From: Neal Smith <sasrns@unx.sas.com>
Subject: Re: Prussian Military
Keywords: books history prussia
Organization: SAS Institute Inc.
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 17:43:31 GMT


From Neal Smith <sasrns@unx.sas.com>



In article <BzB9qq.16v@law7.DaytonOH.NCR.COM>, you write:
|>
|> From "patterson,george r" <patter@dasher.cc.bellcore.com>
|>
|> The hussar was a lightly armed cavalryman. "Battledress", by I.T. Schick
|> (ISBN 0 907408 72 9) shows several uniforms from the Prussian armies of this
|> period. Apparently every unit had their own. Most are depicted with bearskin
|> hats, as are now worn by the British palace guards. The hussar typically
|> wore his coat over one shoulder (strapped to his throat) with both arms
|> outside the sleeves.

  The hussar originated with the Hungarian troops of the Austro-Hungarian
Empire and they were light cavalry.  Their duties included scouting,
raiding, etc.  During this time period there was a lot of variety in
their uniforms, some regiments didn't even have official requirements.
Most of the hats were probably really Colpacks which are not the same
as the bearskin that the Napoleonic French Guard or the present day
British guardsmen wear.  It was actually a lot rounder and shorter and
probably had a "bag" attached to it.  These units also wore a Mirliton
which can be visualized by thinking of an elongated Fez.  Well, it's
close to what it looked like!  8-)  The Pelisse(?) was generally worn
around the upper body, like a cloak with sleeves.  I think this was
more for style and I believe that they actually wore this as a jacket
more often than not.  That is purely speculation.

|>
|> The dragoons were heavily armed calvalry. The uniform resembled the US
|> revolutionary army uniform, but the boots come to mid-thigh and the hat is
|> a two-cornered cocked hat with a plume.
|>
    The dragoons were still considered mounted infantry at this time and
fought this way I would say at least 50% of the time.  They were not
considered battlefield cavalry.  The battlefield cavalry was still called
"cavalry" or "heavy horse" during this time period.


|> In this period, grenadiers were foot soldiers who threw grenades. This was
|> a specialized job which required great strength and skill. They also were
|> armed with musket and short sabre. The Prussian grenadier of the 1700s wore
|> the type of uniform which is seen in paintings of the Hessian troops during
|> the US Revolution. The most distinctive feature was the tall arch shaped hat.
|>
   A lot of these Hessian troops were actually fusiliers.  The mitre
caps look the same as most grenadier caps, but the fusilier caps are
shorter than the grenadier caps.  This is a common misconception, not
all of the Hessian troops were grenadiers.  Usually only part of a
battalion was grenadier and the rest were fusiliers.  This applied
even if the battalion was designated "grenadier."

|> >One of my ancestors was a 'Feldjaeger' in the Royal Prussian Army ...
|>
|> This would be light calvalry, similar to the British "lancers". Literally it
|> means "field hunter".
|>

   Oh so he was a woodsmen, huh?  These units, at least in later periods,
were light infantry.  They were generally recruited from woodsmen and
hunters.

   A good "general" starting point is usually an Osprey book.  These can be
found at most hobby shops that deal in miniature figures and boardgames.  They
are a little expensive, but they give pictures, unit organization, general
history of the period, details on uniforms, etc.  There are several on
Freddie and his adversaries.

Later
Neal Smith
sasrns@unx.sas.com


P.S.  I don't want to appear a know it all and I haven't studied 
Fred as much as I have the Nappy Wars, but I do like this stuff!!!