"c.1811 French shako ornaments (pompons/houpes)" Topic

I'd be grateful for advice on the subject of French Line infantry cap distinctions. Were these intended to be the the same for every regiment as in the Bourbon Royal army, with different coloured houpes denoting fusiliers, light companies (chasseurs, voltiguers etc), & grenadiers?

Or did each regiment have its own distinctions. depending on facings, history etc?

I am particularly interested in the 34e Ligne in Spain October 1811.

If any one can cast some light on the subject I'd be much obliged.

I have been directed to this handsome set of aquarelle prints but the reliablity of many images are in doubt, including most of the 34e .

PDF link

Of the more reliable images, one officer of the 34e is shown with a tricolour tuft and a drummer with a red one. Were red tufts at this date still reserved for grenadiers and drummers?

There was much variation in the uniforms of the line before 1812. The regulations of that year were created to impose more uniformity. In 1811, generally speaking the distictions on the shakos were as follows:

Grenadiers – (some regiments still wore the bearskin) red tufted pom-pom, red trim and cords to the shako and red epaulettes.

Fusiliers – round pom-pom in company colour 1 – dark green, 2 – sky blue, 3 – aurore, 4 – violet. Plain shako with white cords and plain epaulettes.

Voltigeurs – (there were many variations on green and yellow but for the 34th …) yellow pom-pom tufted yellow, yellow trim and cords to shako and red epaulettes with yellow fringes. Chamois collar piped red.

The drummer with the red plume, is a grenadier with red epaulettes.

This what I can glean from my sources. Hope that helps.

Interesting to see plate 51, looks like a British stovepipe.

Thanks Artilleryman. When you say "The drummer with the red plume, is a grenadier with red epaulettes," do you mean he drummers were all accoutred as grenadiers or that he was drummer with the grenadier company?

Each company had its own drummers identified in the same way as the rest of the company i.e. by plumes and cords. The drummer's uniform could be unique to the regiment but within the unit they would all have the same coats etc. Those with the grenadiers would have the red distinctions of plumes, cords and epaulettes. Those with the fusiliers would have the coloured pom-poms and white cords. Hornists with the voltigeurs usually wore the same dress as drummers with the voltigeur distinctions.

Not meant to highjack the thread but, what were the pom colors for pre1808 when there were 8 companies?

Hi Dave,

There was no official regulation prior to 1808 but you can find details of what was common practice in this previous thread where Sasha, who sadly no longer posts here, provided some useful information: TMP link

Interesting to see plate 51, looks like a British stovepipe.

Yes. If that actually is a British shako, presumably it was liberated from its original owner at some point, presumably a light infantry man, given the date, but were British 1806 shakos such desirable items that a Frenchman would choose to wear one instead of French headgear?

The figure depicts one of the 3000 French captured at Samoren on the 20th July, 1813.

Thanks for the link. Great tactical info as well.

All these may help

link

If you want to skip the rest, posts #3243, #3244, #3245, & #3263 have the relevant or related information.

Paul :)

Thanks for those, Paul. It all helps build up a picture, if still a little foggy.

It seems most likely that a red tuft indicated grenadiers who had set aside the bearskin, but not invariably so.