Badges of rank:

These were silver or gold according to the colour of buttons. NCOs had lace chevrons on their upper left sleeve, presumably on British lines. Lieutenants wore epaulets with thin fringes (counter-epaulets for the cavalry), captains had thicker fringes, staff officers Kantillen, adjutants wore aiguillettes (most of the officers' accoutrements were purchased in Berlin). Staff officers and adjutants wore bicorns with a large white-over-red feather plume (Busch). Officers again had double stripes on their legwear and continued to wear their silver sashes.

Infantry:

Dark green Kollett (to use Knötel's shorthand for the two-breasted, short-tailed tunic worn by the Russian and Prussian line infantry) with poppy-red collar and cuffs, brass buttons, and red piping on the dark green turnbacks, shoulder-straps and cuff-slashes (3 buttons each). Grey trousers with red stripe on outer seam. Black Russian-style shako (kiver) with white cords and tassels and a brass half-sunburst plate with a red Hanseatic cross in the centre. The cockade was in front of the top band , above it was a white-over-red carrot-shaped pompon. The brass chinscales and sometimes the flounders of the shako cords were hitched up behind it. Musicians wore green swallows' nests edged in (probably) yellow lace, red shako-cords and tall red plumes. Officers had silver shako-plates and cords. On parade they wore gold embroidery on collar and cuffs and added a long white plume with red base to the round black pompon.

Jäger:

There are no records of the uniforms, which probably resembled those of the 1815 Volunteer Jäger (see below).

Uhlans:

Dark green kurtka with white buttons, crimson collar, lapels, straight cuffs (2 buttons) and piping to turnbacks and shoulderstraps. Dark green overalls with crimson side-stripe (grey overalls also worn). Black czapka with white-metal chinscales and sunburst plate (like half an eight-pointed star) bearing a red Hanseatic cross, white cords and black falling horsehair plume (black and white for NCOs, red for trumpeters). Gaedechens also shows a red swordbelt trimmed with white or silver, presumably for parade wear. The lace on the valise and officers' saddlecloth was changed to crimson and the lance now had a white-over-red swallow-tailed pennant. Officers' buttons, belts and the embroidery on their cuffs and collar were silver. The officers' czapka had a crimson top, a white falling horsehair plume and silver lace, embroidery and fittings (including a chain on the crimson chinstrap fixed to the czapka with lions' heads and small eight-rayed stars to fix the cords). The officers' cartridge-pouch was crimson with silver embroidery and an enamel Hanseatic cockade. According to a Suhr print, the officers' saddlecloth now had pointed corners.

Cossacks:

Dark green Cossack-style jacket with red collar, straight cuffs and piping on the shoulder-straps, no visible buttons. Baggy green overalls with red side-stripe. Red sash into which two pistols were tucked. Black colpack with a red bag hanging down on the right. (Gaedechens' specifications seem to indicate that the Cossacks' red actually was crimson). The lance was decorated with a fringe of red tassels below the point. Black sheepskin saddle with green circular valise laced in red. Officers wore silver belts and colpack-cords (according to Gaedechens, their colpack also featured a silver death's head and chinscales).

Foot artillery:

Same as the infantry but with light blue facings. The kiver had red cords and brass crossed gun-barrels (beneath a flaming grenade according to Knötel) for a plate. The tall plume was black on top of a red pompon. By now the gunners also carried short muskets.

Horse artillery:

The battery's new dress was independently produced according to the specifications of its captain. Spooremann had served in the horse artillery of the Kingdom of Holland and turned to its hussar-style uniform for inspiration: Dark green dolman with black lace and light blue collar and pointed cuffs. Dark green overalls with light blue stripe on the outer seam, red and green barrel-sash. French-style bell-topped shako with brass chinscales and crossed-gunbarrel badge, red top band, cords and tassels. The cockade on the front of the band was topped by a tall red plume on a red pompon. (Knötel's Grosse Uniformenkunde differs, picturing light blue lace on the dolman, a red and white barrel-sash, breeches worn inside Hungarian boots a shako with a black band and a badge incorporating a flaming grenade. The three rows of white metal buttons would seem to conflict with the officers' gold distinctions). Officers wore a silver and gold barrel-sash and gold cords (Kantillen) on their shoulders. Their shako decorations were gold and they wore a tall white plume with a red base on top of a gold pompon. According to Gaedechens, the officers' jacket was decorated with black Hungarian knots on the cuffs and gold horizontal flaming grenades on the collar and it was cut so as to reveal a triangular part of the laced red waistcoat above the sash. Officers had a red leather swordbelt, but the cartridge-pouch and belt was black.

The Hamburg Bürgergarde of Spring 1813

Infantry:

Same as 1813 Legion uniform with dark blue for green and no collar Litzen. White crossbelts, but apparently no backpack. A Suhr lithograph of the skirmish on the Veddel on May 12th shows at least one person wearing a civilian top-hat instead of a peaked cap.

Artillery:

Same as the infantry but with red facings and fringed epaulets. No musket, so only a diagonal white swordbelt was worn.

Jäger:

Dark green Litewka with a light green collar with silver oak-leaf embroidery. On the chest were seven widely-spaced black double braids with "crows' feet". Grey trousers with light green stripe on outer seam. Dark green peaked cap with light green band and piping. In front was a white hunting-horn on the band and a short light green plume (or carrot-shaped pompon?) above the cockade. Black waistbelt with cartridge-pouch in front and Hirschfänger sword on the left, black strap on rifle.

Cavalry:

Dark blue Litewka with light blue collar and black braids similar to those of the Jäger on the chest. Head-dress was a four-cornered dark blue cap (rather like a czapka) with a wide light blue headband, yellow cords and tassels and a short white plume above the cockade up front. Arms apparently only were a sabre and pistols. Black leather cartridge-pouch, shoulder and sword belts, white sheepskin saddle.

The Hanseatic Bürgergarde in Exile 1813/14

Infantry:

Knee-length grey British greatcoat with shoulder-length cape and a light blue collar. Dark blue trousers with light blue stripe on the outer seam. "Belgian" shako with white cords and tassels and a short white-over-red plume fixed to the left. The cockade (no plate) was fixed to the false front in line with the real top - it held up the brass chinscales. Black crossbelts and straps (the backpack had a breast-strap connecting the two shoulder-straps).

Artillery:

The same but with red collar, fringed epaulets and trouser-stripes and shako-cords. No shoulder-cape. Equipped with infantry muskets.

Sharpshooters (muskets):

The same with light green collar, but light blue trouser-stripes. No shoulder-cape. Dark green shako-cords, tassels and plume, brass hunting-horn beneath the cockade.

Jäger (rifles):

Similar to the Hamburg Bürgergarde Jäger but without the black braids. The pack was carried diagonally across the right shoulder on a light brown leather belt, the haversack and powder flask across the left.

Cavalry:

Dark blue pelisse with black braids and fur (Gaedechens has an unusual fur-trimmed light blue collar). Dark blue overalls with a light blue stripe. Dark blue peaked cap with light blue band and piping. Black swordbelt, sabretache, cartridge pouch and belt. The lance had a white swallow-tailed pennant bearing a red Hanseatic cross. White sheep-skin saddle and dark blue circular valise decorated on either end with light blue Hanseatic cross and trimming.

Officers:

Originally few distinctions apart from wearing peaked caps. When the Bürgergarde was attached to the Legion, they tried to achieve equality with their peers in the Legion. The last officers' uniform consisted of a dark blue Litewka with light blue collar and gold epaulets. In full dress a sash and a kiver like those of a Legion infantry officer were worn. The tall plume was half-and-half white over red. These more extravagant features again met with Major Beneke's profound disapproval, and the second-ranking Bürgergarde officer only grudgingly agreed to put on epaulets (but no shako or sash) for the triumphal entry into Hamburg (diary 23 May 1814).

Although the Bürgergarde received clothing and equipment from Allied magazines, not all men were fully equipped. Mettlerkamp's writings tell of the 6th company being so badly equipped that the French mistook them for peasants (they e.g. had to carry their ammunition pouches on ropes).

Bremen Troops 1813/14

Infantry:

Black Litewka with red collar and brass buttons; red piping around the shoulderstraps, pockets and pointed cuffs. Black trousers with red stripe. Black bell-topped shako with brass chinscales, white cords and tassels and a short white-over-red plume above the Hanseatic cockade. Black crossbelts, calfskin pack.

Cavalry:

The same Litewka but with white metal buttons (at least according to the Elberfeld Manuscript) and yellow Litzen on the collar (pairs for NCOs). Black overalls with red piping and a row of white buttons down the side. Black czapka with white metal fittings and white piping and cords. The front left edge was topped by a disk bearing the Hanseatic cockade (and a black horsehair plume for parade wear). Black belts, Lance with red-over-white pennant.

Volunteer Jäger:

Dark green Kollett with white metal buttons and light green collar and cuffs. Dark green trousers with light green piping. Cylindrical "Tyrolese" hat with bush of green feathers. Short infantry boots, black belts.

Bürgerwehr:

Dark grey Litewka with red collar and piping, white buttons. Dark grey trousers with red piping. Black hat with brim turned up on the left.

The Hanseatic Brigade 1815

Hamburg

Infantry:

As 1814 Legion infantry but with white crossbelts and straps, also white trousers during summer.

Artillery:

The same with light blue facings (including the stripe on the grey winter trousers) and red shako-cords. Officers had a tall black plume.

Cavalry:

Same as 1814 Legion Uhlans.

Volunteer Jäger (cf. water-colour by Peter Suhr):

Dark green Kollett with three rows of white metal buttons down the front (the outer two rows narrow towards the waist). Light green collar, straight cuffs and turnbacks (in a miniature portrait the centre row of buttons also has light green piping on both sides). Grey trousers with light green double stripe down the outside. Kiver with white cords and white metal sunburst shako-plate and chinscales. Tall black plume on top of white (?) pompon over the cockade. Black belts, equipment as for 1813/14 Jäger, calfskin pack. Officers wore sabres, silver shako-cords, epaulets and aiguillettes, silver sash. Black horsehair plume. Buglers had a white tip to their plume and wore Prussian-style light green swallows' nests decorated with white lace. The bugles were of the German "open" type and made of white metal.

Lübeck

Infantry:

As Hamburg infantry but with black crossbelts and straps.

Volunteer Jäger:

Very much like the 1813 uniform but with a jacket instead of the Litewka, tight grey trousers and a short green plume on top of the cockade.

Bremen

Infantry:

Black Kollett with brass buttons and red collar, cuffs and red piping around the shoulderstraps, turnbacks and cuff-slashes. White (summer) or grey trousers. Kiver with brass chinscales, white cords and tassels and a short white-over-red plume over the Hanseatic cockade. Black crossbelts, calfskin pack.

Volunteer Jäger:

Dark green Kollett with light green facings and one yellow loop on either side of the collar, grey trousers with light green side-stripe. Tyrolese hat with light green bush snaking around behind the turned-up brim on the right.

Colours and Standards of 1813/14

Hamburg

Infantry:

Three colours of identical design, two carried by the first Hamburg battalion, one first by the second and later by the Hanseatic Bürgergarde. Until some years ago they were on display in the Museum für Hamburgische Geschichte. The white colours are ca. 1 m square with a gold fringe around the edges. The designs are painted. Black stave (rendered blue in a print by Peter Suhr), small gold spearpoint finial, gold cords. After the war the red and white ribbon of the campaign medal was also attached.

Obverse:

A red Hanseatic cross (Maltese cross) edged in gold lace beneath the inscription "GOTT MIT UNS ." (God with us) in gold capital gothic letters forming an arch over the top branch.

Reverse:

The combined arms of the three Hanseatic cities in a design by artist H.M.Speckter not conforming to strict heraldic rules: A golden-bordered shield divided horizontally white over red (Lübeck) beneath a red three-turreted castle with an open gate (Hamburg). Over this was laid an upright key (Bremen), slightly diagonal ("pointing at 11 o'clock") so that the bit is on the castle gate and the diamond-shaped grip is in the red half of the shield. It should have been silver, but on the first two flags it was actually painted gold. Above the castle is the same inscription as on the obverse.

Ribbons were attached to the stave between the finial and the upper edge of the flag. These were not cravats (i.e. tied to the stave in a knot), but more like a single streamer permanently fixed to the stave like a second flag. They all had fringe on the fly end and were embroidered with different decorations and mottoes:

1. (Legion):

Red ribbon decorated with a gold vine running around the edges, crossing over twice, thereby forming three long loops in for the inscriptions. At the fringed end of the ribbon the vine ends in a spiral with a trumpet (flower?). The three mottoes were embroidered in silver gothic letters, reading from the staff: "Fest steh' der Einzelne, das Ganze zu erhalten" (The one must stand fast to preserve the whole), "Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott" (A fortress strong our God is still) and "Treu dem Vaterlande bis in den Tod" (True to the fatherland unto death).

2. (Legion):

White with a gold ornamental border above and below the inscription. The latter consisted of the words "Freiheit" (freedom) and "Vaterland" (fatherland) in gothic letters between three small trophies.

3. (Bürgergarde):

White embroidered with gothic letters: "Nicht eher ruhe das Schwert bis das schöne Ziel erreicht." (May the sword not rest until the fair goal is attained.)

Cavalry:

Two standards ca. 50 cm square with the same design as the infantry colours. According to Weber (who looked at them in 1886), one of them did not have an inscription on the obverse. The other had a ribbon inscribed "Eher den Tod, als in der Knechtschaft leben." (Rather death than live in servitude) and "Wir sind vereinigt durch ein heilig Band." (We are united by a sacred bond.) According to the available evidence, the first standard's ribbon had two inscriptions: "Heilig der Kampf, mächtig der Muth" (The struggle is holy, (our) courage is mighty" and "Gott und das Recht" or "Gott und dem Recht" ((To) God and the right). [It is logical to assume the standards were first carried by the first and second squadrons.]

A third standard, originally belonging to Hanfft's squadron, was somewhat larger (65 cm square). The design was the same, but the inscription on the obverse read "Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott". The ribbon was inscribed: "Das Leben ist der Güter höchstes nicht, wohl aber ist's die Freiheit." (Life is not the greatest good (possession), but freedom is.)

Horse Artillery:

Vexillium type, suspended from finial by mixed red-and-white cords. 50 cm square, both sides show the Hanseatic Cross under "GOTT MIT UNS". According to the Suhr print, the standard was bordered with green oakleaves on the side and bottom edges.

Lübeck

Infantry:

One white colour with a silver fringe. Both sides had a red Latin cross embroidered with a silver "18" over the left branch and "13" over the right. The Lübeck arms (a shield divided horizontally white over red borne on the chest of a black double-headed eagle clawed and beaked red) were put in both hoist corners (i.e. next to the stave) so that the top (heads) pointed towards the centre. White stave and gold spearpoint finial. The embroidered inscriptions read "Deutschland oder Tod!" (Germany or death - obverse) and "Gott mit uns!" (reverse) in silver joined-up Latin writing in a downward arch below the cross.

Cavalry:

One standard of the same design as the infantry flag but smaller and rectangular (length about 1 1/2 times the height). Inscriptions with exchanged positions (i.e. "Gott mit uns!" on the obverse).

Bremen

Principal Sources:

Boye, P.: Feldzug der Hanseaten in den Jahren 1813 und 14. Hamburg 1815.
Campe, E.: Hamburgs ausserordentliche Begebenheiten und Schiksale in den Jahren 1813 und 1814. Hamburg 1814.
Friederich, R.: Geschichte des Herbstfeldzuges 1813. Berlin 1903-1906.
Friederich, R.: Die Befreiungskriege 1813-1815. Berlin 1911.
Gaedechens, C.F.: Das hamburgische Militär bis zum Jahre 1811 (in: Zeitschrift für Hamburgische Geschichte (ZHG) 8 (1889)).
Gaedechens, C.F.: Die Hanseatische Legion (ibid.)
Galperin, P.: In Wehr und Waffen. Stuttgart 1983.
von Hess, J.L.: Die Agonieen der Republik Hamburg im Frühjahr 1813. Hamburg 1816 (2nd ed.).
Huck, J.: Das Ende der Franzosenzeit in Hamburg. Hamburg 1984.
Mönckeberg, C.: Hamburg unter dem Drucke der Franzosen, 1806-1814. Hamburg 1864.
Prell, M.: Erinnerungen aus der Franzosenzeit in Hamburg. Hamburg 1863.
Schmidt, F.: Zur Geschichte des 127. Französischen Linien-Infanterie-Regiments (in: ZHG 44 (1958)).
Stieve, T.: Der Kampf um die Reform in Hamburg 1789-1842. Hamburg 1993.
Varnhagen von Ense, K.A.: Geschichte der Kriegszüge des Generals Tettenborn während der Jahre 1813 und 1814. Stuttgart & Tübingen 1814.
Voigtländer, L.: Das Tagebuch des Johann Heinrich Lang aus Lübeck und die Feldzüge der Hanseaten in den Jahren 1813-1815. Lübeck 1980.
Warncke, J.: Lübecks Befreiung von der Franzosenherrschaft und die Einsetzung der Hanseatischen Legion. Lübeck 1913.
Weber, C.F.H.: Die Fahnen in der grossen St.Michaeliskirche (in: Mitteilungen des Vereins für Hamburgische Geschichte 9 (1886)).
Wille, F.: Mettlerkamp, der Führer einer am Deutschen Freiheitskriege theilnehmenden Bürgerwehr. Hamburg 1866.

Various exhibits at the Museum für Hamburgische Geschichte and at temporary exhibitions; pictures provided by Peter Hofschröer.
Papers from the estates of Ferdinand Beneke and Friedrich Perthes.
D.C.Mettlerkamp's MSS on the history of the Hanseatic Bürgergarde (Hanseatische Legion und Bürgergarde C 2) All in the Hamburg State Archives.

Amendments & Corrections to Part 1

1. The units of the Hamburg Bürgergarde (spring 1813) had the following sizes, each line battalion; 1,200 all ranks (this theoretical strength was never achieved), the artillery company - 120, the Jäger company - 157, the cavalry squadron - 150. 14 Officers and men were taken prisoner on May 12th, 1813, the number of dead and wounded was probably lower. 508 members of the guard (not counting those who joined the Bürgergarde in exile) were awarded the Hanseatic campaign medal in 1815 after proving they had been in combat. (Gaedechens: Hamburgs Bürgerwaffnung pp. 25-28).
2. Mettlercamp's official report states that on May 31st, 1814, the Hanseatische Bürgergarde marched into Hamburg with 1178 all ranks (84 were absent for various reasons), consisting of five staff officers, a line battalion of four companies (17 officers, 744 other ranks), one company of sharpshooters (4/200, muskets), on of Jäger (3/44, rifles), a cavalry section (1/28), an artillery section (2/30, no cannons) and a depot (1/73) plus various non - combatants (3/24 - train, surgeons, the Auditeur and sutlers). It should be noted that only 784 of these received the campaign medal, for which they had to have served in the field before April 29th, 1814. Two officers and 18 men were killed in action. (Gaedechens, loc. cit. p.34).
3. Some sources indicate that the Jäger who shot Colonel Thuillier on the walls of Bremen in fact belonged to Reiche's Battalion, not Lützow's Free Corps.

More Hanseatic

Troops of the Hanseatic Republics 1813-1815 Part 1
Large Map of the Hanseatic Area (slow: 102K)
Jumbo Map of the Hanseatic Area (very slow: 230K)
Uniforms of the Hanseatic Legion