"Use of French Line Lancers(1813?)." Topic

Dear Forum,

Was the beginning of the 1813 Campaign, the first introductory use of French Line Lancers?

Did the French ever use their Line Lancer regiments as one large and complete cavalry regiment, or, as I have read they parcelled out squadrons consisting of two companies to the various French Cuirassier regiments?

In the 15mm scale, would a squadron consist of two French Line lancers(two figures)? So, a French cuirassier regiment of twelve figures would have 10 cuirassiers and 2 French Line lancers, making 12 in a single regiment?

Did the French ever attach more than one squadron of French Line Lancers, to their cuirassier or Dragoon cavalry regiments?

Does historical evidence exist of the French using their French Line lancers as a homogenous 6 squadron strength full regiments? I'd like to field French line lancers as single regiments consisting solely of line lancers.

Regards,
Wayne

Nope, the French deployed lancers first during the 1812 invasion of Russia I believe, at that same time I believe some were deployed in Spain.

Off the top of my head I do not know of any instances of lancer regiments being broken up and attached to other cavalry regiments though it likely was done on occasion.

There are lots of accounts of lancers being deployed as a single unit – just like the other arms of cavalry – how many squadrons would be deployed at once for a fight depended on how many you might have sent off scouting, screening, etc.

Cheers,

The Bandit

The first 6 "French" lancer regiments – those in Green with the brass helmet – were formed from 6 dragoon regiments, 5 of which were withdrawn from Spain. They never re-entered Spain, so none of these units served as lancers in Spain. The dragoon regiments were (1st lancers, etc) 1st dragoons; (2) 3rd dragoons; (3) 8th dragoons; (4) 9th dragoons; (5) 10th dragoons; and 6) 29th dragoons, which did NOT serve in Spain.

The 7th and 8th lancers (ex-Vistula Legion Lancers) were in Spain for much of that war.

The new French lancer regiments were not completely formed in time for the Russian campaign in 1812, and I believe only a squadron was attached to cuirassiers as scouts for the heavies.

I do not study the 1813-14 campaign, so know nothing about their deployment. I am sure others on this forum can add data.

[The following numbers (4 sq, 415 men) are from the French website about the hundred days.] In the Waterloo campaign, the 3rd (3 sq; 406 men) and 4th (2 sq; 296 men) lancers were brigaded under General Gobrecht in the 1st corps of D'Erlon.

The 5th (3 sq, 412 men) and 6th (4 sq, 381 men) lancers were brigaded under General Wathiez in Reille's 2nd army corp.

The 1st (4 sq, 415 men) and 2nd Lancers (4 sq, 420 men) were brigaded under General Colbert in the 1st Cavalry corp under Pajol.

GdeP

My memory also suggests that they were attached to Heavy Cavalry Divisions in Russia in single squadrons or companies. I don't remember them in the a.o.b. in Regiments.

Haythornwaite says 3 squadrons for the heavy divisions that had them attached.Some I could find
1st Heavy Cavalry Division
2nd,3rd,9th Cuirassiers 4 squadrons each
1st Lancers 3 squadrons
5th Heavy Cavalry Division
6th,11th,12th Cuirassiers 4 squadrons each
5th lancers 3 squadrons
2nd Heavy Cavalry Division
5th,8th,10th Cuirassiers 4 squadrons each
2nd Lancers 3 squadrons
4th Heavy calvary Division
1st,2nd Carabiniers
1st Cuirassier 4 squadrons each
4th Lancers 3 squadrons
3rd Heavy Calvary Division
4th,7th,14th Cuirassiers 4 sqdns each
3rd Lancers 3 sqdns

Line lancers were indeed parcelled out in "penny packets" to the Cuirassier divisions in 1812.

In 1813, they were used as complete regiments (although bear in mind that not many cavalry regiments reached anything like establishment strength in 1813-14).

The Haythornthwaite list for 1812 is too generous- the Lancer Regts attached to Cuiassier divisions were only 1-2 companies strong in 1812- ie 1 strong Sqn at best, although some reinforcements joined.
The reason for this low strength is that when converted from Dragoons in 1811, the units transferred all of their horses and most of their enlisted men into other Dragoon regiments in Spain. By the start of the 1812 campaign, the new Lancer Regts were still incomplete and sent only the few trained men then available to Russia.

I'm not sure whether it was always intended that the Lancers be attached to Cuirassier divisions in 1812, or just that it seemed the best use for the small detachments available at the time.

An exception was the 6th Lancers which uniquely was formed from a Dragoon Regt in garrison in Italy rather than on service in Spain. This unit, part of Ney's III Corps was present at regimental strength in 1812.

In 1813 and beyond, all the Lancers were at Regimental (though fluctuating) strength, and formed brigades of their own.