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The Uniforms of the French Army under Napoleon I. (1800 - 1815) - The Infantry - The White Uniform

French infantryman in white uniform. Original small-format watercolor by Cdt. Landret from the year 1947.
French infantryman in white uniform. Original small-format watercolor by Cdt. Landret from the year 1947.

The characteristic base color of the French infantry before the Revolution was white.

The infantry in the spirit of the Revolution was dressed in the French national colors, that is blue with white and red.

These colors were also shown by the French tricolor. Their origin is explained by the colors of the coat of arms of Paris (red and blue) and the color of the king (white). It was also used as a war flag.

French infantrymen in white uniforms. Drawing by the author.
French infantrymen in white uniforms. Drawing by the author.

Subsequently, the French infantry of the First Empire wore a blue long-tailed coat with white lapels. The collar and the sleeve turnbacks were red. The latter had blue patches. The skirt flaps were red. The lapels had red edgings, the edgings of the sleeve turnbacks were white, those of the patches red. The red collar was edged in white. The waistcoats were white, the gaiters white and in the field black.

Officer and voltigeur of the 3rd French Infantry Regiment. Original facsimile after a template from the so-called Otto Manuscript (c. 1808).
Officer and voltigeur of the 3rd French Infantry Regiment. Original facsimile after a template from the so-called Otto Manuscript (c. 1808).

The consequences of the Continental System led to supply difficulties in various areas, so there was soon a shortage of indigo dye. This dye is obtained from the indigo plant and is used to color clothing. In color theory, indigo denotes several shades between blue and violet.

This development also affected the uniform industry, i.e., the army could no longer be sufficiently supplied with uniforms in the base color blue.

As a way out of this shortage, uniforms with a white base color were (re)introduced — at least partially — (1806/07).

French infantrymen in white uniforms in Hamburg. Original facsimile after the contemporary manuscript of the citizen of Hamburg (Suhr).
French infantrymen in white uniforms in Hamburg. Original facsimile after the contemporary manuscript of the citizen of Hamburg (Suhr).

According to Jack Cassin-Scott (Uniforms of the Napoleonic Wars, Munich 1974, p. 130 f.) the following regiments were assigned white uniforms:

3, 4, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 32, 33, 34, 46, 53 and 86.

However, there is differing information on this; for example, Funcken (Historical Uniforms. Napoleonic Era, vol. 3, Munich 1978, p. 3) omits IR 32.

The 17th Line Infantry Regiment in Hamburg 1807-08. Color drawing by Henri Boisselier. Scan provided by Fabrice Delamare.
The 17th Line Infantry Regiment in Hamburg 1807-08. Color drawing by Henri Boisselier. Scan provided by Fabrice Delamare.

The white uniform corresponded in cut to the previous blue uniform, as did the other equipment.

However, this was only an unconvincing makeshift. By 1808 the white uniforms had been replaced again by the previous blue uniforms.

French infantrymen in the white uniform. Sketches by the French military painter Pierre Albert Leroux (1890 -1959).
French infantrymen in the white uniform. Sketches by the French military painter Pierre Albert Leroux (1890 -1959).
French infantrymen in the white uniform. Sketches by the French military painter Pierre Albert Leroux (1890 -1959).
French infantrymen in the white uniform. Sketches by the French military painter Pierre Albert Leroux (1890 -1959).

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The Uniforms of the French Army under Napoleon I (1800 - 1815) - The Cavalry - Dragoons

Dragoons already belonged to the royal French army. Thus, according to the Military Almanac (1780), the French army in 1779 counted twenty-four regular dragoon regiments. In total, in 1789 there were 62 cavalry regiments, each comprising 4 squadrons. Of these, 18 belonged to the dragoon arm. During the Revolution there were various reorganizations. From 1791 the dragoon regiments were divided into three divisions, the number of which was increased again to four from 1793. Under the First Consul the number of dragoon regiments was increased to 30 units on 24.09.1803. This number still existed in 1812.