"Empress Dragoon trumpeter" Topic

I've googled and found images of Empress Dragoon trumpters in both powder blue coat with white vest and also white coat with blue vest. Which would be correct for the period 1812-15? My apologies if my terminology is incorrect. I'm still a bit of a neophyte.

White is parade dress, though in their early years blue was also used for the parade dress. Blue was also used for campaign dress.

Thank you very much. You went above and beyond my expectations.

Often seen that first picture above but never noticed that it claimed to show a Sapeur of the Empress dragoons…much doubt he existed, which is a shame!

@deadhead – indeed. Must dig into my various books etc to review the ghost like "sapeur"!

These are the only three I have seen before

All secondary sources though sadly.

Interesting note in the Osprey by Ronald Pawly & Patrice Courcelle for the bottom illustration provided by MarbotChasseur:
"This figure is taken from the only known illustration of a pioneer of the Dragoons of the Guard, the early and generally respected "Alsatian collection". Research by Lucien Rousselot failed to locate in the regimental accounts any mention of pioneer equipment, but we do not believe the absence of paperwork is definite proof that such items did not exist – the Guard was often a law unto itself in matters of uniform, and pioneers would seem to be a necessary component of the tete-de-colonne of a dragoon regiment……" The rest of the commentary is about the uniform.

I have not found anything in regimental composition that identifies pioneers – so do start to wonder if they could in fact be the farriers who are listed on the regimental strength or didn't exist? My inclination was to go with Rousselot, but to muddy the water, have just seen a reference to Bucquoy suggesting there were pioneers – will have dig the books out.

>>– the Guard was often a law unto itself in matters of uniform, and pioneers would seem…"

Wouldn't normally step on a subject I have no intention of researching (damn I have 18 figures tho!)- however in quasi-agreement- one person 'was a law unto HIMself' and he approved everything, or his fist hit the table fast.

La garde imperiale, an elite formation, had no need of further 'elitism'. Did the corps of chasseurs a pied need carabiniers- no; did the chevaux-leger/ lanciers need them-no?

Is it possible the fouriers and NCO's had an elaborate parade uniform for Paris, quite possibly. If Rousellot couldn't find the proof, I'd stick with that for now.
regards davew

and he does look wonderful in all three pictures now added. He should have existed, indeed the Grenadiers a Chev needed one too!

Bucquoy's image is the 2nd posted by MarbotChasseur – he gives no attribution as to where he derived it from so plenty of questions still.

Wonder what Boisselier's book on the Imperial Guard has?

One comment on the Empress trumpeter – the horsetail plume should of course be black. not white (though I prefer the white in Rousselot's illustrations).

I always thought that the blue/white uniform was specifically designed for Napoleon's wedding. The white, an acknowledgment of the Empress being Austrian. And the trumpeter wearing the inverse colors of white/blue with everyone else wearing blue/white.

@usaf

I am liking the idea of a Wedding Squadron of these characters! The sapeur/fourrier/whatever could cut the cake!

Ernest Fort has an illustration of the Dragoon Sapeur – he gives the attribution as Boeswilwald – who seems to have been link
It says "Boeswillwald produced a series of watercolor drawings of the soldiers of the First Empire in the years 1890-1891." so am beginning to suspect he is the person who started this sapeur thing.
The Fort illustration is at: link {Gallica is being a bit slow these days…}

>>I always thought that the blue/white uniform was specifically designed for Napoleon's wedding.

Errr nah- in 1806 he was still married.
While I spoke hastily (Bucquoy's image), perhaps the text in La Sabretache collection may give a clue (I haven't looked yet).
But yeah- first plate in the 'series' yet gets a nonchalant final paragraph in the text section. I feel he didn't have any passion for them either.
regards d

Confusingly- M. Pierre Begnini is quoted in correspondence in Le Passepoil 1948- in an 'announcement' denouncing the alleged popularity of white uniforms:-

"Quant aux trompettes des dragons de la Carde, le choix de l'habit blanc dut surtout être moti11é par le désir si fréquent alors dans les troupes, de se singulariser et de ne pas paraître imiter les grenadiers à cheval dont les trompettes portaient l'habit bleu de ciel."

Trans-
As for the trumpets of the Garde Dragons, the choice of the white dress must have been motivated above all by the desire so frequent then in the troops, to stand out and not appear to imitate the grenadiers à cheval whose trumpeters wore the skyblue dress.

regards davew