By Paul L. Dawson

 

Released at the end of the month and on pre-order is my next book concerning the dress and equipment of the French Army 1789-1815. Our volume looks at the period 1786-1802.

A lot of mythos has developed about what or what was not actually worn: sadly archive documents do not help us that much until the later 1790's. We are exceptionally well informed of what was worn upto 1792 and from 1797. The first amalgam is not recorded in any meaningful way. Once Bernadotte is made the very effective and efficient Minister of War, insisting on on six monthly inspections of regiments, rather than every 18 months, and a formal review of the purchase system of uniform and equipment, we can start talking with a degree of certainty about what was worn.

At the end of 1796 (yes I know I should be using the Revolutionary calendar!) a huge stock taking was undertaken so the War Ministry had an idea of the needs of the armed forces. So we know from a synthesis of this data not one grenadier in the Ligne or Carabinier in the legere had a bearskin. Gaiters were black tricot or white linen gaiters were blackened at the end of each year, to be used on the march, giving the soldier three pairs. Pantalons de route did not exist, nor would they till 1802! Some men had capotes, but they were issued to units garrisoned in areas known to be cold in the winter. They were not yet standard issue. 90% of Ligne units had blackened cow hide leather work. Some whitened buff leather was in use. Drums were a mix of brass bodied and wooden.

A synthesis of the reviews undertaken in 1799 shows, a mix of blackened cow hide equipment for the Ligne and Legere, bearskins are few and far between, less than 3% of units have them. We find virtually no sapeurs in any inspections (just like the 1e Empire!). Again a mix of drums, wood and brass were in use. It was under Bernadotte that buff leather was formally re-adopted for equipment. The "famous" 1801 regulation is nothing more than earlier decree repeated by Napoleon as Consul. As readers of my books will be aware, regiments at Austerlitz still had blackened cow hide banderole de giberne, bretelle de fusil, porte caisse etc.

No hint at all exists of grenadiers having anything other than a standard white broadcloth veste manche with blue collar and cuffs. A note from the War Ministry allows red collar and cuffs in 1796, but we find no grenadiers vestes in any inspection, and by the time the 1802 regulation is issued, the grenadiers and fusiliers have the same garment.

From summer 1802 (and the course of the Empire) the veste manche is made from tricot. Officially the basques (skirts) are removed in 1802, the bottom edge to be 2.5pouces below the bottom button i.e a lot shorter than 1791, and the buttons on the pockets are removed. This regulation (1802) allows for sapeurs, bearskins for grenadiers (throughout the 1e Empire most grenadiers NEVER had a bearskin in the Ligne or Legere), grenadiers epaulettes, linen pantalon de route, a linen veste sans manche for use in the summer. The pantalons and veste were to be paid for by using the regimental funds previously allocated for white gaiters, which were to be discontinued. Half gaiters made from natural linen with bone buttons were to be worn under the pantalons de route.

What to know more? Our book may have the answers you seek.