Danish Army of the Napoleonic Wars, Part 2: Line Infantry #1

Organization of the Danish Line Infantry

    In 1801, Denmark had 12 regiments of line infantry plus two Liv ("Life") regiments, which I will list below but illustrate and discuss later. Some of these regiments had very long histories; for example, the Norwegian Liv Regiment traced its origins back to 1654! Each regiment had two battalions of five companies; four companies of Musketeers, and one Elite company. The Elite company of the first battalion was Grenadiers, while the Elite company of the second battalion was Jagers, and were rifle armed. Each company (1813 organization) was composed of:

1 Captain
1 First Lieutenant
2 Second Lieutenants
1 Sergeant-Major
2 Sergeants
1 Quartermaster
1 Armorer
6 Corporals
4 Drummers (Hornists in Jager companies)
150  Privates

    In 1808, the majority of the former Militia, which had performed poorly at the 2nd Battle of Copenhagen the preceding year, were disbanded and the best men taken up into the Line regiments. These men were used to form new 3rd and 4th battalion for each Line regiment. The composition of these battalions was the same as that of the 2nd battalion, i.e., they had Jagers as their elite company. These were initially designated as "Reinforcement Battalions", to be used only in the event of war, and initially were probably rather inferior troops. Over time this difference seems to have disappeared. There were no uniform distinctions between the older and the newer battalions of the regiment. The paper strength of a full Danish Line Infantry regiment of four battalions would thus exceed 3,200 men. It is doubtful that such numbers were ever achieved, especially on active service!

Uniforms of the Line Infantry

Jackets

Red had been the traditional color of Danish infantry uniforms for more than a century already, and no change was made to that until circa 1850. The shade is often described as "crimson". The style of the jacket was unusual, almost reminiscent of the Russian "Potemkin" uniforms of the late 18th century. The jackets were short and lacked tails. There were two small triangular patches of cloth turned back at the *front* of the jacket. Knoetel states these were white for all Line regiments, although the Osprey and Tradition articles both (see sources below) shows the Oldenburg regiment with buff colored turnbacks. Officers wore long red coats with traditional turnbacks at the back of the coat. The facing color was shown on the collar, cuffs, shoulder straps and square lapels; some regiments had their facings piped in white, others not. Buttons were brass or pewter depending upon the regiment. Officer's epaulets (abolished in 1812 to save money, and replaced by cuff/sleeve designs that varied by rank) were gold or silver, matching the button color of their regiment. Officers wore gold sashes with crimson stripes, also abolished in 1812 as an economizing measure. The crossbelts and waist belts of the enlisted men were white - replaced by black in the Jager companies only. brass buckles on the waist belts.

Drummers and Hornists had facing colored wings on the shoulders, with lacing and tassels in the (?) button color. Drums were brass with red or dark blue rims, white tensioners.

Pants

These were white in the summer; dark blue pants, often with "Hungarian knots" on the front, were introduced for winter wear in 1803. The shortage of Indigo dye resulting form the ongoing British naval blockade necessitated a change to dark grey for winter wear by 1813.

Headwear

In 1801, the infantry adopted a black hat with a rolled up brim, similar to that worn by the Swedes. There was a button and lop on the left, and a hat band, all in white or yellow according the button color of the Regiment. A short plume was worn on the left side of the hat - white for Musketeers, green for Jagers. the Grenadier wore a rather old fashioned cap, similar to that worn by Prussian Grenadiers up to 1806. The front was blackened metal, with a white caterpillar border over the top, running from ear to ear. There was a bass plaque on the front bearing a grenade emblem. On the left there was a plume, which could be either red over white or light blue over white. On the back of the Grenadier cap was a red bag or flamme, red piped white or yellow (? according to the button color).

In 1803, the Grenadiers switched to a black/dark brown bearskin reminiscent of the Austrian style. this had a red bag piped in the button color on the back, with a tassel of the same color at the end.There was a leather peak on the front as well as a bras plaque on the front. A plume was worn on the left side which was white with a light blue tip. Officers of Grenadiers only had cords on their bearskins, gold mixed with crimson. The plumes were abolished in 1812, at least theoretically.

In 1808, the Musketeer and Jager companies adopted a modern looking black shako. This had  white cords and a short white plume at the front for Musketeers, short green plume and cords for Jagers. There was a black cockade below the plume, with a button and loop in the button color below the plume on the front of the shako. Officers had red mixed with yellow cords. In December, 1813 the Grenadiers switched to the shako as well, wearing tall white plumes with light blue tips, and white cords... at least theoretically

Other Equipment

Brown knapsacks, black cartridge boxes (with brass grenade plate for Grenadiers), swords for Grenadiers with red sword knots. Shorts swords for the Jagers who disn;t carry bayonets, which the Grenadiers and Musketeers did.  Black shoes and short black gaiters for most, black boots for some. Canteens gun metal colored. Musket slings white,  black for Jagers. Overcoats grey (red earlier). 

Facing Colors

Knoetel, Histofig, and the Danish Military in the Napoleonic Wars sites give slightly different versions, as noted below. Table of facing colors for 1801, which evidently remained relatively unchanged from 1785 to 1842:

Regiment Name	Facing Color	Piping	Buttons
Danish Liv	Light Yellow	None	Pewter
Norwegian	Light Yellow	White	Pewter
King’s *	Light Blue	None	Pewter
Queen’s	Light Blue	None	Brass
Crown Prince’s **	Light Blue	White	Pewter
Schleswig	Light Blue	White	Brass
Prince Frederick***	Dark Yellow	None	Pewter
Zealand #	Dark Green	White	Pewter
Holstein  @	Dark Green	White	Brass
Funen	White	None	Pewter
2nd Jutland	White	None	Brass
1st Jutland	Black	White	Brass
3rd Jutland	Black	White	Pewter
Oldenburg %	Black	None	Pewter
Copenhagen ##	Dark Blue	Lt Yellow	Brass

* Became the "Crown's" regiment in 1808; uniform unchanged.
** Became the "King's" regiment in 1808; uniform unchanged
*** Became the Prince Christian Frederick's regiment in 1806; facing color changed to Dark Green in 1808.

#, @ According to private correspondence from the curator of the Tojusmuseet, the Zealand regiment was disbanded in 1803, and used to expand the Marines, which were first established in 1798.

## The Marines performed poorly, and in 1808 three battalions were disbanded and used to form the new Copenhagen regiment. The final Marine battalion was disbanded in 1811. The Marines had had red jackets with dark blue facings and brass buttons, probably explaining the choice of facing color for the new Copenhagen regiment!

@ Knoetel has the facings as Dark Green, but the other two sources list the Holstein regiment as having Black facings piped in white, with pewter buttons... Histofig adding that the collars of the regiment were piped in red instead of white!

% Having a Danish regiment named  Oldenburg might seem odd, until one recalls that the Kings of Denmark were of  the House of Oldenburg!

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OK, on to some pictures! These are all from my collection of Minifigs, painted at least 2 decades ago. These are suitable for the later part of the Napoleonic Wars, and have only a few inaccuracies.

1st Jutland Infantry Regiment (1. Jyske Infanteriregiment)

This smart looking regiment has black facings piped white, with brass buttons. I have my units with one grenadier and one Jager company each, but as noted above strictly speaking it would be one or the other, depending upon the battalion.

The "Dannebrog" based flag has the royal monogram (C7 - not changed to F6 after King Christian's death in many cases as an economizing move) in the corners. This pattern was carried by the Grenadier company, and the 3rd and 4th battalions of the regiment

Note the short, tail less jackets... except for the officers

Prince Frederick Infantry Regiment (Prins Christian Frederiks Regiment; prior to 1806, Arveprins Frederiks Regiment)

Dark green facings, no piping, white metal buttons

The 1st and 2nd battalions of the regiment carried flags in the facing color, with a small "Dannebrog" in the upper corner - more about the details of Danish standards later in this series. 

2nd Jutland Infantry Regiment (2. Jyske Infanteriregiment)

White facings, no piping, yellow metal buttons

In regiments with white flags, the Dannebrog was rendered as a silver cross on red, instead of white on red. The piping on the bags of Grenadier caps for this regiment should be yellow instead of white - a detail I didn't know when I painted them. I should probably correct that!

Funen Infantry Regiment (Fynske Infanteriregiment)

White facings, white metal buttons. One of the other minor inaccuracies is the lack of "wings" on the drummer figures.

This picture shows the "bags" on the back of the fur grenadier caps very well.

Sources for this series include:

Books, Uniform Plates, and Magazine Articles

Anderson, Peter, "The Danish Army of the Napoleonic Wars", Little Wars Vol. 1 # 4 (Feb 1977), pp 4-7

Cassin-Scott, Jack, Scandinavian Armies of the Napoleonic Wars, Osprey Men at Arms Series, 1976.

Funken, Fred and Lilliane, L'Uniforme ey les Armes des Soldats du Premier Empire, VBol 2 pp 106 - 107

Hansen, Chr. Wurgler, and Torstein Snorrason.Color Plates and English Text: "3rdie Jydske Infanteri Regiment 1813, "Den Kongelige Livgardfe til Hest", "Jydske Regiment Lette Dragoner 1813", and "Kongens Livjager Corps, 1801 - 1809".  Published circa ? 1975

Kannik, Preben Ed., Military Uniforms of the World in Color. Macmillan  1967. Figures 263 "Norwegian Life Regiment, Grenadier Lieutenant 1807 and 264 Fyn Light dragoons, Trooper, 1813 and accomopanying motes.

Kannik, Preben, Plates and English Text on "Uniforms of Danish regiments 1807 - 1813" and Danish regiments - Colors".

Knoetel, Richard, Hanbuch der Uniformkunde, pub 1937, 1967 edition used.  pp 140 - 146

Snorasson, Torstein and Hansen, Chr. Wurgler, "The Assault on Srtalsund, 1809 Pat 1" in Tradition #52, pp 22-25, 36; "The Assault on Stralsund 1809 Part 2" in Tradition #53, pp 2-7;  "Danish General Adjuntant c. 1806" in tradition #57, pp 14 - 15;  "The Battle of Boden 4th Dec 1813" in Tradition #64, pp 14-16, 20.

Strachan, Christian, "The Danish Army of 1808 - 1814" in Wargamers Newsletter #122 (May 1972), pp 7 - 9.

Internet Sources:

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?378865-Danish-Norwegian-Uniform-Thread
(Total War Center Danish Napoleonic Uniform Thread". Designed to show uniforms for incorporating these armies into the Computer game, this thread actually has a LOT of good information and many quite decent if stylized original uniform illustrations. Well worth perusing!

http://www.chakoten.dk/selskabet/
The Website of the Danish Military Historical Society, "Chakoten". Google Translate works very well on this all Danish site. Most useful bits are a few pdf articles and a copy of the Hansen plate on the 3rd infantry Regiment Jutland (without the text)

http://www.milhist.dk/englandskrigene/england/introuk.html
Danish Military History: The War with England, 1801 - 1814. In English, an account of the conflict with England. It brings home the devastating consequences of the war for Denmark as a world power.

http://www.oocities.org/pentagon/2083/army.htm
This is an online preservation of a fantastic old Geocities site on the Danish Military in the Napoleonic Wars. It includes all the battles of 1813 with accounts,  and a map of the largest. Also a listing and chronology of Danish Army units during the Napoleonic wars. The names of the units are all in Danish. These are not hard to understand, although it can sometimes be confusing switching between the English, German (used in Knoetel and the NYPL collection), and Danish names for the same units!

http://empire.histofig.com/-Royaume-du-Danemark-et-de-Norvege-.html
The Histofig pages for Danish and Norwegian troops and uniforms.

http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchresult.cfm?parent_id=237079
97 postcard type drawings of uniforms from the New York Public Library's Vinkhuijzen collection of military uniforms. Much useful material, especially for the pre 1808 uniforms.

http://www.thm.dk/
Website for the Tojhusmuseet in Copenhagen, featuring 500 years of Military History in the old Armory of king Christian IV. Not much useful information for our purposes, actually, but very useful if planning a visit to the city. An as yet inoperative webshop tab may be helpful for finding old and new reference materials in the future.


Peter