The Uniforms of the French Army under Napoleon I. (1800 - 1815) - (Old) Imperial Guard - Foot Chasseurs
Formation history
The Imperial Guard included, in addition to the general staff, the Corps of Foot Grenadiers, the Corps of Foot Chasseurs and the Guard's pupils, as well as the cavalry and other formations such as the elite and ordnance gendarmes, the artillery, the pioneers, etc..
The Corps of Foot Chasseurs underwent the same organizational development as the Corps of Foot Grenadiers. Over time there were four regiments of Foot Chasseurs (Chasseurs), which were raised on 02.12.1799 (1st), 15.04.1806 (2nd), 08.04.1815 (3rd) and 09.05.1815 (4th).
All four regiments fought in the Battle of Waterloo (18.06.1815). According to Haythornthwaite (The Uniforms of the Battle of Waterloo, p. 148) they had the following strengths there: 1st Foot Chasseurs: 41 officers, 1307 men; 2nd Foot Chasseurs: 35 officers and 1200 men; 3rd Foot Chasseurs: 38 officers and 1100 men. The 4th Foot Chasseurs comprised only one battalion. The losses of the aforementioned units in that battle were enormous; the 3rd Foot Chasseurs alone lost 25 officers in the battle. Ultimately they were disbanded in October of 1815.
Uniforms and Equipment
The uniform of the Foot Chasseurs was fundamentally the same as that of the Foot Grenadiers. Their distinctive feature, however, was the unadorned black bearskin cap; in early times the cap sometimes also had a cloth top. The fur cap was decorated with white braided cords with double tassels. The plume was green at the bottom and red at the top. Until 1806 the green portion predominated. Furthermore, the usual French cockade was worn on this headdress.
The cut of the coat underwent the same fashion development as that of the Foot Grenadiers. It had a blue collar as well as white lapels and red—tapering—sleeve cuffs (manschetten) with white piping. The green epaulettes had a red crescent with red fringe. The red skirt flaps were decorated with hunting horns or grenades. Under the coat a white waistcoat was worn.
In the field, however, the simple single-breasted blue surtout (overcoat) was frequently worn. The field cap showed an orange hunting horn on the front.
In summer white trousers were to be worn and in winter blue ones.
The parade uniform included white gaiters in summer and black ones in winter.
The hat (bicorne) resembled, like the coat, the models of the Foot Grenadiers.
The leather cross-belts worn across the chest were white.
