"SYW Winter Dress?" Topic

Does anyone know what troops wore in cold weather?
I know Prussian infantrymen simply closed their coats, but I'm not so sure about Prussian artillery and cavalry (Would artillery have worn the same winter uniforms as the infantry? Did the cavalry have cloaks/capes – and if so, of what colour/pattern?).
Also, would armies wearing Prussian style uniforms (such as Wuerttemberg) have had the same pattern of winter dress as well?
Finally, what would Austrian infantry, cavalry, and artillery have worn?

Any help would be appreciated.

Jacques,

Apart from the Russians, most SYW armies did not have proper winter uniforms. There were some watch coats or cloaks for sentries and officers but not enough for everyone. In a pinch a soldier could use a blanket. Uniforms including the regimental coat (justaucorps), waistcoat (veste) (usually sleeved) and breeches were made of wool and were usually lined with a lighter weight wool. I cannot comment on the quality of the cloth. Period sources give mixed reviews. Armies did not typically campaign in the coldest weather due to clothing issues and a lack of feed for the horses--that is why they went into winter quarters.

To sum up, I think the uniforms would probably be of some use in moderately cool weather but not the dead of winter.

Hope that helps.

V/R

Joe

Am I correct in thinking that not much campaigning took place in the winter?

The French justaucorps in combination with the sleeved waistcoat could probably keep the troops fairly warm. As a re-enactor, I can vouch for this per my own uniform.

With careful preparation of stores you could "steal a march" on your opponent by one last push when the campaign season ought to have been over, or by coming out of winter quarters a few weeks earlier than expected, but due to the state of roads and the lack of fodder, actual winter campaigning was generally avoided – until 1812 that is…

Hence, the troops were not issued with special winter clothing. Buttoning over the coat lapels seesm to have kept them fairly warm though – when Prussian economy measures introduced a tighter cut that wouldn't close over anymore, protests were quick in coming.

Ferdinand of Brunswick's winter campaign of 1757 did just about that. It was a maneuver that earned him a reputation as a bold commander, however, he does (Savory) relate the horrible conditions his troops had to face in their threadbare uniforms.

cheers,
Robert
18thcenturysojourn.blogspot.com

Thanks for all the replies – I know that armies generally didn't campaign in the dead of winter. By "winter" I was talking generally about cold weather, and specifically about the Battle of Leuthen.
Two more questions – this time about more specific types of troops:
1. Would Austrian infantrymen have buttoned the lapels together like their Prussian counterparts, or simply left their uniforms as-is (if I understand correctly Austrian uniforms were heavier and bulkier than Prussian uniforms)?
2. Were Prussian or Austrian cavalrymen issued with cloaks? In particular did the Austrian Ligne/Daun/Lowenstein/St.-Ignon regiment of dragoons have them? (These are my only Austrian cavalry at the moment as it is very difficult to get hold of the old 1/72 Revell set – commanded at Leuthen by Colonel Jacques Francois Florent, Count of Thiennes)

ad 1) Anything to stay moderately warm, surely. Austrian coats were usually cut to a looser fit than the Prussians', so would have closed even more easily.

ad 2) cavalry of all nations usually had cloaks, as they would have to endure dust and rain in a sitting position given their trade. In the Austrian army, these were white with red lining for all units apparently (economies of scale?) and supposed to last six years. When not worn they were carried rolled on top of the valise, behind the saddle, with the red lining on the outside (what the Kronoskaf entry calls a "blanket roll")
link

Note that cloaks would only be worn on the march or on picket duty; in battle they would have been too much of a hindrance.

e-mail me about Revell Dragoons, there may be a box or two surplus to requirements: armchairgeneralAThotmailDOTcom