"French Hussar Uniforms (1859 v. 1870)?" Topic

What color coat (dolman) was worn by the 1st and 8th Hussars in the 1859 Franco-Austrian War? The only information I have states that they were issued the new light blue jacket and red/blue kepi in 1870, but doesn't specify what they had before this time.

I understand that the other six French Hussar regiments retained their original uniforms that included brown (2nd), grey (3rd and 4th), dark blue (5th), and light green (6th and 7th) dolmans. I'm assuming that this is consistent with what was worn in 1859, but of course, could be mistaken on that point as well.

Thanks,
Don

Hi Don.
I have the info at home, I'll check this for you tonight (Paris Time).
Regards.
François.

The Lienhart-Humbert plates show them:
link

Very nice, thanks for all of the help. Meric, mon ami, Francois.

Lienhart-Humbert plate based the uniforms according to regulations of DECEMBER 1859, after the Italian campaign

so remember that

-this regulation saw the generalisation of the TALPACK, in 1859 Hussars had SHAKOS, only the 6th and 8th Regt received the talpack before 1859

-also generalized the red pants for all the regiments instead of the LIGHT BLUE PANTS (2nd 4th 8th Regt) or red (others)

-suppressed a major and typical element of the hussar uniform : the PELISSE! (same color as the dolman except for the 8th who had a white pelisse)

-the "gris argentin" of the 3rd Regt is more a light blue than the grey shown by Lienhart-Humbert plate

-the 4th Hussars only French regiment in red with the Spahis changed their red dolman in 1860 for this "gris argentin" worn by the 3rd Regt

for the campaign in Italy it seems that the 5 Hussars Regiments (2nd 5th 6th 7th 8th) were ordered to wear shakos (or talpacks for 6th & 8th) jackets (instead of dolmans) and their pelisses

8th Hussars 1855-1859

Regards
Loïc

Loic, thanks for that correction. That explains why this image of the 8th hussars depicts a shako in 1859:

Does anybody do these figures in 15mm??

this plate shows the 8th before 1855, the 8th Hussars didn't have the shako in 1859 as it was one of the two hussars regiments, 6th and 8th, who received the talpack in 1853 and 1855