'There are three sorts of uniforms for every period of history: those described in the uniform regulations; those shown by the artists of that period; and what the soldiers really wore.'-Roger Forthofer
I have found that description of uniforms to be very accurate, including my own service.
When studying the French uniforms of the Revolutionary period it should be understood that this was a great period of upheaval for the French army, and uniforms as well as uniform appearance suffered a great deal.
The regular regiments which were having many problems with morale, desertion, disobedience and anything else you want to add had regulation white uniforms which the new government was trying to get rid of.
The volunteers were in blue and the regular light infantry battalions were in dark green.
The new 'regulations' had the Tarleton-type helmet to be issued to the line infantry as shown in the illustrations here, but there is no evidence that all of them even received it. It was expensive, unpopular, and had a tendency to smell. Those units that did get it went back to the hat. Other units also wore, at least for a time, a similar helmet-the light infantry, a variety of volunteer units, and the horse artillery.
New colors were authorized or mandated in 1791. The cravats were changed from white to tricolor, the flag staffs were probably dark blue, and the regiments were authorized to carry two colors. The first battalions all carried the same type of flag. The second battalions were different in each regiment. The first battalion flages were white with the upper canton next to the staff were three tricolor stripes, blue on top, white in the middle, and red on the bottom. All royal trappings were abolished, and the original fleur de lis were covered with a tricolor triangle. This flag was the national color.
The second battalion flags were composed of nine colors and 12 geometric shapes the design and arrangement of which gave the units an individual identity. The colors were assigned to groups of regiments: 1-12 had black; 13-24 was assigned violet; 25-36 pink; 37-48 sky blue; 49-60 crimson; 61-78 scarlet; 79-92 royal blue; 93-107 dark green; 108-111, light green. The following numbers were vacant: 63, 64, 65, 66, 69, 76, 85, 86, 95, 97, and 100.
All of these flags had the motto, Discipline et obeisance a la loi arranged as follows: Discipline on the left; Discipline on top; A La on the right; and Loi on the bottom. A laurel wreath surrounding the regiment's number was in the center.
For the infantry organizations that were various and somewhat confusing the excellent 1824 book Avantages d'une bonne discipline by JB Avril is most helpful.
After different experiments, testing, and organizations, the line infantry, later demi-brigades, had nine companies per battalion, eight fusilier and one grenadier, with the fusilier companies being larger than the grenadier companies until the 1808 organization.
I hope I have covered all of your questions and have been of some help.
B
goes to sea with the Terrain Mat.
