| Guthroth | 04 Feb 2017 9:13 a.m. PST |
Hi I believe that some French Carabineers wore Bearskins in the Penisular. Is there anywhere that has a list of these regiments ? Did any of the French allies have Light infantry in bearskins ? TIA |
| Dr Jeckyll | 04 Feb 2017 9:46 a.m. PST |
Not sure about the mounted carabiniers but,
Top of my head:
The legere carabiniers of the regiment du Isembourg did wear tall bearskins, but they were techincally just one of the regiments d'etranger and not allies in the sence you were asking.
I recall seeing Kingdom of Italy light infantry in tall bearskin (green uniforms with yellow lapels, red tassels and cords on their bearskins). It was in the Knoetel uniformenkunde index.
Also some of the Kingdom of Naples as well as Italian guard Chasseur Velites were in bearskin, but unsure if you would classify that as light infantry. |
| matthewgreen | 04 Feb 2017 9:58 a.m. PST |
British eye witnesses do make references to French soldiers in bearskins – though they do not distinguish between Leger and Ligne regiments. Definitive records are few and far between though. I think we can be pretty sure that many regiments brought them. A certain amount of artistic licence is allowed when trying to represent them in miniatures (or in artwork, come to that). I don't think the mounted Carabiniers were ever in Spain. |
| Altefritz | 04 Feb 2017 11:08 a.m. PST |
The Mounted Carabiniers never were in Spain. The Guard Horse Grenadier were instead at Fuentes de Onoro in the Brigade Lepìc. Marshal Bessieres however didn't authorized their commitment, despite the request of Massena. |
| Guthroth | 04 Feb 2017 11:58 a.m. PST |
My last post got lost but I did mean the Carabinier Infantry (Legere Grenadiers). Italians or Rgt De Isembourg might be just what I want. Thanks. |
| von Winterfeldt | 04 Feb 2017 12:14 p.m. PST |
9e légere did – according to a Lejeune painting |
| Supercilius Maximus | 04 Feb 2017 12:16 p.m. PST |
At one of the early battles (Vimiero?), the French had battalions of grenadier/carabinier companies who attacked wearing their bearskins and long linen coats over their waistcoats, having relinquished their habites. |
| Arteis02 | 04 Feb 2017 12:59 p.m. PST |
PETA wouldn't let them wear bearskins. |
| Brechtel198 | 05 Feb 2017 5:23 a.m. PST |
There were mounted carabiniers in the Peninsula initially. They were 'drafter' into three regiments of Provisional Regiments of Heavy Cavalry which were made up of the 5th squadrons of the cuirassier and carabineer regiments. Apparently the carabiniers weren't too happy about it. The 2d Provisional Regiment was mostly lost at Baylen. It's survivors and the 1st Regiment subsequently became the famous 13th Cuirassiers which served under Suchet in eastern Spain. Napoleon ordered that the 3d Provisional Regiment be disbanded in 1809-1810, but it was still in existence in 1811 at Toulouse and Avignon-900 men and 300 horses, and Napoleon's boot heel came down on the Ministry of War over that one. That would have been interesting to see. |
| Altefritz | 05 Feb 2017 6:12 a.m. PST |
Very interesting units to paint, indeed… |
| Murvihill | 06 Feb 2017 10:32 a.m. PST |
IIRC it was the 13th Cuirassier who had uniform jackets made in local red-brown cloth that, when illustrated years later morphed into red jackets, causing confusion for button counters to this day. |
| Garde de Paris | 06 Feb 2017 10:39 a.m. PST |
I focus on the Peninsular War in Spain, and have units from the Ist Corp & IInd Corp. In the Ist, 9th Leger – bearskins for csrabiniers; short-tailed coatee.
16th Leger – shakos; long-tailed coats
27th Leger – bearskins; long-tailed coats IInd 2nd Leger – bearskins; long tailed coats
4th Leger – unknown.
17th leger – Bearskins only late in the period. short tailed for 2 early versions, long-tailed for last. Grenadiers of the 2nd Nassau infantry wore the colpak (as did French light cavalry elite companies.) I believe the carabiniers of the Italian leger had the colpak as well. GdeP |
paints brigs for the British fleet.
