The Uniforms of the French Army under Napoleon I (1800 - 1815) - The Cavalry - Chasseurs on Horseback

Since 1779 there were chasseurs on horseback in the French Army (6 regiments).

In 1784 the existing units were called:

1. Chasseurs des Alpes

2. Chasseurs des Pyrénées

3. Chasseurs des Vosges

4. Chasseurs des Cévennes

5. Chasseurs des Gévaudan

6. Chasseurs des Ardennes

In 1788 another 6 regiments of chasseurs on horseback were established.

The now existing 12 regiments bore the following designations:

1. Regiment de Chasseurs ex-Alsace

2. Regiment de Chasseurs ex-Evéchés

3. Regiment de Chasseurs ex Flandres

4. Regiment de Chasseurs ex Franche-Comté

5. Regiment de Chasseurs ex Hainaut

6. Regiment de Chasseurs ex Languedoc

7. Regiment de Chasseurs ex Picardie

8. Regiment de Chasseurs ex Guyenne

9. Regiment de Chasseurs ex Lorraine

10. Regiment de Chasseurs ex Bretagne

11. Regiment de Chasseurs ex Normandie

12. Regiment de Chasseurs ex Champagne.

By 1791 there were already 23 regiments of chasseurs on horseback.

The following year this cavalry branch was increased to 25 regiments.

In 1801 there were 26 units. Finally the chasseurs on horseback numbered 31 formations (1811).

Regiments 30 and 31 were converted into chevau-légers.

Each regiment was organized into four divisions of two companies each.

The chasseurs on horseback belonged to the light cavalry. In the 1805 campaign each army corps had a division of light cavalry. This consisted of hussars and chasseurs on horseback.

Their task was above all reconnaissance and the concealment of troop movements or the capture of enemy supplies.

In the Russian campaign (1812) the regiments of chasseurs on horseback employed were: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 16, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25 and 28.

Nine regiments of chasseurs on horseback took part in the Battle of Waterloo (1815) (1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11 and 12).

The base color of the uniform of the chasseurs on horseback was from the beginning (dark) green.

Initially the chasseurs on horseback were uniformed like the hussars, i.e., they wore a dolman and a winged cap.

From 1804, however, the uniform was changed. From then on the chasseurs on horseback were to wear a coat with long skirts.

In part the hussar uniform continued to be worn, for example by the 27th Regiment until 1814.

The regiments were distinguished by a specific distinguishing color.

This distinguishing color was shown on the collar and the sleeve- and skirt-facings.

A hunting horn was shown in the skirt facings of the coat.

With the change of uniform, shakos also became common. This generally showed a metal plate at the front in the shape of a diamond. The shako's hanging cloth was white.

The headgear was furthermore adorned with a plume. This usually showed the regimental distinguishing color.

The shako could also have red cords or trim stripes (mostly in elite companies) or a cover (not an overcover) in the regimental color.

The pompons of the shakos usually had the following colors: 1st squadron = red, 2nd squadron = sky blue, 3rd squadron = orange and 4th squadron = violet.

In the field a cover could be worn over the shako.

Overtrousers or breeches with boots were customary in active service.

Later the double-breasted frock coat (habit) was introduced. This retained the (dark) green base color, but had, among other things, facings in the regimental color.

In parallel a single-breasted greatcoat (surtout) was also worn. This too had, among other things, facings.

Even in the Russian campaign the old long-skirted uniform was still mainly worn.

The regimental distinguishing colors according to Cassin-Scott were as follows:

The elite companies of the chasseurs on horseback wore the kolpak with cap bag and (red) plume. These features marked their elite status.

The skirt facings showed a bursting grenade. Red epaulettes were also worn.

The chasseurs on horseback were armed with a saber with a brass hilt and a carbine.

The leather equipment was white. However, there are also depictions with black leather equipment.

Among the officers the bandolier was richly ornamented (see further below with the portraits).

The trumpeters of the chasseurs on horseback often wore coats in reversed colors, as was also customary in the cavalry branches.

On trumpeter uniforms:

Documented for the 1st Regiment are:

red dolman with white braiding (1800 - 1802)

red single-breasted coat with red collar with white piping (1807-08) together with fur cap with white plume with red tip

red single-breasted coat with green collar and skirt facings, but the sleeve cuffs red and tapered. Together with fur cap with red plume for the elite company and shako for the remaining companies with green-red plume.

Documented for the 5th Regiment:

a yellow long-tailed coat with green collar, sleeve and skirt cuffs (1807).

Documented for the 7th Regiment:

pink surcoat with green collar, sleeve and skirt cuffs and (front) white braid trim, together with fur caps with white plume with pink tip (1808-09, also 1810)

pink single-breasted coat with green collar, sleeve and skirt cuffs. The shako is covered in pink and has a white trim stripe. The plume is also (entirely) white (1808-09).

An illustration by Benigni shows a trumpeter of the 7th Regiment in the green waistcoat-coat or spencer with the imperial livery introduced in 1812 (1812-13).

The officers' uniform had silver braid, epaulettes and a corresponding cap or shako ornament. The cartridge boxes were also silver-mounted, as were the sword knot and the saddlecloth.

Fur caps were and remain popular with the officers.