Less is known about the Young Guard cavalry than their infantry cousins, although they fought and campaigned just as hard and heroically.

I've chosen the 1813-14 period because it's where these squadrons showed themselves as individual units, rather as part of the parent regiment and wargamers have an opportunity to raise something different.

The Young Guard troopers wore the same cut uniforms as the Old Guard, with the exception of poorer quality material and minor detail changes. The uniforms of the Old Guard cavalry are too well known for me to describe in this article, it's only their distinctive differences which will be listed below.

Guard Grenadiers á Cheval

The two squadrons of Young Guard Grenadiers a Cheval wore the 'Petit' uniform, that is the same as the full dress uniform, but with round blue cuffs. Their uniform initially had blue piped red shoulder straps in 1813, then changed to the aurore contre-epaulettes in 1814. They never wore the aiguillettes, which carried through to the rest of the Young Guard. The Bearskin was devoid of cords and plume, and they wore grey campaign breeches. They were issued with un-stitched belts, had short untied hair and rode bay and/or chestnut horses. The saddle cloth did not have the red piping to the aurore lace. Trumpeters wore the Young Guard version in sky blue, Black bearskin and crimson saddle cloth. Officers wore their Old Guard uniforms.

Guard Chasseurs á Cheval

The five squadrons of Young Guard Chasseurs a Cheval wore the same uniform as the "Old", but the difference lay in the head-dress, saddle furniture and the absence of the scarlet pelisse. There is conflicting information about the type and style of shake worn, though the most likely would have been the red cylindrical shako rouleau with a central tricolour, brass button and aurore loop. The top was piped in aurore lace and included long aurore cords running from the back of the shake to the right shoulder and across the chest passing to the left shoulder. Complementing the shako was a green, scarlet tipped plume with an aurore ball at its base.

Once again there are three different shabraques. The first, a green shabraque and valise with aurore lace, the second, a red shabraque and valise with green lace and a white sheepskin and third, a red shabraque, green valise with aurore lace and a white sheepskin. I've painted my Young Guardsmen in the second version! They were equipped with a light cavalry Model An XI sabre in a steel scabbard, pistols, carbine and bayonet. The sabretache was plain black leather with, most likely, a brass crowned eagle.

As with the remainder of the Young Guard, they were issued with un-stitched leather belts and wore short untied hair. Trumpeters wore the sky blue Young Guard version with a crimson dolman and all cords and lace mixed aurore and green. The shabraque was the same as the troopers. Officers wore their Old Guard Uniforms.

The Polish Lancers

Four squadrons comprised the Young Guard Polish Lancers. They wore the same campaign uniform as the Old Guard squadrons without the aiguillette. Trumpeters wore the sky blue service dress and once again Officers wore the campaign version of their Old Guard uniform.

The Guard Dragoons

The Young Guard Dragoons had two squadrons and once again wore the "Petit" uniform with grey breeches aurore contre-epaulettes and helmet devoid of plume. Trumpeters wore the sky blue uniform with a crimson collar and had a white mane to the helmet. The Officers wore their Old Guard Uniforms.

The Dutch Lancers

The 2nd (Red) Guard Light Lancers contained five squadrons of Young Guard. The only difference in uniform being they wore blue faced scarlet kurtkas and blue piped red shoulder straps. For escort duty at Imperial Headquarters, they wore white plumes and yellow cords to their scarlet chapska. In every other detail their uniform was the same as the parent uniform. The trumpeters had sky blue kurtkas with scarlet piping and facings, and wore scarlet trousers. I'm unable to determine the exact colouring of the Officers uniform but one would assume they wore their Old Guard versions.

The Mamelukes

The Mamelukes had one company of Young Guard more commonly known as the French Mamelukes. Hence these troopers didn't wear the fancy multicoloured oriental dress of the Old Guard company, but a more basic sombre version.

Head-dress comprised of a black shake with white turban and brass upturned crescent moon placed centrally. The jacket was the same cut and style as the Old Guard uniform, though the men were dressed all the same. The uniform consisted of a blue jacket, collar and shoulder wings all piped red. A red vest with yellow edging, light blue sash and crimson / madder red trousers completed his uniform.

The fellow was equipped with a scimitar in a black leather scabbard with brass fittings, carbine and a pair of pistols. Horse furniture comprised of a blue saddle cloth and valise with crimson / madder red lace and fringe to the shabraque. He was also supplied with brass oriental stirrups.

Nothing is known of the trumpeters or Officers uniforms.

Conclusions

This concludes my humble article and I hope it inspires a few of you to raise some of these interesting units and I'm hoping to write in a future article their campaign exploits.

Bibliography

John R. Elting - Napoleonic Uniforms Vol. 2
Cmndt.Bucquoy - Les Uniforms du ler Empire Vol 2
Emir Bukhari - Napoleon's Guard Cavalry, Osprey
Michael Head - Grenadiers a Cheval de la Gd. Imp.
Michael Head - Chasseurs a Cheval de la Gd. Imp.
Scott Bowden - Naps. Grande Armee of 1813
Henry Lachouque - Anatomy of Glory
Nigel de Lee - French Lancers, Almark
Rousselot - L'Armee Francaise, Nos. 13 & 23
Tranie and Carmigniani - 1814 Campaign in France
Nafizger- Various Ordbats, 1813-14.