ThePeninsularWarin15mm | 22 Dec 2013 8:29 p.m. PST |
After some time of reviewing multiple sources, I'm unable to determine if either French or the Russo-Austrian army wore any overcoats at Austerlitz. The weather seems to indicate snowy ground, so I assume it was but nothing from an eye witness. Can anyone provide some insight? |
bruntonboy | 22 Dec 2013 9:10 p.m. PST |
As it was fought in Central Europe in December with snow and ice on the ground my bet would have been that greatcoats would likely to have been worn. I suspect they were worn on most battlefields. I would have had my overcoat on. |
doug redshirt | 22 Dec 2013 11:30 p.m. PST |
The ponds and streams were ice covered. I would hope for an over coat. |
von Winterfeldt | 23 Dec 2013 12:15 a.m. PST |
Not a lot, the Old Guard did get them after the battle. At that time the great coats were still lacking at the Grande Armée |
Zippee | 23 Dec 2013 3:34 a.m. PST |
yep, no official issue of army greatcoats until much later. Can't rule out unofficial and plundered garments – though I'd be surprised if they were worn in action. Probably a lot of double and triple shirts being worn and extra rags around shoes and necks, etc but no greatcoats. If nothing else it encourages faster marching rates and whatnot :) |
Runicus Fasticus | 27 Dec 2013 11:30 p.m. PST |
Your question has sent me deep into the pages of T.E.Crowdy's book "Incomparable". I have just finished reading the chapter covering Ulm and up to Austerlitz. On page 160 , it states that the 9th leger helped in rounding up Austrian prisoners and stragglers taken by Murat's Cavalry. They "borrowed" ( using a good word for stripped) the great coats from these prisoners as they did not have any at this time and the weather was pretty bad with freezing rain ,sleet and snow. The 9th leger then went on to form part of the garrison of Vienna and missed Austerlitz. The book states while in Vienna the 9th received a consignment of Great coats made in France in December of 1805. Even more info about great coats, that during July of 1806 the regiment returned their great coats to storage. The regiment marched off to war against Prussia without getting them returned. During the pursuit of the Prussians after their army got their butts kicked, Marshal Bernadotte requisition of cloth to make great coats from the City of Halle after taking it from the Prussian troops of Prince Wurttemberg. I thought you might find this of interest. Runicus |
ThePeninsularWarin15mm | 01 Jan 2014 9:21 p.m. PST |
Runicus, Thanks for the info. I tried searching Swords Around A Throne and many websites and it seems to get overlooked. Sounds like an interesting book, I may have to locate a copy for my collection. |
Runicus Fasticus | 02 Jan 2014 9:15 a.m. PST |
Incomparable is an excellent read. It has even given me some more understanding about the peninsula and the Prussian and polish campaigns of 1806 and 1807. Runicus P.S. The also have a great page on face book |
serg j | 06 Jan 2014 11:16 a.m. PST |
coignet remembers there was no but litlle le snow at austerlitz seeing the russians in their oversides greatcoats made him laugh grtns serg j |
von Winterfeldt | 10 Jan 2014 12:08 a.m. PST |
Bertrand serving in the 7e légère writes for wintertime in 1807 that only watchgreatcoats were available, for those who were on guard dutty. But then the regiment received captured cloth, for his company it was white and they had to make their own great coats there the master tailors were either wounded of with the depot in France. So he ended up with a white great coat. |