Napoleon's Guard Infantry

NAPOLEON'S GUA D INFANTRY 1

PI-BLIP l-L\\THOR:\'THW:\lTE BRL\:\' FOSTE:\'

EDITOR: MARTIN WINDROW

1~.'IM.'d';I1~'l:JltJlK..1531

NAPOLEON'S GUARD INFANTRY 1 Text by PHILIP HAYTHORNTHWAITE Colour plates by BRYAN FOSTEN

I'ublished in 19B.. by Ospr~y Publishing Ltd .'>g Gros\'~nor Stre~t, London W I X gOA r Copyright 1 gS.. Ospr~y Publishing Ltd Reprinted [gS6, Ig87, [g88 (twice), [990, 1991, [gg2

.\ll rights reserved. Apart from any fair dealing for the

purpose of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted uncler the Copyright Designs and Patents Act, tg88, no part of this publication may be reproduced) stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by :lIlY means, electronic, electrical, chemical, mechanical, optical, photocopying, recording orothenvise, without the prior permission of the copyriglll owner. Enquiries should be addressed to the Publishers.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Dolo Haythornthwaite, Philip J. Napoleon's guard infantry.-{l\len-at-arms series; 153} I. Franc~. Armlt. Garde Imperial History 2. Inf:lntry-Equipment-HislOry I. Title II. Series 356'.186'0944

U0375·F7

Filll1~l·t in Great Britn. probably represent the last truc link in a chain of bodyguards spanning the ages. Though times and weaponry changed, the essence of the bodyguard remained unaltered. The anonymous Imperial Guardsman who remarked, in the most desperate days of the retreat from Moscow, '\Ve're cooked, but Ville I'EmlJlrrur/ all the same' was merely echoing, did he but kno\v it, old Byrhtwold at Maldon 821 years earlier: 'Courage shall be finneI', heart alltbe keener, spirit the greater, as our might grows less. ' As noted below, it is impossible to categorise ~apolcon's Guard simply into the 'Old Guard', 'Middle' or 'Young Guard'. For the sake of convenience, the present title covers the Grenadiers and Chasse/iTS it Pied of tile Imperial Guard and their Vi/ites; other corps of Guard infantry, and the amen (A'lan'ns), will appear in the forthcoming companion title, Napoleon's Guard Infantry (2). The Royal Bodyguard of France, dat.ing in direct line to 1261 and indirectly perhaps two centuries

earlier, was finally extinguished with the massacre of the Swiss Guard at the Tuileries on 10 August 1792. (The republican 'roral guard', the Garde

I'1I''''

U...u"..'1 pororal1 orJoachim M .. th", ....iIorm or. !:"'D"'n..l commandi..! tlt.'" C01:ur..l.r Cua~ppar",..tly•• tnUr...", or HOrN and Fon. C",nadi",r ...d s...«rea'''noa. Cont",mponory "'..!rari...!l.rter80...."'rill"'.

Constitutionnelle du Roi, of 1,200 infantry and 600 cavalry, existed only from 30 September 1791 [Q 30 May '192.) The new republican authorities still required a bodyguard corps, however, and init.ially

filled the need by using the oJd Gardes de la Prevote. This corps of the king's\1aison du Roi, dat.ing from 1271, defected at the Revolut.ion and was re-titled the 'Garde de J'Assemblee Nationale'. Described by the incongruous term 'GrmadimGmdannd, this small unit was re-organised again and re-titled: from 1793 the 'Garde de la Convention', it became from the end of October 1795 the ·Garde du Corps legislatir. But the initial intention to form an elite corps of experienced \·cterans was thwarted by thc rcpublican ideals thcn in vogue, resulting in the degradation of disciplinc. One officer reponed thaI Ihe Guards 'cannOI resiSl lhe temp!:llions ora corrupt cily like Paris ... it is impossible to keep them in barracks ... they abuse and maltreat the citizens ... some have jobs in Paris and only sho\", up for meals On 4 October 1796 a new 'Garde du Directoire' was formed as a personal escort for the Directors, to circumvent the usc of lhe imperfect 'Garde du Corps'. Whereas thc latter comprised some 1,200 men, whose grroadias ranked as corporals in the Line, the ncw Guard of the Dircctory was small (120 grroaditrs in two companies, and 120 horse grmadias) but select. These hand-picked mcn werc all litcrate, at least 5ft lOins tall, with perfect records, and service in at lcast two campaigns; they had a 25-piece band furnished by the Conscrvatoire and led by its first clarinet, Guiardcl. From this small beginning was born the I mperial Guard. It is interesting to note that many of its original members, republican government notwithstanding, wcre cx-members of the Royal army: Adjutant Fuzy, for examplc, had actually held a commission in lhe old Gardes Franc;aises of Louis XVI. Shortly after lhe coup d'tliit of 19 Brumaire (10 November 1799), by which the Dircctory was replaccd by the Consulate, making Napoleon (A) Officer'. up pl.te of the Grenadiers of Ihe Consular GUllrd,.1I gill_n .l1ernuiv", ve....ioo 10 1h.1 5hown in Pilile A. (B).nd (e) ue "'lIrly pall",rn Consul.r G rd CCNlI ... willi. Ihe fuller 5J..irt... loo_ly.f."teoecl t ......b.c aod len .cutely llngled laJM'l.. (B) Ckancunl' palle wilh cha cleriJII;C poirlled cuff....d pointed 1aJM'1 end_pa.. lelle o illed 11.",", I.. show Ihe JM'rm. ently .n.checl IransverM .-Inlp orb,,",. (e) Gn....mer office ' pau",rD, wilh sq... re-c:u.1 laJM'llI ...d cuff ftap5, rbe feal........ which doa.... cleriHd Gnn.dier coals rhro..ghout rbe JM'riod. Sorb ..-Ill • ...., dark blu.. willi. While laJM'ts; Kllrlet t ......backs, lininS; ...d pocket piping; Kllrlet cuff... with white pipin~ Or flap. Turnback hadgn • ...., o.....ge for ........ke..... gold for office.... 0" ..-hit", pal",hH. (0) B.. uoo_ I",fllo right' Garde d .. Din:clom E.o:ea.tif; GlIrd", dK eon.ulS; Garde J... pi.riaJe a. introduced OClober No~·e... ber ,804, o~Uy i .. 11....... hut in copper (ro... ,811.

Bonaparte virtual dictator as First Consul, the 'Garde du Drrectoire' and 'Garde du Corps legislatir were amalgamated into one elite force, the 'Garde dcs Consuls'. Thcir original comman· der, General de diuision Joachim Murat, issued the following directive which framed the First Consul's intention for his new Guard: 'The First Consul intends that the Guard shall be a model for the army. Admission will be restricted to men who have performed heroic actions, have been wounded, or have otherwise given proof ... in ~veral campaigns of their bravcry, patriotism, discipline and exemplary conduct. They must be not less than 25 years of age. between I. i8 and 1.84 metres in height, of robust constitution and exemplary conduct. They must have participated in Ihree campaigns in thc Wars of Liberation, and know how to read and writc: In effect, Bonapartc was assembling thc cream of the army into one corps owing its loyalty to him personally, formed of men who had marched and fought under him throughout the previous several years and wilh whom his popularity was guaranteed. For Ihe nexi 15 years the Guard, though greatly enlarged, remained the model for the Empire, wilh the 'Old Guard', the elite of the elite. providing the final and invincible bulwark: the 'marching rampart', as it was styled by one of its members, Jean-Roche Coignet. Although it was named the Garde des Consuls from the end of November 1799, the decree specifying its organisation was not issued until 13 .\'ivOsc, Year VIII (3January 1800). Its establishment was '2,089 mcn including a stafl' of 71, a company of light infantry, two battalions of grenadiers, a company of dlOsseurs a dlevaf, two squadrons of gr/'lladiers il d/tval and a company of light artillery. The two senior regimcl1lsofwhat was to become the Old Guard the 1st Grenadiers a Pied and 1st Chasseurs it Pied took '2 Dccember 1799 as the date of their crealion, though thcir antecedents were obviously traceable further back; and it is with these units that lhe present work is primarily concerned. The Garde des Consuls soon acquired the intendeen. When Paris fell, it was not before Ll. \'iaux of the 2nd Grenadiers, convalescing there from his wounds, had gathered about 20 companions and attempted to defend ~IOl1lmartre almost unaided. His body was found under a tree, sword in hand, surrounded by Prussian corpses. As late as 3 AprillBI4 Napoleon still retained his Old Guard around him: 1,246 ckassturs and ';0 '3

was not recorded verbatim, but it included a dramatic last gesture: 'I cannot embrace you all, but I shall embrace your genel'al'-and, aHer Gen. Pelit, he kissed the 'Eagle' of the 1st Grenadiers. The Final Aet Under Louis XVIII the Old Guard consisted of the Royal Grenadiers and Royal Chasscurs, each regiment of three batlalions, some 45 officers and 237 g,modiL's, and 22 officers and 220 (hassnJ's were discharged on grounds of age or as incorrigible Bonapartists. When Napoleon returned to reclaim his throne at the beginning of the 'Hundred Days' the Guard returned to the Colours, in four regiments each of Grenadiers and Chasseursj Ihe 3rd RegIS. werecrcated on 8 April 1815 and the 4th RegIS. on 9 ~Iay. But apart from the Elba Battalion and other l'itux moustochtsofthe Royal Guard, it was not the Guard ofold. The 1St Crenadiers (including the Elba men) were, as ever, the best, averaging 35 years ofage, four-fifths of thcm holdcrs of the Ugion d'Honnmr, the 2nd was also over 1,000 strong; but thc 3rd, though it included some Elba veterans, was not well equipped, while the 4th had only 500 men and presented a motley appearance. The 1st and 2nd Chasscurs included some vetcran officers and NCOs, but most had bcen Guardsmen only since Campaig" unifo ...m, .806: print by R. Knot...1 bu...... upon conl..mporary lIOurc.,.. (kfl) .'iapt~". The drum_major wears a heavily laced uniform., bUI the :>apr", doc:s nOl have lace on his coal seams, and the musician has lapel loops without tassels, perhaps suggesling a date of c.•8.0 (althougb the print is 001 conlemporary). The cymbalist wearS the uniform of turban and ,u,lflUl shown by Chataignier.

grey, white or beige, and blue·and·white ticking; .\lbrecht Adam shows trousers tucked into knee· length gaiters in 1812. An (unofficial) optional eXira for wear with the breeches, stockings and lififll ollly.s '(;II1M 1..,."",/" 1"".'" .11"......, il obviously nprKftllli d ... Gr..... d.i.. rs' dnun_msjor. NOI .. I.... amOUDI of sold Lace 0" tb.. COllI scamS aad brt!t!Ch...., s ..ch • ....norm miShl COtiI as .... ucb •• JO,OOO f ........,."

er

(C..."...,) Drum_major of ...... di.. rs ill e.... pa.is:.. dres.: print (rom tA,tw.-, tit. -I'J tit j,tl1f( II /'(fIlIal k byCh.arld. ni. w ..U-kno...,.. pri..1 show' ..... ",'.11nIar. ba..ically a .. ord..... ry coal wi.... ~old Lace 0" collar and ClIff, ollly, s:old ....nk bars aad q>aul ..n...., a ..d 50ld 'lies' on th .. hal. Th.. h.i5h ' - I I a .... '.....!l..aH .. lal ..r years lo..s: trou........ w ...... probably mor.. common. Tho..!!h 10.. r ..lai_ bi, mace, h.is baldric has bee.. di!lcarded.

Rn./.,-.

(Risht)Greaadierdrummer, full dre.. ~ c.,8,o: prinl aft ..r P. A. Lerou" (rom II... Bucquoy 5t!ri.... Thill ..how. II. .. (ull drell.. a(t .. r removal o( II. .. 'win55', wilb mi"flI rfll...ndllold laCt! On II. .. (adn5l1-'indudinll h'm,d(~IJ.o..'!I' on th.. lapel_nd red.and. 50ld .. p....I.. n .... On r:ampai!!n lac.. wall r ..slricted to a sinSI .. lin.. around th .. collar and culT". Bran drum will. li5h' blu.. hoop,", boll. bearing brass grenad.. badges.

cutr-piping and a red collar patch pipcd whitc and bcaring a button. Th epa..leu... with net slituted during the 'Hundred Days', Some 6,000 friall'" ",","e..t rond bruk; o .......lle-o..·wbite t.. robacl< hadges. small grenade and horn badges were also delivered, (D) MIll""'nl, O'....... rs, C.18,0-1St with realyl.,d t .. rnhack•. Colo..ri..C •••bove, b ..t Ilold rao.k dr.evro.. .,d!.,d .c:arlet; sold presumably for the corners of the cartridge boxes "",rvi""" ",hevron on "pp"'r I",rt .I_v",; epaul",n... wiLh 1II01d .,dC;II! .lId CreliCnil .nd sold frillse overl.id On lc:arl",l. like those of the Grenadiers, It was observed lhal during the 'Hundred Days' not morc than 20 Septcmber 1803, described as blue in 1804-white members of the grd and 4th Cbasseurs could be linen trousers were used 01) the march in summer found dressed alike. and blue cloth in willler. Greatcoats (first issued in Drummers wore mixed green and gold lace, as for December 1805, according to Barres. and 'very Plate E3; scarlet 'swallows'-nest' wings with green welcome, for the cloth smocks in which we had and gold lace were worn before 1808; transverse made the campaign were neither warm nor epauletlestraps were gold. edged green, in 1802--05, handsome') were like those of the Grenadiers but and edged scarlet thereafter; and the broTldtnbourgs with epauletle retainjng slraps originally green. red were removed after 1811. The musicians dressed as in 1805-06 and blue in 1814-15; and in 1813-15 at Plate C3. with fivc brandmbourgs on the lapels. least, there was red piping on collar and cuffs. increased 10 seven after :March 1808. The drumEquipment was as for Grenadiers, but belts major wasdrcssed similarly, but with scarlet instead without stitched edges were still in store in 1805. of crimson facings, and wings with gold fringe unlil The original sword knot was ~TITn with a red knot . 1808. The hat had a green upright plume o\'er a

•8

tricolour 'panache' and scallop-edged lacc; the green were worn in Holland and were again ordered in baldric had gold lace and oakleaf embroidery, April 1811 ; their marching trousers were 'iron grey' costing 1,740 F.; the sabre was carried upon a white (grisdeJer). leather waist belt with gold lace and oakleaf The Dutch band (30 drummers, 20 fifers, 14 embroidery, with a gilt rectangular plate bearing a musicians, a chifde musique, two tambour-maitres and the 6ft 6ins-tall drum-major, Siliakus) retained bunting horn, costing 710 francs. their sky-blue unifonn with yellow facings when incorporated in the I mperial Guard, though it is not certain at what date the busby shown in Plate G2 was worn; otherwise there was a bicorn hat with The Dutch Grenadiers retained thc uniform of the scalloped silver lace edging, white plume, and old Royal Guard of Holland. Originally formed in alternate red, white and sky-blue feather edging. July 1806, this included both Grenadiers and Drummers (probably only those attached to the Olasscurs, and though it was composed cxclusively band) wore the fur grenadier cap (with white over oCGrenadiers from 1808 onwards the old Chasseur sky-blue plume) and the sky-blue uniform, with red uniform may have lingered for some time. The coat epauleltes; and the drum-major had the customary was white with crimson collar, cuBs, turnbacks, additional lace. 'Company' drummers wore the bpels, lining and pocket piping, ane! white cuff laps. In Dutch service the culls had borne no naps .and the lapds had yellow brandmbQllrgs or pointedmded loops; the latter were removed when the unit incorporated into the I mpcrial Guard, but it is -.dear exactly when cull'Aaps were adoptcd. Apart • colouring, the uniform followed French n:nadier lines, including red epaulettcs, brass Hons, and yellow grenade turnback badges; the -.dress surtout was white with crimson collar and backs and piping on the pockets, cuffs and the breast; the hat had a yellow loop and 'tics' .... a led carrot-pompon. The NCOs' and officers' 'nctions were similar in design to those of the rmch Grenadiers, though both officers' gorgets waist belt plates arc shown as silver with gilt ices, as well as the reverse; officers' epaulcltcs gold with grenade badges, and crimson 'lights' subalterns. The Chasseurs had WOI'l1 uniforms of same colouring but with pointed-ended light try lapels, green epauletles with rcd crescents, plullle with green tip, and shon gaiters, which yconceivably have been worn for a shon time in perial service until ncw uniforms were issued. Apart from the uniform colour, the most 'ncti\'e feature ofthe Dutch Grenadiers' unifonn their cap, which had no plate but a crimson Cha~r oa the tn.rel" priat from RNwrJ.J ",jllt_. r,~.c.n. patch bearing a white grenade (gold for (Pari.., .lhg), by Nichobs-Toussaiat Chart..... Ahho..," aot rs·; white cords, red plume, and, uniquely, enetly eoatemporary, Chari.... had iM'M,ed ia Lb.. N.pol ........, W.rs (be fo.. ~ht at Cli.,hy Gate ia Lbe dde.e:t! ofP.ria ia .8'4), chinscalcs, which had apparently not been ..ad kae... hi. • ..bjec::t, e~'ea Lbou~b be tellded to ov....... ro...... ticiH it. ne old Cha~ wears h.i.lJreateoat o~ for 10m in Dutch service but are shown thereafter. eaR of mo~·..m ....t; aot.. lb.. _m.....h.l ban.,n!CI h.t, ....d Lbe greatcoats of 'dark sky·blue' (blLu t:iltslLJonuj metal _ I..r Rask.

Dutch Gn?llodiers

*

crimson facings had been ordered, still with gold lacc; bUl it was probably only worn on rare occasions, ifat all, as it can only have been delivered shonly before the Russian campaign. Sajxurs had the same uniform distinctions as the French Grenadier sajNurs, though the Carl Collection shows the crimson coat with white facings as worn by the band; and similarly a blue coat, faced crimson, was ordered in 181 I to replace the existing sajNurs' uniform of white, faced crimson.

Cre-dier (lert) a.nd Cha........r or d.e Outdo Royal Guard, c.• .." print .rler H. BoisHlicr rrom the Bucquoy Hries. Thitl ..how.. the early Uftif'onn pc...ibly retaioN briefly afler inCGrponuion into tbe Imperial Cword, ..-b;le coat wido red collar. cuff., lapel... linia~ a.nd I...... J..C..I.; yellow loop" 0.. collar a.nd I.. pel... white cap cord... The Cre_dier b §Carlet plume ....d epa.. lcltes; doe Cha-liH..r, a scarlet pl e tipped IJrft1l, !rff" epaWlHlt:tI wilh jjC8.rlel I and the l ...dil;o... lli~ht infanlry rcal .. r f t or poinlN cuffs, lapels aad

C.......,.,..

p;ten.

white uniform with red epauleltcs, and ycllow lace (including hrandmhourgs) on the collar, cuffs and lapels. Lapel-loops arc shown either pointcd-ended or tasselled. The Carl Collection shows a Negro musician wearing an oriental costume of a silverlaced red fez with white pagri; a yeUow sleeved waistcoat with pointed cufls laccd with Austrian knots; a sky-bluc bolero laced white, including 'swallows'-ncst' wings; white stroual (mamelukestyle baggy trousers), red shoes and cummerbund, and an oriental sabre slung from a shoulder belt worn beneath the bolcro. Othcr recorded band uniforms include, from the Carl Collection, a crimson coat with white facings and ycllow/gold lace, presumably worn beforc the rcgiment was absorbed into the Imperial Guard. By mid- to late 1811 a ncw musicians' uniform of dark blue with

3"

Firearms The Consular Guard had its own pattern ofmusket, with a raised check-piece, lock with patent pan cover, and brass fittings including a butt plate with a grenade-shaped finial set into the top of the butt. 1,600 of this type were ordered on 26 February 1797, and on 28 November 1799 a further supply was commissioned. New muskets were distributed in 1802, no longer with the raised cheek-piece or patcnt pan, but retaining the brass fittings which characterised Guard muskets throughout the era. A dcvelopment on the An IX model, the Guard muskct had an o\'crall length of 152cm (barrel 113.7cm); the calibre was 1.75cm, and the weight 4.5kg. Chasscurs were armed with a slightly lightcr version with an overall length of 144cm. A later development was a reinforced ramrod channel with beak-shaped rim. Some 9,000 muskets of this pattern werc produced between Year IX and 1812, the date oCthe last production; obviously, in times of difficulty, Line-pattern muskcts must have been prcssed into service. Veterans The Old Guard's Veteran Company was fonncd on 12 July IBoI, for men 'who by reason of age or infirmity were unablc to remain 011 active duty'; they continucd to wear a version of Grcnadier uniform, with a sur/our and a bicorn instcad of the fur bonnct, red lapels and blue cuffflapson thehahi/. They continued to draw the pay and privilegcs of the activc Guardsmen, and penonned with their old resolve at the siege of I)aris, in which they defended the bridge at Neuilly crying, 'The Old Guard has never laid down its arms.' They were allowed to keep their weapons and magazine by the

terms of surrender, and continued in existence even under the monarchy. The Veteran Companyofthc DUich Grenadiers, which was used to guard the Palace at Amsterdam, wore the uniform shown in Plate G3.

Sources

In addition to the usual contemporary pictures and atant items ofequipment, the work ofcertain noncontemporary artists is recommended, in particular Lucien Rousselot (L'Annie Franfoise),j. Onfroy de Briville (,Job'), Albert Rigondaud ('Rigo'), and the artists ofthe Bucquoy series, some ofwhose work may be found in us UnifonneJ du Prtmitr Empire: La Corde Imp/riale (E. L. Bucquoy, ed. L.-Y. Bucquoy a: G. Devalltollr, Paris 1977). Histories of the Imperial Guard include La Garde Imperiale (L. fallou, Paris 19o1); Histoire anecdotique, politique et _itai" de 10 Garde Impirialt (E. Marco de St. Hilaire, Paris 1847); and, most accessible, the magnificent Anatomy of Glory (H. Lachouque & .\. S. K. Brown, London 196'2), which is the English adaptation of Lachouque's Napoleon et 10 Garde lapiriale. Basic details of successive changes in orpnisation and equipment are listed in Guide Ii uagtdts Artistes et CostumitrS ... Unijomlt.J dt l' Annie Frrtllfaise (H. Malibran, Paris 1904, reprimed dd 197'2); and the Guard's Colours are dttailed in Dra/Naux et Etmdards dt 10 Rioolution et de Lnpire (P. Charrie, Paris IgB'2). Among numerous lDmloirs by members of the Old Guard, twO IStanding examples are available in translation: 1M Note·BooKs of Captain Coignet (J .. R. Coignet, London 1928), and Memoirs oj a Na/Jollo,,;c Officer J.·B. Barres, London [9'25).

shown hanging at the right side of the cap may not be so.

.42: Drummtr, GrtnaditTs, Consular Guard. 1&0 This figure, based. upon an illustration by Nicolaus Hoffman, shows the early full dress of Grenadier drummers, including both gold lace (on collar, cuffs and wings) and orange-red lace elsewhere, with pointed.c:nded bulton-loops and the classic 'swallows'-nest' style wings, as worn umil 1808. The cap has the alternative Consular Guard plate with 'wavy' sides, and although an original by Hoffman apparently shows a mauvish·coloured cord (with gold rrontal tassel), the colour is apparently intended to be red. Theoriginalshowsoneofseveral varieties or drum-hoop design, in this case white with blue grenades and intersecting lines.

The Plates b: Officer. Grtnaditrs. Consular Guard. 1&0

upon a print by Alexis Chataignier, this re has one of several recorded. versions of the ular Guard cap pia Ie, here with 'straighl' sides bearing a silvered grenadc. Olher features of Chataignier original-whilc collar piping and ally spaced bUllons on the lapels-would ar to be errors by the artist, though a tassel

G~d.i"" of I.... Ihuch R~nol iu th....aifonn wo........h.... ;ucorponlecl mto lh.. lmperial G.... rd---...-kit..,..,;th red facias" ....d qMlul .. ues, _ r l ..l p11lDl" and ....kil.. ClIp cord.. Print by

Marl;...l.

3'

leather apron and gauntlets; axe and case, and full beard, the latter a compulsory feature for sapeurs; Coignet's beard was something of a spectacle, no less than 13 inches long! The cap il1ustrated apparently has a rear patch, and green cords and raqlfeltes, the lanel" hanging at the rear, a fashion apparently not unique at this early period. Plain green epauleHes are somewhat unusual. The axe· case bears a brass crossed·axes badge, which is repeated (with the addition of a hunting horn) upon the belt and, in cloth, upon the sleeves. A4: Grenadier, Garde dlf Directoire, f797 This figure wears what is virtually the uniform ofa grenadier of a demi-brigade of Line infantry, but for the white cuff flap. The fur cap was also of Line Drumnu:r.., drum-major and musicians of the Dutch Grenadie..... Allhough not contemporary, this print shows the busby worn with the musicians' sky_blue coat with yellow facings and sHver lace. The drum_major's silver-laced baldric is red. His epauleues alone c:ost ag6 f .... nc:"! Though often 'shown plain red, drummers' and sam"" dress epauleues must have been muc:b more elaborate than normal-they cost 25 franc:.., as against ,6 francs for sergeants' and .. franc:s for co.-porals' and grenadiers' epaulettes.

The drummers played a role of vital importance to the morale of the Guard. Coignet recalled that at Austerlitz, when the band (at Napoleon's orders and 'contrary to custom') remained in the centre of the unit playing 'On va leur lureer Ie fiane', the drummers '\)cat a charge loud enough to break their drumheads in. The drums and music mingled together. It was enough to make a paralytic move forward.' A3: Sapfur, Chasseurs. COl/suiar Guard, f&J/ Based upon a print published 'ehezJean', this early sapfllr uniform includes the traditional features of (A) Uniform. of the Negro musician of the Dutc:h Grenadiers. The yellow, sleeved waistc:oat fastened with hooks and eye.., and was edged wilh white/silver lace; the yellow cuffs and c:ollar had lace decoration. The sky_blue bolero jacket had 'swallows'_nest' wings, and was edged with white/silver lace with c:ord trac:"ry on the inner edges; there were tass.,)s at the fn>nt CornerS. The scarlet fez had silv"r 'wolf-tooth' tace n>und the top, and a white turban fastened by a silver (?) buc:kl". This uniform was worn with a crimson waist sash and ankle-length baggy trousers (.
turn backs; sky-blue lining; gold shoulder edged red; and a silver-fringed sash. As before, the Chataignier version of the cymbalisl of the Grenadier band dcpicts a different costume. C3: Musician,

CJwss~urs.

straps noted Negro totally

1&8

The Chasseurs' version of the classic Old Guard musicians' uniform varied from that of the Grenadiers by its Ijght infantry cut (pointed-ended lapels and pointed cuffs) and by its colouring, lhe hat having an edging of green and white feathers and the lapels being white. As described before, the musicians wore five brandrnbourgs upon each lapel until March 1808, when the number was increased to the usual seven. Each of the Guard musicians was a virtuoso, and (excluding thc pcrcussionists) each owncd his own instrument and was rcsponsiblc for its maintcnance. DI:

!MfntrJ ohloe Dulch G ......ildirrs: prinl .llr.. 8oi..rlier. The left_ haadtnil.. wetl ... lhr1ast....uo orde,...dfo.. Lhelmtk. ._.of da ..k bl..e fa~ wiLh crim_ The ..the... wn .. whilr faced wilh enrnHD. Sao.. lrl phlrnes., white cord., sold and crim ...... rpa..lrUetl; sold badS.... baekrel rrirnHD.

lapels. One cOlllcmporary source indicates a white shoulder bell bearing a gilt grcnade badge and supponing an ordinary sabrc with gold knot. and a gold-laccd bicorn worn 'forc-and-aft' with a red plume. Thc lattcr was also worn by the drum-major at a later date, as were hussar boots of a more convcntional style than the laced variety shown. For much of thc period thc drum·major of thc Grenadiers was the legcndary Senol, a huge and imposing figure who had becn a caplain in lhe Royal army and who later became a lieutcnant in the 2nd Grcnadiers. C2: C)mba/ist, Grmadiers. 1&4

This figure is again taken from Hoffman but a second version of Ihe same picture, also painted by the anist himself, shows a sky-blue cap with an upright black fcathcr and fj\"C white oncs cach with a sky-bluc and red patch; shorter coat skirts without 34

Ch(lss~ur.

campaign dws, 1&7

This figure is basically as shown in the Otto MS, a collCClion of contcmporary watercolours (possibly by C.-f. Weiland) executed for Major Otto in Wicsbadcn. The 1806-07 campaign uniform is depicted, comprising fur cap and surtout, though the Otto ~'IS appears to be in error in showing more buttons on the breast of the surtout than actually existed. As mcntioned before. the OtlO ~'IS shows a rear patch on the Chasseur cap (probably the latcsi datc at which this qucstionable feature is rccorded), and includes a suggestion of red edging to thc cpaulctte strap; whcrc the lattcr appears in contemporary pictures it represents not a piping but only the cpaulctlc lining. Among thc most distinguished of the Chasseurs of this period was Jean-Claude DcpoJd orthe 1st Battalion, who took over a 12·lxlr fieldpiecc at VVagram, thc successful defcnce of the position being attributcd to his 'industry and courage. . in the face of sharp attacks'. D2: OjJim. Grrnadias. maTching orda. 1&7 This figure wears typical tmue de rout~. including a bicorn instead of the bonnet, and displays the common stylcofwcaring a rolled greatcoat ovcrone shoulder. which not only contained personal possessions within the roll but served as a rudimcntary defcnce against sabre cuts. Thc surtout

was equally popular on campaign; the Otto MS shows it worn by an officer with the fur cap (and a black leather waist belt), though the red piping sometimes shown was probably nothing marc than the lining becoming visible due to stretching with wear.

ordinary equipment, worn here with the surtout. The whole assemblage was similar to that used by the Line infantry. One shoulder belt supported the cartridge box on the right hip, and the other a combined frog holding both the sabre- and bayonet-scabbards. Larger knapsacks than normal in the Line were usually carried by the Guard. The cap decorations, excluding thc frontal tassel which was stitched into place, were usually removed on campaign except when action was imminent.

D3: Grtnaditr, campaign dms, r&:q Based upon a Boersch figure, the exact datc of this greatcoated grenadier is uncertain; Roussclot thought it a latc cxample, perhaps 1811-14. It is especially intcresting in showing a z,;tuX moustache with three senrice chevrons) wearing a coat which has both collar patch and piping, ncither apparently regulated officially; and striped ticking trousers which apparently match the fabric used to cover the bonnet, carried atop the knapsack. New issues of the bicorn continued in lise on campaign even after the mass destruction of hats in 18og.

This illustrates the early Chasseur uniform of the classic light infantry cut, before the re-styling of the lapels and turnbacks and before the changes in the colouring of epaulettes, plume, etc., and while the cartridge box still bore the hunting horn badge of the light infantry. Despite the Otto figure having only a single tassel at the front of his platcless cap, it

D4: Gunaditr, campaign dress, 1807 As shown by altO, this figurc depicts the rear of the

Napol......'. fa.-ewell 10 the G....rd at Fo..Ul.inebleau, '9 April .8'4: e ..sra..u.s .rler Hora"e Veruel. N.pol...... ilJ "mbra"ed by Geaeral Petil while U .....lta....t Fon;.., beIl"';..S the 'EaS)'" of Ihe ,st Grnr.adie.... hides Jr.is rau ... emolioll.

EI: Chasstur,!ull dress, 1&5

£3: Drummer, Chasseurs,ju/l drtss, 1808 This figure shows the uniform of Old Guard drummers following the removal of the 'wings'; drummers of Grenadiers were dressed in a similar fashion, but with their own regimental distinctions of cap, uniform-cut, and red and gold lace. Grenadiers' drums at this period arc usually shown with grenade badges upon the shells, and light blue hoops with or without grenades upon them. The drum bellS included a rectangular plate with tubes affixed into which the drumsticks fitted, and arc usually shown with the regiment's distinctive badge (in this case a horn) higher up the belt. Not all drummers wereequipped identically; e.g. drummer Estienne of the Chasseurs, known as 'the drummer of Arcola', was a Iigionnaire d'hmmeur who used his own, silver-mounted 'drumsticks of honour'.

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