"French Cuirassier uniforms" Topic

I'm planning on painting up some 28mm French Cuirassiers in the not too distant future. I've been able to find a fair amount of info on their uniforms, via my own books and also online research. However, I'm a little puzzled by what colour trousers they wore. Some say grey, some say light brown, some say buff and many images shown them as white? To add to my confusion, I imagine they may differ, depending on the year or if they are wearing overalls? Sadly, in my own book collection, I'm missing the histoire & collections book No 15, which I think covers the Cuirassiers in detail. It also seems to now be out of print and generally unavailable. And I've certainly tried everywhere to get a copy! Any advice will be much appreciated.

Any particular Regiment in mind?

My best source is in French so I don't want to translate a full chapter on Cuirassiers.

Hi Jim. I actually painted a Cuirassiers regiment as part of my 6mm armies but I no longer have them, since moving up to 28mm and I just can't remember what colour I painted their breeches. I think it was grey. I'm being far more particular with the larger scale miniatures, especially since thy have so much detail on them. As for which regiment, for some reason I find myself in an 1808 Peninsular mode and have been looking at the 13th Regiment. They are often depicted with brown jackets and breeches but that I believe, was not the original colour when they were first sent to Spain. If you have any information on this or a general idea of what colour they may have been in general, that will be much appreciated. I just wish I was in an 1805 or 1815 mode!

The 13th Cuirassier Regiment was formed in 1808 from a Provisional Regiment of Heavy Cavalry. This consisted of men from the 1st & 2nd Regiments of Carabiniers, and 1st, 2nd & 3rd Regiments of Cuirassiers. So for the initial deployment into Spain they would have had a mix of uniforms reflecting their parent regiments.

The Heavies had doe skin breeches, which are a light tan color. Coveralls of heavy cloth with an outside buttoned seam varied in colors from grays to browns were worn on campaign. It is possible white cotton was used if available in hot climates, but unlikely. Hope this helps. Paint them how you want, and challenge any critic to prove you wrong.

I'm off to sunny Canary Isles so can't check today.

Last time I did Cuirassiers I used a light buff for the rankers and white for officer, guidon bearer and trumpeter.

All the suggestions above are quite credible.

Book in French on the 13th Cuirassiers
"Cuirassiers de Napoléon en Espagne – Historique du 13e régiment de cuirassiers" by Olivier Lapray (508 pages) Euros 29.90 at link

From another French site though no sources given:

"UNIFORMES DU 13E CUIRASSIERS
Au début de sa formation notre régiment est bien entendu bigarré puisque s' y mèlent tenues de cuirassiers de différents régiments ( mais essentiellement avec la couleur distinctive écarlate) et de carabiniers Les carabiniers voulaient garder leur bonnet d' ourson et former une sorte de compagnie d' élite.
Au début habits à revers de diverses couleurs distinctives.
En 1809 le régiment achête 400 pantalons de drap et se fait faire des surtouts, et n' a reçu ni culottes de peau , ni pantalons.

Ces pantalons sont vraissemblablement en drap brun mais rentrent dans les bottes ( et ne sont pas "à la mameluck" comme on les représente souvent).

En 1811, devant Valence le capitaine Gonneville précise, j' étais sans cuirasse et en selle anglaise.

C'est en 1812 que le 13e Cuir se fit confectionner des habits surtout du modèle 1810 réglementaire.

En Juillet 1812 reçoit des effets par un convoi Pau , Oloron , Saragosse escorté par des hommes du régiment : gilets, vestes , pantalons d' écuries, culottes de peau, bottes ,épaulettes , gants, galons….Il s' équipe donc à l' ordonnance.

Habit surtout sans revers à 10 gros boutons sur le devant, avec collet lie de vin passepoilé de bleu, parements et leur pattes lie de vin sans passepoil, retroussis lie de vin

Habit réglementaire en 1812

En 1813, le régiment fait mettre tous les casques au même numéro
Le Trompette et son habit de fond lie de vin à revers bleus
donné par Marckolsheim, Rousselot et Benigni; Cependant ceci est une reconstitution vraisemblable.

Dans un tableau on voit un trompette en surtout lie de vin avec des galons blancs sur le devant."

From Paul Dawson's recent book "Napoleon's Heavy Cavalry" for the 13th Cuirassiers – "A report dated 17 September 1821 tells us that in 1809, 400 pairs of pantalons were purchased made in grey broadcloth with black leather reinforcement".

Prince of Essling – that book would be perfect, if there was an issue in English. But I don't want to be tied down having to translate every word, good as the book may be. 508 pages, as well. Very impressive. I've sent them a message to see if they have any plans to publish an English language version. (fingers crossed)

Great info from everyone. Much appreciated. I might go for as near to buff as any of the available Humbrol enamel paints are. But I also like the idea of the officers having white breeches. However, I guess I will do more research before finally making a decision. Thanks again everyone.

Prince of Essling – Those who know me are aware that I am one of the worse when it comes to modern technology (I don't own a smart phone either) so I was not aware of what our computer can or can't do. Today, I thought I would write out the French extract you posted by hand and then translate it. Then I thought I'd brave up and have a go at copying the post, paste it somewhere else and then translate it. But when I pressed 'something' a box appeared asking if I wanted to translate it to English. I thought no, surely not – but gave it a go and your post in French translated to English in the TMP Discussion board! The wonder of technology, eh! And all the links in French that I've missed in the past does not bear thinking about! Anyway, after reading it, in English, I might just consider going with brown for the breeches, after all, if I'm staying in an 1808-1809 mode. And if I regret doing it I can always paint over them. Thanks again for your post. Much appreciated.

Gazzola,

Welcome to the 21st Century!

As they say, you are never to old to learning something new – sometimes it can be most revealing and rewarding! Please note that some of the auto-translations can be rather amusing or plain stupid, so you may need to resort to an online foreign language dictionary to work out the proper meaning.

Further on the 13th the remains of the 2nd Provisional Cuirassier Regiment (comprising elements of the 2nd, 3rd, 9th, 10th, 11th & 12th Regiments) was folded into the 13th so you could have a multi-coloured batch of cuirassiers & carabiniers before the regiment was fully equipped as the 13th.

I suspect the information in French above was taken from:

Historique du 13e Regiment de Cuirassiers 1807-1814-1891 by L. Yvert, Chartres 1895. but I am unable to find a copy on line to review.

All the best

Ian

Here are the Rosselot plates. I could post the French text if you need them?

Paul

And here's the Conrad ones.

Paul

Ian – Yes, one is never too old to learn something new. Saying that, I think I will still remain a confirmed Luddite! LOL

Dibble – thanks for adding to my headache! But great images and much appreciated. They all seem to tie in with what I've been able to find out, so far and with the info members have offered. I noticed that the only image showing brown breeches was image No 16 depicting the 10th Regiment, which looks okay but I might actually go with buff instead of brown. Decisions, decisions! LOL

Gonneville wrote some nice memoires, available in English as well, who served in 13e cuirassieres

Souvenirs militaires du Colonel de Gonneville
by Aymar-Olivier Le Harivel de Gonneville , Marie de Gonneville Mirabeau, Joachim Marie Jean Jacques Alexandre Jules Ambert, Joachim Ambert
Publication date 1875
PDF link
link

Recollections of Colonel de Gonneville (English version)
Aymar Oliver le Harivel de Gonneville,
Publication date 1875
Volume 1 link
Volume 2 link

Images re 13th Cuirassiers from Officers and Soldiers of the French Cuirassiers 1801-1815 at link

VW & Prince of Essling – Thanks for the info – Just checked my bookshelves and I am surprised (but pleased) to say I actually have a copy – Gonneville of the Cuirassiers, Countess De Mirabeali (Eyewitness to War Series, Leonaur books) I will be reading that right now! Thanks again everyone.