Hi John,
Interesting questions and suprisingly there is an answer.
>>I don't know whether they have a standard uniform or not.<<
There a 'several' standards- and your very query on the 56e confuses these as well. Various years/ campaigns/ dress regulation changed/ are all complexities that your broad approach can't pinpoint.
Likewise there is zero information about two regiments at Austerlitz that I am recreating; both the 43e and 55e of Legrands 3rd Brigade that fought under Soult.
>>Does anyone know what they looked like in 1809?<<
See below.
>>Is there a good resource (especially online) for this sort of thing as they won't be the last regiment I need information on?<<
No. There is no magical 'bible' anywhere, not a single book, volume or on line.
>>I've found the 93eme which is my other current project, but for 1813. I'm hoping they wouldn't have changed much – basically a standard uniform with five tricoleur chevrons on each sleeve.<<
The uniforms prior to 1813 was mostly new issues of 1808 style uniforms. With Bardin, and the loss of manpower and equipment, the 1813 issues were entirely different- unless a regimental store, or stores had a large volume of pre-manufacture older style uniforms.
>>basically a standard uniform with five tricoleur chevrons on each sleeve.<<
Depends where the 93e were stationed/ garrisoned; what new recruits were needed to fill up the regiment and existing stores available.
Not every regiments drummers wore chevrons on basic habits. If 'coloured' habits weren't available, it's possible the green habits of Bardin design were issued.
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I've been building my own database of information and collected what I can for my own interests; even the Rousselot and Bucquoys of this old world (both of which I own) didn't find all the information they wanted.
The only illustration I have:-
12e-56e-96e Album Paul Schmid 41 by
DaveW, on Flickr.
Note the 56e drummer is identical to another plate that gives the 65e; his shade of orange is deeper while this more approaches 'aurore'.
As you're doing the 93e later. you could 'adopt' the colouration of the 96e shown coincidentally. Although Bucquoy makes the statement that ONLY TWO infantry regiments used the crimson facings for tete-du-colonne troops- the 18e and here the 96th.
Hope this helps somewhat,
regards dave