"French Units in White Uniforms" Topic

Has anyone compiled information about any specific French units who might have worn the white uniforms after 1808?

Not that I've come across, but the only mention I've seen of white uniforms that late was in Spain, so checking the list of regiments who were issued white (3rd, 13th-18th, 21st, 32nd, 33rd, 46th and 53rd) for ones that served in Spain might help narrow it down at least.

If I'm not mistaken, Osprey's Napoleon's Line Infantry provides a list of regiments provided (or most likely received) white coats. If by the time I get home from work no one has listed it, I'll pull it out and get it posted.

Several French regiments at Eylau had white uniforms--not sure which ones, though. The 4th and 18th come to mind, though.

Found some info here:

link

"Several French regiments at Eylau had white uniforms"

– Yep, but Eylau was in early 1807, and at a time when the white uniforms were "current" as it were. The OP was asking about after 1808.

As Dom says,
Only those that marched into Spain in 1808, I doubt any of the Army of Germany would be in white – a few garrison troops perhaps but they'd be easier to re-equip.

Be aware that some/many references to French in white in Spain are actually troops fighting in waistcoats. Still greatcoat is still more likely than anything else.

I've heard from several sources that the 15th wore the white uniforms to Spain, and made efforts to keep them as well.

At least that's going to be my excuse when I paint them.

There is a quote from a French officer in 1809 that goes along the lines of 'at last we had a uniform appearance. All the white coats and cocked hats were finally gone etc. etc.' In other words finally they were all in blue coats and shakos. References to white French infantry in Spain usually refer to waistcoats in the heat or white 'dusters'.

It sounds like the end of 1809 was also the end of the white uniforms?

Kyle

Of the units that were documented as wearing white.

The following regiments were in Spain during 1808, spread between II, III, IV, VII and VIII corps:
3e, 14e, 15e, 16e and 32e Ligne.
The 15e appear to have been documented, whilst in Spain, as wearing the white with black facings. The others may also have been wearing white.

In 1809 the following units took part in the Wagram campaign, whether in white or blue, I don't know.

The 17e, 21e and 33e Ligne were with Davout as part of the III Corps as part of the Army of Germany.

The 16e [again], 18e and 46e Ligne were with Massena as part of the IV Corps of the Army of Germany.

The following as being part of the Army of Italy could, perhaps, have been still wearing white – but this is speculation.

The 13e and 53e Ligne were part of the Army of Italy under Eugene

The quote is from Suchet unless my memory fails – "At last the medley is over…" – thought it was early 1810 and definitely in Spain.

I can't see any of the units in III or IV Corps being in white uniforms. They'd spent two years in depot garrisons since Tilsit. And Davout is far too organised not to have got 'em dressed right!

Besides given the weather in April 1809, they'd be in greatcoats for the Abensburg-Eckmuhl campaign and the army was completely resupplied before the Aspern-Wagram-Znaim campaign.

Army of Italy again unlikely – the units were depoted there and the entire Italian Army changed uniform from green to white in the same period.

Only in Spain are there old units that would struggle for resupply – what we don't know is how many of those listed above actually marched in wearing white. But you can't be called wrong if all/any of them are in white prior to 1810, thereafter it's dodgy.

I thought the 33 was in white till early 1810 but could just be old timers memory

link

Paul :)

Departmental companies continued to wear white uniforms to the end. I'm unclear on the extent to which these companies participated in Spain; they could certainly be "brigaded" into their larger legions and used to defend France 1813-14. Here's a link to a great article on the Napoleon Series:

link

As you can see, starting in 1808 they wore standard-looking white uniforms with facings that varied by department (but with common colors for each legion).

Hope this helps….

@dibble: nice link.

Some of the apparent confusion over the proposed conversion to white instead of blue uniforms for the infantry comes from the process and the actual experiment.

The first test of the proposed new uniform came in February 1805 when the 3d Battalions of the 4th Legere and the 18th Ligne were put into white.

In April the following year nineteen line regiments were designated to be put into white in 1807 for a larger experiment.

What happened is that some of the regiments didn't participate or put companies or battalions, and not the whole regiment into white.

If the experiment would have been successful, then the infantry would be in white by 1809. However, some regiments who were either not designated or ahead of schedule put their troops into white anyway. One regimental commander had his portrait painted in the new uniform even though his regiment wasn't on the designation list.

The experiment was cancelled in 1807.

However, the Garde de Paris was reuniformed in white in 1808; the 15th Ligne wore its white uniform faced black into Spain and kept it for some years afterward. The 66th Ligne wore its white uniform on Guadeloupe until finally overwhelmed defending the island in 1810. Part of the 124th Ligne was in white as late as 1811 until Napoleon found out and the troops were promptly reuniformed in dark blue.

It is an interesting experiment and process and is many times just confusing.

B

Thanks for the great information and discussion. I am assembling units for the Peninsular War and am focusing on the 1809 campaign season. I was hoping to include one French unit (perhaps the 15th) in the old white uniform to give myself a break in painting French uniforms.

Kyle