"Towarczys trouser color?" Topic

Trying to figure out proper trouser color for Prussian Towarczys. Osprey says the trousers are gray, but then has illustrations with white trousers (this may be an officer thing that I'm missing?), but I've also seen illustrations with blue trousers. My first instinct would be to wonder if this has something to do with the Battalion uniforms vs the Regiment uniforms, but Elting in describing those differences doesn't mention trousers, and the illustrations I've found with different trouser colors all claim to be describing the regiment.

According to Digby-Smith "The Prussian Army to 1815" the regiment had yellow buttons and the battalion had white buttons.

The Bosniaken predecessor in 1787 had white leather breeches. Digby-Smith doesn't say what colour the trousers/breeches were on the formation of the Towarczycs in 1799.

In 1806 both had dark blue breeches with double red stripes.

Thanks Prince! That's very helpful, I was hoping the blue breeches would be correct for 1806/7 since I think those look the best anyway.

for parade it should be white trousers – see also a print by Doepler in the ASK collection.

The light or ash gray trousers, tucked into the boots, are depicted in a contemporary drawing of the so called

"Elsässer Bilderhandschrft" and are know to exist due to a written comment of the Prussian King.

So they could well be worn on campaign as well as the above mentioned picture manuscript shows.

On campaign dark blue overalls with a red band at the side should be worn, the double stripes should have been introduced by are order of the King of June 1807 (it is dubious if that was still realized while on campaign).

Those overalls wee worn over the boots.

Impressive answers by generous and knowledgeable persons. This is what makes TMP so great. Well done!

Thanks for the specifics von Winterfeldt!

Although 'trousers' is a bit of a misleading word to use.

Materials changed with seasons, as did colouration worn.

Breeches were tight fitting, formal and parade wear; while 'overalls' were a looser, nearly always darker material with various reinforcing, side seam/ stripes/ button decorations etc. and later false 'boots' cladding, worn over other legwear for route march and campaigning.
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