NAPOLEON'S LIGHT INFANTRY PHILIP HAYTHORNTHWAITE BRYAN FOSTENEDITOR: MARTIN WINDROW IA) 1 OPNESa 6 RU WAY OS) OU OS 146) NAPOLEON'S LIGHT INFANTRY Text by PHILIP HAYTHORNTHWAITE Colour plates by BRYAN FOSTEN ina MILITARYFirst published in Great Britain in 1983 by Osprey, a division of Reed Consumer Books Ltd. Michelin House, 81 Fulham Road, London SW3 6RB and Auckland, Melbourne, Singapore and ‘Toronto. © Copyright 1983 Reed International Books Ltd. Reprinted 1984, 1985 (awvice), 1987, 1990, 1991, 1904, 1995: 1997 All rights reserved, Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism ot review, as permitted under the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any Form or by any means, elecironie, electrical, chemical, mechanical, optical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. Enquiries should be addressed to the Publishers, British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data Haythornthwaite, Philip Napoleon's Light infantry. (Men-ai 146) 1. France. Armée—Equipment 2. Infantry Equipment—Histor L. Title IL. Series 396°.186'0943 UD335.F8 th century ISBN 0-85045-521-9 Filmset in Great Britain Printed in Hong Kong Ifyou would like to receive more information about Osprey Military books, The Osprey Messenger is a regular newsletcer which contains articles, new title information and special offers. To join please write to: Osprey Military Messenger, PO Box 443, Peterborough PE2 6LANapoleons Light Infantry Organisation Incommon with many 18th-century armies, France had formed light infantry corps as early as 1743-445 but until the 17808 these troops existed only as cither volunteer corps adept (at least in theory} as skirmishers, or as part of units organised on a ‘legion’ basis, comprising both light infantry and light cavalry within a single corps. These ‘legions’ or carps mistes were broken up in 1776, the companies of chasseurs (light infantry) remaining in existence until 1778. In 1784 the ‘mixed corps’ were re- established, in the form ofsix battalions of chassenrs a fied attached to six regiments of chasseurs & cheval, cach battalion comprising four companies of six officers and 79 chasseurs each. In 1788 the chasseurs a fied were again separated from the cayalry, and increased to 12 battalions, named (in order from 1 to 12 respectively) Chasseurs rayaux du Dauphiné, royaux de Provence, royaux Corses, Gorses, Cantabres, Bretons, d’Anuergne, des Vosges, des Cévennes, des Gevaudan, des Ardennes and du Roussitim, Bach battalion comprised four companies, each of six officers and co2 men, increased in wartime by 21 men pt company On 1 April 1791 the chasseurs a pied were re- organised, with regimental titles abolished but numbers retained as before, except that the old Chassenrs royaux de Provence became the 1st corps and the old Dauphiné the 2nd. Under the new organi- sation each battalion comprised cight companies, ‘Passage du Rhin’; print from a painting by Steintz showing theadvance-guard af the Freach army crossing the Rhine April 1797. The French skirmishers are shown performing classic light infantry duties; note the characteristic silhouette W this period.5 s s s 8 5 s s s 8 s 3 vor SEE ce — emma oman me a ea eae el 26 6 eso mm eet moms (eama ee comma coat loyment of St, Hilaire’s ‘of Soult’s IV Corpsat Austerlicz. Theewo brigades are in ‘broad-arrow’ array, cach battalion in column of divisions, roth Léger as the vanguard. (Key): Moya de. S) are oL, a/10L ~ 1st & and Bas, roth Léger. / ive Ba 6 Tilnin’s Dis. 14.36 ~ two Bus. each of 14th and 36th Ligne. | Bue. Vondumne Div: 43555 ~ two Bas, each of 43rd and 55¢h Ligne. $-S-S \- Forward companies of soth Léger thrown, forward as skirmishers, cach of a captain, a lieutenant, a sous-liewlenant (second-lieutenant), a sergeant major, two ser- geants, a caporal-fourrier (quartermaster corporal} four corporals, four appointés (junior NCOs), six carabiniers, 40 chasseurs and a drummer, Battalion staff consisted of (wo lieutenant-colonels, a quartier- maitre trésorier (paymasterjquartermaster), an adjuant-major, an adjutant, a surgeon-major, a drum-major, a tailor, an armourer and a shoe- maker. ‘Throughout the period light infantry retained their own terminology, the terms cliasseur and carabinier equating with those of fusilier and grenadier respectively in the Line, though their roles were identical In April 1792 each company wa total of 130 men s increased to a icluding four sergeants, cight corporals, eight appointés, eight carabiniers and two drummers. In the field it was usual to unite the carabiniers into a spe 4 ial company, usually ranking as the battalion’s first. At this time also the number of battalions was increased to 14 by the in- corporation in the regular army of personnel from the old Paris National Guard, There were, in addition, corps of provincial light fantry, some of which were amalgamated with the 14 existing battalions in February 1793 when the Amalgame system was instigated, by w circumstances) cach regular bined with two volunteer or conscript battalions to form a Demi-Brigade, the term ‘regiment’ being eschewed for political reasons. By January 1794 a total of 22 Demi-Brigades Légére existed, each of three battalions, each battalion comprising a company of carabiniers and cight of chasseurs. Two additional Demi-Brigades were formed in October 1798, and by September 1799 the number had risen 10 26, each Demi-Brigade now of four battalions, In August 1800 there were 30 Demi-Brigades of three battalions each, but those numbered 3, 5, 8 16, 18, 20,25, h (under normal ttalion was com 26, 28 and 29 reduced to wo battalions cach. In August 1801 there were 31, and in September 1803 (as for the Line infantry} the was restored in place of Demi appellation ‘—Régiment d’Ini usually being contracted to * itle ‘regiment? Brigade’, che full fanterie Légere Léger’. In March 1804 a company of toltigeurs (skitjtien) Se a eee eet Ce eck oan eee arte ri cena ered ee ee ee ee eens a fa Bx adjutant Eh ne tee oe soc ace es od pee eee heen Jes, one of carabiniers, ome of voltigeurs esa Lela Mcse or Royce cgere Cet ptr eras ee es ee eee aces Ee Pn eere cree Cee ee Ce ead candor), Ave ae ees por one cetera ed ces cote eae eee Rae eatstant ered poe ee eea eee Sea nee eter cma rntany h é 4 H i Bata Pee Pe ad Sy , me Fe cemed & combination of line and Seen peat % sins eee eee Seen nseent ta on eee tate te Ea ees Re Soe Re ese eed Falk cacpahumsca tence seemed Pes rd sete ea eee Peet ren eee orci Se Se ae) os ree are aoe Coated eons eet cae} ee skirmish ff BO at ps oe i} Ce Cae Be eed Pep ene ng bared eeeLight infantry in Egypt, +790, before the adoption of the single- breasted jacket and fuiyured fou! open formation negated to some extent the ordered volley- and artillery-fire of their opponents and led some observers to believe that it was the major French tactic, and General Duhesme remarked that ‘one can truthfully say that by the end of 1793 the French armies had only light infantry’, By the mid- 1790s, however, French tactics had progressed a stage further, so that attacks were made by combination of line, column and skirm together marked the decisive. modernisation of 18th-century tactics; this had, in some aspects, been the intention of the 1791 Manual. By about 1795 was usual to detach as much as one-fifth of a division’s strength to act as firaillacrs (skirmishers) to harass the enemy with musketry, and to hold back the remainder to reinforce the skirmish-line if necessary or, if the combination of'skirmish-fire and artillery bombardment had shaken the enemy, to deliver a mass charge by passing through the cloud hers which 6 of skirmishers and hurling itself upon the wavering enemy. Although the opponents of the French also possessed light troops, sometimes in considerable quantities, the vital difference between the two systems was that their opponents continued to regard close-order alignment as the principal formation for infantry, and light infantry as mere auniliari With such numbers of skirmishers required, it was obvious that there were insuflicient French Light regiments to fulfil the tasks required of them; thus it was usual for whole regiments of Line infantry to be deployed as skirmishers, while the Light infantry per se acquired the steadiness and discipline normally associated with the Line. ‘This similarity was enforced by the composition of Light regiments, as mentioned above. The battalion élite companies equated exactly with those of the Line, the wliigewrs theoretically being the smallest and most agile men and the earabiniers being the largest and most steadfast, The establishment of voltigeur ome regiments had possessed sharp- shooter or ‘scout? companies before 1804) was intended to provide cach battalion with its own companies ( Colour of the a1st Demi-Brigade Legere, grd Bn. 1797 pattern, captured by the Minorca Regt. in Egypt. Blue flag with white ‘centre bearing fasces and leaves in proper colours, with red Phrygian cap; red triangles along the edges with white ‘quadrilaterals between them and the blue. Gold lettering, the “PB signifying “Troisiéme Bataillon’. The reverse bore gold horn within a green wreath on the white central square, And battlehonours “Pissed a Pies Passage du Taghamenton' Pris d Grasskirmish-screen to precede an advance or cover a withdrawal; but again, this was offen a matter of theory, as on occasion whole battalions could. be used as skirmishers to preced: divisional advance, in support of of} the voltigeurs of each battalion: a brigade or (or even in place Despite the diminishing difference between Light and Line regiments, a convention persisted where- by Light regiments were scattered throughout the ous Corps of an army, as if they were the only ones capable of performing duty as skirmishers. A typical example is provided by the ‘Order of Battle” of the French forces at Austerlitz, at which period some slight dillerence between Light and Line was séill apparent: I Corps: two Divisions of five line regiments, with the 27th Léger acting as an ‘advance guard’ III Corps: one infantry Division (2nd) composed of three brigades: 1st Brigade: voBth L of 15th Léger. ond Brigade: 33rd Line and remainder of 15th Léger jr Brigade: 48th and 111th Line. LV Corps: 1st Division: roth Léger, 14th and 36th Line, and Division: 24th Léger and five Line regiments, 3rd Division: 26th Léger, Tiraillewrs du Po and Tirailieurs Corves (both light infants regiments. V Corps: Caflarelli’s Division: 13th Léger and four ments. Suchet’s Division: 17th Léger and four Line regiments Oudinot’s Division: detached élite companies of and, 3rd, 12th, 15th, 28th and gist Léger, and gth, 13th, 58th and Bist Line. rom the above it will be seen that the French Light regiments were often supported by specialist light corps such as the Tiraidleurs Corses, Tirailleurs du Po and similar units, such as the Chassews des Montagnes as used in the Peninsular War, these corps sometimes not being as capable of serving as Line infantry as the bona fide French Light regiments; the light troops of allied nations, similarly, were not as tactically synonymous with their own Line infantry. ‘The presence of Oudinot’s Division in the Austerlitz order of battle’ illustrates the practice of forming ne and voltigeur company three Line lite units by combining the grenadic and witigeurs from a number of battalion formation. One marked difference from the Line infantry, however, was im the superior éprit de corps of the Light regiments, which ranked as senior to the Line and regarded themselves as such, an attitude of superiority reinforced by their different (and often more impressive) uniform, the theoretical difference n role, and supposed superior training. ‘This superiority of ésprit de corps led to many units adopting the equipment and dan of the light cavalry, their equivalents in the mounted branch of the French army. carabiniers into one Tétes de Colonne The composition and equipment of the Tétes de Golonne (literally, ‘heads of column’; the band, sapeurs, ‘Eagles’ and their escorts} conformed to the details given in the companion tite, MAA 141, Napoleon's Line Infantry, The olficial establishment of Pattern of jacket of the coloured ‘Egyptian’ uniform of the ‘Kilcher Ordinance’, with the pointed culls generally restricted to Light units.Light infantry, €.1800; prine by Bartsch, after Kobell, The shakos have miliimatyle ‘wings wrapped around, a regiment's musicians is exemplified by the 15th Léger in 1809: 58 drummers (40 chassews, 12 carabiniers, 6 wltigeurs), 6 voltigeur comets, a drum- major, a fambour-matire, jans and a chef de smasique (for three battalions). In the ‘prestige’ Light regiments, however, it was usual to lavish large sums upon the regimental band; the official strength of a bandmaster and seven musicians was olten exceeded, band strengths sometimes being as high as 30. The cost of maintaining so large a band (with additional musicians hired professionally, normally on annual contracts quite separate from regimental establishment’) and clothing them in the exoti fashion exemplified by Plate E, sometimes took regimental finds to the verge of bankruptcy. In November 1807 Berthier was forced to issue an order forbidding the cost of a band to exceed one day’s pay per officer per month. Unyorms The 1791 uniform The 12 light infantry battalior March 1788 wore a unilorm ba 1786, with a dark green coat of infantry without pockets and with a yellow (jonguille) colour in place of the varied facings of the seven musi established in ed upon that of style, uniform, In November 1789 white breeches and coat wer specified in place of the earlier green or bull, and on 1 April 1791 new regulations were introduced which deseribed the light infantry uniform at the outset of the Revolutionary Wars. The coat (habit) was dark green, cut in th infantry style with horizontal pockets and white metal buttons bearing the battalion number within the loop of a hunting horn. Lapels were green, piped in the facing colour; collar, cuffs and cuff flaps were cither of the facing colour or green, as in Table A (including the 13th and 14th Battalions formed in 1792) Shoulder decorations were like those of the Line infantry: red, fringed epaulettes for carabiniers, and for chasseurs shoulder straps of the coat-colour, piped with the facing colour. ‘The waisteoat was plain white, Three styles of headdress were worn; for the chasseurs the fur-crested ‘Tarleton’ helmet was specified, with its wicolour cockade adopted on 27Table A (1791) (a) (b) fo (d) (eo ‘ 4 7 to 13 3 8 n 4 3 6 9 12 Colours the facing colour. (a) searlet, (bs jonguille, (©) pink, (d\ ¢ Collar Cuffs Cuff flaps x x x x rimson, (e} white, *x’ indicates items of May 1790, and an imitation fur band, as for the Line infantry; but again as for the Line, its issue was probably not universal. It was shabby and un- popular, its ‘fur’ crest sometimes no more than a fabric ‘sausage’ stuffed with straw; the skull and peak were black leather, with metal reinforcing, bands running up the sides of the skull. As for the Line, plumes were white with a facing-coloured tip for full dress, replaced by similarly coloured pompons for ordinary wear. Asan alternative to the crested helmet the bicorn could be worn, as by the Line infantry, and was popular with other ranks as well as officers; while carabiniers could wear a fur cap not unlike that of the grenadiers of the Line, but not sohigh (29.Bcm as against 35,20m for the Line) and without a frontal plate, a distinction which persisted throughout the Napoleonic period. As specified by the 1786 regulations, light infantry were distin- guished by their legwear: instead of the ordinary breeches and long gaiters of the Line, the Light wore short gaiters extending only half-way up the calf, usually with the upper edge cut to restmble a ‘Hessian’ or hussar boot, frequently decorated with coloured lace and a tassel on the upper edge Drummers by the 179: regulations wore blue coats (which had been specified with the usual facing colours in 1788), decorated with lace of the ‘Royal’ crimson and white chain pattern. From 15 January 1792 officers of all light battalions were permitted to carry sabres (as used already by battalions 6 to 1 inclusive), and on the same date their greatcoat was regulated to resemble that adopted at the same time by the Line, but of dark green instead of the Line's sky-blue, with a facing-coloured collar. An example of the 1791 uniform is illustrated in Plate A, a version worn by the Légion des Allobroges, one of the corps which existed outsid the numbered sequence of regular regiments and which was organised in the style of the pre-1788 light units as a mixed corps of light infantry and dragoons The 1793 uniform The creation of the Demi-Brigades in February 1793 was accompanied in the Line infantry by the establishment of a new blue uniform, based upon that of the old National Guard, volunteer and conscript units, and replacing the waditional white uniform of the old Royal army (though due to shortages of matériel and affection for the traditional colour, the white took some years to disappear} Similarly, the blue uniform was introduced for the Light infantry in place ofthe previous green, but the distinctive features which remained the preserve of the Light regiments throughout the period were retained. Due to their élite status and consequently higher ésprit de corps, it was more usual than in the Line for regiments to adopt non-regulation items; thus the ‘regulation’ details which follow were not universal for all regiments. Uniforms were further influenced by those factors affecting all French uniforms: shortages of equipment and clothing leading to the adoption of whatever was available and degeneration into a more or less vagabond appearance in the mid- to late-1790s. ‘The va ations on ‘regulation’ dress were sometimes oc- casioned by the necessity of having replacement uniforms manufactured on active service, some- times from local cloth, when it was not possible to follow the regulations exactly. The lists of re mental details follow demonstrate how these factors created many quite individual costumes. ‘The Aabit of 1793 was similar to that of the Line, which 9Jour of the 19th Demi-Brigade Légére, sa 03: white ground with red corner triangles bearing gold "19", gold horns on blue internal triangles. Centre bears 4 trophy of arms in proper colours backed by a gold ‘sunburst’, within a green wreath; white serolls with gold lettering. Instead of the trophy of arms the reverse bore a gold inseription, 1 Psrnir (iin it i" Domi-Brizade Ligivess agMessdorsn U2 but with a distinctive eut, including lapels with th lower edges shaped to a point, and almost in- variably lacking the buttons and dummy button holes present below the lapels of the line habit; these pointed-ended lapels were perhaps the most dis- tinctive light infantry feature throughout the Nap- oleonic period. ‘The habit was dark blue with dark ite; the collar and rectangular cuff flaps were scarlet, piped blue (or white), the fags bearing three (or occasionally four) buttons. Other patterns of cull were common, either the flapless variety with vertical piping as borne on many infantry coats, or pointed culls adumbrating the 1812 regulations. Turnback badges were in the form of white hunting horns, or red grenades for carabiniers; buttons were brass and pockets vertical, edged with white piping, blue lapels, cuffs and turnbacks, all piped wl with the style known as 4 Ja Soubite used on occasion. Among many variations in common use were green epauleties with or without red ‘crescents? worn by chasseurs instead of infantry-style shoulder straps; carabiniers retained their red epaulettes. Waistcoats were blue, often with white piping ‘including edging to the pockets), and legwear was styled as before: dark blue breeches with short cut to resemble bu Officers’ distinctions were like those of the Line {sce below}, but they usually wore hussar boots (boltes & Ja hongroise) matching the gaiters of the other ranks, Headdress was varied, the crested helmet being replaced by the bicorn (but perhaps persisting in use for some time}, which resembled that worn by the Line, including the use of drooping horsel plumes; but other styles included carly shakos or nirtitons, and even busbies styled on chose of the light cavalry with whom the light infantry retained great affinity; examples of these variations are noted below In July 1799 a specification noted the use by light infantry of the habié-oesie, a short-tailed jacket considered by several European armies as being more suitable for the skirmishing and rapid move- ment in open order expected of light troops, without the cumbersome long tails of the infantry habil. The short-tailed fabif-weste was in common use by the Light units from this time, though officers usually (but not invariably) retained the long tails of the carlier habit. gaiters usually ar boots, air The ‘Egyptian’ uniform ‘The Demi-Brigades Légéres which accompanied Napoleon's Oriental expedition changed their uniform a¢ dhe same time as the Line infantry (see MAA 141, Napoleon's Line Infantry), adopting dhe peaked leather cap (casquette @ pouf} with a folding neck flap and pompon or tuft (fouf}) on top, as introduced in the autumn of 1798, with a single- breasted short-tailed jacket and loose trousers, Unlike those of the Line, which had red collar and culls and white turnbacks, these jackets for che Light infantry were blue throughout, with cuffs eut to a point instead of the round-topped cuff of the Line (except the 88th Demi-Brigade, which had pointed culls). Carabiniers wore red epauleties, blue shoulder straps being prescribed for chasseurs though many probably retained their green epau- lettes; the butions were ofien made of wood and covered with cloth, metal buttons being in short supply. With the introduction of the so-called “Kleber Ordinanee’ in the autumn of 1799 (which ordered the regiments in Egypt to wear multi- coloured clothing as a way of overcoming shortages by making up whatever cloth was available), the( Table B (‘Egyptian’) Demi- Brigade Coat Collaripiping Cuff Tumbacks Piping “Poup and light green dark bluejwhite dark blue dark blue white green tl light green crimsonjwhite crimson crimson white whitejgrcen ais sky-blue yellowjwhite yellow yellow white yellow)green or red} zoned sky-blue crimson{white crimson crimson white red green, light infantry Demi-Brigades concerned adopted the colour schemes shown in Table B. A recorded alternative of the 4th, of brown collar. culls and turnbacks, may represent crimson, faded, by the sun; the 2ist’s yellow facings were not al due to shortage of suitable cloth, aurore (pinkish-orange) and later pink being substituted During this campaign the ranks of the 21st were filled with Negro slaves, bought by Abyssinian slave-dealers! The pre-r8r2 uniform The light infantry uniform worn before the 1812 clothing regulations came into effect was a gradual evolution from the 1793 uniform, The habit-veste remained largely unchanged in basic eut (excepting, the culls, which varied), though it appears that in some eases the tails of the short extended to mid-thigh about 1809-10, at least for some regiments (e.g. the and, rath and 16th Léger), and from c.1809 the turnbacks were extended to the bottom edge of the skirts. Officers in most cases retained the long-tailed habit, with pockets @ la Soubise normally confined to officers and some NCOs and all apparently unofficial, there being no reference to such a style in regulations, The coatee remained dark blue, with scarlet collar and cuff flaps; pointed cuffs, as worn by some regiments, were cither blue or scarlet, Piping was white, with turnback badges in the form of white or red hunting horns (red grenades for carabiniers). Buttons were white metal, bearing a hunting horn and regi- mental number, though at the beginning of the Empire period some regiments (the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 8th, oth, 12th and 28th at least) had brass buttons and accoutrements (as. speci coatee were fied in 1793. and probably retained), Ghasseurs should have worn blue shoulder straps piped white, but, as before frequently used green epaulettes with or without red ‘crescents’; carabiniers retained th lettes. ie red ‘pau- The dark blue waistcoat (often double-breasted at this period) had white piping in some cases Light infantry, ¢.1803; engraving by J. Couché after J. F. Swebach, showing side-plumed shako anda valinireap with drooping horsehair plume.nF Cavahinis 18055 detail from a print of the Battle of Elchingen by Volts. A rare back view of the vartiicr uniform, which includes long-ailed coats and caps which have the reat patches quartered, the upper quarters red and the lower biwe, Blames and cords are red. (though white waisteoats were not uncommon in summer); and the earlier style of legwear persisted—usually blue breeches and short black gaiters cut to resemble hussar boots, often with lace edging at the top and a small tassel, red for carabiniers and a mixture of red, white and/or green for chasseurs. Some regiments used white gaiters in summer, and on eampaign loose trousers linen were common, either dark blue {for winter) or white, buff or light grey-ochre (for summer), worn over the gaiters, As in the modi necessity or utility, including the use of clothing made locally, such as the ubiquitous brown (rousers, worn in Spain, made from the undyed wool of the local sheep. On 26 October 1801 the first shako was author Be Line, all manner of tions were employed on campaign, out of ised for use by light infantry. Examples of similar headdress had appeared before that date, usually imitating light cavalry style and probably originat- ing with the mirliton cap with a cloth ‘wing’ which could be wrapped around the body of the head- dress, with a peak added to turn it into an early shako. The 1801 shako resembled the mirliion close- ly, excepting the absence of a ‘wing’; it widened only slightly towards the top, but had a detachable peak set not on the very lower edge but a short way up the body of the cap, fastened by hooks and eyes. Officially the shako was quite squat (17.8¢m high) but contemporary pictures suggest that taller versions existed. ‘The cap was constructed of black felt with leather upper and lower bands and peak, though examples are known made of leather throughout, as in the 1st Léger. It was ornamented with a brass badge of hunting-horn shape on che front, though contemporary illustrations suggest that this was frequently omitted. ‘The tricolour cockade was carried at the left hand side of the cap, secured by a loop of yellow (or orange) lace with two buttons. Green cords with pendent ‘raquettes’ were suspended around the cap, and a plume was worn at the left side; sometimes this was of the upright cutfeather variety, but more often of the drooping kind, coloured dark green for chasseurs and scarlet for carabiniers. Carabinier shakos were some- times ornamented with scarlet upper and lower bands and either scarlet or white cords; a recorded carabinier shako plate isin the form of humting horn surmounted by a grenade. For parade and combat carabiniers could wear the fur cap as described previously, without a plate and with red phime and red or white cords, and a rear patch like that of the ine grenadier cap, officially quartered red and blue and bearing a white lace cross, but other varieties existed. Fur caps were normally given to any regiment which requested them lrom Napoleon {as 1st Consul and Emperor); for example, the 2nd, 4th and 2ist Léger received theirs under the Consulate, the 27th Léger in December 1804 and the 5th Léger in February 1806, Shakos are sometimes depicted with both plume and cockade fixed at the front instead of at the side; as the peak detachable and plates frequently absent, with a minimum of adaption the cap could be curned around and the peak affixed wherever desired, by those regiments wishing for a degree of individuain their dress, thus displaying plume and cockade at the front The establishment of zoltigenr companies in 1804 introduced new uniform distinctions in the form of a chamois collar (piped red or white), and occasionally other alterations to the facings such as yellow or chamois cult flaps or pointed cuffs, Their cpaulettes were combinations of yellow, green andjor red, with gaiter tassels in the same colours; yellow hunting horns were borne on the turnbacks, and theirshakos with yellow bands) had white, yellow or green cords and plumes in combinations of yellow Some noltigeur ed the light cavalry to such an extent that they adopted the busby, usually with a yellow bag; much rarer were busbies worn by (some and red or yellow and. green companies emu carabiniers, with red bags and plumes. Red piping was used by some élite companies Officers’ uniforms were similar to those of other ranks, but with long coat-tails; short-tailed jackets were not unknown but may have been restricted largely to voltigewrs. Officers’ buttons and turnback badges were silver, and their silver lace cpaulettes like those of the Line, as specified in the 1786 regulations: colonel—bullion fringes on both shoul- ders; major (rank created in 1803})—as colonel but gold lace straps; chef de bataillon—as colonel but fringe on left shoulder only; captain—silver lace fringe on left shoulder only; capitaine adjutant-major lace fringe on right shoulder only; lieutenant —as captain but with a red stripe on the strap: sous- ‘he infantry embarking on campaign: German print of ‘806, showing shakos with plume and cockade on oppo:Facsimile ofa Zimmermannillustration of a ciarvy of the 16th, Léger, €.1806 07. Note the old-style flapless red cuff; green plume, sword knot and gaiter lace; green epauilettes with red. Nerescents’s and unpowdered queue. lieutenant—two red st pes; adjutant-sous-officier red straps with ovo silver stripes, and mixed red and silver fringe on left shoulder only; a popular fashion was to have the red stripes on the straps in the form of diamonds. The gorget existed in both gilt and silver, with devices usually of contrasting metal depicting the regimental number, eagle andjor hunting horn, with grenade or grenade and horn for carabinters, Officers’ headdress was usually like that of the other ranks, but with silver plates, cords and lace, their upper shako-band ultimately in the form of silver laurel leaves or interlocking rings em- broidered on black velvet backing. Officers’ cockades and plumes were frequently worn at the front of the shako; busbies and carabinier caps were ornamented with silver. In place of the shako it was mon for the bicorn to be worn, sometimes with 4 ver lace edging but often with only a silver cockade loop and tassels, Breeches were dark blue, oceasionally laced with silver, and boots usually of hussar pattern with silver edging and tassels, though mounted officers wore riding boots, On campaign officers often wore the single-breasted dark blue surtow with a bicorn hat, and frequently overalls of light cavalry style. Similarly, sword belts were often of light cavalry pattern; instead of the regulation white leather shoulder belt, waist belts were popular, sometimes passing behind the flap of the breeches but alternatively displaying an S-clasp or rectangular plate, usually silver, and sometim bearing gilt hunting horns or other devices. Waist belts existed in white or black leather, though green with ver lace or wire edging was equally popular. Prom the waist belt the sword could be suspended cither from a frog or from cavalry-style slings, the latter most common when the sabre was carried, NCOs wore the same system of ranking as for the Line, though corporals’ rank bars were usually of white lace, and long-service chevrons of red Sergeants and above had rank bars of silver lace upon red backing, silver trimming to the turnback badges and epaulette straps, and silver lace in- termixed in epaulette fringes, shako cords and sword knots; and occasionally badges on the epaulette strap, such carabiniers silver grenades for In other matters of dress, the minutiae of stocks cravats, gloves, forage caps, hair dressing, etc., the Light infantry resembled the Line, In April 1806 the first issue of greatcoats was made, these being beige in colour; prior to this date, overcoats had been provided either by the individual or from regimental funds, in a variety of styles. The first major change in the Light infanery uniform of the Empire period was the adoption of the 1806 shako, which was introduced for all infantry and in general use by the following year; however, itis likely that the previous Light infantry caps with detachable peaks were retained for some considerable time, and as in every other item of uniform there were many variations upon the official regulation. The 1806 cap had a black felt body with black leather upper and lower bands and sometimes a leather chevron as extra strengthening on each side (these latter were usual for Line infantry but apparently rare for the Light). The capE loo OJ (ae was issued initially without chinscales, but these were frequently added unofficially some time before their authorisation, in white metal with circular bosses bearing a hunting horn, or a grenade for carabiniers, AU the front of the shako was a tricolour cockade and below ita diamond-shaped white metal plate, officially hearing an embossed eagle with the regimental number below, with a hunting horn added in some cases (especially for voltigenrs), though many regimental variations included the use of brass plates by the 8th, 17th and 26th. Plumes, worn at the front from 1806, gradually went out of fashion, and at this period were almost invariably of the upright style, though examples of Cuff designs, the first two common to Line as well ay Light fantry. Left to right: flapless cuff, with method of opening, flapped cuff, with method of opening; cafTdesign of the 112 ight infanery fut the old drooping type occur in contemporary pictures as late as c.1807. Plumes were red for carabiniers, green or green with red tip for chasseurs, and green and yellow or yellow and red for aoltigenrs; however, they were often replaced by coloured pompons (sometimes with tufis) in similar colour- ing. Shako cords remained red for carabiniers and (Left): Chosian’s babi, with Mapped cuff and (urmbacks of pre HB10 style, (Right): Cisshiners fab, with re-styled turmbacks, cathe.(Left): Officer's Mts, Light regiments, with pocket-piping i (a Snubisey and regimental variation in the pointed cafts. (Right): coattails with piping 2 la Svivs piping shown shaded, usually white for the others, chassewrs only rarely being depicted with the carlier green cords. As in the Line infantry, shakos were frequently covered on campaign by oilskin or linen ‘A new shako was authorised on g November 1810, slightly taller and more robust than that of 1806, without the side chevrons and with chinscal which many regiments had already adopted. Cords and plumes were abolished officially but this order scems to have had limited ellect, especially among lite companies. Officers’ plumes were white (col- onel), red-over-white (major) or red (chef de bataition, with shako lace varying with rank, and pompons were worn by other ranks, as before, ‘The 1810 shako plate consisted of a white metal diamond bearing an embossed hunting horn with the regimental number in the loop (a grenade and number for carabiniers), but again many regimental variations are recorded: brass plates, for ¢ the 17th retained their ample, and another style con- 16 sisted of an eagle atop a crescent bearing the regimental number, adumbrating the 1812 pattern The minutiae of regimental uniform varied even within the same corps; variations on the regulation dress might be adopted for only a brief period or even by a single battalion of the whole, either from necessity or at the instigation of a colonel or chef de bataition. Kxamples of regimental variations are noted below, though it is possible that a uniform recorded by a contemporary observer may not have been typical of the whole unit, and might con= ceivably represent a single costume worn on campaign by reason of personal preference, necessity or 1st Léger: ¢.1804--05: chasseurs and carabiniers, ved pointed cufls edged white. Chassews, green epau- lettes and upright side plume, brass hunting hora shako badge; see Plate B. Officers’ shakos with black bands, silver lace. Voltigeurs, yellow or chamois collar and culls; green epaulettes with yellow crescents, green plume and cords, shako badge as for chasseur zaltigeur officers, silver upper shako band, badge and cords, cockade at left with no loop. Carabiniers,bearskin cap with red plume and cords (officers silver ond Léger: Drawings made by French PoW dated 1814 and depicting uniform of c.1808-09 show: Chassear, shako with white metal lozenge plate, white cords hung diagonally right to lefi, red plume with green base, red epaulettes with green fringe, gree gaiter ornaments, red sword knot with green strap and fringe. Garabinier: bearskin with diagonal white cords, red plume, epaulettes, gaiter lace and sword knot. Voltigew: as Plate F. Voltigeer shown c.1810-12 with yellow plume with red base rising from yellow ball, white metal eagle shako plate and chinscales, yellow cords and upper and lower shako ids, yellow collar piped red, red epaulettes with yellow crescents, red three-pointed cuff flaps piped white, yellow sword knot v th yellow strap and fringe, yellow g cllow tassel with red knot. gid Léger: Pictures drawn in Liineburg 1807-08 show a carabinier in a brown fur cap with red plume iter lace and y and white cords, volligeur and chasseur both. with white hunting horn tumback badges and sword knots, and archaic-looking, almost eylindrical shakos with black leather upper and lower band white cords and lozenge plate; volfigeur with yellow- lipped green plume, green epaulettes with yellow crescents; chasseur with green epauletes with red retaining strap, green plume, and instead of a cockade on the shako a curious, flat pompon or padded disc, red with green edge. All have red cull flaps with four buttons, and gaiters cut to a point at front and back, but no trimming. Garabinier drum- mer shown with the same shako but m with a frontal cockade secured by red pompon, and cords hung diago: as a plate, ed lace loop, gonally from top right of cap; blue coat with crimson collar and lapels piped white, red epaulettes and piping to top edge of cuff, blue waistcoat piped white, gaiters as before but with red lace and tassel; brown fur drum-apron, brass drum with wicolour hoops. All have short queues and lightly powdered hair. sth Léger: 1810 shako plate bore 1 hunting horn with numeral ‘4’ below, instead of within the loop of the horn. th Léger: 1806 shako plate bore an embossed, crowned eagle with a large hunting horn super imposed, with ‘5° on a dise below. Voltigeurs at this period had yellow collars piped red, green epau- lettes with red crescent, yellow-tipped green plume. 7th Léger: 1806 shako plate bore embossed crowned eagle on a hunting horn, with ‘7’ stamped out of the curl of the horn, Chasseurs ¢.1809 had white shako cords, eagle plate, with a red pompon recorded perhaps in different ‘company’ colours); blue shoulder straps piped white, green gaiter lace with red tassel knot. Carabinier officer depicted in busby, red plume, red bag laced silver. Voltigewrs, yellow epaulettes with red fringe, white crescent; yellow over-red plume over yellow ball, yellow shako cords in the classic dress of the Light regiments of the Empire period: engraving by Martinet.and upper and lower shako bands (upper band silver for NCOs), red sword knot with white strap and yellow fringe, yellow gaiter lace with yellow- fringed red tassel bth Léger. c.1809, white metal cagle-on-crese plates and chinscales. Ghasseurs, white shako cords and gaiter lace, green pompon, blue shoulder straps white, Carabiniers, shakos with red upper and red Voltigewrs, yellow upper and lower shako bands and cords, red-tipped yellow plume, yellow epaulettes with red fringe, yellow gaiter lace with red tassel knot, yellow fringe. oth Léger: Voltigeurs c.1804-06 as Plate C, including bands, plume and cords; red gaiter la cepaulettes with white crescents. yellow cull flaps, brass-scaled epaulettes with red Light infantryman and chs 3 shin! showing the similarity of ‘costume between the two ‘light’ branches of the French army: Print after Goddard & Booth, crescent and green fringe, and blue breeches with white vertical piping on edges of front flap. Ouo MS shows carabiniers c.1807-08 in fur caps; officers as Plate D, with silver diagonal cords from top right, red rear patch with blue cross, encircled with silver 1 lace; carabinier’y cap similar but white cords hung from top lefi to bottom right. Officers’ cuff flaps bear four buttons, but carabinier and chasseur have three-pointed flaps piped blu with only three buttons; white waistcoats. Carabinie, red sword knot, red epaulettes with white crescents; chasseur, green epauleties with red crescents, red sword knot with green strap and fringe, 1806 shako with brass lozenge plate, red-tipped green plume over green ball, white cords and cockade loop. Gaiters cut in a point at the tasse ont, edged white, carabinier with red chasseur ved tassel with green fringe. Officers of the gth had the distinction of carrying sabres like those of the Imperial Guard Ghasseurs rot Léger: Zimmermann shows officer ¢.1808 as Plate D. ¢.1809, blue pointed culls piped white, white metal ed gle-on-erescent plate, white cords; carabinier, ved plume and gaiter lace, brass-scaled epaulettes with red fringe; chasseur, green pompon and gaiter lace with red knot, green epaulettes with red crescents; witigew, yellow-tipped green plume, green gaiter lace, yellow collar piped white, brass- scaled cpaulettes with green fringe. 12th Léger: Chasseur ¢, 1810-12, white metal ea crescent shako plate and chinseales, white cords, red pompon with green tuft, red collar and pointed cuffs epauletees with red crescents, red sword knot with green strap and tassel, white j to waistcoat and upper edge of round-topped gaiters 14th Léger: Originally probably wore uniform of the old ‘Légion Noire? (ollicially rer Légion des Franes de POuest} from which the 14th was formed in 1798, Zix recording this worn in Switzerland in 1798-99: bicorn or chapeau a la Henri IV, brown coat faced sky- s-Gie piped white, gree blue, red waistcoat, sky-blue breeches or white overalls, red epaulettes and plume for carabiniers, green for chasseurs (sce Plate A), 14th wore hussar miplitons c.1801, with red ‘wing’ for carabiniers, sky blue for chassers and bull for the ‘scouts’ who became woitigeurs in 1804 (see Plate B). Carabiners left fur caps in store prior to 1805 campaign and never retrieved them, wearing instead shakos with red ‘wing’ wrapped around, edged white (shownwith black edge for officer), brass grenade badge on front, red plume, white diagonal cords from top right, red epaulettes with white crescents. In Corfia c.1808 ‘wings’ were added to shakos of other companies, sky-blue for chasseurs, yellow for vol ‘igeurs, with plumes (apparently worn at the side) of green, and yellow or yellow-over-green re- spectively. Instead of Aabif-vesie, white waistcoats commonly worn in Corfir, red collar and culls for carabiniers and yellow for voltigeurs; epaulewies may have been worn on the waistcoat, red (carabiniers), green with red crescents (chasveurs), yellow with green fringe (zo/tigeus); white shako cords for all; see Plate C, Officers in Corfir shown with long-tailed, sky-blue, single-breasted surfout and buff breeches for undress, with ordinary epaulettes and shako. Officers’ memoirs note that instead of the shako, breeches, shoulder belt and sword and hussar boots, it was usual for officers of the 14th to wear the bicorn, long trousers of various colours (ofien buttoned up the sides}, sabre and waist belt, and either shoes or infantry boots with turned-over tops, 15th Léger: Voltigeurs c.1B09, yellow upper shako band and cords, yellow-over-red plume over red ball, red epaulettes with yellow fringe, yellow sword knot and gaiter lace with red tassels. i6tk Léger: ¢.1806 carabinier shakos bore white metal grenade badge about six inches high; Zimmermann ¢.1806-07 shows chassedr i old-style cylindrical cap minus plate but with cockade at the front, green plume and gaiter edging, old-style flapless cuff in red, green epaulettes with red crescents, white-piped waistcoat. Carabinier shown c,1807 wearing 1801 shako with detach- able peak, red upper and lower bands, cords, plume and three-pointed cuff flaps. Foltigeur, yellow upper shako band, white cords, yellow- lipped green plume over yellow ball, yellow collar and cuff flaps, green epaulettes with red crescents, red sword knot with green strap and fringe, yellow gaiter lace with green tassel. Chasseur c.1810 shown with white diagonal shako cords, green pompon, blue pointed cuffs piped white, white gaiter lace with green-fringed red tassel. In Spain, carabinier and voltigeur shown with blue pointed cuffs piped white, fur carabinier cap with red plume and white cords, white gaiter lace with red tassel; voltigewr, white metal eagle shako plate, diagonal white cords from top right, yellow-tipped Shako plate, 5th Léger, 1806 pattern. green plume, yellow collar piped red, yellow cpaulettes with green fringe, yellow sword knot with white strap, green fringe; white gaiter lace, yellow tassel with green fringe. Alternative version shows red piping to élites’ uniforms, green epaulettes with red crescents. Chassewr shown in campaign dress with covered shako and ochre baggy trousers (saroual}, three-pointed red culf flaps, red piping, green epaulettes. Surgeon shown wearing bicorn with silver loop, white sleeved waistcoat with pink collar and cuffs worn over blue hussar-style waist- coat with pink braid 17th Léger: 1806 shako plate brass elongated hex- agon with embossed crowned eagle over ‘17’. 1810" style brass lozenge plate bearing only ‘17’ perhaps worn before that date; brass chinscales. ¢.1808, white shako cords hung diagonally from top right; chasseurs, white-over-green plume over red ball green epaulettes with red crescent and_ fringe; wltigeurs, yellow-over-green plume, brass scale epaulettes with green fringe, white gaiter lace with 19,(A) White-metal shako plate of 1810 patterm, 4th Léger, of Somewhat crude design and construction; the numeral is borne below the horn instead of in the centre. (B) Nom regulation shako plate of che 17th Léger, in brass. The Somewhat naive design and execution perhaps suggests provincial or even regimental manufacture. (C) Light infantry insignia: device on an officer's gorget, agth Leger. yellow or green-fringed yellow tassel, officer with busby, silver red bag, silver cords, wolligeur plume. ¢.1809-12, white metal eagle-on-crescent shako plates or continued use of brass hexagon, brass chinseales, shako cords worn in normal fashion. Carabinier, fur cap, red plume and cords, or shako with red upper and bands, red epaulettes; voltigeur, yellow shako lace, green (or lower yellow) cords, yellow-over-green plume over red (or green) ball, green epaulettes with yellow crescents, yellow collar piped white (or red), yellow gaiter lace; chasseur, white shako cords, red-over-green plume (or green ball), green epaulettes with white or red) crescents, white (or green) gaiter lace. One source shows orange cockade loops; officers’ upper shako hand of black velvet bearing silver stars Another souree, ¢.1810-12, shows red pointed cuffs and turnbacks, chasseur with shoulder straps and red gaiter lace, voltigeur with red-over-arcen plume, red cpaulettes, chamois collar, green gaiter lace and green sword knot with red tassel rrd Léger: 1Bob shako plate bore embossed crowned eagle over hunting hor a letter ‘N° 2yth Léger: Chasseur shown 1810 wearing white diagonal shako cord, lozenge plate, green pompon bearing white number “24’, green epaulettes with red crescents, the straps and crescents piped white. 27th Léger: Shako with green side plume over cockade secured by white loop, white cords, worn as late as c.1806-07. c.1809, white metal eagle plate and chinscales; classeur, red-tipped green plume. white cords, green epaulettes with red crescents, white gaiter lace with red tassel; carabinier, [ur cap. red cords and plume, gaiters as chasseur; voltigeter, with ‘23° in the loop, above yellow upper and lower shako bands and plume, yellow-tipped green plume over red ball, shoulder straps or green epaulettes with yellow crescents, white gaiter lace with yellow tassel; volligeur officer, red culls with blue flaps, yellow collar, busby with silver-laced yellow bag. gust Liger: Zimmermann shows a voltigeur sergeant and. sapeur wearing the long-tailed habit, c.1808, with square-cut lapels (perhaps in error?); voldigeur with yellow-tipped green plume ov yellow ball, upper shako band and side chevrons, green epaulettes with white fringe and crescents, green sword knot, and green gaiter tassels with yellow knot, green cords, silveTétes de Colonne Uniforms of the regimental bands, usually de- pendent upon the whim of the colonel ot ce mittee, included some striking variation with the less exotic examples usually including the shako with the white plume of regimental headquarters trefoil aulettes, officers’ boots and swords, Drummers and usually wore the uniform of thei company with the addition of lace on the facings and often large ‘swallows'-nest” wings worn below the company epauleties. Recorded examples of musicians’ dress include stall, officers’ habits with laced facings et comets 7th Léger: e.180g, chasseur drummer with ordinary shako, green pompon, red collar, cuffs, flaps and lapels with broad white lace, green epaulettes with red crescents, drum-belt bearing brass hunting horn badge over the stick holder. Voltigew cornet similar, yellow shako bands, yellow-over-red plume over yellow ball, facings as befor white crescent and red fr white. 8th Léger: ¢.1809, blue uniform with green collar, culls, lapels and turnbacks all laced silver{white, white-over-green plume over white ball, white shako cords; drum-major similar but silver epaulettes, silver-laced waisteoat_and_ breech yellow epaulettes with \ge, yellow collar laced ace and Austrian knots on thighs), silver-laced bicorn with nach Negro red-tipped white plume over tricolor p silver-laced red baldric with gilt plate. musician shown with green shako with black bands, green-over-white plume. Drummers in ‘company’ uniform but green collar, lapels and cull faps ed with ticolour lace roth Léger: Two recorded varieties, changed ap- parently ¢,1809. Musicians, ordinary habit-veste with red collar, blue pointed cuffs and lapels with white lace; white trefoils, waistcoat, plume, shako cords, gaiter lace and Austrian knots on thighs; officers’ sword on shoulder belt. Drummers with company distinctions plus white-laced facings ‘including loops on lapels) and seven inverted white Vs on sleeve. Alternative uniform as above, but with sky blue coat, waistcoat and breeches, sky-blue culls with red flaps, officers’ boots; fifers same, but red collar, culls and flaps laced white; drummers with ‘company’ uniforms as before, but w hout lapel loops, and sleeve chevrons of mixed red-and-white ‘Eagle’, 14th Léger, 1804 pattern. White central diamond, alternate red and blue triangles (blue at top right and bower left), all decorations gold. Reverse inscription read SL Eonprenyides frongas.iaa 17" Reyinenttd fant Lage? Gilded ‘Eagle’. lace. rath Léger: Chasseur cornet as Plate G; note that unlike ordinary chasseurs described above, comet shown with blue cufis and three-pointed red flaps, and wings instead of epauleties, all laced white. 14th Léger: Musicians originally wore mairlitons like other ranks, red ‘wing’, red-over-w c-over-bluc plume, green coat with red collar and cuff flaps, white piping and trefoils, officers’ boots, Later wore shako with wing attached as remainder of regiment, side plume coloured as before, ordinary coat with white lace edging to red collar and blue cuffs and lapels; red cull flaps piped white, 15th Léger: 1805-07, band wore red coat, pointed cufls, green collar, lapels, turnbacks and waistcoat all laced silver, silver trefoils, green breeches, officers’ boots, shako with silver lozenge plate, white diagonal cords, white plume over green ball; drum- major same, but double-width lace including Austrian knots on thighs, silver-laced bicorn, white plume over tricolour panache: like drummersmusicians, but company shako ornaments and cpaulettes, facings piped white (collar piped red), tricolour lace on collar and cuffs. Uniform of oriental musicians shown in Plate E. Band uniform 1807-09, sky-blue shako with white upper band, cords and side plume; plume at front for drummers. Red coat, collar and cuff flaps; sky-blue lapels, culls and turmbacks, laced white (including loops on lapels}, white trefoils, dark blue breeches, officers? boots; drum-major same, but longer-tailed coat, silver lace, silver-laced bicorn with white plume oversky-blue panache, black shoulder belt with gilt plate; drummers as musicians, but white epaulettes, green-laced gaiters with red tasscls, 16th Léger: Musicians ¢.1808-10, shako with white metal cagle plate and chinscales, diagonal cords, white plume; red coat, green collar, lapels and pointed cuffs all laced white, white tretoils, waistcoat and breeches, white gaiter lace; drum- major similar but silve lace and epaulettes, silver- laced hicorn, white plume over tricolour panache, silver-laced red baldric and waist belt with silver and gilt plates respectively. Voltigeur cornet shown in ame wi prm, but green plume tipped yellow, yellow epaulettes, yellow gaiter tassel with green fringe. i7th Léger. Two styles in-use; until ¢.1807-08, musi wore shako with red-over-white-over- blue side plume, white cords, sky-blue coat with red collar, culls, flaps, lapels and turnbacks all laced white, white trefoils, dark blue breeches, white gaiter lace; later with white plume transferred to front of cap, sky-blue collar and cuff flaps; drum- major same but silver lace, bicorn with red-over- blue plume. Other musicians wore ordi ary uni- form with red facings: voltigewr comet shown c.1805 with red collar, lapels, cufis, flaps and turnbacks all laced white; and c.1808 with usual blue cufls and chamois collar but still red Lape red lapels and red or blue cuffs, white lace; fambou= maitre sare, carabinier distinctions, red-plumed busby with red bag piped white, New band uniform of Polish style adopted ¢.1807-08, retaining red crimson) and sky-blue colouring of previous uniform, but with yellow coat and ezapka. Musi- cians wore same uniform as illustrated in Plate E but with shorter-tailed coat, white lace, crimson apka cords and cuffs with yellow flaps piped white, white-over-green plume, white gaiter lace; czapka plate bore brass‘17’ on white metal centre of brass ‘sunburst’ 27th Léger. Musicians c.1809, white metal eagle shako plate and chinscales, white cords and plum sky-blue coat with crimson collar, cuffs, flaps, lapels and turnbacks; white lace, trefoils and waistcoat, hej de musique same but silver lace {including upper shako band), crimson waistcoat. Two recorded versions of chasseur drummers: as musician but green plume tipped red, with either green epaulettes with red crescents or crimson ‘swallows'-nest’ wings; facings edged with tri- colour lace, crimson diamonds edged sky-blue bear- ing sky-blue les, with alternate triangles edged white, lace with sky-blue edging, Drummers similar, crimsonfellow, red ed Tage as worn by fon white, red edge. Zin =! lace, 27th Léger: blue cagles on crimson ground, blue diagonals and edge. white triangles with crimson centres, Sapeurs As for the Line infantry, sapeurs’ uniforms were ade and crossed-axes sleeve badges, apron, gauntlets, ase and case, straight-bladed sabre and carbi with beards mandatory mental variations are: usually styled on those of carabiniers, plus gi Among recorded. regi- 5th Liger: Red-plumed busby, red bag piped white: usual coat but yellow lapels piped red, blue pointed culls piped white, brass scale epaulettes with red and fringe, white badge, white gaiter edging crescent grenade-over-axes 7th Léger: Red plumed busby, red bag piped white. roth Léger eles with crescents edged white, red crossed-axes badge. rath Léger: Busby, red hag and plume, red epaulettes and axes badge Busby; red eps 15th Léger: Busby, red bag and plume, white piping and cords; red coat faced sky-blue, white badges and epaulettes, scarlet crescents; Vanson shows supewr minus apron, sky-blue waistcoat, grey trou- sers with red stripes, red cuffs with sky-blue flaps. \ Design of imperial Iace introduced for drummers on the 1842 uniform: designs for vertical seams [above] and horizontal [lhelow}. Green designs om yellow. W6ith Léger: Kolbe (1806-07) shows a Wiirttembeng- style uniform: blue coat with mauve lapels and culls, mauye collar nd turnbacks bearing blue grenades, red epauleties, mauve grenade-over-axes badge, blue breeches with mauve stripe, 1801 shako with red upper and lower bands, white metal ¢ gle-on- crescent plate, red plume, white cords; black apron and gauntlets, green waist belt with frontal pouch bearing white stitching, c.1808-10, ordinary un- form, bearskin, red plume and grenade-over-axes badge, white cords, red piping on side of gaiters. 17th Léger: ¢.1808, red epaulettes, lapels, gaiter li white grenade-over axes badge, red-plumed busby white cords; alternative version shows ordinary uniform, red-plumed bearskin, white cords, brass scale epaulettes with red crescent and fringe, three red chevrons only on upper sleeves 27th Léger: c.1808, sky-blue coat faced crimson. bearskin, red cords and plume, white grenade-over- axes badge upon red chevrons on upper sleeve. gist Léger: Zimmermann’s sapeur, c.1808, has busby with red plume, cords and bag piped white, red badges and culls, blue shoulder straps piped white, breeches with white stripe.Eagle-escorts Details of Eagles’, flags and their escorts as noted in MAA 141, Napoleon’s Line Infantry, except that the Deuxiéme and Troisitme Porle-Aigles usually wore carabinier uniform, with the usual pistol holster and. halberd; Plate G illustrates a regimental variation of the 7th Léger, in which three silver chevrons are worn on the right arm, instead of the regulation four red chevrons on each arm specified in February 1808, altered to two red chevrons in March 1811 The 1812 uniform The so-called ‘Bardin’ regulations (named after the major responsible for their issue}, introduced on 19 January 1812, reformed the Light infantry uniform as for the Line infantry, though in the same way the changes took months, evey years, to come into ellect: most of these changes were as described in the companion, MAA 141, Napoleon's Line Infantry. The 812 regulations introduced a short-tailed habit-veste with lapels closed to the waist, so that the traditional pointed-ended lapels disappeared; the coatee was dark blue with dark blue lapels and pointed cufls piped white, blue turnbacks, vertical pockets piped white, and red collar piped blue for allexcept zoltigeurs, whose chamois collars were piped blue, Turnback badges were red grenades (cara biniers) ancl white (chasseurs) or yellow hunting horns (voltigews); carabiniers retained red epaulettes, and shoulder straps were officially dark blue piped white chassears) and chamois piped blue (rottigeurs}, but many retained their epaulettes. The blue breeches were worn with knee gaiters eut straight at the top. ‘The 1812 shako was like that of the Line, carabiniers shakos (officially replacing the fur cap) being 15mm taller than those of the remainder, Garabinéers and voltigews adopted shorter horschair plumes (aig- rettes) of red and yellow respectively: chasseurs used flat, ‘lentile'-shaped pompons like fusiliers of the Line infantry, in company colours (green, sky-blue, orange and violet), though the older pompons seem to have persisted. Shakos of carabiniers and voltigenrs could have bands and side chevrons of scarlet or yellow respectively. Shako plate and. chinscales were like those of the Line, but in white metal, with the plate having the regimental number pierced in the plaque below the eagle, within the loop of an embossed hunting horn. ‘The 1812 waistcoat was like that of the Line, but dark blue with searlet shoulder straps for carabiniers and chamois for roltigenrs. The 1812 habit-ceste seems to have been in use by July 1813 for regiments in Germany. At the end of that year a shortage of smooth beige cloth caused other types of greatcoat to be authorised, of beige twill, or “mixed” cloth of white with blue interwoven, together with black leather accoutre- ments instead of buff leather, which was more difficult to obtain, As for the Line, officers’ jackets had longer t and their shakossilver upper bands of width (20, 25, 30 and 35mm) according to rank, colonels with a 15mm band below one of 35mm, with this lower band (and epaulette straps) in gold for majors Feather plumes were restricted to colonels, majors and chefs de bataitlon as in 1810, others wearing their company plume or pompon. It is uncertain how much of the 1812 regulation dress was adopted by officers (many prohably preferred the single- breasted surtout with scarlet or chamois collar for active service! but it is doubtful if certain of the 1812 provisions were ever common, for example the prescribed silver gorget with gilt Impe carlier patterns probably proliferating, | arms, For musicians, the “Imperial livery’ regulated on 30 December 1811 was like that specified for the Line, and intended to standardise the mul coloured costume then in use, The single-brcasted green uniform had a silver-laced collar for musi- double bandmaster and drum- major}, and ‘Imperial’ lace for drummers (alternate green and yellow segments, the yellow bearing interwoven eagle and * cians lace for ), sewn along on seams and as breast loops and sleeve chevron. Unlike the Line, however, the musicia regimental facings, as blue did not appear well with the green; their facings (except collar) were usually green instead of the red used on Line uniforms, The 1812 regulations ordered that sabres-briquet were to be carried by musicians instead of the popular officers’ ¢pées, but many musicians (as privately- contracted regimental employees} seem to have considered the latter their right and continued to carry them. As for the Line, numerous variations on the 1812 uniform are recorded, including the retention of the old culls (blue with red flaps: by some (e.g. 7th Léger), though the new pointed cuffs had been used unofficially by others for years. Recorded ns’ uniform did not bear iationsinclude the following details: 5th Léger: Musicians ¢.1813 wore 1812 pattern coatee, green throughout, white collar-lace and piping, white trefoils, green breeches, officers’ boots laced white; white metal lozenge shako plate bearing ‘5’, white-tipped green plume over white ball. Drummers, ordinary (lapellecl) blue habit-veste with ‘Imperial’ lace on red collar and in seven inverted © son sle roth Léger. Shakos bore large tricolour rosette instead of plate, with white loop; carabiniers, red upper and lower bands, red plume over red pompon, brass scale epaulettes, red crescent and fringe; voltigews, all these details yellow, chamois collar piped white. Sapeurs, busby, red bag and plume, yellow collar and lapels piped red, carabinier cpaulettes, yellow grenade-over-axes badge, Mus icians, green uniform and breeches, red collar laced white, red-tipped green plume. Drummers, single- breasted 1812-pattern jacket but in dark blue, yellow collar, pointed cuts, ‘swallows'-nest’ wings, blue shoulder straps piped red, white piping on culls; mixed red-and-white lace on collar, wings, as loops on breast and seven inverted ‘Vs’ on sleeve, Shako as before but yellow-over-sky-blue pompon. Fifers, lapelled Aabit-veste of sky-bhue with yellow collar, éuffs, lapels, turnbacks and ‘swallows’=nest” wings, all edged red-and-white lace, sky-blue shoulder straps piped red, sky-bluc breeches, shako as drummer. Drum-major, as filer but silver lace, trefoils, knots on thighs, officers’ boots, busby with silver-laced yellow bag, yellow plume with sky-blue tip, white shoulder belt with silver plate. 16th Léger: In Spain musicians wore green habits of ine style, with square-ended open lapels; white turnbacks and cuff piping, red piping on collar and lapels and three-pointed cuff flaps, white laced lapels and collar: green shako with white upper and lower bands, plume and cords, 1812 pattern plate, ite breeches and waisteoat, green sword knot with red tassel; drum-major, busby with red bag, white plume over pompon coloured red-over- white-over-blue, silver epaulettes, red waistcoat, red silver-laced belt, silver-laced green breeches, red-laced officers’ boots. Voltigew drummer as musicians, but company collar and epaulettes, yellow upper and lower shako bands and side chevrons, yellow cords, green plume. Musicians depicted in full dress (i.e. with plumes, etc.) but with baggy trousers made from brown Spanish cloth, the regiment's blue cloth no doubt being saved for use as coats, as would be common on active service. The Tirailleurs Corses ‘Though not part of the numbered light infantry regiments, the Corsican ‘Tirailleurs were repre- sentative ofa number of corps of non-French origin which were used as light infantry in the armies of the Empire; though in their case, the Tirailleurs Gorses were sufficiently ‘French’ to warrant inclusion with the bona fide French light infantry On 8 July 1802 Bonaparte decreed that a battalion of Corsican sharpshooters (volunteers from the Depts. of Golo and Liamone) be attached to the grd Demi-Brigade Légére at Antibes, and in May 1803 the Bataillon de Chasseurs Corses became the grd Bn. of the 8th Léger. Composed of one carabinier and eight chasseur companies, the battalion formed a valtigewr company in March 1804. In the following month it was granted autonomy as the Bataillon de Tirailleurs Corses, commanded by Napoleon's cousin Philippe Antoine @’Ornano, future colonel of the Imperial Guard Dragoons, and received an ‘Eagle’ on 5, December 1804. In 1809 the strength consisted of seven chasseur companies (total 493 men), 64 carabiniers, 80 voltigeurs, eleven drummers and two comets, plus a depét company at Antibes, On active service from 1805 to 1810, it was reduced to six companies in September 1810 (in accordance with the re-structuring decreed in February 1808), when n enquiry by Napoleon 60-odd chassews of ican birth were transferred to the 18th Léger to maintain the Corsican character of the corps. On 8 September 1811 the remaining 18 officers and 679 men were transferred to the 11th Léger when the Tirailleurs Corses were disbanded. The original uniform of the Tirailleurs was apparently like that of the Light regiments (blue, red collar, white piping) but between 1805 and 1808 it is thought that green facings were worn (Plate ©), extant clothing records confirming an unidentified (contemporary?) source copied by Quinto Cenni. By 1809 (according to th upon Carl