"Prince Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar" Topic

All

Quick question we were debating earlier on today in our War-games Group. In 1815, would Prince Bernhard have worn the Green Uniform of Nassau Line Infantry as he was their brigade commander, or would he have worn blue as per the Orange-Nassau regiment as he was their colonel? My understanding is he was only made Brigade Commander as the original/appointed Commander was unavailable?

Thanks in advance

J

Not sure, but Erwin Muilwijk's "Quatre Bras, Perponcher's Gamble" has a color reproduction of a painting by Jan Hoynck van Papendrecht showing Colonel von Sachsen-Weimar addressing his officers before the battle. They are all wearing green coats in this illustration.

Edit: I found an image of this painting on-line here: link

Looks rather blue here, but in the book it looks more like green to me.

My take was he was a colonel and the regiment he commanded prior to a field reassignment/promotion was in green, so he was in green.
His promotion was essentially a battle field promotion/reassignment?
This would be the question that needs more info on…is the fact he was promoted much in advance of the campaign he would acquired blue dress, to separate himself from a regimental command even though still a colonel?
Hopefully some one has come across that evidence.
My version of him is in green.

MG

The Prince was commander of one of the battalions of the Orange Nassau Regiment and thus in a blue uniform it being part of the Army of the Netherlands numbered 28th of the line. By dint of the injuring of both the brigade commander and his regimental commander in the days before the 100 Days he found himself in charge of the 2nd Brigade of the 2nd Infantry Division. Thus he would have been in the blue of the Orange-Nassau Regiment. In the famous print of Quatre Bras he is the officer on the right in the cocked hat and in all the versions I have seen he has been in a blue uniform.

Well, remember that

1. He was a prince, which gave him some leeway in what he could or would wear.
2. On campaign, he might go the way of Wellington and Picton and wear a day coat.
3. IF, regardless of his actual command, he held the rank of a general officer, he might or might not wear the uniform of his original regimental command.
4. Uniform requirements were far less restrictive for officers during the Napoleonic wars because they provided their own. There were particular requirements according to rank, but no government issue.
5. Paintings often put men in uniforms to heighten the drama that were not worn on campaign. e.g. David's painting of Napoleon crossing the Alps on a rearing white charger.
6. Like a number of British officers, he might have been at the Richmond Ball in a dress uniform when the news came about Napoleon's stolen march… and could have fought in a dress uniform or ball dress…

Sooo, lots of options.

IF, regardless of his actual command, he held the rank of a general officer

In most armies of the period, brigadier was an office, not a rank. I'm not sure where the new Kingdom of the Netherlands stood on this.

Yes, brigadier was an office, not a rank. Looking up his rank, the Prince was 23 at the time of Waterloo with the rank of Colonel. [He had already fought with the Prussians in 1806 and the Saxons in 1809 and 1813.]

He only took over the 2nd Netherlands brigade, 2nd Division when the brigade commander was injured days before Waterloo. He was the colonel of the Orange Nassau regiment.

So, of the 6 possibilities I listed, #3 doesn't apply.

And we know he was not at the Duchess of Richmond's Ball as he was at Quatre Bras that evening helping to save the day.

Also, the habit of wearing civilian dress was a peculiarly British one and very rare on the continent.

As has been alluded to, Saxe-Weimar had only just taken command of his battalion within the Orange-Nassau and the timetable of gaining brigade command was so short that he would not have had time to change uniforms, not to mention the fact he was never more than a colonel during the campaign.

Still plumping for a blue Orange-Nassau uniform.

No doubt: blue regimental Orange-Nassau uniform.

Thanks guys

See an interesting question to which none of us in my war-games group knew the answer!

J

Also, the habit of wearing civilian dress was a peculiarly British one and very rare on the continent.

Artilleryman:

What led you to believe that? There are prints and paintings showing Russian and Prussian general officers 'out of uniform.'

McLaddie, I must admit my statement was based upon not coming across any such illustrations before. Where I have found civilian dress it seemed to be a peculiar cloak or hat (like Bagration) but worn over uniform. I have never seen a continental officer wearing a complete suit of civilian clothes unless he was an irregular or militiaman. Wellington was notorious for his civilian dress. Take off the sword and replace the cocked hat and he dressed as though he was about to go hunting in the Shires. He was known as 'The Beau' for a reason and he set the style for his juniors.

Having said all that, I am continually being enlightened on historical matters (that's why I love history) so I may be wrong about our continental brethren after all.