FRENCH NAPOLEONIC DRAGOON UNIFORMS |
FRENCH DRAGOON REGIMENTS 1804-15
Updated 15 April 2006
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| REGIMENTAL FACING COLOR AND POSITIONS |
| TRUMPETERS UNIFORMS |
| RANK AND INSIGNIA |
| DRAGOON REGIMENT ORGANIZATION |
| BIBLIOGRAPHY |
REGIMENTAL FACING COLORS AND POSITIONS
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Facing color positions are lapels, turnbacks, collar, cuffs, and cuff-flaps (piped dark green). Facing color for all regiments on lapels and turnbacks piped dark green. Dark green facing color positions piped in the facing color. The lace color of all dragoon regiments was white (silver for officers). |
DRAGOON REGIMENTS
| Pockets | Scarlet | Crimson | Pink | Yellow | Orange | Position |
| Horizontal |
1 | 7 | 13 | 19 | 25 | cuffs, cuff flaps, collar |
| 2 | 8 | 14 | 20 | 26 | cuffs | |
| 3 | 9 | 15 | 21 | 27 | cuff flaps, collar | |
| Vertical | 4 | 10 | 16 | 22 | 28 | cuffs, cuff flaps, collar |
| 5 | 11 | 17 | 23 | 29 | cuffs | |
| 6 | 12 | 18 | 24 | 30 | cuff flaps, collar |
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In general, trumpeters wore the reverse colors of their regiment. For example, a trumpeter of the 28th Dragoon Regiment would wear an orange coat with cuffs, cuff-flaps, and collar in dark green piped orange. However, trumpeter uniforms varied widely at any one time. Trumpeters typically rode white or gray horses. |
IN WHITE (SILVER FOR OFFICERS AND SENIOR SERGEANTS, AS NOTED BELOW)
| RANK | EQUIVALENT | RANK | EPAULETTES |
| Brigadier | Corporal | Two chevrons in white | Dark green piped in the facing color |
| Brigadier-fourrier | Corporal | Two chevrons plus one bar above in white | Dark green piped in the facing color |
| Brigadier-trompette | Trumpeter Corporal | Two chevrons in white | Dark green piped in the facing color |
| Marechal-des-logis | Sergeant | One chevron in silver | |
| Trompette-major | Sergeant | One chevron in silver | |
| Marechal-des-logis chef | First Sergeant | Two chevrons in silver | |
| Adjustant-sous-officier | Sergeant Major | Three chevrons in silver | |
| Sous-Lieutenant | 2nd Lieutenant | One chevron in silver | |
| Lieutenant | 1st Lieutenant | Two chevrons in silver | |
| Capitaine | Captain | One large and two small chevrons or three small chevrons in silver | |
| Chef de Escadron | Major | Two large and one small chevron in silver | |
| Major | Lt. Colonel | Three large and three small chevrons in silver | |
| Colonel | Colonel | Three large and three small chevrons in silver |
The regiment consisted of a regimental staff (état-major) and four squadrons (escadrons) each of two companies (compagnies). The 1st Company of the 1st Squadron was the Elite Company (compagnie d'elite) and all officers and men usually wore the tall fur bonnet. All of the other companies were called center companies (compagnie du centre) and they wore the dragoon helmet with flowing black horsehair tail (trumpeters white). Each company was further divided into two platoons (peletons).
The état-major had a strength of nineteen men: colonel, major, chefs d'escadron (2), adjutant-majors (2), quartier-maître, surgeon-major, surgeon aide-major, surgeon sous-aide(2), adjutant sous-officiers (2), brigadier-trompette, veterinerian, master tailor, master saddle maker, master boot maker, and master armorer/sword maker.
Each company had a total war-time strength of 116 officers and men as follows: captain, lieutenant, sous-lieutenant, sergeant-major (maréchal des logis chef), four sergeants (maréchal des logis), a fourrier, eight corporals (brigadiers), 86 mounted troopers (soldats), 10 unmounted troopers, and 2 trumpeters (trompettes).
Total war-time strength of a dragoon regiment was 947 officers and men. In reality on compaign, a regiment of four hussar squadrons probably averaged about 450 men due to casualties, illness, leave, and availability of mounts.
Splendeur des Uniformes de Napoléon: Cavalerie. Éditions Charles Hérissey, Évereux, France, 2002. ISBN 2914417071.
La Cavalerie Légere, Les Uniformes du Premier Empire, Collection du Cdt E. -L. Buquoy, Jacques Grancher, Editor, Paris, 1980.
L'Armée Française, Plate #57, Hussards 1804-1812. Lucien Rousellot.
Napoleon and Austerlitz, "The Glory Years" of 1805-1807, Volume 1. Scott Bowden, The Emperor's Press, Chicago, Illinois, 1997. ISBN 0962665576.
Napoleon's Dragoons and Lancers. Emir Bukhari with colour plates by Angus McBride, Osprey Publishing Ltd, London, 1976. ISBN 0850452465.
Napoleon's Regiments, Battle Histories of the Regiments of the French Army, 1792-1815. Digby Smith, Stackpole Books, Pennsylvania, 2000. ISBN 1850450888.
Miniaturas Labayen Color Guides, Series 31 (Hussars). Ramon Labayen, Spain.
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