Saturday, January 14, 2023

Hessen-Darmstadt Chevaulegers


The origins of the Regiment date back to 1791. Ludwig X became Ladgraf of Hessen-Darmstadt in 1790, and was concerned about the lack of a cavalry arm in his small but well respected army. He ordered the creation of a new Light Cavalry regiment, the Hessen-Darmstadt Leichte Kavallerie Regiment.  By 1792 the Regiment was up to 4 squadrons, and when Hessen-Darmstadt joined the 1st Coalition against Revolutionary France that year, the regiment particiapated in a number of actions through 1795, generally performing with distinction. Hessen-Darmstadt thereafter adopted a policy of armed Neutrality, and sat out the wars from 1796 - 1805. In 1806, Hessen-Darmstatdt was one of the founding members of the Confederation of the Rhine, with the state being elevated to a Grand Duchy, and Ludwig assuming the title of Grossherzog Ludwig 1. With that came a renaming of the Regiment as  the Gardes-Chevauleger Regiment. In late 1806, part of the Regimnent was senty to support French forces in Prussia, where it acquired several stains on its reputation, including a duel involving the commander of a 50 man detachment escorting 3,000 Prussian prisoners of War, the confusion caused by which allowed almost half of them to escape, and then the looting of a supply train of flour! By 1807, the regiment was back in better form, serving first under Marshal Lefebvre around Danzig, and later participating in the siege of Swedish held Stralsund, and the capture of the associated island of Rugen. Marshal Lefebvre commented "... they shall say no more brave as a Frenchman, but shall now say brave as a Hessian!"


In 1809, the three squadrons of the regiment were brigaded with the Baden Light Dragoons as part of the light cavalry Division of Maraluz, during which they participated in many minor engagements, Marshal Davout commenting "France could not be better served than by these troops". In 1812, the regiment was increased to 4 squadrons and served in Russia as part of the 31st Brigade in the IX Cavalry Corps under General Fournier. They again fought with distinction in actions around Smolensk and Borodino. The regiment famously participated, in company with the Baden Hussars, in the Death Ride at the crossing of the Berezina, their charges holding off the Russian cavalry and allowing the escape of many French and allied soldiers. Only 88 men and officers made it back to their depot in January of 1813. The regiment was recruited back up to a strength of 4 squadrons, and formed part of General Beaumont's cavalry Division in the VI Corps, It fought at Dresden, and sustained heavy casualties there. It was subsequently sent to oppose the Swedes, Russians, and Prussians in Pomerania, and fought against them until after the battle of Leipzig in November, whereupon the regiment returned home, Hessen-Darmstadt having switcher her support to the Allies opposing Napoleon. The regiment saw no action in 1814, but formed part of the Hessians serving in the Allied III Army Corps under the Crown prince of Wurttemburg. It operated on the Rhine, ultimately confronting General Rapp's Frenchmen, who were ultimately compelled to retreat to the fortress of Strassbourg. 


From 1790 to 1808, the Chevaulegers wore a helmet (kasket) similar to that worn by the British Dragoons in the 1770's and 1780's. Starting in 1806, a new helmet similar to the Bavarian Raupenhelm was introduced; the transition was probably complete by the end of 1808. A somewhat shorter version was introduced in 1812. The jacket was grass green with black cuffs and lapels, and was extensively ornamented with white lace. The collar and turnbacks were bright red. Shoulder straps were red piped in white. the breeches were originally straw colored, but were changed to grass green in 1809. Unusually, the belts and ammunition pouch were all buff leather. Saddlecloths were grass green, with black border, piped white on the inside edge. Trumpeters wore the same uniform as the men, but with a red tip to the plume, and (possibly) black "swallows nests" on the shoulders, piped white. Trumpet cords were red, probably mixed with white. Officers wore much the same uniform as the men, but with silver metal on the raupenhelm in place of brass, silver lace in place of white, and the silver mixed with red sash of the Hessen-Darmstadt officer corps. The uniform information come from Rawkin's book on the Army of Hessen-Darmstadt, which devotes over 30 pages to this unit. 


The chevaulegers were never issued any flags. I have been eager to have a unit of these fellows for quite some time, but their uniform is fairly unique, and as far as I know, no one has ever done them in 25/28 mm before. Lucas and Piano Wargames have now corrected that deficiency in fine style! 


I chose to mount the regiment on light bay horses, chiefly because it contrasted well with the uniform; the trumpeter rides a grey. I think they look quite magnificent!

29 comments:

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    1. Thanks, Jon. It's a regiment I have been eager to do for a long time!

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  2. Fantastic job on this elegant and splendid regiment!

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  3. Beautiful looking regiment Peter. Very nice sculpts indeed.

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    1. They are superb sculpts, and the castings are almost completely flash free.

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  4. Jolly fine-looking chaps, Peter .....for Germans! I do like the colour of their horses too - might have to copy that at some stage. I have Napoleonic cavalry on the painting desk too at the moment, but in my case, its French Line Lancers that arrived on 25 Dec!

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    1. Thanks, Keith. Und was is los mit der Deutsche? :-)
      I use the same system for painting horses that Joe does, originally posted by "Mr. Tin" over 20 years ago. I can't find it on line anymore, so I guard my printout carefully!
      The Chevau-leger lanciers are another favorite uniform; I have always especially liked the light blue facings of the 5th regiment, which for me have invariably been tigers on the (miniature) battlefield. The colors of all 6 regiments look good, though. I really dislike the Imperial Livery, so mine all have the trumpeters in reversed colors and white caterpillar crests, with the Elite company in scarlet crests.

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  5. Those are really excellent indeed. Try painting that detail on 10mm :-)

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    1. I think not! :-)
      Thus far, I plan to stick with 25/28's for everything

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  6. Great job Peter. I'm keen to clear some space in my painting queue so I can get stuck into these myself. The think I particularly like are the horses, which seem like quite robust figures with some beautiful detail.

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    1. Lucas does great horses, and they are indeed very substantial!

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  7. They look a very dashing unit Peter. Lovely touch with the monogram on the shabraques.

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  8. I couldn't fault them, excellent work.

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  9. Wonderful definitely on my to buy list, been waiting for these for some years! :)

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    1. And great history there too cheers!

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    2. Glad you like them, Mark! I had been waiting for someone to do this unit as well. All of the Wurttemburgers and Hessians are listed for sale on his website now.

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  10. Such nice models, an excellent paint job on them. I might like these more than the ones I painted for the Retreat from Moscow range. Certainly more dashing!

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    1. Thanks, joe. I don't recall seeing the Retreat models, but I would think they were pretty swaddled up!

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  11. Great work. Would the uniform of the trumpeter be appropriate for ~1797? I understand the uniforms evolved over time, but I'm struggling to find sources since it's not my era. I'm trying to form an impression of my wife's ancestor who we've just discovered was a trumpeter with the Hessen-Darmstadt horse-guards in that year.

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    1. Here's what Rawkins has to say about the Horse Guards ( seperate unit from the Chevaulegers):

      THE GARDE DU CORPS
      ORGANISATION In 1792 the Hesse-Darmstadt cavalry arm consisted of the newly formed ‘Landgraf von Hesse Chevauleger-Regiment’ and the ‘Garde du Corps’. The Garde du Corps had it’s origins in the cavalry regiments of the 1750s but had been little more than a ceremonial palace guard since 1768. The Garde du Corps squadron was an anomoly, even for the ultra conservative Hessian army. The squadron was recruited exclusively from the nobility with all guardsmen ranking as officers even though their rank within the Garde du Corps might be only trooper or sergeant. In 1799 the ranks of the Garde du Corps contained several young aristocrats under 17 and an equal number of elderly retired generals over the age of seventy. The squadrons strength was officially 151 offciers and guardsmen but in practice no more than 50 were actually on duty on a day to day basis the remaining personnel being furloughed and only mustered for parades and cermonial revues. Primarily they provided the guard for the Landgrave’s palace and an escort when he travelled. The squadron was divided into two ‘companies’, one ‘on duty’ and the other ‘off duty’ to provided a 24 hour guard for the palace.
      GARDE DU CORPS ESTABLISHMENT 1799-1814
      1 Generalmajor (Commandant)
      1 Oberst
      2 Major
      1 Adjutant
      2 Rittmeister (Captains)
      4 Ober-Leutnant
      4 Unter-Leutnant
      1 Feldwebel
      4 Sergeants
      4 Korporals
      2 Trompet (6 from 1809)
      125 Troopers
      The Garde du Corps saw no active service during the period of the revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars and in 1814 is reported as stabling only 30 mounts for all ranks at the Grand Ducal palace in Darmstadt.

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    2. HEADGEAR The hat worn by the Garde du Corps in 1792 was a black bicorn hat with plain black tape trim to the edges and white hat tightener with small white tassels at the tips. The front of the hat was decorated with a large black silk bow cockade as worn by officers with a white cockade strap and pewter button. In 1795 the tassels on the tighteners were changed for coloured wool ‘tabs’ of red within white as worn by other Hessian regiments. Plumes were white until 1799 when they became white with a red tip denoting the elite ‘officer’ status of the guardsmen. In 1809 a new more modern version of the bicorn hat was issued with a large red within white rosette cockade replacing the silk bow a long white cockade-strap and plumes were initially white with a red tip for ‘gala’ uniform and black with a red tip for the ‘dienst-anzug’ , or service uniform.

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  12. COAT The coat worn until 1807 had remained virtually unchanged since the 1770s and emulated the Prussian Garde du Corps uniform of the day. The short coatee, or kollet, was a light buff colour with a fall collar of poppy-red trimmed with a double band of white on the leading and bottom edges. The front of the coat was closed with small concealed hooks and was trimmed with a wide ponceau lace welt with two white vertical bands on either side of the coat. The coat was cut square at the bottom and the corners folded back into turnbacks of ponceau with a double white band of trim, forming small tails which sat on the hips and left a large inverted V open at front and rear.

    The cuffs were of the Swedish pattern and very deep, and were ponceau with white trim to the upper and trailing edge. The coat was without shoulder-straps. In 1807 the coat was modernised and received an upright collar of ponceau with white double band of trim to the upper and leading edges, cuffs became smaller and coat colour shoulder-straps with a pewter button were added. The turnbacks which had been previously fastened back with loops and a button were now stitched into position.
    In 1808 orders were issued for the Garde du Corps to receive a new ‘dienst-anzug’, everyday service dress uniform, and the buff coats were now reserved for ‘gala uniform’ for state occasions and parades. The new coat issued in 1809, was Prussian blue and of the ‘surtout’ style single breasted with long tails. The front of the coat was closed with concealed hooks and decorated with white lace batons extending from the sleeve line to the centre of the coat. Each litzen had a small button and tassel at the outer tip. The collar was upright and coloured ponceau and was decorated with a single, long horizontal white baton with button and tassel at the rear tip. The cuffs were of the plain style and ponceau with two long vertical batons of white lace, extending almost to the elbow with buttons and tassels at the upper tips. The turnbacks were Prussian blue piped ponceau and the tips held with a small ponceau tab with two small white metal buttons. The shoulders were decorated with the same style of contra-epaulette as worn by the line infantry, Prussian blue underlain and trimmed with the facing colour and appear to have been permanently stitched to the coat. This coat continued to be worn until 1814.
    In 1809 the Garde du Corps were officially designated ‘Kürassier’, and were issued with plain steel cuirass and back plate for ‘campaign uniform’ which mostly consisted of mounted escort duties outside of the palace precincts. The edges of the armour were trimmed with poppy-red felt and the shoulder scales were steel with a red leather backing.

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  13. BREECHES, ETC An old fashioned long waistcoat was worn with the 1792 pattern kollet of poppy-red. The coat was the same length as the tunic with squared bottom edge trimmed at the edges with wide white lace and closed at the breast with concealed hooks. This older style veste was replaced sometime before 1799 with a shorter waist-coat of the same colour as the kollet with red and white edging and small pockets at the waist. In 1795 the Garde du Corps received ponceau coloured kummerbund sashes which were worn over the coat and sword belt at all times.
    Breeches were initially white but by 1795 had been changed to light buff to match the coat and were worn with high, cuffed riding boots which were retained for the gala dress after 1809. The breeches worn with the blue 1809 coat were Prussian blue and decorated with a white lace spearhead loop at the top of the thigh and a narrow white lace stripe on the outer seam. New boots were issued for wear with the dienst-anzug order, knee length with shaped tops with screw-in spurs which could be removed for indoor duties.
    No details have been found of the Garde du Corps greatcoats except that both coats and riding cloaks were probably issued after 1809, for dismounted and mounted duties, and these were dark blue. Prior to 1809 white riding cloaks would seem to have been worn in inclement weather. Deep cuffed whitened with gauntlets were worn with all orders of dress and white cotton wrist gloves for court dress.

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  14. MUSICIANS Virtually nothing has been found regarding the uniforms of the trumpeters of the Garde du Corps after 1792. The only representation of musicians uniforms found is from a Knotel plate for the beginning of the period. It is believed by Dr. L Schumman of Mannheim, with whom the author corresponds regularly that the older coats for both the trumpeter and kettle drummer may have been retained as late as 1803 with the bearskin bonnets replaced with bicorn hats. After that date coats would probably have been as for the gala coat for the men but with swallowsnest epaulettes and possibly the ‘wings’ attached to the shoulder cords at the rear of the coat.
    The Garde du Corps definitely employed a mounted kettle drummer and six trumpeters in 1809 all of whom were professional musicians and had only ceremonial duties.

    Rawkins has images of the Guards du Corps uniforms, and the 1792 Trumpeter's uniform if you're interested.

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    1. Thank you for such a thorough reply! I wonder at the accuracy of the claim he was in the horse-guards, since he was the son of a hatter and after his service became a preceptor in Gettenau, with no hint of aristocracy that we can discern. I imagine if accurate, there's quite a story behind the man which is now lost to time. Unfortunately the only clarification regarding his service is that he was stationed in Bessungun near Darmstadt in 1798, when his eldest son was born. I'll look into picking up a copy of the relevant Rawkins book.

      Thanks again!

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    2. Unfortunately, Mr Rawkins passed away about 2 years ago, and the status of his books is uncertain pending settlement of his estate. I searched for an Army or Wart Museum in Darmstadt, but the closest thing I could find was the Library of the TU (technical University) in Darmstadt; most likely there is a combined museum or library with one or more of the former smaller German states. As noted, in 1809, at least, the musicians were professionals, and thus likely not aristocrats; the Guard was largely ceremonial, and thus parades and state occasions would have been amongst their duties. It also could have been that he was a trumpeter in the line cavalry, which underwent multiple name changes prior to 1806.

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