"Tirailleur uniforms" Topic

I have been trying to clarify a detail on the full-dress uniform of the French Young Guard Tirailleurs. Knotel, Haythornthwaite and various internet sites only show the plume as being red over white. Yet in the text of Haythornthwaites' Osprey book "Napoleon's Guard Infantry 2", he states that only the first regiment had this dual colored plume , and that the 2nd and 3rd regiments' plumes were all red . I have not seen this mentioned anywhere else.
I am in the process of painting up these regiments and would appreciate any help I can get.

Keith

? I tought always that the young guard has the V on the side and that the coloring was identical to that if the old guard?

link

But you need here a real napolionic experts….

Greetings

Many years ago, as a much younger man, I researched Lienhart and Humbert at the Philadelphie Public Library. They are a French source that did five volumes on the history of the French army – volume 5 on allies. I recall them showing only the first regiment with the two-color plume. I recall others with ball pompom only – showing six regiments. I don't to Guard troops for any nation – except possibly doing the Walloons for Spain in the Peninsula eventually, so I have not paid attention since. I will see what I can find L&H on the internet

Since then, many have criticized their work, but they had more right than wrong.

So much for the memory of a 77 year old! Found this on the Lienhart and Knoetel site saved in favorites. It shows two-color plume for regiment 1; all red for 2 and 3; and also shows shako pompoms and discs for total of six:

link

From Lachouque "The Aanatomy of Glory – Napoleon and his Guard"

1st Tirailleur Grenadier Regiment formed 16 January 1809 and the 2nd Regiment was formed 25 April 1809
They became Tirailleurs on 30 December 1810.

3rd & 4th Tirailleur Regiments were created from the Conscrit Grenadiers on 10 February 1811
5th Tirailleurs formed on 18 May 1811
6th Tirailleurs on 28 August 1811
7th on 17 January 1813
8th on 23 March 1813
9th to 13th on 6 April 1813
14th to 16th on 11 January 1813
17th to 19th on 21 January 1814

3rd bis on 17 January 1813
4th bis on 17 January 1813
5th bis on 17 January 1813
6th bis on 10 January 1813

From April 1813 all Tirailleur regiments wore a red plume for full dress or a red pom-pon for service dress.

Page 273 of Elting's Napoleonic Uniforms volume II

"Regiments were distinguished by their pompons (undress or service wear) and plumes, The 1st had red over white; the 2nd had white over red, the 4th a lenticular shaped plume, the middle section of which was red and the outer ends white; and the 5th apparently an all-red plume"

Paul :)

Many thanks to all who are weighing in. As you can see there is much disagreement over this subject. The only commonalities I have seen here, and elsewhere, are that the 1st had the red over white plume and that after April,1813 apparently things were simplified to all red for the new regiments and probably for the old as they got replacement gear.
Excellent link, Garde de Paris, thanks.

Keith

Michael g. Head in Foot Regiments of the Imperial Guard, says

1st Red over white plume
2nd White over red
3rd Red lentil disc with white centre
4th Either white lentil disc with red centre or all red
5th Either white lentil disc with blue centre or all white
6th Blue lentil disc with white centre

For the 100 days no chevron, cords or plume on the shako and only a red pom-pon

Osprey Napoleons Guard Infantry(2)

1st Spherical red over white pompon. Full dress red-over-white plume.
2nd Spherical white over red pompon. Full dress all red plume.
3rd Red lentille disc with white centre. Full dress red plume
4th White lentille with red centre
5th White lentille with blue centre
6th Blue lentille with white centre.

Paul :)