- organised, and subsequently re-badged, on. French lines. The Fiisilier-Bn. changed their green coats for dark blue with regimental facings and buttons but white hunting-horns on turnbacks. French infantry shako began to replace bicorn for other ranks, with 1809white metal shield bearing Hessian lion white loop and button. Chinscales were white metal for the Leib-Regt., black edged with facing colour for other regiments. Black plume for parades. Above cockade was a company pompon beneath a red pompon with a red tuft. NCOs’ plumes ipped red, officers’ plumes with red base. officers retained bicorn until 1816. Com- pany pompons were: 1st, white; 2nd, black; 3rd, blue; 4th, red; 5th, white-over-yellow; 6th, black-over-white; 7th, blue-over-white; 8th, red-over-white, Sabre straps were in company colours. French rank badges, service chevrons, and élite company badges were introduced. Prussian muskets began to be replaced by French 1777 muskets and by captured Austrian weapons for muske- teers, Sabres were now worn on a bandolier over the right shoulder instead of the waist belt. Officers’ coat turnbacks were in coat- colour instead of red; the coat was closed across the chest and the sash worn over it. ORs’ shoulder straps replaced by blue fringeless contre-epaulettes edged in facing colour for privates, in white and facing colour for NCOs. Austrian muskets replaced the Fusiliers’ Nothardt muskets. ‘Provisional Light Infantry Regiment’ (see under Leib-Garde and Leib-Fisilier-Bns.) wore Leib-Garde-Regt. uniform with scarlet facings and silver buttons, and white hunting-horns on turn-backs. Officers car- ried curved sabres, and silver cartouches, on black bandoliers crossing on the chest. Shako chinscales were white metal, Belts were black until the unit became the Garde- Fisilier-Regt., then white. Regiment Prinz Emil raised; disbanded 1820; dark blue coat, pink facings, silver buttons, Contre-epaulettes replaced by straight-edged shoulder straps edged at sides and top in facing colour: Leib-Garde- Regt., red; Leib-Regt., light blue; Regt. Gross- und Erbprinz, yellow; Regt, Prinz Emil, pink. All the foregoing details were theoretical; in 1810 1811 1812 1814 Gold Hessen-Kassel officer's gorget, «1788; the centrepiece is blue with a red-and-white striped lion, (Schloss Friedrich- stein Museum) practice such perfection was rarely achieved, particularly on campaign. An extract from the regimental history of the 118th Infantry (pp. 130-136) serves to show how the practicalities of life disrupted theoretical distinctions: ‘On 19 August 1808 the Brigade Gross- und Erbprinz paraded in Gross-Gerau in order to be re-organised into a two-battalion regiment on, French lines ~ each battalion of one grenadier, one voltigeur and four fusilier companies, This re-organisation took place there on 23 August under direction of the French General Boyer, especially sent from Mainz by Marshal Keller- mann. To form the élite companies those men with most service were picked out from all twelve old companies. The tallest of these formed the two new grenadier companies and the shortest became the voltigeurs.” Following this operation the new companies presented a dreadful military picture, with green- clad. ex-Fiisiliers mixed willy-nilly with blue- 13coated ex-line battalion men, There was no ‘magic’ instant issue of new uniforms, or of the red and green plumes, epaulettes and sabre knots for the élite companies. The motley regiment re- mained a thorn in the sartorial flesh for many weeks; and even after new uniforms were issued from French magazines they rapidly wore out during the strenuous summer campaign, and troops were reduced to making up their own trousers from requisitioned blue, brown or white cloth. Later in the campaign they even cut off their coat-tails in order to patch up the rest of their coats. In mid-August 1809 an officer of the regiment was sent back to Bayonne to draw new uniforms for the men from French magazines. He eventually returned with the very welcome new clothing to Segovia, where the bulk of the regiment then served, in late December 1809. Campaien History Extras The March to Trieste and Croatia, 1796-97 Barly in 1796 Britain asked that Ludwig X again provide a brigade of three battalions of infantry for service ‘at any point’ in the British possessions, continuing a long and successful tradition of Hessen-Darmstadt service to the British crown in America, Scotland, and on the continent of Europe. As the phrasing of this request might mean the fever-haunted death-trap of the West Indies all men enlisted in these battalions were volunteers, and most were in fact non-Hessians serving under Hessian officers. The brigade was mustered at Buchen in the Odenwald on 18 July 1796, with a strength of 2,248 all ranks, British rates of pay were paid, much higher than the domestic rates. It was expected that the brigade would march to Trieste and there take ship on Royal Navy vessels for the colonies; accordingly the Hessians christened it the ‘Water-Brigad The route of march lay through Swabia, Bavaria, Salzburg, Corinthia and Krain. The journey proved difficult, as despite the Landgraf's diplomatic efforts these states sometimes refused right of access when the brigade reached their frontiers. Desertion was also high, particularly 4 among the ‘foreigners’; 333 men had deserted by the time the column reached Ljubljana on 10 September and halted to rest. Many others had fallen out from sickness, and on 1 October the all- ranks duty strength was only 1,843. Due to the unfavourable shift in the balance of naval power in the Mediterranean, the Royal never appeared to embark them. On 29 December Oberst von Stosch, the brigade com- mander, received orders to place himself under command of the Austrian Feldzcugmeister Al- vinzi, Due to their lack of field equipment ~ the British had only rented horses and wagons for a march originally intended to take them to em- barkation for foreign service ~ the Hessians served as garrison troops, two battalions in Trieste and the light battalion at Rijeka (Fiume), from March 1797. On 20 March the Trieste battalions were also withdrawn to Rijeka when Napoleon pushed Erzherzog Karl's Austrians over the ‘Tagliamento and Isonso rivers Early in April the Hessians were withdrawn once again, two battalions to Karlstadt in Croatia and the light battalion to Neustadtel in Krain, On 26 August 1797 Stosch received orders from England to return his troops to Darmstadt as quickly as possible. The brigade marched out on Further examples of grenadier cap plates worn by unidenti- fied Hessen-Kassel regiments, 1785-1803. These small plates ‘would have been worn on the Austrian-style bearskin; both are white metal, the lower example bearing the crowned SWL’ cypher. (Schloss Friedrichstein Museum)22 October, but despite buying horses and wagons to transport their many sick, numbers of these unfortunates had to be left behind in local hospitals. Darmstadt was reached on 15 Decem- ber, and most of the serviceable soldiers were ‘beurlaubt’ — furloughed — only about 200 per battalion being retained. Glimpses of the Peninsular War French generals’ bulletins to Paris from the Peninsula were heavy with praise for the French regiments involved, but frequently omitted men- tion of the valiant services rendered by their allies, the German units of the Confederation of the Rhine, An example is a report from Marshal Mortier concerning the battle of Ocaiia on 19 November 1809. The Hessian Regiment Gross- und Erbprinz, one of many vassal contingents which served with the French army in this engage- ment, had one officer killed and four wounded, and approximately 70 men killed and wounded. Mortier’s report to Paris stung General von Schaeffer, then commander of the Hessians in Spain, to write the following indignant letter to his sovereign: “The progress which the war in Andalusia makes isa result of the battle of cana in which the Germans as a whole and in particular the Regiment Gross- und Erbprinz played such a vital part. It is thus even more insulting that the part played by the French is so emphasized while the Germans receive a purely superficial mention. Some French regiments are lionized, who never even fired a shot on that day. This is particularly the case with the 88¢ de Ligne, of which Marshal Mortier says: “It stood on the left wing, and distinguished itself”. I can assure Your Highness, on my honour, that during the battle this regi- ment was 400 paces behind my brigade, never fired a shot, had no wounded, and only came up in Tine with my formation when the battle was over? After this battle the German division was allotted the despised task of escorting Spanish prisoners; this was too much for von Schaeffer, who promptly tendered his resignation in the face of so gross an insult. The Hessians achieved a first-class fighting reputation among their enemies, the Spanish Paw Monn Satie Be Hessen-Kassel cannon and howitzer, cast in 1814. Top to bottom: plan view,6-pdr. cannon, with end view and cutaway section; similar views of 7-pdr. cypher ‘WK" may be seen, with touch-hole, The narrew breech section of rr held the propellant charge, inserted by hand; the projecti was then placed on top of this. (After a diagram drawn in x19) guerrilieros, in the Toledo area. One officer was told by Spanish peasants that a notorious gueril- lero chief, Camillo, had been waiting in ambush near them with 200 men. On being informed that asmall detachment marching along the road from Almonacid were “Hessos’, Camillo turned to his officers with the words: ‘Gentlemen, we will leave them alone. They sell their lives for more than they are worth,’ The bitter nature of the war between the Spanish population and the invaders is horribly underlined, however, by an incident which took place on the road from Burgos to Madrid in December 1808, just after the Hessians had entered Spain ‘On 28 December Grenadier Schneider was ordered to march with a cart on which were loaded the baggage and Schneider's heavily- pregnant wife, (This was between Baitrago and St. Antonia.) The cart had fallen about 200 paces behind the battalion when suddenly several shots were heard. They rushed back only to find 15,Two Hessen-Kassel infantry tunics, «1790-1806. They are dark blue with red facings and white lace, and may possibly. bbe of the Regiment Prinz Karl. The coat with the higher collar would be of the 1806 period, the other of an earlier date and with two red shoulder straps. (Schloss Friedrich- ‘stein Museum) both the grenadier and his wife murdered, hideously mutilated and lying in the road. The woman’s stomach had been slit open and her breasts cut off; Schneider had been disfigured in an even worse manner which it is better not to relate.’ (From the regimental history of Infantry Regiment Nr. 118.) ‘The regimental history of the Regiment Gross- und Erbprinz contains an extensive account of the siege, storm and fall of Badajoz ~ the vital key to the door from Portugal into Spain — and con- siderable space is devoted to clearing the regi- ment’s honour, besmirched by a dubious report by a French staff officer. The fortress fell after bitter fighting on the ht of 6-7 April 1812, British and Portuguese losses are given as 72 officers and 963 ORs killed, 333 officers and 3,581 ORs wounded, and one officer and 62 ORs missing, Exact casualties among the defenders were never established, but 16 it is known that of the original 4,500 of all ranks, some 2,500 were taken prisoner on 7 April. After the town walls had been breached and the surviving defenders were falling back on the castle, the attack was concentrated on this last bastion, which was held by the Hessians. Seeing that the situation was becoming critical, Oberst Kohler, commanding the Gross- und Erbprinz, sent two Underadjutants to Governor Phillipon on the evening of 5 April to report the serious developments, When they eventually found the general he was in the act of leaving the castle, together with his staff and several mule-loads of effects, to flee over the river to the safety of Fort Christobal! ‘The castle fell about 24 hours later. During their subsequent captivity in Britain a report of the exact sequence of events during the storming and fall of Badajoz was compiled, and signed at Llanfylling on 5 August 1812, by three colonels, five battalion commanders, and 42 company officers of the former garrison. This report, reflecting nothing but credit upon the Regiment Gross- und Erbprinz, was handed in to the French War Ministry, filed, and forgotten. In 1825, however, Col. Lamare — who had been Phillipon’s chief of staff, and was one of the officers who made his way to Fort Christobal 24 hours before the relevant events ~ published his ‘own account of the fall of the castle, in which the blame for its loss was firmly attributed to the dubious loyalty of the Hessians, Lamare’s book was reprinted, uncorrected, in 1837. One could be forgiven for dismissing this dis- pute as a case of ‘six of one and half-a-dozen of the other’ were it not for the existence of an interesting document discovered after his death among Oberst Kdhler’s papers. The original was handed to the Hessian State Archives; and a copy was sent to M. Thiers, author of the widely read History of the Consulate and the Empire, who had repeated Lamare’s slander, and even embroidered, upon it, in Vol. 13 of that work. The document read: ‘Nous, général de Division, baron de empire, gouverneur de Badajoz, certifions, que depuis le commencement du siége de cette place jusqu’a la fin, le régiment de Hesse-Darmstadt, qui faisit partie de la garnison, s’est toujours comporté de la maniére la plus brave; il a, comme tous les autres,bataillons, fait preuve de valeur et de bravour; on ne peut que se louer de la conduite de ce régiment, etc. Lisbonne le 1g Avril 1812 Phillipon’ Impartial accounts of the defence of Badajoz may be found in the British works journal of the Sieges Undertaken by the Allies in Spain 1811-12, by Lt.Gol. Jones of the Royal Engineers, who commanded the siege works there; and Memoirs of Liewenant-General Sir Thomas Picton, whose division actually stormed the castle. Hessen-Darmstadt Campaign Summary 1792 Storm of Frankfurt am Main (Chevaulegers only Upper Rhine Low Countries Upper Rhine Trieste, Croatia (infantry only); Upper Rhine (Regt. Erbprinz only) 1793 1794 1795 1796 1806 Battle of Jena (Garde-Fusiliers only) 1807 Campaign in Prussia and Poland, January- August 1808-12 Campaign in Spain (Regt. Gross- und Erbprinz only) incl. battle of Talavera and siege and fall of Badajoz 1809 Campaign in Germany and Austria 1812 Russia (all regts. except Gross- und Erb- prinz) 1813 Campaign in Saxony (all regts. except Gross- und Erbprinz) 1814 Campaign in France 1815 Upper Rhine were IE, Colours and Standards Infantry Colours From 1790 to 1813 the 1st Company of cach bat- talion carried an Avancirfahne or sovereign’s colour, and the 4th Company a Retirirfahne or battalion colour. From 1813 only one per bat- talion was carried: the regimental Leibfahne by the ast Company (Leib-Kompagnie), rst Bn., and a Bataillonsfahne by the other battalions. On 6 April 1790 Landgraf Ludwig X presented new colours to most existing regiments; painted on silk, they were fragile and thus relatively frequently replaced. Designs of Avancir and Retirirfahnen were basically similar apart from. colour, All bore the red-and-white striped Hessian lion with sword and crown on a central light blue disc, surrounded by a green laurel wreath tied at the bottom with red ribbon, Across the top a scroll bore ‘PRO ParRia’ under a golden Land- graf’s crown, In each corner a smaller wreath and crown enclosed ‘LLX’; centrally on cach side was a silver-and-red flaming grenade. The cypher appeared on the pierced golden spear- head finial; a silver-and-red cravat hung down to the halfway point of the colour. The cloth, 1.gm square, was nailed to a regimentally- coloured pike with 40-50 round gold nails. The Avancirfahnen, and the Retirirfahnen of the Leib-Garde, were all white; other Retirirfahnen Cavalry weapons. The carbine is of unidentified manufne- ture, but probably Hanoverian, pre-rlo3 (due to pinning of stock to barrel, rather than use of ring clamps); the pistol, of French style, was probably from the Solingen arsenal. (Schloss Friedrichstein Museum)Fant Hessen-Darmstadt Chevaulegers officer, 1790 1808 a plate in the regimental history. See Plate A. usually showed regimental facings in a saltire. When furled the colours were protected by black oileloth covers with brass caps bearing regimental designations. From 1803 only musketeer battalions carried colours. On 12 March 1804 the Regiment Erb- prinz received the following new colours: one Avancirfahne, white ground, black-and-yellow halved saltire; three Retirirfahnen, black ground, yellow saltire, silver-and-red grenades; black pikes. Despite Ludwig’s elevation to Grand Duke in 1806 the colour remained unchanged until 1814, when new painted colours were presented to all regiments re-raised at that time, Central designs were largely unchanged; the crown design was that of a Grand Duke, scrolls now bore ‘corr EHRE VATERLAND’ (God, Honour, Fatherland), and the cypher in all positions was a gold crowned *L’, The colours were 1.12m high by 1.0gm wide; the 2.98m black pikes had 28.7cm gold finials, and silver-and-red cords and tassels reaching about halfway down the colour. Oilcloth cover caps bore the cypher and regimental title. 18, The Regiment Gross- und Erbprinz took to Spain in August 1808 the Retirirfahne of the 1st Bn, and the Avancirfahne of the 2nd Bn.; both were captured at the fall of Badajoz by Private George Hatton of the qth Foot; and were laid up in the hall of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea. Subsequently the pikes and the few tatters of cloth then surviving were passed to the Regi- mental Muscum of the King’s Own Border Regiment (4th, 34th and 55th Foot! The Regiments Landgraf’s 2nd Bi colour at Wagram during bitter fig! key village of Aderklaa on 6 July 1809. Cavalry Standards The Chevaulegers carried no standards, Garde du Corps carried from 1770 a silver standard fringed with gold, bearing a blue saltire, In the centre was the great crest of Land- graf Ludwig IX supported by lions and under an array of crested helmets, Below the crest was the star of the Order of the Black Eagle, above mili- tary wophies. In each corner crowned wreaths enclosed a reversed double ‘L’ eypher, repeated on the gold spearhead finial of the dark blue staff. ‘This standard was taken over in 1860 by the newly-raised 23 Dragoner-Regiment (Leib- Dragoner-Regiment) Nr. 24, who carried it until disbandment after the First World War. ‘The Colours Presented in 1790 Regt. Avancirfahnen Retirirfahnen Leib- One. White Three. White Garde ground & saltire, ground & saltires white pike. silver & red grenades; white pikes. Landgraf One. White Three. Black ground, halved ground, red red & black saltire & saltire, brown pike. grenades, brown pikes Exbprinz One. White One. Black (Feld- ground, halved ground, pink bataillon) pink & black saltire, red saltire, brown pike. grenades, brown pike.Golours presented in 1814 Regt. @ — Avancirfahnen Retirirfahnen date of presentation Leib- Two. White — Garde ground & saltire, black pikes, Two. White - ground, red saltire, black pikes. One (1st Bn. One (2nd Bn.) White ground, Black ground, halved pink & pink saltire, black saltire, black pike. black pike. Prinz One (1st Bn.) One (and Bn.) EmiP White ground, Black ground, 27.314 halved blue & blue saltire, black saltire, black pike. black pike. One (1st Bn.). One (2nd Bn.). und White ground, —_ Black ground, Erbprinz halved black & yellow saltire, 317.14 yellow saltire, black pike. black pike. 'These colours originally intended for the Regt. Prinz Emil; as the Leib-Regt.’s own colours were not ready by march-out date they received these, which were available, and carried them until after the First World War. ?Prinz Emil subsequently received the colours originally intended for the Leib-Regt., and carried them until after the First World War. _ jy Flessen-Kassel Uniforms, 1792 Line Infantry — General Notes Musketeer and Fusilier Officers Scalloped BTN- colour HL, BTN, loop and brooch on tricorn hat with black cockade, white plume with red (crimson?) base, silver and crimson tassels. Dark blue coat, BTN-colour lace, long skirts. Silver gorget on black ribbon, gold trophies around Hessen-Darmstadt: Prinz Emil as General of the Cavalry. ‘This portrait, a plate in the regimental history, shows the uniform details of the period 1808-15. The British influence is most marked. Another plate from the regimental history shows Oberst von Ménthingen, wearing the coat lapels folded across a common practice, especially in winter. The bandolier plate bears the crowned cypher ‘L’, dating the plate to rlat-15. Among the decorations at the throat the Legion d'Honneur may be seen. 19Hessen-Darmstadt infantry uniforms, 107-09. Both are shown in field service marching order, with the calfskin eek hg “ar ponies ox cy Ree insta of ahi By this date the pigtail had been cut off, and the removed; on top of the hat was a company- ‘see text for details. Left, che Leib Regiment) im dark blue faced with light hic) right, the Leib Garde-Regiment (or ‘Leibgarde-Regt.’ styles vary) in dark blue faced with red. The Fusilier battalions wore green coats. (After Kndtel, Vol, XIV, No. 15 ~ by kind permission W. jemann Veriag, Francivsche Verlagshandlung, Stuttgart) wadhat coloured pompon crowned blue disc with cypher ‘WL’. Silver and crimson waist sash worn over W; gilt-hilted Degen sword, brown sheath, silver and crimson knot. Spontoon with silver and gilt decorated blade bearing black ‘WL’. Long black gaiters with regimentally-coloured BIN, White gaunt- lets. Hair powdered, curled and queued to small of back; clean-shaven. Grenadier Officers As above except: black bearskin, caps with regimental front plate, bag and tassel; white plume, crimson tip. Short muskets with broad, decorated bayonets bearing the cypher replaced spontoons, and sabres replaced swords. White waist belt over W, with front central small cartouche with silver lid bearing cypher on crowned disc within trophies. Senior Musketeer NCOs Narrow BTN-colour HL, except where noted specifically; crimson-and- white pompon, tassels. BT'N-colour lace on short- skirted coat, White gauntlets, Halberd, Brown cane, gilt knob, black cord. Red and white sabre 20 knot. Hair as off§.; no moustaches. Junior Muske- eer NCOs Privates’ uniform, but with red and white sabre knot; brown cane with black cord. Grenadier NCOs As musketeers, but grenadier cap, and small black pouch worn front centre of white waist belt over the W. Red and white cap pompon; BT'N-colour HL, vertically. Moustaches. Fisilier. NCOs As musketeers, but regimental fusilier caps Musketeer Privates Tricorn, regimental BTN and HL, red-and-white pompon, tassels. Dark blue coat with F at C, L, CLR; red TB (except Regt. Knyphausen, white). Regimental W, B. Black gaiters, regimental BTN, Red musket slings. Brown hide pack slung at left hip, white strap. Plain black cartridge pouch, white bandolier; Prussian brass-hilted sabre, white fist_ strap, brown sheath, on white waist belt; both have brass frame buckles. Hair as offs.; clean-shaven. Grenadier privates As above except: black bearskin cap; regimental plate, bag, tassel; red-tipped white plume; moustaches. Fisilier privates As musketeers except regimental fusilier caps. Guards Infantry As for respective ranks in line in- fantry except: white/silver scalloped HL all ranks musketeers; white/silver right-hand aiguil- lette, all ranks; yellow W, B; brass or silver pouch flap badge of crowned cight-point star enclosing cypher, and flaming grenade in cach corner, flames to centre. Drummers Negroes in some regiments; wore tur- bans. Otherwise musketeer, grenadier, fusilier headgear. Sleeves decorated with seven down- pointing chevrons of special lace below dark blue swallows’ nests edged and decorated with same lace. Drum bandoliers white, edged with relevant lace: brown sticks; brass drums bearing crowned, rampant Hessian lion amid trophies; white cords, hoops diagonally striped red and white. No aprons. In some regiments drummers’ lapels edged with lace. Drum majors No definite information found; pre- sumably NCOs’ distinctions with lace and swallows’ nests Regimental Distinctions, 1792 Guards Infantry Leib-Grenadier-Garde Poppy red F; silver BIN; yellow W, B (white,1801). White plumes, offs. with red base, ORs with red tip. Silver grenadier cap plates, Yellow pikes. Drummers, negroes, wore white lace with repeated crimson ‘WL? cypher. Garde-Grenadiere c) F; silver BTN; coat lace tasselled, Yellow W, B (white, 1801). Musketeers had silver fronted mitre caps; on plate, red-and-white yas in pattern of plumes sce text, The guaner at left wears a buff bricole for gun-handling. ‘Two -d 's in the background at this iod, having semi-civilian status — wear light blue coats faced red with silver buttons, and red hat pompons. The artillery equipment was painted grey with black metal fittings: ( rer Knétel, Vol. VIl, No. 23 by kind permission W. Speman Verlag, Franck’sche Verlagshandlung, Seutt- gart)Hessen-Darmstadt, musketeer private of the Leibgarde- Regiment, io. This plate is dated by the lack of pigtail, and the plain bicorn with a company tuft or pompon; dark blue coat faced with red, white lace, silver battons. (After Welland) striped Hessian lion over gold ‘WL’ on blue dise; silver headband, yellow backing, white lace, yellow tassel. Grenadier bearskins had silver plate, yellow bag, white lace and tassel. Yellow pikes. Negro drummers as Leib-Grenadier-Garde, Line Infantry : Leib-Infanterie- Regiment 1803, Kiirfurst Yellow F, silver BTN, white W, B. Drummers’ lace crimson, edged white. Regiment von Kospoth (Fusiliers) 1801, von Biesenrodt; 1805, Kiirprinz, White F, silver BTN, no coat lace; white W, buff B. Fusilier cap had buff headpiece, brass straps and top grenade, plate details unclear. Grenadiers had black bearskin, buff bag, white 22 lace and tassel, red-tipped white plume, White pikes. Drummers’ lace, red-and-white dice. Regiment Erbprinz 1803, Kiirprinz; 1805, von Wurmb; 1813, vacant von Wurmb, then Prinz von Solms-Brauntels. Crimson F, silver BTN, offs.’ lace removed 1792. No plumes; hat pompons quartered crimsonjwhite for all NGOs, ORs, Grenadier caps had brass plates, crimson bags, white trim and tassel, red-tipped white plume. Black pikes. Drummers’ lace crimson, edged white. Regiment Prinz Karl 1805, Landgraf Karl Field poppy red F, edged white; gold BTN; white W. No plumes; gold/white HL, pompoms white-within-red. Brass grenadier cap plates with rampant lion; red bag, white lace and tassel, red- tipped white plume. Black pikes. Drummers’ lace crimson, edged white, Fiisilier-Regiment von Lossherg 1799, von Linsingen; 1805, von Biesenrodt; 1813, von Biesenrodt — one bn. only, attached Garde- Grenadiere as Flugel-Grenadier-Bataillon. Orange F, gold BTN, no lace, white W. Fusilier caps had brass plate, details unclear; black head- piece, brass strips and top grenade. Grenadier bearskins black, brass plate, details unclear; orange bag, white trim and tassel, red-tipped white plume. White pikes. Drummers’ lace dark blue with red zig-zag, all edged orange. Regiment von Ditfurth 1792, von Hanstein; disbanded 1795. Yellow F, gold BTN; gold/white lace under lapels only, HL: offs. gold, NGOs none, ORs white. No plumes; pompons halved red and white. Grenadiers wore black bearskins, brass plate, details unclear; yellow bag, white crim and tassel, red-tipped white plume. Black pikes. Drummers’ lace crimson, edged white, Light Infantry Uniforms as line except where shown below: Fager-Bataillon (or Feld-Jaiger-Corps) Green coats, crimson F, silver BTN; white right- hand aiguillettes. White W, B, belts, Green cockade, white-and-green plume; tassels silver~ and-crimson, offs. and senior NCOs; green-and- crimson, ORs and junior NGOs, NCOs and ORs carried large brown leather satchel on brown strap, rifles, sword bayonets. Offs. carried swordonly, and wore high, cuffed boots with buckle-on steel spurs. Hornists replaced drummers: brass horns with white-and-crimson cords; green swal- lows’ nests with crimson lace edged silver. By 1794 all ranks wore silver epaulettes, both shoulders. Leichtes Infanterie-Bataillon Lentz Raised 1788 from Feld-Jiger-Corps and from among small men in infantry and cavalry, Head- dress unknown, Green coats, scarlet CLR, L, C, ‘TB. Silver BTN, epaulettes; white W, B. Initially with four companies, reduced to two, 1792. Provided a cadre for a two-company ‘Fisilier- Bataillon’, 1793, which re-combined with parent regt. in 1795, title changing to Fisilier-Bataillon von Priischenck. 1799, reinforced by the two depot companies of Regts. Prinz Karl and von Kospoth, the new four-company battalion taking name of commander, Major Marquand. 1806, title changed to von Todenwarth, and later disbanded, Piisilier-Baiaillon Schlotheim Raised 1799 from the four depot companies of Regts. Garde-Grenadiere, Leib-Infanterie, Erb- prinz and yon Linsingen; disbanded 1806. Head- dress unknown. Green coats, ‘royal red’ CLR, L, C, TB; silver BTN, epaulettes; wh Garrison Infantry: Uniforms as line except where shown below: Garnisons-Regiment Kahler Offs. Bicorn with narrow gold HL, black cockade, gold loop and BI'N, no plume. Dark blue coat, L, GF; white CLR, C; red TB. White W, B. Gold gorget, crowned cypher within trophic White gauntlets; black spontoon, Musketeer NCO. As line but with coat as offs., gold edged C, CF; red-and-white portepee: white gauntlets; black halberd. Musketeers: As NCOs without gold lace; white HL, red-within-white pompons; white belts, sabre straps. Grenadiers: As musketeers except brass cap plate with lion between grenades, dark blue backing, white lace and band, black- and-white pompon, White sabre strap with black tassel. Moustaches. Drummers: Dark blue swal- lows’ nests edged and striped with red lace with white central stripe. Same lace edged C, CF Brass drums, red-and-white hoops Garnisons-Regiment von Porbeck As Kohler except: red G, CLR; grenadier cap headband red, HL yellow, white cloth backing, black-and-white pompon, Drummers’ lace dark blue, white central stripe. Garnisons-Regiment Matthias Red CLR, C; gold BTN; white W, B, ORs’ hat pompon red-within-white, Grenadier cap with brass plate of rampant lion, red band, white HL, dark blue cloth backing, black-and-white pom- pon, Drummers’ lace crimson, edged red. Garnisons-Regiment son Golson Crimson CLR, C; gold BTN; white W, B. ORS hat pompons red-within-white; white HL, Grena- dier caps had brass plate, design unclear; crimson band, yellow cloth backing, white, HL, black- and-white pompon, Drummers’ lace crimson, white central stripe Garnisons-Regiment von Knoblauch Yellow CLR, C, W, B; silver BTN, red TB. ORs hat as von Golson. Grenadier caps had brass plate with rampant lion, yellow band, white legers ‘black hela, Hessen-Darmstadt troops, 1811 Bilder. Left to right: Trooper, Ch yellow metal fittings; green coat with black lapels, collar tabs and cuffs; red collar, shoulder straps and turn-backs; green breeches with red piping; buff leather, steel sheath, Musketeer, Leib-Regt. - dark blue coat faced light blue, white lace, silver buttons; black plume, red-and-white Cockade, silver chinscales, Musketeer, Leibgarde- Regt. ral figure but redJe of this plckelhaube of the Infanteri. 116 (the Garde-Pueiliore and LLeib-Fugiiore ivy teen ronal ta'che malltary er meat ssiped effect of the Hessian lion motif. (Wehr- Misterlches Masetm, Ravtat) cloth backing, black HL, white pompon. Drum- mers’ lace light blue, white central stripe. Land-Grenadier-Regiment As for Garrison Infantry except as follows Offs.: Silver gorget, blue disc bearing gold cypher under crown amid gold trophies. Three pairs gold lace loops on L, one pair under L, three on CI Red C, TB; dark blue CLR. Buff W, B. Black spontoons, Fidsilier NCOs: No loops on L, G gold-laced C, CF. Brass-fronted mitre caps, red band, dark blue cloth backing, white HL, red- and-white pompon, Red-and-white portepee; black halberds. Fiisiliers: White cap pompon; red shoulder strap (left), white sabre strap. Grena- diers: Black Austrian-style fur caps, small brass plate, red-over-white plume. Red shoulder strap (left); white sabre strap, black tassel, Moustaches. 24 Drummers: Headgear as company. ORs’ uniform with dark blue swallows’ nests edged with crim- son lace, edged white; this lace on C, CF. Brass drums, red-and-white hoops. Kreis-Regiment Heymel This was Hessen-Kassel’s standing contribution to the military effort of the Holy Roman Empire. Uniform of garrison infantry style with red CLR, L, TB, W, B; gold BTN. Brown offs.’ spon- toons. Grenadiers had Austrian caps, brass plate with cypher within trophies, red-over-white plume; white sabre strap, black tassel; moustaches. Drummers’ lace light blue, yellow centre stripe. Invaliden-Bataillon Beck Garrison infantry style uniform, red CLR, L, C, TB, silver BTN, Dark blue W, B, No grenadiers; no HL for ORs or NCOs, the latter distinguished only by black halberds, white gloves, red-and- white portepee. Offs.” spontoons black. Drum- mers’ lace crimson, edged white, The Depot Battalions No details of uniform are known; staff and re- cruits probably wore the uniforms of the parent regiments, as follows: 1st Bn, von Porbeck — depot unit for Leib= Grenadier-Garde, Garde-Grenadiere, Erbprinz, Prinz Karl regiments. 2nd Bn. zon Schallern ~ depot unit for Leib-Infanterie, von Lossberg, von Kospoth and von Hanstein regiments, (These units only existed 1792-95.) Antillery Uniform of line infantry style. Crimson CLR, C, L, TB, gold BIN, Buff W, B, offs.” gauntlets. Offs’ HL gold; no plume; no gorget; black spontoon, NCOs’ HL narrow gold, gold BTN, no loop, white-within-crimson pompon; gold lace edging to C, CF; red-and-white portepee, white belts. Gunners’ HL white, white-within- crimson pompons; white sabre strap and bando- lier with brass picker equipment. Drummers’ lace crimson, edged yellow. Dark blue swallows’ nests edged and decorated with this lace, which also edged L, C, drum bandolier. Seven chevrons of lace point down on sleeves. Usual drum. The Land-Regiments Raised in 1794, and named after the major towns around which they were recruited, these wore line infantry uniform with unlaced dark blue coats:Hessen-Darmstadt: Officer, Chevaulegers, 1790-1803Hessen-Darmsiadt 1. Private, 3rd ¢ 2. Oberst, Artill 3. Hornist, Pusil os Infanterie-Bataillon, 1790 , Brigade Landgraf, 1803Hessen-Darmstadt:aHessen-Kassel: 1. Officer, Light Infantry, Kur-Hessian Legion, 1809) 2. Trumpeter, Karabiniers, 1792 3. Officer of Grenadiers, Garde-Grenadiere, 1792 ax Hessen-Kassel: 1. Officer, Regiment ‘Landgraf Karl’, 1814 2. NCO of Jagers, 1814 3. NCO, Horse Artillery, 1816Regt. CLR,C BIN W,B Cassel Field Silver White Poppy red Marburg Yellow Silver Yellow Eschwege Crimson Silver White (4 Bns. 1794, reduced to 2 Bns., 1795) (3 Bns. 1794, 1 Bn. 1795) (4 Bns. 179. 2 Bns. 1795) / , Hessen-Kassel, 1792. This design of colour had been carried by the Hessians in the War of ‘American Independence. Apparently each company in the regiment apart from the LelsKomipagale carried such a colour, but only very incomplete details of the colours carried by each repisent have wurvived. Sonseclnes the corner ‘flames’ were of the same colour as the ground, Sometimes of contrast "The central dise was bine, grass green, the grenades and InurehWreathe iver the cfownn gold with Fed cushions, (Aker Thalmann) Infanterie-Ordinirfahne, 25Regt CLR,C BIN W.B Hersfeld White Silver White (2 Bns. 1794, 1 Bn. 1795 Ziegen- Black Silver Buff (2 Bas. hain Rinten Buff Silver Buff’ (2 Bns. 1794, 1 Bn. 1795 Hanau ‘Royal Silver White (4 Bns. 1794, red 2 Bns. 1795, Rheinfels ~ No uniform details known Disbanded 1794. ~ No uniform details known. In 1800 became and Bn. of Land-Regiment Cassel, whose original 2nd Bn. had been converted to a Grenadier-Bn. Geismer The Grenadier Battalions Each was composed of the four grenadier com- panies of two infantry regiments; all were disbanded on 1 October 1795. They were often referred to by their commanders’ names, and these are shown as well as their numbers: Hessen-Kassel Garde-Husaren, 1815 — after Steinmabler. From left to right, an officer, NCO and trooper. Black bear- skins with white cords and white-and-crimson_ plumes. ark blue dolman, pelisse, and shabraques: white lace, + buttons: red cuffs, collars, and lining of officer's pelisse; black fur. Belts and harness are black with white: ‘metal fittings. The officer's sabretasche is red and silver, his shabraque edging silver. The NCO’s sabretasche is red and white with the princely eypher, braque edging red. Gren.-Bn. Contributing regts. Commander 1792, Nr. 1 Garde, Garde- Obst. Prinz Grenadiere Carl von Hessen- Phillipsthal (kia, Frank- fart, 2 Dee. 1792 1793,Nr. 1; Erbprinz, von Obstlt. von 1794, Nr. 2 Kospoth Eschwege 1792, Nr. 2 Leib-Regt., Obstlt. von Erbprinz Eschwege 1793, Nr.2; Garde-Grenadiere, Obstlt. von 1794, Nr. 1 Leib-Regt Dincklage, Obstlt. von German, Major Lelong 1792-95, Prinz Karl, von Obstlt. von Nr3 Lossberg Wurmb, Major Reuting 1792 von Kospoth, von Obst. von Stein Td Hanstein Cavalry — General Notes ‘The bicorn, larger than that of the infantry, bore a black cockade, button-colour loop and button, crimson-within-white tassels or pompons in the comers, and plumes usually according to rank:offs., white, crimson base; NCOs, white, red tips ORs, white, red base; trumpeters, white, red tip and base. Hussars carried sabres and used light wooden ‘Bock’ saddles; other regiments used ‘English’ saddles and straight, basket-hilted swords. Sha- braques were square, of facing colour trimmed with regimental lace (also worn by umpeters), except for the hussars, whe used long-tailed Hungarian shabraques. The Garde du Corps, Gensd’armes and Kara biniers were all Kiirassier regiments, and wore single-breasted Kollett tunics hooked closed at the front, without visible buttons. The dragoons wore long-tailed, double-breasted light blue coats, and the hussars their traditional costume. Regimental Distinctions, 1792 Garde de Corps Buff Kollett, crimson CLR and Swedish G; buff TB; silver BIN and lace. Scalloped silver HL; plume white, red base, for all except trumpeters — red tip and base. Steel cuirass, with crimson and silver ‘cuff? for offs; white B and gauntlets. Saddle furniture crimson for offs., red for ORs: round portmanteau; silver lace trim; eight-point Guard stars in rear corners shabraque and on holster covers; black harness, steel fittings. Gensd’armes White Kollett, B; poppy red CLR, C; gold BTN; gold lace for offs. and senior NCOs, red with yellow edging for ORs, Plain bicorns, plumes as Garde du Corps. Guirass black with red cuff for ORs; offs. had crimson and silver cuff, gilt rim and rivets, gold crowned cypher at throat. Brass shoulder scales. Red saddle furniture, gold lace, coloured Hessian lion crests; black harness, brass fittings. Karabiniers ‘As Gensd’armes except: light blue CLR, C, saddle furniture. Silver BTN; silver lace for offs. and senior NCOs, light blue lace edged white for ORs, and saddle furniture edging. Red cuff on offs.’ cuirass. Shabraque corer/holster cover badges were Hessian crest Leib-Dragoner-Regiment Plain bicorn, Poppy red F; gold lace for offs. and ‘Hessen-Kassel Leib-Dragoner-Regiment; 1815 _ after Stein miihler. From left to right, an officer, NCO’and troopers. ‘The plumes, cockades and pompons are shown as white and crimson, the cords silver for the officer and white for the ‘other ranks; the chinscales are gold. The light blue tunics have red collars, red shoulder and for the officer red-and-gold Prussian-style epaulettes; buttons are gold, hhalf-balls Breeches are white for the officer, light blue with red piping for other ranks. Shabraques are light blue with iver edging for the officer, red for the other ranks: in the Tear corners the princely eypher appears in silver or white. Harness is black with white metal fctings.of the Heasen-Kassel faenr-contemporary. Bat iacey dask blae ite-and-crimson plume and coat with red facings, white lace, silver buttons. Musket furniture, pouch badges and belt plate are brass. Points of contention are the long coat tails those of other ranks were much shorter than officers’ and the white ‘knee cuffs’ Showing above the black gaiters. (Otto Helms Collection) senior NCOs, no lace for ORs; gold BTN. White W, B. Red saddle furniture, edged gold for offs, laced crimson with yellow edging for ORs. Round red portmanteau, light blue capes, black harness with red fittings. Prinz Friedrich Dragoner As Leib-Dragoner except: deep yellow F and saddle farniture, silver BTN, silver lace for offs and senior NCOs, no lace for ORs, silver/white edging to saddle furniture. Husaren-Regiment Black fur busby; white plume, red base; yellow bag. Yellow dolman, light blue pelisse; light blue CLR, C; black fur trim; silver/white lace, BTN. 28 White B, yellow Charivari; yellow boots for off, black for ORs. Light blue saddle furniture with silver|yellow scalloped lace according to rank, and crowned cypher. Black Hungarian harness, white fittings. Moustaches except for trumpeters. Uniforms of the Kur-Hessischen Legion, 1809 See commentary on Plate G3. Infantry : Garde-Grenadier-Bataillon Black Austrian grenadier bearskins; white gren- ade badge on front above black peak edged silver; red bag, white piping, white cords and tassel to right side; white-over-red plume on left. Dark blue coat without shoulder straps; red CLR, Swedish C, L, TB; white W, B, belts; silver BTN; high black gaiters; rank badges as 1806. Leichtes Infanterie-Bataillon Austrian shako, black peak and chinstrap, large frontal red-within-white cockade below red- within-white pompon linked by silver loop and BIN, Offs, had falling black horsehair plumes; ORs, black plume with red tip and base; NCOs, red base only. Dark green, single-breasted tunics; cight silver BTN; red CLR, Swedish C, TB. Dark green B; hussar boots; black belts, silver fittings. Offs, wore silver contre-epaulette and aiguillette on right shoulder, wide silver waist sash, silver thigh knots, white gauntlets, silver boot trim, silver-hilted sabre in steel sheath on black slings. ‘The Regiments Kiirfurst and von Biesenrodt appear in the Legion’s records, but never mustered more than a handful of men. Cavalry: Leib-Dragoner-Eskadron Austrian heavy-cavalry pattern helmet, black leather with brass fittings, crowned ‘WK’ cypher on front plate, red-over-white crest, brass chin- scales. Light blue double-breasted tunic with field poppy red CLR, Swedish C, TB edging; light blue T'B, shoulder straps; silver BTN, Buff gauntlets; grey overalls with silver BTN and black leather booting. White belts; Austrian heavy cavalry sword; white sheepskin saddle cover edged red; light blue holster covers edged red; black harness, silver fittings. Husaren-Eskadron Infantry shako, red-and-white cords, white-over-red plume, Pale yellow dolman, light blue CLR, C; silver BEN, white lace. Light blue pelisse, black fur trim, Red-and-white sash. Grey overalls, silver BTN, black booting. Black bandolier and slings; light blue sabretasche with white crowned ‘WK’, white edging. Steel-furnished Austrian hussar sabre. Harness as dragoons but black sheepskin, edged light blue. Hair was worn queued and with side-locks, and moustaches were worn. Artillery Detachment Infantry uniform, dark blue with crimson F, gold BTN. Hessen-Kassel Uniforms, from 613 Once again the Prussians served as the Kiirfurst’s, model when he ordered uniforms designed for his restored army in 1813. The exceptional detail was the anachronistic pigtail, an eccentricity which Wilhelm I re-introduced not — as many sources suppose ~ immediately in 1813, but as late as 1816, The theoretical uniform details are listed here: it goes without saying that for many months these ambitious and punctilions patterns existed only in the minds of the designers, and in practice the men wore a mixture of outdated uniforms, civilian clothes and rags. Guard Infantry Prussian-style leather-reinforced shakos; white cords for ORs, silver-and-red cords for off; silver chinscales; red-within-white pompon; plumes white with red tip for ORs, white with red tip and base for NGOs, white with red base for offs.; small Hessian lion badges in BTN colour each side of shako for offs., replacing Prussian eagles. Two loops Prussian-style Guard lace on CLR and Swedish G, silver. Double-breasted coat worn with lapels buttoned over, Senior NCOs had silver edging on G, or C and CLR. Offs. had red-and-silver sash and portepee. Belts, B, white. Black half-gaiters, black buttons; offs. wore short boots, straight at top. Eight-point silver star on pouch, French muskets, sabres, Drummers wore dark blue swallows’ nests with red-and-silver lace; brass drums had red-and-blue striped hoops. Distinctions: Schweizer Leibgarde Light blue coat; field poppy red CLR, C, TB, shoulder straps; silver lace, BIN, right-hand aiguillette. Leib-Grenadier-Garde Black bearskin, silver plate with ‘WK’ under electoral cap; white cords, plumes of rank. Dark blue coat, field poppy red CLR, C, TB, shoulder straps; silver BTN, lace. Gaydde-Grenadier-Regiment, or ‘Regiment-Garde’ All detail as for Leib-Grenadier-Garde except only the two grenadier companies wore bear- skins, the musketeer battalions wearing a shako with silver grenade badge. Line Infan Each regiment eventually consisted of two grena- dicr companies, detached from the parent regi- ments and serving in four-company grenadier battalions; two musketeer battalions and a fusilier battalion, each of four companies. Fusiliers were supposed to receive black belts, but these were delayed. Facings were shown at CLR, C, shoulder straps; TB supposedly red throughout, but report by Gen. Maj, von Gaudi, 29.4.14 suggests at least ‘Kuirfurst’ had yellow ‘TB at that date. No lace, BTN, on CLR or C:; dark blue CF, three BTN, Distinctions: Regiment Kiirfurst Lemon yellow F, gold BTN Regiment Kiirprinz White F, gold BTN Regiment Landgraf Karl Red F, gold BTN Regiment ‘vacant von Wurmb’ Crimson F, silver BTN (from 2.1.14, von Solms) The Grenadier-Bataillon yon Haller was Heasen-Darmstadt officer's gorget, 1815; silver with gold lion and wreath. After am exampie in Darmstadt Castle Museum. 29formed from the grenadiers of the first two regiments, the Grenadier-Bataillon von Schmidt from the second two. Fager-Bataillon ‘As line infantry but dark green coat, red F swedish G), crimson ‘TB, silver BTN, no lace Grey B; rifles; black belts. Foot Artillery Two and a half batteries, Line infantry style uniform, dark blue coat (Swedish C); crimson F, yellow-laced CLR, gold BTN. Brass grenade, crossed cannons badge on shako and pouch. White B; black belts. Horse Artillery Half battery, As Foot Artillery, but short, straight-topped boots with screw-in steel spurs; light cavalry sabres in steel sheaths. Cavalry Uniforms, 1814 Garde du Corps One squadron, Bavarian Raupenhelm in black leather, silver plate and front band with ‘WK’ below electoral cap, over ‘GARDE DU CORPS’ black crest ~ stuffed wool for ORs and corporals, bearskin for offs, and senior NCOs; black chin straps edged with silver chains, later perhaps 1 infantry dram, ©1785. The body is brass, the 1d white; note the princely crest. (Schloss Museum) 30 silver chinscales; plume, according to rank, at left. Buff tunic, field poppy red CLR, TB edging, Swedish C; buff TB; silver lace loops on CLR, Cs silver BTN. White B, heavy cuffed boots, buckled spurs for parades; for other duties, grey overalls, silver BTN, red piping, short boots with screw-in spurs. Offs. wore red leather bandoliers with silver lace, and silver-and-red waist sashes tas- selled at left, ORs wore white crossed bandoliers. Brass-hilted heavy cavalry swords, steel sheaths, white slings. Saddle furniture red, edged double white (silver for offs.) lace, with eight-point star in corners. Black heavy- fittings. On some occasions steel cuirasses were worn, with brass shoulder scales, brass rivets, a red cuff edged white and a white waist belt. Those of offs. had a gilt eight-point star motif high on the breast. ‘Trumpeters had red helmet crests and red swallows’ nests laced with silver; silver trumpets were fitted with red-and-silver cords, Garde-Husaren One squadron. Black fur busby, red bag, white cords, plume according to rank. Dark blue dol- man, five rows silver BTN, silver lace, field poppy red CLR, G. Dark blue pelisse, silver BTN and lace, black fur trim, White B, red-and-silver barrel sash, black belts and bandoliers; red sabretasche, white edging and ‘WK’ beneath electoral cap for ORs, silver lace and crowned Hessian lion amid trophies for offs; silver buckles. Hussar boots, silver lace and tassel for offs.; sabres with gilt hilts, brass sheaths, Dark blue shabraque, silver-and-red edging. Black Polish- style harness, silver fittings; heavy decoration of white shells for offs Line Cavaly Leib-Dragoner-Regiment Four squadrons. Shako, red-within-white cockade and pompon, plume according to rank; white cords (silver-and-red for offs, and senior NCOs); silver peak edging, chinseales. Light blue double- breasted tunic; field poppy red CLR, Swedish C, shoulder straps; light blue TB edged poppy red; silver BTN, White or buff leather B, white belts, straight-topped boots with screw-in steel spurs for parades; otherwise grey overalls, silver BTN, red piping. Offs. wore white gauntlets. Brass- hilted sabres, steel sheaths. Light blue shabraqueand round portmanteau edged red for ORs, silver with red outer edge for offs.; in rear corner ‘WK’ under electoral cap, all white. Black light- cavalry harness, steel fittings. Trumpeters’ plumes red, swallows’ nests red edged silver, brass trumpets with red-and-white cords. Hisaren-Regiment Four squadrons, Shakos as Leib-Dragoner, re- mainder as Garde-Husaren. Hessen-Kassel infantry Leibfabne, o. 1799. This reconstruc- tion by the author is based on remnants af an actual example preverved in Schloss Friedrichstein, but the colours are =0 Eedcdac ee seareny recente, The eld wie a the embroidery apparently gold, with coloured central follows, clockwive from 1 e'lock: six-point silver Star on black field over gold field; wo gold rampant Hons on fed field; silver nals and nettle lenves on red held round» Tedoversilver shieldy red and gold bars and. heraldic Srdinarics around a gold-oversred abield; two eightpoine Sfiver stars on a black field over a gold field; red rampant Hion with blue crown on red feld, red eross of Lorraine on Wer Held, The conteal crest ie the red-and-white striped ona blue eld. The princely eypher WL’ appears Inthe corner medallions and om the Gaia! 31Landwehr Infantry Gen.Maj. von Gaudi’s notes give following description: “Each infantry and cavalry regiment will raise a Freiwillige Jager detachment of 200 men after the Prussian example. In each of the provinces Niederhessen, Oberhessen and Fiirstenthum. Hanau two Landwehr battalions will be raised.” (24.11.13) These Landwehr wore simple shakos in black oilcloth covers with the Landwehr cross in white on the front; dark blue Litewka double-breasted coats with full skirts and silver buttons; grey trousers and black belts. Facings were shown on the collar and Polish cuffs: 1 Regt., crimson; and, black; 3rd, red. (Another source, I. R. Wor- ringer, Zeitschrift fir Heereskiinde Nrs. 40, 41, 42 in April 1932, gives the sequence as red, black and crimson.) Hessen-Kassel Campaign Summary 1793-95 Low Countries, Lorraine, Champagne, Westfalia, Upper Rhine 1793 Expedition to the Isle of Wight (Gens- d’armes, inf. regts. ‘von Linsingen, Prinz Karl only 180g Campaign in Saxony (Kur-Hessisches Legion only) 114-15 Upper Rhine and France Colours and Standards Practically no written data has been found con- cerning the colours and standards of this army in 1792-1806. It is known that in the American War of Independence each company carried its own colour; it is not known how many regimental colours were carried within each battalion, Many examples were described by Gherardi Davis in his Regimental Colours of the Revolution, New York, 1907; unfortunately he erroneously classed some as being Leib or sovercign’s colours, but as all are non-white this cannot be so. In the new museum in Schloss Friedrichstein at Bad Wildungen near Kassel there is exhibited the remains of a Hessen-Kassel Leibfahne. Of 32 white silk, it bears in the centre the great crest of the Landgraf, held by golden lions, under a Landgraf’s crown and other trophies of arms. In each corner the crowned cypher ‘WL! dates it directly to-our period. The gilt finial of the white pike — a convincing detail — bore a lion with crown and sword. Regimental colours were painted on silk, with, in the centre, the red-and-white striped Hessian lion with crown and sword on a light blue field within gold laurel wreaths tied with pink ribbon and under a Landgraf’s crown. The crown rested on a pale pink scroll bearing ‘Nesort PERICULA” in gold. Small gold corner wreaths enclosed a gold ‘WL’; in the centre of each side was a silver flaming grenade, The gilt finial bore the cypher, and the staff colour varied with the regiment. All colours were decorated with silver-and-crimson cords and tassels, Thalmann’s excellent work in the Marburg Archives gives a series of regimental colours, all dating from 1786, in detail, and smaller and much less distinct portrayals of white Leibfahnen. Some colours were of solid colour, others had ‘flaming’ diagonal crosses in a contrast- ing colour. Thalmann shows Regiment Garde . . . All white Garde-Grenadier-Regt. . .. All red Exbprinz . . . Red, light blue cross Prinz Karl .. . All dark green Leib-Regt. . . . Yellow, red cross von Kospoth . . . Black, buff cross von Lossberg . .. Orange, light green cross von Heymel. . . All yellow Light troops and artillery carried no colours. Cavalry Standards ‘Thalmann, and exhibits in Schloss Friedrich- stein, are the only sources found. Thalmann gives the following overview. Each squadron would seem to have carried a standard (hussars carried none). The Leib-Eskadron carried a white Leib- Estandarte, the others each having a coloured standard. No details of the relationship between squadron and colour are known. Examples are: Garde du Corps . . . All white, in vexillum form, suspended on silver chains from a staff with solid silver Hessian lion finial; embroidered overall Gensd’armes Karabiniers . + Red .. RedLeib-Dragoner .. . Red Prinze Friedrich Dragoner All were square, and bore in the centre the embroidered rampant Hessian lion striped in silver and white; fringes were of button-colour. The corners of the standards of the Gensd’armes and Leib-Dragoner bore silver cyphers (in 1786, “FL’) ; those of the other line regiments are shown, blank, Pikes were red, finials gilt spearheads; cords of silver and crimson, with tassels, hung about two-thirds of the way down the standards. Infantry Colours, 1814 New colours were presented to all existing regi- ments at the Martinskirche in Kassel on 1 March 1814. The design had altered radically since the period 1792-1806, Although no surviving written, evidence has been discovered, existing colours at Yellow Hessen-Darmstadt infantry, 1799. This KaStel plate shows the men without pouches in order to display the lapel details Clearly. Left to right; tet Leib-Bt. (erimaon facings, silver tputtons); and: Letbsel (orange. facings, silver buttons) Teltsitege, (red facings, silver, buttons); Regt. Landgrat {ceive facings, gold buttons); Regt: Erhprins (piak facings, {iver batons Bopot Baily facings geld batons) Land Regt light Biue facings, geld buttons); officer of Regt Erbprint note sash worn over coat, a style adopted in Prussia somewhat later, With the exception of the Depor-Bd, Tad dark blue rectangular calf laps decorated wt ce logpe; those ofthe Depor-Bd. rere plain, [By ind permission W. Spemann Verlag, Franck’sche Verlags- Ranang, Seavey) Schloss Friedrichstein give the following picture: Each regiment had (at least) two colours, a white Leibfahne and one or more crimson Regimentsfahnen. The Leibfahne was square. On the obverse it bore centrally a red-and-white striped Hessian lion with sword on a light blue shield, below a light blue scroll bearing ‘rr Gorr 33FOR PORST UND VATERLAND’; around the shield, golden oak and laurel branches, in each corner golden sunrays. The reverse was the same except that the central device was the golden cypher ‘WK’ under an electoral cap. The pike was 3.15m long, light blue, with a pierced brass tip bearing the cypher under the cap. The silk was nailed to the pike with dome-headed gilt nails. The crimson regimental colours were the same as the Leibfahne except that the scroll bore ‘GOTT SCHUTZT DEN DER AUF IHN BauT’ (God Protects ‘Those Who Build On Him’) on the colour/s of the Regt. Prinz von Solms-Braunfels, and ‘MEINEN TREUEN HESSEN’ on that of the Regt. Kiirprinz. No data has been found to suggest that cavalry standards were presented in 1813-15. t Prinz von Solms, field; gold finial, \d corner rays; Hight Id and pike; red-and-white Hion, white scroll, black From an example in the Schloss Friedrichstein The Plates As Hessen-Darmstadt: Officer, Chevaulegers, 1790- 1803 This regiment was eventually destroyed in a desperate rearguard action at the Beresina cross- ing in Russia in 1812. The figure, from a plate in the regimental history, shows an officer in full dress, The British influence is plain; the peculiar helmet, and the chevron decoration on the coat sleeves and tails, both approximate to late 18th- century British light cavalry styles, The black leather helmet had a skull of truncated conical shape behind the curved front shield; the black crest extended in an are from the back of the skull to the top of the front shield. The elaborate parade harness is decorated with hundreds of cowrie shells. Br: Hessen-Darmstadt : Private, 3rd Company, Leichtes Infanterie-Bataillon, 1790 After a plate in the regimental history, The 34traditional sombre colours accord with the réle of this unit, which recruited small, agile men. The hair is still worn queued, curled and powder- ed, a time-consuming and horribly unhygeinic practice. The blue hat pompon and sabre tassel identify the company. He carries on the left hip the calfikin pack and grey canvas haversack which indicate summer field service marching order, The weapon is a smoothbore musket — only a proportion of the unit carried rifles; note red sling. Be: Hessen-Darmstait: Oberst, Antllery, 1792 From a plate in the regimental history. The Hessen-Darmstadt artillery were the only gunners of the Grande Armée to bring their cannon back from the Russian disaster of 1812. Black facings were adopted by many continental artillery corps; they had certain practical advantages in the days of black powder, when fighting the guns was an extremely dirty job, As a mounted officer this colonel wears jacked boots and buckled spurs. His gold-tipped cane with silver tasselled cord is a sign of office, but the important indication of officer status was the silver-and-red portepee on the sword hilt. B3: Hessen-Darmstadt: Hornist, Fitsilier-Bataitlon, Brigade Landgraf, June 1803 After a plate in the regimental history. The Prussian influence was strong in the armies of many German states; elderly men could still remember Frederick the Great, and by a process of ‘sympathetic magic’ it seems to have been hoped that by copying Prussian uniforms and drill they could inherit his prowess. The small, two-flap bicor worn by Bz and Bg is copied fom the Prussian infantry of the 1780s. The horn is of typical German design; its carrying note was used to pass signals when fighting in extended order, Drummers, hornists and musicians wore the ‘swallows’ nest’ shoulder wing in facing colour, decorated with button-colour lace Cr: Hessen-Darmstadt : Officer, Leib-Regiment, 1807— 09 After Knétel, and a plate in the regimental history. After about 1808 the coat was worn Hessen-Kassel, Leib-Grenadier-Garde and Regiment Garde, oi A sketch by Knotel in the regimental history. The Prufsinn sete of Goat may be seen ere, with its collar laces ‘ced narrowly on the ‘of Austrian pattern iver plate bearing a rampant lion . Collar and cult lace, shoulder fc, the musket and equipment ap- mly French, The private of the Regt. Garde ts dressed Bo'the grenadier except for his (Prench®) shako with white: ictal badge and chinecales, white cords and whice-and-red cockade. with red backing, holding the ‘Guards closed to the waist with the sash over it. By this time the hated pigtail had disappeared from most European armies, although Hessen-Kassel retained it from 1816 to about 1821. There are several descriptions of the plume adopted by the Hessians in 1806 after confusion with Prussians at Jena. Some say red, others red with a black tip, others black, or black with a red tip. No final answer has been found, but red with a black base for officers and a black tip for NCOs seems likely. C2: Hessen-Darmstadt: Trooper, Garde du Corps, 1809 ‘This palace bodyguard did not comply with the 35change in plume colours, Note also that although the sabretasche bears the new cypher of Grand Duke Ludwig I, the sword hilt still carries the old ‘LLX’ cypher. Members of this élite unit were drawn from the aristocracy, and ranked as officers even though nominally titled trooper or sergeant. After a plate in the regimental history. C3: Hessen-Darmstadt : Sergeant, Foot Ariillery, 1809 After a plate in the regimental history. This unit was part of the Hessian force which fought at Aspern-Essling in 1809. The coat was of the pattern worn by all dismounted units apart from the Regt. Gross- und Erbprinz. Two loops decorated the red-piped horizontal false pockets, French rank badges had been adopted in 1806, but the contre-epaulettes were peculiar to this state. They were edged in the facing colour for privates, and silver for NCOs. Note that the gaiter buttons are brass even though those on the coat are tin. The confusion over the plumes worn Hessen-Kassel, Swiss Life Guards, 1815, At left is a private in full dress ~ red and blue plumes, red and blue cockade, gold button; blue tunie and breeches with red stripes edged in white; silver and red baldric; silver, red and blue tassels to halberd; red stockings; red and blue shoe-knots. In the centre is an NCO in service dress — white-over-red plume; dark blue coat with red facings, silver lace and buttons; white breeches and gauntlets; white-and-red sword knot; brown cane with gilt knob. At right is an officer in service dress — as for the NCO except for a silver hat-brooch, silver portepee, and spurred hoots. (After Steinmuhler) by the Hessians is reflected here, Four horizontal grenades decorated the turn-backs. D1: Hessen-Darmstadt: Corporal, Grenadier Com- pany, Regt. Gross- und Erbprinz ; Spain, 1809 After Knétel. As a member of the Confederation of the Rhine the state was required to make a military contribution to Napoleon’s war effort: this regiment was Hesse’s contribution to the Peninsular War. Re-organised and re-badged in the French manner, it saw much heavy fighting before passing into British captivity at Badajoz. in, 1812, The uniform shown here was probably the exception rather than the rule; resupply of clothing was very infrequent, and the regimental, history records that coat tails were cut off to make patches for the rest of the outfit. The French equipment and armament replaced the old and varied designs carried before the regiment en- tered French service. Da: Hessen-Darmstadt : Officer, Leib-Regiment, 1812 After various sources. The Hessians provided six battalions of infantry, a regiment of horse and the associated artillery batteries (eight guns) for Napoleon's Russian adventure of 1812, They erved in the 4th Division, I Corps and the 34th Division, XI Corps (infantry), and the 3oth Light Cavalry Brigade, IX Corps (Chevaulegers).The sash had now been abandoned in favour of the silver gorget as a sign of office when on duty. ‘The cut of the coat had changed in that the lapels were now cut straight across the bottom at waist level, and no waistcoat was shown D3: Hessen-Darmstadt : Trooper, Garde-Chevaulegers, 1812 After Knétel. The British light dragoon-style helmet had been replaced in about 1806 by the high, domed type shown here, probably copied from the Bavarians, although the chevrons on sleeves and tails were retained (see MAA 106, Napoleon's German Allies (4): Bavaria). It is not known how the French rank badges were in- corporated into this sleeve decoration. Dark green overalls with red stripes cover the white parade breeches. Wiped out on the Beresina on 27 November 1812, the regiment was re-raised in 1813. A narrow bandolier supported a small black pouch at the back, partly hidden by the carbine belt; from the latter a small strap con- nected with a ramrod fixed along the top of the pouch. Ex: Hessen-Darmstadi: Officer, 1st Company, Frei willige Jager, 1813-14 After Kntel. As in most other German states, Hessen-Darmstadt raised volunteer companics in addition to conscripted line troops to fight Napoleon in the ‘wars of liberation’ of 1813-15. Volunteers paid for their own uniforms and equip- ment, and were given better treatment than conscripts. They were concentrated into élite com- panies attached to conscript battalions for scouting and skirmishing duties ~ hence the Jager uniform and the rifles they carried. Their civilian jobs were kept open for them during their service, and it was promised that their later careers would benefit for their having served the Fatherland. While on campaign they wore an oak sprig (or fir, in winter) on the shako — a common practice in Austria, Prussia, and many other German states. Ez: Hessen-Darmstadt: Officer, Leib-Garde-Regiment, 1814 After a plate in Darmstadt Archives. Hidden here are three-point red-piped horizontal coat pockets. On parades officers now wore black plumes with a red base inserted into a silver pompon with a red horizontal ring. NCOs had black plumes with a red tip, and red pompons with a silver ring. Privates’ plain black plumes were worn from a pompon in company colour (see text) and sur- mounted by either a red tuft or a red pompon — sources differ. While on duty the silver gorget was still worn, and the French ranking was retained. In winter and on field service the white breeches were replaced by blue trousers worn over the boots. Eg: Hessen-Darmstadt : Emil, 1814 Newly raised in 1813-14, this regiment was obviously clothed, armed and equipped with the then-available French-pattern items. French rank badges were still worn, but the peculiar Hessian contre-epaulettes were replaced in 1814 by dark blue shoulder straps edged at the sides and rounded end in regimental facing colour. The white-and-yellow pompon indicates the 5th Com- pany. After Knétel ~ who omits the lapel laces, which were perhaps introduced late in 1814. Hidden here are three-point pink-piped hori- zontal coat pockets. Private, Regiment Prinz Fr: Hessen-Kassel 1792 ‘The headdress of the fusilier companies within Hessen-Kassel infantry regiments resembled the grenadier’s traditional mitre, but the. frontal plate was rather lower, and the crown of the headpiece rose to a point and was tipped with a metal spike in button colour. The cloth of the crown was usually in facing colour. The metal headband was decorated with grenades and trophies; the design of band and plate differed with each regiment. This NCO in parade dress carries a halberd; these, and officers’ spontoons, were discarded for all except parade duty at about this period, and by 1803 they had vanished altogether. NCO status is indicated by the silver lace, the cane, the red-and-white sabre strap, the gauntlets, and the absence of musket and pouch. After Muller and Carl, NCO, Fisiliers, Leib-Regiment, Fa: Hessen-Kassel : Officer, Hussars, 1792 "The dressy and expensive uniform, complete with the yellow boots copied from those of senior 37‘Turkish officers, may seem hopelessly unsuited for the campaign tasks of light cavalry scouting units even in an age of conspicuous military glamour. In fact, in this as in many other small German states, the hussars were more a gendarmerie in peacetime than a battlefield force. They were distributed over the whole country, patrolling country roads and borders in small groups of three or four men, and chasing deserters—of whom, there were many! This was excellent training for their tactical réle in wartime. After Miller and Carl, F 3: Hessen-Kassel: Drummer, Regiment Garde, 1792 From contemporary plates in the Darmstadt archives it appears that most infantry regiments employed Negro boys as drummers. The stylised turban is shown only vaguely in the ori source, as is the exact pattern of the lace; but it seems that the red figures are miniature crowned cyphers ~ ‘WL’ for ‘Wilhelm, Landgraf”. Each regiment had its own distinctive lace, and the Garde were the dandies of this small army. The waistcoat and breeches are yellow. After Miller and Carl. Gr: Hessen-Kassel: Officer, Light Infantry, Kure Hessian Legion, 1809 In the wake of Austria's brave but foolhardy attempt to overthrow Napoleon in 1809 several Free Corps were raised in Bohemia, among them the ‘Black Brunswickers’ and the Kur-Hessians. ‘The latter, although disbanded after a few months, did see action in a spirited thrust into southern Germany which caused much trouble for Jerome Bonaparte, then attempting to secure his position as king of Westfalia. Almost all items of uniform and equipment were of Austrian design or origin. ‘The hair is unpowdered but queued. After a contemporary plate by Hass in the Kassel Archives. Ge: Hessen-Kassel: Trumpeter, Karabiniers, 1792 Apart from the shoulder and sleeve decorations, trumpeters were also distinguished by their crim- son plume tips and bases. This regiment had in fact abandoned the wearing of cuirasses a few years previously, but the cut of the tunic still reflected their original armoured role, being of 38 buff leather without front buttons. The leather breeches were normally whitened for parades, ‘Troopers wore moustaches, but officers and trumpeters. were clean-shaven. After Miller and Carl. 63: Hessen-Kassel: Officer of Grenadiers, Garde« Grenadiere, 1792 ‘The fur on the Austrian bearskin was set pointing upwards at the front and downwards at the back and sides, The large 18th-century style of gorget was still worn, The officers’ musket, with red leather sling, was of fine workmanship, and had the sovereign’s cypher engraved on the blade of the bayonet. The lid of the silver cartouche worn frontally on the waist belt is decorated with a gi cypher and trophies of arms. Afier Mihler and c Hr: Hessen-Kassel: Officer, Regiment Landgraf Karl, 1814 While officers, whose appearance depended upon private means, probably blossomed into the colours of the restored Electorate fairly soon after Hessen-Kassel’s liberation, it would have been many months before any substantial numbers of troops could have been fitted out with the pre- scribed new uniforms. Prussian influence was again noticeable in the design of the uniform; note the small gilt lions at the sides of the shako, in the position occupied by small eagles on the shakos of Prussian officers. Officers wore no cpaulettes, however, but carried malacca canes instead. Senior NCOs had their plumes tipped and based, with red, and wore silver sabre-strap tassels; gold, lacing edged the top and front of their collars, and, the top of their cuffs. Junior NCOs had gold- laced collars only. After a plate by Steinmiihler (who was a Premierlicutenant in the Garde- Grenadiere) but with altered hairstyle. Ho: Hessen-Kassel: NCO of Jigers, 1814 ‘The newly-raised Jager-Bataillon had crimson facings, and Steinmihler shows silver buttons and lace, the officers’ shakos bearing silver chains and lions; other ranks’ shakos were decorated only with the red-and-white cockade. The straight sword-bayonet or Hirschfinger had an antler- horn hilt. Privates’ plumes were plain dark green,