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

Like all armies in the Napoleonic era, the French army included all branches of service.

It consisted primarily of the actual French troops, but it also included numerous foreign regiments and the contingents of associated vassal states, e.g. the troops of the so-called Rhine Confederation states ("Confédération du Rhin", founded 1806).

The infantry, however, was the backbone of the Napoleonic army.

The Napoleonic infantry had its origin in the sweeping restructuring of the French military system during the revolutionary years (from 1789).

Prior to that time the French infantry comprised 102 line regiments. Of these 79 were French and 23 were foreign regiments.

Furthermore there also existed 12 battalions of "chasseurs à pied", 7 colonial regiments, 1 regiment of marine infantry and the provincial troops.

On 01.01.1791 the old traditional - aristocratic - regimental names were abolished and replaced by simple numbers.

On 04.03.1791 the disbandment of the aforementioned provincial troops was ordered. These were replaced by the National Guard.

In this context 169 new volunteer battalions were to be raised. Their formation and recruitment were the responsibility of the respective départements (= state administrative units).

In view of the military threat to the young French Republic by the established European powers, the National Convention ordered the "levée en masse" in 1793.

This was a kind of mass levy, i.e. a comprehensive form of conscription. It basically obliged all single and widowed (that is, unmarried) men aged 18 to 25 to perform military service.

This enabled revolutionary France to expand its army quickly and significantly and, by accessing a large reservoir of recruits, to gain a numerical superiority over the Coalition powers. This was an important advantage in the ongoing hostilities.

Troop numbers were significantly increased by this (coercive) measure. In the spring of 1793 the French army numbered 200,000 men. By the summer of that year it was already 500,000 soldiers. In the autumn the headcount of the French army is said to have been 732,000 men and in the winter even 804,000 men. However, this strength decreased rapidly in the subsequent years through wounds and death, but also through numerous desertions (= fleeing the colors).

Moreover, this state conscription also led to unrest and resistance among the population.

The decisive organizer of this extensive mobilization was Lazare Nicolas Marguerite Carnot (* 13.05.1753 in Nolay, Burgundy, today Département Côte-d’Or; † 02.08.1823 in Magdeburg). He belonged to the Committee of Public Safety and was responsible there for military affairs. Under Napoleon Bonaparte he was appointed Minister of War.

The infantry of revolutionary France consisted on the one hand of soldiers who had already served under the Ancien Régime ("Les blancs") and on the other hand of volunteers or conscripts ("Les bleus"). These were two very different groups that differed greatly in their military usefulness. While the old soldiers were of course better trained and experienced, among the new soldiers were many French citizens enthusiastic about revolutionary ideals. However, in a crisis they lacked not only training but also steadiness and discipline.

In order to combine or compensate for the advantages of the two different groups, the formation of demi-brigades ("demi-brigade de ligne" and "demi-brigades légères") was ordered already on 21.01.1783. These each consisted of one regular and two volunteer battalions. This mixture of old and new troop elements, which came into effect on 08.01.1794, was called the "Amalgame".

Thus 209 demi-brigades of the line and 42 demi-brigades of light infantry were created.

"A 'demi-brigade de ligne' consisted according to the decree of 21.02.1793 of 2,437 officers, non-commissioned officers and men, and was organized into:

- a brigade staff consisting of 31 officers, non-commissioned officers and men

- three battalions (one of the regular troops and two volunteer battalions), each with

- a grenadier company, consisting of 3 officers and 62 grenadiers

- eight fusilier companies, consisting of 3 officers and 86 riflemen

- a field gun company with 6 four-pounder guns" (Wikipedia).

By a decree of 29.11.1793 the number of volunteer battalions in some demi-brigades was increased to four or five.

Two demi-brigades formed a brigade, two brigades formed a division. Other units also belonged to the division.

The term "demi-brigade" was also used later - after the reintroduction of regiments - e.g. for the creation of provisional or composite formations.

Around 1805 the number of old soldiers (from the Revolution and the Consulate) was still estimated at about 50% (Funcken, Historical Uniforms. Napoleonic Era. Vol. 1, p. 26).

By imperial decree of 18.02.1808 it was determined that in future an infantry regiment should consist of 5 battalions.

The first 4 battalions were war battalions and consisted of 1 grenadier, 1 voltigeur and 4 fusilier companies.

The 5th battalion was a depot battalion, which comprised only 4 fusilier companies. It was commanded by a major; under him a captain had command authority. The latter also led one company. The depot battalion also included an adjutant and two staff sergeants.

According to Emile Nußbaum each company counted 3 officers, 1 sergeant, 4 corporals, 1 Fourier-corporal (clerk), 8 corporals, 2 drummers (2 buglers with the voltigeurs) and 121 privates.

The battalion was commanded by a "chef de bataillon". He was supported by 1 adjutant and 2 staff sergeants.

The regimental staff was formed from: 1 colonel, 1 major, 4 battalion commanders, 5 adjutants, 1 quartermaster/paymaster, 1 accountant and 1 eagle-bearer.

Thus the regiment numbered in total 108 officers and 3,862 men.

Each battalion included 4 carpenters, who were assigned to the grenadier company.

Each company also included 2 boy soldiers.

These were fifers or drummers (from age 16). Only from 18 years of age were they considered regular soldiers.

According to Peter Schuchardt the French infantry regiment of the last years of the Empire consisted of up to 7 battalions. These each comprised 6 companies. Two of these companies - a grenadier and a voltigeur company - were considered elite companies. The still existing depot battalion consisted only of 4 companies and was responsible for receiving new recruits.

In 1813 the line infantry comprised 156 regiments, but only on paper, as a total of 21 numbers were vacant.

The deployment of the French infantry is described by Funcken (Historical Uniforms. Napoleonic Era. Vol. 1, p. 26) as follows:

"In battle the battalion deployed its fusilier companies in the center, which is why they were also called center companies, and the elite companies on the flanks: voltigeurs on the left and grenadiers on the right. In the light infantry the grenadiers were replaced by carabiniers. Two or three regiments formed a brigade, two brigades formed a division.

The elite companies had clearly defined tasks. The voltigeurs, for whom small, extremely nimble men were selected, were to swarm out in front of the masses of the enemy infantry and disturb them with arbitrary but targeted harassing fire. The grenadiers, on the other hand, were of tall stature and pulled the fusiliers of the center companies with them or, as the case may be, pushed them forward."

In the corresponding imperial decree (18.02.1808) it states: "In action the grenadier company fights on the right flank of the battalion and that of the light infantry on the left (paragraph 5). When all six companies of a battalion are together, one will always march and act by division. If the grenadiers and the light infantry are not present, the battalion maneuvers and marches by company. Two companies will form a division, each company a company-tract and each half-company a section (paragraph 7)" (quoted from: H. C. B. Rogers, The Army of Napoleon, Stuttgart 1976, p. 99).

M. A. Martin Mas (La Grande Armée. The History of Napoleon's Army, Berlin 2005, p. 41) comments on the grenadiers and carabiniers as follows: "Both the grenadiers and the carabiniers were elite soldiers chosen for their height, combat experience and courage. Since newly raised regiments had no combat experience yet, nothing could be said about the bravest among their ranks, so they also had no grenadier companies." The captain selected suitable replacements for the grenadier company from the fusilier companies at certain intervals (here quote Coignet!).

The voltigeurs were regularly excellent shooters and were predestined for independent action in front of the battalion's line. According to the aforementioned M. A. Martin Mas the "best battalions of the line infantry ... were on a par with the light infantry, even though the former were not as well suited for skirmishing tasks. The line infantry fought en masse, advanced in line, formed columns and squares and in all its maneuvers depended on the orders of its officers" (ibid., p. 40).

The new French infantry made a lasting impression on contemporaries, with their military effectiveness often contrasting with their external appearance. A Danish subaltern officer reported on his journey through Germany in 1802 - transmitted by the military historian Preben Kannik - the following: "In Mainz L. saw French troops for the first time, and like so many observers he was most struck by the lack of uniformity. The guard parade assembled on the square in front of his quarters, and here he noticed that only the 'Chasseur à cheval et à pied' were smartly dressed in neat uniforms, while the line infantry looked dreadful. 'Coats and bicornes are the only uniform things; otherwise everyone comes as he pleases, some with boots, others with white, blue or brown trousers, others had coats with hanging pieces and a bandolier over them. The grenadiers had smart red plumes. The parade was formed in three ranks and performed the wheelings in platoons in the parade march very sluggishly. About 40 drummers beat the march while at the same time the heavily manned Janissary music played. The parade had hardly marched 50 paces when the music stopped and each guard marched off to its destination in the greatest disorder. L. noticed that the bayonets were small'" (ZfH, 1960, p. 2 ff.).

In the communications on the history of military dress belonging to Richard Knötel's "Great Uniform Studies" published by the Babenzien publishing house in Rathenow, there is another contemporary judgment by the historian and literary scholar Wolfgang Menzel: ".... In the spring (1807) we quartered French line infantry, which caused a great sensation. I often watched these still half-sansculottes when they drilled in the open field, and my heart felt well at that sight. Our entire population (Waldenburg in Silesia) somewhat shared the feeling, for it was impossible to see the martial fellows without becoming a little enthusiastic about them. They still wore the old-fashioned hats from the time before and during the Revolution and short thick pigtails. Only the red epaulettes gave them some splendor. Otherwise their uniforms were a frock coat with a high waist and long skirts, very worn, and their trousers were of all colors, mostly homemade from plundered bed linen. But their brown, daring faces, their sparkling eyes and the elasticity, swiftness and energy of their movements, above all the fire of their bayonet charge, convinced the onlookers that here we saw the first soldiers of the world. In their appearance there was something roguish, especially when they marched disorderly and took everything possible with them and impaled it on their bayonets. But the heroic character nevertheless prevailed over that of the robber. One was ashamed at the sight of these somewhat unclean but genuine warriors compared to the previous Prussian parade system...".

Knötel (Handbook of Uniform Studies, Hamburg 1937, p. 158) describes the coat of the newly formed National Guard as follows: "Blue coat with white lining, the same facings and cuff flaps, red collar and cuffs. The center companies wore hats, also possibly the helmet then customary with the chasseurs; the grenadiers the bearskin, which however was abolished as too costly and replaced by the hat with a red plume. Nevertheless the bearskin reappears repeatedly. The uniform just described was adopted in 1793 by the line infantry, which was then formed into demi-brigades. Each demi-brigade consisted of one line battalion and two battalions of volunteers of the National Guards. In 1803 the organization was again abolished and regiments were formed again."

Many old soldiers found it difficult to give up the white base color of the uniform from the royal era, and it was officially criticized that many officers still wore their long white coats. Ordinary soldiers also continued to wear their previous white coats off duty or during parades for quite some time and used their old regimental buttons on the new blue uniforms.

The cut and color of the coat of the new uniform did not change until 1807, although the bearskins were now larger.

When there was a shortage of indigo (dye), the white coat was reintroduced temporarily in 1806, at first only in certain regiments: Nos. 3, 4, 8, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 24, 25, 27, 28, 33, 34 and 86.

After a substitute for the missing dye was found in France, the (then) traditional blue base color of the uniform was restored in October 1807 (see the specialist article on the white uniform in this focus).

The infantry of the revolutionary years predominantly wore the hat, but bearskins and fur helmets were also worn.

The hat was worn or

At times the bearskin disappeared, but returned - now larger. The shako was intended to replace the hat, but in the early campaigns under Napoleon I the hat (bicorn) remained in use for a long time.

The bicorne was worn either with the point to the front or sideways.

The shako consisted of a body of felt. This was reinforced or bound with leather and had a visor (made of leather).

At the back the shako had a buckle to adjust the individual head circumference.

The shako was decorated in front with a copper plate and above in the center with the French cockade.

Above that there was a colored pompon or a plume.

The trim, however, changed its form over time.

The shako was also adorned with a braided cord from which two plates with tassels hung.

A chin strap provided a secure hold for the bulky headgear.

In the field the shako was regularly protected or concealed by a cover made of linen or oilcloth.

In 1810 the pendants were abolished, but in practice they continued to be worn.

The slightly shorter but broader shako issued from 1811 had a new cap plate. It showed the imperial eagle on a semicircular plate with the respective regimental number.

The black bearskin was adorned in front with a shield bearing a flaming grenade. On the left a (red) plume was worn above the cockade. Furthermore the bearskin had a (white) hanging.

Depictions also show bearskins without a front plate; the bearskins of the sappers regularly lacked this.

In 1812 the external appearance of the French infantry was fundamentally changed by the so-called "Bardin Reform". The author was Baron Étienne Alexandre Bardin (1774–1840), colonel with the grenadiers of the Imperial Guard.

In place of the long-skirted coat with pointed facings the Habit-Veste (= spencer) was introduced. This was a short-skirted, closed-in-front uniform coat with facings that were closed up to just above the hip.

The dark blue base color was retained for the line infantry. The facings also remained white but were edged in red.

The sleeve cuffs were now uniformly dark blue and were rectangular with a red edging.

The short coat skirts were white with different badges attached to them for grenadiers, voltigeurs and fusiliers.

The fusiliers wore cloth shoulder straps and colored pompons on the shako varying by company.

The collar was, as with the grenadiers, red with a blue edging.

The sleeve cuffs were red with a blue edging and blue patches.

In the skirt flaps of the Habit-Veste the fusiliers wore a blue N.

"Corporals wore 2 yellow woolen braids, 25 mm wide, across the cuff flap. Nicolet shows them sewn on red, zig-zag cut cloth. The Fourier wore a gold braid across the upper arm, the sergeant one gold across the cuff flap, the sergeant-major two. All metal braids were on red cloth.

After ten years of service soldiers and non-commissioned officers began to have a red, 25 mm wide stripe sewn on the left upper arm; after 15 years two, after 20 years three. The above stripes were spaced 10 mm apart.

Fifers retained the company coat, with drummer braids."

Source: Emile Nußbahm (Strasbourg), The French 18th Line Infantry Regiment in Strasbourg 1814-14, in: ZfH 19.., p. 63 ff.). Further reference: Robert v. Arnoldi, The 57th French Line Infantry Regiment 1806, in: ZfH 19.., p. 351 ff.).

In the uniform of the voltigeurs yellow and green insignia predominated, i.e. collar, fringe epaulettes (e.g. yellow or green with a yellow crescent), sleeve cuffs and plume (yellow and green or yellow with a red tuft) on the shako.

In the skirt flaps of the Habit-Veste the voltigeurs wore a yellow (chamois-colored) hunting horn.

The white facings were also edged in red.

The special headgear of the grenadiers - the bearskin - has already been mentioned.

Later (from 1808) the grenadiers also wore shakos with red trim or edging (red side pieces and edging braids).

The field plume remained red.

On the uniform coat red collars, sleeve cuffs and epaulettes were worn.

The flaps of the sleeve cuffs were - as with the fusiliers - blue.

On the skirts of the habit-veste the grenadiers wore a red bursting-grenade emblem.

A grenade also adorned the grenadiers' leather cartridge pouch.

From 1806 the coat became an official article of clothing.

According to Jack Cassin-Scott (Same/ John Fabb, Uniforms of the Napoleonic Wars, Munich 1973, p. 131) grey or blue-grey coats were worn.

The white breeches and gaiters were often replaced in the field by overtrousers.

In winter one otherwise wore black gaiters instead of white.

The knapsack consisted of (brown) goatskin.

Regarding the armament of the French infantry, the following notes concerning the flintlock musket used are found - based on Thoumas, Les transformations de l'armée franciase, Paris 1887, Vol. II, p. 94 -:

"The French infantry in 1806 did not, as is often stated, carry a musket model of 1777, but rather one of 1802, 17.5 mm. Between the two there is also a model of 1794, described in Streffleur's Austrian Military Journal 1886, III, 44. All of these, however, differed only in dimensions and were all of the old construction without a funnel-shaped touch hole and without a cylindrical ramrod. The sappers, drummers, musicians and quartermasters had a mousqueton worn on a strap with bayonet. The voltigeur companies carried the shorter smoothbore dragoon musket (with bayonet); their officers and non-commissioned officers carried short rifled carbines, 7 grooves, 4 kg weight, 28 balls to the pound. The so-called light regiments in 1806 did not differ in armament from the line regiments."

The bayonet was triangular and was carried in its own scabbard on the left.

In addition a sabre was still carried as a sidearm, the well-known "sabre briquet" (infantry sabre Model AN XI).

It could be used for cutting and thrusting.

The length was 61.5 cm to 77 cm. The sabre possessed a curved crossguard made of metal (brass).

The camp cap ("bonnet de police") was blue with red facings (see the following illustration).

The camp cap could also display the regiment number or an insignia on the front.

The "bonnet de police" was later replaced by a more practical field cap, which also — for better protection against the vicissitudes of the weather — had fold-down fabric parts.

The officers' uniform corresponded to that of the ranks, but was made from finer cloth. The shako had a gold braid on top, the width of which varied depending on the rank of the wearer. The colonel was distinguished by a second gold braid. He also wore a white feather plume on the shako; the chef of the battalion a red one. The other officers had pompons at the front center of the shako.

In addition the sword was worn on the white baldric, the portepee was gold. Furthermore a gold gorget distinguished the officer.

After 1812 the officers wore, besides the double-breasted "habit-veste", often the single-breasted dark blue pike coat. This had long skirts with red skirt facings.

Philipp Haythornthwaite (Same/ Michael Chapell, Uniforms of the Napoleonic Russian Campaign, Munich 1976, p. 111) describes the system of rank insignia as follows:

"The rank of an officer was indicated by gold epaulettes:

Colonel, two with heavy fringes;

Major, like colonel, but with silver bars;

"Chef de Bataillon", like colonel, but fringes only on the left;

Captain, like the foregoing, but with thin fringes;

Captain Adjutant-Major, like captain, but with a red stripe on the band;

First Lieutenant, like captain, but with a red stripe on the band;

Lieutenant, like first lieutenant, but with two red stripes.".

The non-commissioned officers were marked by diagonal braid on the sleeves: two gold for the quartermaster, one gold for the sergeant and two orange for the corporal, always on a red background.

Concerning the outfitting of the French infantry at the time of the Battle of Waterloo (18.06.1815), Philipp Haythornthwaite (The Uniforms of the Battle of Waterloo, Munich 1974, p. 159) writes: "The French infantry was in part extraordinarily poorly equipped; it has even been claimed that to some conscripted soldiers only a shako, coat, bandoliers and muskets were issued, while they wore their civilian clothing underneath."

The carpenters belonged to the column head and in house fighting had to open doors or lay small bridges.

There were four per battalion and they were led by a sergeant.

They were selected from the best soldiers of the grenadier companies. They nonetheless remained attached to the grenadier company.

Besides the large carpenter's axe they wore the bearskin and a sturdy leather apron (of buffalo leather). The latter was either natural-colored or white.

On the sleeves of their uniform two (woolen) crossed axes (in red) under a grenade (not always) could be seen as an indication of their function.

As an additional weapon they carried a fascine knife with a saw blade. The brass handle was often decorated with the head of a Gallic cock.

They mostly wore luxuriant beards.

The bandsmen and musicians wore gold braid around the collars, sleeve cuffs, facings and additionally plain red swallowtail facings.

These specifications applied only in principle, because in practice they were often deviated from at the will of the regimental commander.

Frequently swapped or entirely different base colors were worn.

For example, Rigo in his plate series "Le plumet" shows the musicians of the 9th Line Infantry Regiment in red coats with green collars, facings and sleeve cuffs - each with gold or yellow braids - and wearing shakos as headgear. The trousers are also green with white lacing (plate 84, 1809).

Also for the 30th Line Infantry Regiment a red base color of the musicians' coats with black insignia is reported (drawings by H. Boisselier after the Würtz Collection).

The musicians of the 27th Line Infantry Regiment wear blue coats, but with orange (braided) facings (plate 66, 1807 - 1809).

For the 67th Line Infantry Regiment yellow coats with blue insignia are reported for the musicians (plate 99, 1808 - 1809).

For the line infantry regiments Nos. 9, 18 and 88 an orientally dressed "Chapeaux Chinois" is depicted (plate 154, 1805 - 1809).

A special eye-catcher was always especially the magnificent - lavishly braided - uniform of the drum-major. He regularly wore a large two-cornered hat worn sideways, heavily braided, or a bearskin with colored tassels and feather decoration.

With the aforementioned Bardin reform (19.01.1812), however, a distinct uniform was introduced for the bandsmen, which had a green base color, a red collar and red sleeve cuffs and was trimmed with a dark green braid that alternately showed green eagles and a green N on yellow fields. The sleeves had chevron-shaped appliqués in the same style as the braid described above.

"The uniforms of the military musicians were entirely at the discretion of the regimental commanders. Naturally every regiment strove to have as magnificent a 'tête de colonne' as possible, and since imagination knew no bounds, the most curious color combinations were found. There was complete arbitrariness regarding headgear as well; we find hats here, shakos there, and again czapkas, the latter sometimes very oddly designed. Just as with the music, so it was with the bandsmen, and even the orders to introduce the uniform green, yellow-trimmed Napoleonic 'livery' for the latter (of 31 December 1811, 10 January and 7 February 1812) seem to have been completely ignored by many regiments" (Richard Knötel).

On 05.12.1804 Emperor Napoleon I presented the regiments with new flags and standards. An eagle was attached to the top of the flagstaff. The eagle-bearer and his escorts were appointed by the Emperor himself. This was an honor.

M. A. Martin Mas (La Grande Armée. The History of Napoleon's Army, Berlin 2005, p. 47) comments on the design of the eagles as follows: "During the existence of the Empire two versions of the eagle were used, the 1804 model and that of 1815, although the differences were rather small. The bronze eagle had its two wings outspread, held a thunderbolt in its talons and looked to the left. Its appearance was strongly modelled on the eagles of the ancient Roman legions, which Napoleon so admired. On the base of the eagle the regimental number was embossed on both sides. The eagles of the Imperial Guard, however, bore no numbers but the symbol of the respective branch of service, e.g. a grenade for the grenadier regiments, etc.".

Philipp Haythornthwaite (The Uniforms of the Battle of Waterloo, Munich 1974, p. 159) writes about the significance of the eagles: "The eagle was the most precious piece of every regiment; it consisted of a wooden shaft and a gilded Imperial eagle. Of subordinate importance, however, was the flag attached to the shaft; at times the shaft was carried alone, then the flag was wrapped around the shaft and placed in an oiled-cloth case; it was only unfurled when the regiment deployed to attack. In battle the eagle marked the rallying point and thereby symbolized the troop's devotion to the Emperor."

From 1806 the eagle or the regimental flag was provided with its own guard escort. The officer who carried the eagle bore the title: "Premier Porte-Aigle" (= first eagle-bearer). He was accompanied by the two most senior non-commissioned officers, namely the "Deuxième" and the "Troisième" Porte-Aigle. These were each armed with two pistols and a half-pike. Red or white streamers were attached to the latter. The inscription on one side read "Napoleon" and on the other side the respective regimental number. However, there were deviations from this in practice.

In the already mentioned imperial decree of 18.02.1808 it states under number 17: "Each regiment shall receive an eagle. This shall be carried by an eagle-bearer who is a senior lieutenant or lieutenant and must have at least four years of service or must have taken part in the four campaigns of Ulm, Austerlitz, Jena and Friedland. Two good men, selected from among the soldiers unable to read and write, who for this reason also cannot be promoted, shall receive the title of second and third eagle-bearer and shall never leave his side. They shall be sergeants by rank and receive the pay of a senior sergeant. On both arms they shall each wear four chevrons. The eagle is always where the most battalions are. The eagle-bearers belong to the regimental staff. They are appointed by US and can only be removed by US" (quoted after: H. C. B. Rogers, The Army of Napoleon, Stuttgart 1976, pp. 105 ff.).

Carle Vernet shows in his series: "La Grande Armee De 1812" an eagle-bearer with a special helmet, namely a brass hoop helmet with silver mountings and a red woolen crest.

Each "bataillon du Bataille" (= war battalion) had a standard. This was carried by a selected non-commissioned officer.

Only line regiments carried the eagle (as a flag), i.e. not formations that had been raised only provisionally or did not belong to the regular army.

The actual flag had lesser significance.

The already mentioned Emile Nußbaum describes the eagle or the flag cloth of the 18th Line Infantry Regiment as follows:

"Since 1812 each regiment had only one eagle, blue-white-red, similar to today, the blue vertical stripe at the staff, then the white, finally the red. The rectangular cloth measured 83 cm and had 2.5 cm long golden fringes. All embroidery was of gold. On the front the inscription in golden letters "L`Empereur Napoléon au 18 Régiment d`Infanterie de Ligne", on the reverse the victorious battles "Ulm, Austerlitz, Jena, Eylau, Eckmühl, Eßling, Wagram". The silk cravat around the staff under the eagle, wound by means of a golden 66 cm long cordon with 2 golden 16 cm long tassels, measured 1.06 m, was 18 cm wide, blue-white-red with golden ornamentation and fringes 7 cm long. The wooden staff, painted blue, measured 2.45 m, the ferrule 5 cm in length. The eagle, the head turned to the right, made of gilded brass, was 185 mm high, the wingspan measured 23 cm. The eagle rested on a gilded little box, 4 cm high, 12 cm wide, with the regimental number, which was fastened to the staff by means of a 7 cm high brass shoe with 3 screws.".

The remaining battalions had pennons in various colors. In practice these pennons were also decorated, i.e., there were differences in design.

Cdt. Bucquoy, Les Uniformes du Premier Empire, L`Infanterie, Paris 1979.

Duffy, Christopher, The Battle of Austerlitz. Napoleon's Greatest Victory, Munich 1979.

Liliane and Fred Funcken, Historical Uniforms. Napoleonic Era, vol. 2, Munich 1978.

Philipp Haythornthwaite/ Michael Chapell, Uniforms of the Napoleonic Russian Campaign, Munich 1977.

Philipp Haythornthwaite, The Uniforms of the Battle of Waterloo, Munich 1976.

Preben Kannik, Uniforms in Color, Berlin 1967.

Knötel/ Sieg, Handbook of Uniform Studies, Hamburg 1937.

Paul Martin, The French Army 1789 - 1807, Stuttgart.

Más, Miguel Ángel Martin, La Grande Armée. The History of Napoleon's Army, Berlin 2005.

Rigo, Le plumet. French series of uniform plates.

Rogers, H. C. B., The Army of Napoleon, Stuttgart 1976.

Lucien Rousselot, Napoleon's Army 1800 - 1815, Berlin 2010.

Peter Schuchhardt, German series of uniform plates.