"French infantry headgear of the French Revolutionary Wars" Topic

Hello

I am looking to buy a pile of Battle Honors figures while Old Glory 15s has its current sale. I am trying to figure out which French infantry to get – those in bicornes or those in tarletons. From what I can figure, the tarleton was headgear of the pre-revolutionary army, but would have carried over into at least the early Revolutionary Wars. So, I'm guessing a mixture of bicornes and tarletons for an early army (with the tarletons on the guys in the white coats).

Is that correct? Or should there be a mixture of both throughout the period?

Any help appreciated, as I have very limited time for research at the moment (moving my mum to a retirement village and cleaning out the house takes priority).

Thank you

I am by no means a scholar on the era, but I would get Bicornes. They can be used up until 1807 if need be.

Thank you. That is a good point, although I would still like to have some figures in tarletons.

Especially in the start of the French Revolution at least the regulars had the helmet – then also volunteer units with hat (no bicorne but a tricorne, the front brim had a pointed tip – it was not flat) and bearskin caps came in. The helment gradually was wearing out and discarded – but there were units which wore it almost to the end of the 19th century.
So a mix of head gear is perfectly acceptable.

I remember a printing of Bonaparte riding before his army.. sort of a review of the troops. In that printing the different headgear worn by the infantry showed bicorne, I think even a "tricorne" or similar and several infantrymen with the tarleton headgear.
For my 1790-1793 infantry, I painted the 2nd battalion … the old "ancient regime" regulars with the tarletons… mostly white coats but a few blue or ex civilian coats mix, then the two other battalions with the blue "national guard" look.

Thank you. That is helpful.

Remeber in the first amalgamation of 1794 the companies were mixed, so you would find about 3 white companies to 6 blue companies in each battalion of a demi brigade – also you cound incorporate old foreign regiments in red or dark light blue coats.

Yes there is a nice painting by Detaille or Meissonier, Bonaparte passing cheering troops, in all kind of dress – the file closing NCO pushing soldiers into alignement, cannot find it, but this might be also interesting – again Detaille

also a good impression of 1795

by the way also Sho Boki is doing a very nice range

boki.ee

but here part of the contemporary print

Thank you agan.

I think this gives a good impression of the look you should be going for:

YouTube link

I thought the Amalgamation resulted in Demi-brigades of 1 battalion of Regulars and 2 battalions of volunteers, I don't think they were mixed by companies in battalions.

JB

That was the 'embrigadement' that preceded the 'amalgame'. This is a common misconception. Also OOB suggests that the 2:1 ratio of the 'embrigadement' was not completely achieved throughout.

My plans for my DBN Revolutionary French army are to have three regular army elements – one in bicorn with the blue uniform, one in helmet in the blue uniform and one in helmet with their old white uniform. The volunteer elements will be created with a real hodge-podge of dress and head gear all mixed together. This will also make it easier to identify the regulars form the volunteers in the game and reflects the French army at the time.

Terry

JB

That was the 'embrigadement' that preceded the 'amalgame'. This is a common misconception. Also OOB suggests that the 2:1 ratio of the 'embrigadement' was not completely achieved throughout.

There you go Pete – you always wanted to be an expert and now you is one ;-) :-)

Something else to thank Ned Z for ;-)

(I have an e-mail from you to reply to – will try to get to it this week)

Yes companies were mixed, this I pasted and copied when napoleon series org had still first class contributors

"Dear all,
As promised I tried to go yesterday across the information asked by Hans Karl on the amalgamation.
To this I did searches in the archives ( mainly the gazette and laws of the National Assemblee)
Of course my information are what said the law , knowing that there is a great difference between the theory and the practice, but heureusement my information are not in contradiction with that given by Hans Karl, Bruno and Tony
Decree of 21 February 1793
INFANTRY OF LINE
The Assemblee Nationale decided in 1793 a new organization of the army creating the ½ brigades.
The idea of the legislator was to eliminate the differentiation between units and to amalgamate ( the legislator uses the word to incorporate) a former regiment of line ( called by the legislator ci-devant regiments de ligne) with 2 national volunteer battalions (Bataillons de volontaires nationaux) in order to form the ½ brigades. (It is in agreement with the message of Bruno )
The uniform is the same for each 1/2 brigade ( the national colors) and the difference between each unit is a N° on buttons of the uniform and the flag .
The first ½ brigade was done by the 1° battalion of 1° former regiment of infantry more 2 national volunteer battalions. The law said ' par les bataillons de volontaires les plus à la portée et, autant que faire ce pourra, du même département –By the battalions of volunteers most easy to reach and, as much as it is possible, from the same department '.
The second ½ brigade was composed by the 2° battalion of 1° regiment of infantry plus 2 national volunteer battalions. The third ½ brigade was composed by the 1° battalion of 2° regiment of infantry + 2 battalions of volunteers,
The fourth ½ brigade by the 2° battalion of 2° regiment + 2 battalions of volunteers etc.….
Thus this way 196 battalions of line with 392 battalions of volunteers had to form 196 ½ infantry brigades.
It was told that these ½ brigades, during the peace, would have the name of departments to which they were the most attached.
( This agree with the informations of Bruno on the creation of the ½ brigades and 1° of 44° of line forming the 87 th. demi brigade as well as Tony telling that the 2e Battalion 59e Regiment d'Infanterie formed the 118e demi-brigade.
Once again, It was what said the law and not what exactly happened)
In a first draf the composition of the ½ brigade was the following :
Etat Major : 1 chief of brigade, 3 chiefs of battalions, 2 quartier maitre trésorier, 3 adjudants major, 3 surgeons major, 3 adjudants sous officiers, 1 major drum , 1 drum corporal, 3 musicians ( included 1 chief), 3 Maitres tailleurs, 3 Maitres cordonniers.
Each battalion was composed of 9 companies been 1 of grenadier and 8 of fusiliers.
Each company of grenadier was composed by: 1 captain, 1 lieutenant, 1 sous-lieutenant, 1 sergeant Major, 2 sergeants, 1 corporal fourrier, 4 corporals, 4 appointés, 48 grenadiers, 2 drums : Total 3 officers and 62 grenadiers.
Each company of fusillers had : 1 captain, 1 lieutenant, 1 sous-lieutenant, 1 Major sergeant, 3 sergeants, 1 corporal fourrier, 6 corporals, 6 appointés, 67 fusillers, 2 drums : Total 3 officers and 89 fusillers.
Each ½ brigade had 6 canon of 4 (as said Tony) with all the necessary equipment.
It was therefore created 1 company of voluntary gunners by each ½ brigade composed as a companies of grenadiers, but with 64 gunners ( not included officers and sous-officers)
This manner one hoped to form each semi brigade with 2437 man ( officers and sous-officers included ) + 6 canons of 4. With 196 ½ brigades it was expected 477 622 men with 1176 canons of campaign.
We will see later some modifications made during the year 1793.
CAVALRY AND DRAGON
29 regiments of cavalry ( included these formed by the military school) and 18 regiments of dragons formed 4 squadrons by regiment, 100 men by company ( 10 on foot). The squadrons have been fixed provisionally to 170 Men.
LIGHT CAVALRY
12 regiments of chasseurs à cheval and 8 regiments of Hussards will form from 4 to 6 squadrons of the same way that the cavalry of line.
LIGHT INFANTRY
14 light infantry battalions have received the same instructions that the infantry of line. The minister of the war had to form in battalion frank corps on foot (corps francs à pied) and troops of legion infantry ( Troupes d'infanterie des légions) and to incorporate 2 of these battalions with 1 battalion of chasseurs, by order of N°.
These 3 battalions had to form one ½ brigade of light infantry .
Finally the law asked the levying of 300 000 men (conscripts).
On August 12 1793 ( Law N° 1466), the Assemblee did some modifications and gave more precisions :
How to obtain the N° of the ½ brigade with the former N° of the regiment of line ?
When I tell 1B1R=1, I tell : 1° battalion of 1° regiment + 2 battalions of volunteers forms the 1° ½ brigade
When I tell 2B1R=2, I tell : 2° battalion of 1° regiment + 2 battalions of volunteers forms the 2° ½ brigade
When I tell 1B2R=3, I tell : 1° battalion of 2° regiment + 2 battalions of volunteers forms the 3° ½ brigade
Etc..
Thus you create 1B1R = 1 until 2B62R=124
Then 1B67R=125 until 2B68R=128
Then 1B70R=129 until 2B75R=140
Then 1B77R=141 until 2B84R=156
Then 1B87R=157 until 2B94R=172
Then 1B96R=173 and 2B96R=174
Then 1B98R=175 until 2B99R=178
Then 1B102R=179 until 2B111R=198
Now it is time for modifications.
The Etat Major and the formationof the company given on February 21 1793 was modified as to follow :
Etat Major : 1 chief of brigade, 3 chiefs of battalions, 1 quartier maitre trésorier, 1 adjudant major, 1 surgeon major and 2 aides, 3 adjudants sous-officers, 1 major drum, 8 musicians ( included 1 chief), 1 chef tailleur (Chief Taylor ?), 1 chief cordonnier, 3 chiefs armuriers= 25
Each company of grenadier was formed with : 1 captain, 1 lieutenant, 1 sous-lieutenant = 3
1 Sergent Major, 2 sergeants, 1 corporal fourrier, 4 corporals, 4 appointes, 48 grenadiers, 2 drums = 62
Battalions and companies are designated by N° : The battalion will have 1 to 3, the company N° 1 to 8. The flag will be carried by the most ancient sergeant Major of each battalion (as said Tony).
1° company of grenadiers will be linked to 1° battalion, 2° company of grenadiers will be linked to 2° battalion, 3° company of grenadiers will be linked to 3° battalion.
Among 24 companies of fusillers, captains commandants will be in battles as follows :
BATTALION
1°
Captain Fusiller
1° company of grenadiers
Fusillers N° 1,13,4,16,7,19,10, 22 (Note Hans Karl, the distribuition is a little bit different then you had )
2°
Captain Fusiller
2° company of grenadiers
Fusiller N° 2,14,5,17,8,20,11,23
3°
Captain Fusiller
3° company of grenadiers
Fusiller N° 3,15,6,18,9,21,12,24
I am going to send to Bob the formation of the companies ( of grenadiers and fusillers, with the cohorts ) as well as the complete formation of a ½ brigade in MS-Excel format.
Sorry, but I could not go deeper in the information because I also was checking the News Paper during the ‘before' Marengo.
Amicalement Dominique

Thanks vW….. Good information, especially how the 2nd "ancient regime" btns. were placed into the new demi-brigades.

Michael aka WR

VW

I second that. I also found information on a website 'drapeaux.org' that gives similar information by listing the Demi-brigade composition supporting the relevant flag illustration

Thank you all

These 140 images of Pichegru's Armée du Nord in made by Christian Hauk in 1795 (not 1794 as described), should give you plenty of variety to choose from.

French Revolution Digital Archive
A collaboration of the Stanford University Libraries and the Bibliothèque nationale de France

link

a fantastic source, showing winter and summer dress.
In the bad old days it has cost me a lot of money to get photos from the BN of the picture manuscript – now for free – what a kind offer.

this is also known in some references as the album de Mellinet.

Who was Mellinet- do we know?

Wow! What an excellent reference those plates are. Might have to move my Revolutionary French up a bit in he painting queue.

Terry

Mellinet was a French general – a collector

that's what I found out in the very past

"A l'exposition universelle de 1889, Arts militaires, plusieurs de ces aquarelles ont été prêtées par le général Mellinet, Infanterie, p. 150 du catalogue (…)
Avant 1885, le général Vanson, en séjour à Nantes, avait calqué les dessins de l'album M. Mme la générale Vanson a bien voulu me confier les précieux calques du général, et je les ais copiés pour que les amateurs puissent avoir idée de l'ensemble de la collection. Deux dessins, paraît-il, sont restés dans la famille Mellinet.
(…)
Il y aurait d'apres une note du général Vanson, 55 Français, 15 Hollandais.
Raffet (fils)
"

Interesting. These things don't just drop ou of the sky. Thank you

in case one is reading the text carefully – two immges rested with the Melinet family – so the complete set was 72 !!

Those calques – copies made on transparten paper are in the BN as well, but the originals of course are the optimal choice