| Botch B | 03 Feb 2013 7:27 a.m. PST |
In the OOBs for the French, there is a 'Neapolitan Infanterie d'Elite' regiment listed in the 27th Infantry Division. I can't find any other reference to such a unit. Can anyone explain what it was please, and if possible give some uniform information? Thanks Mike |
| captain canada | 03 Feb 2013 8:14 a.m. PST |
I think that is a unit made up of the elite coys of Neopolitan regiments. |
| idontbelieveit | 03 Feb 2013 8:44 a.m. PST |
Elite coys of 5th, 6th, and 7th Neapolitan line infantry. |
| Steve64 | 03 Feb 2013 9:23 a.m. PST |
From the Nagziger OOB : PDF link 27th Division is a Polish unit, and was detached from VIII Corps from the Sth sector to support French troops in the Nth sector. I cant see any Neopolitan units in that Division. There is a small contingent of 1 Bn of Neapoliton elites in the French 31 Div, along with 3 Bn of Neapolitan lights. There is a small Neapolitan Guard Marine unit in the Imperial Guard artillery park .. I assume they are ex-naval gunners drawn into the line to maintain the guns perhaps ? Leipzig is a real mess :) What sources are you going by for your OOB ? |
| pas de charge | 03 Feb 2013 11:05 a.m. PST |
The Elite regiment was formed from the elite companies of the Neapolitan regiments forming the garrison of Danzig, these being the 5th, 6th and 7th Line. Strength on August 15th 1813 was: 1st Bttalion 609
2nd Battalion 251 As far as I can ascertain, it was originally formed of one battalion of grenadiers, and one of voltigeurs. By Leipzig it was down to one combined battalion. The regiment received an extraordinary number of awards of the Legion of Honour in 1813. |
| Green Tiger | 04 Feb 2013 4:32 a.m. PST |
Now that's interesting – I always assumed it was a misprint as the Guard Velite regiment is said to have fought in "the German Cmpaign" in 1813. I thought it must be them. The above sounds pretty convincing so can anyone say where the Velites served? |
| pas de charge | 04 Feb 2013 5:18 a.m. PST |
The Velites were effectively destroyed in 1812; the very few survivors seem to have been assigned to the Elite regiment. However, there are very few surviving records. |
| ferg981 | 04 Feb 2013 11:40 a.m. PST |
Sounds interesting I assume they'd still wear their original regiments uniform? Ferg |
| pas de charge | 04 Feb 2013 12:35 p.m. PST |
Indeed they did, so a nice range of facing colours. |
| Green Tiger | 05 Feb 2013 6:45 a.m. PST |
Thanks – that clears that up ! |
| Botch B | 09 Feb 2013 10:07 a.m. PST |
Indeed it does, and also answers the uniform question for me – they will look rather 'splendid' in 54mm! Mind you they probably ought to be a 'small unit in BP too, so the spread of facings won't look quite so impressive. Again, many thanks. |
| Weesojies | 17 Sep 2022 11:12 a.m. PST |
Hi all. Trying to get some more info if possible. Would anyone know what neopolitaian elite battalion fought in Lutzen at Eisdorf. Going with this thread there were two battalions in the regiment one of voltiguers and one of grenadiers but which was which?
1st battalion 609 men ?
2nd battalion 251 men ? 😊 |
| Michman | 17 Sep 2022 4:03 p.m. PST |
The "reggimento scelto napoletano" was organized 12 January 1812 as 2 battalions, the 1st of 6 companies of granatieri, the 2nd of 6 companies of volteggiatori, under the command of colonnello Francesco Macdonald (Pescara 1777 – Firenze 1837) and capo di battaglione Arena. They numbered 35 officers and 1,326 other ranks on 1 February. They lost over 600 men dead or prisoners during the retreat and the battle of Möckern (5 April), where the volteggiatori were distinguished. By the end of April, they reported a total of 31 officers and 625 other ranks "present under arms". Nafziger shows them reporting on 15 May in the 1st battalion 20 officers and 261 other ranks, with 13 officers and 398 other ranks in the 2nd battalion. At Lutzen, I would suppose that they formed as a single battalion. See:
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returns to Flintloque to paint an Ogre.
