"French National Guard Uniforms - 1813" Topic

Ok so I know they were formed into line regiments that did not have elite companies just 6 fusilier companies. So any sources as to what uniform they actually wore in 1813? Probably the old style and not the new 1812 regulation one would be a reasonable assumption without sources. Still how about the shako pompoms? Were they all one color or did the 6 companies that comprised the battalion have different color schemes similar to the standard 4 fusilier, grenadier, and light companies of your typical French line battalion? Like to paint some up to go against my Prussians.

I don't know the actual uniform regulations for the National Guard but I think at this period they would have had a fairly motley appearance with very few being in the prescribed uniform. Elting in 'Swords Around a Throne' mentions a unit of Breton national guardsmen going into battle wearing round hats and wooden shoes.

Writing about the situation in 1814 Elting says: "Uniforming was haphazard: Many units wore the working man's blue blouse in place of uniform coats, and fatigue hats or berets instead of shakos." He also notes there was a shortage of weapons and some men brought their own shotguns.

So all in all it sounds like the National Guards made the 'Marie Louises' look well-equipped.

There was a previous discussion on the subject here on TMP which will give you some more information: TMP link

"I don't know the actual uniform regulations for the National Guard but I think at this period they would have had a fairly motley appearance with very few being in the prescribed uniform. Elting in 'Swords Around a Throne' mentions a unit of Breton national guardsmen going into battle wearing round hats and wooden shoes. "

I cannot agree on this – the cohorts from which new line regiments were formed in 1813 were fairly well equipped and uniformed, the tunics, a good question, my guess would be initially the old style coat.

Later on – in 1814 the story may be very different.

Steve Smith my hero – put up a usefull link on that topic on napoleon-series.org

"y:Steven H. Smith <Send E-Mail>
Date: 3/2/2015, 10:08 am

I had not seen this series of documents: Archives parlementaires, recueil complet des débats législatifs et politiques des Chambres françaises de 1800 à 1860, faisant suite à la réimpression de l'ancien "Moniteur" et comprenant un grand nombre de documents inédits. 2e série, 1800-1860. 1867 SER2, T11 (10 Août 1810 Au 30 Septembre 1813)

Of possible interest those relating to the garde national formation in 1812 – the whole set of regulations are at link

Lotsa other stuff to look at therein. There are name and subject indices at the back. "