Prussian 25th Infantry Regiment

Sketch 1,2,3, and 5
3rd Ersatz Battalion April and June 1815;
Freiwilligen Jäger detachment 16 June 1815, and
Musketeer ex-Freikorps von Lutzow 18 June 1815

by Peter Hofschröer, Austria

General Notes on the Sketches

These sketches are ‘re-constructions’ of the uniforms worn by IR25 during the 1815 campaign based on incomplete and sometimes vague information. They are intended to be typical, rather than definitive, and reflect the parlous state of elements of the Prussian army generally and IR25 in particular. The notes for each sketch explain the rationale for what they depict.

Any similarity to persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

Sketch 1 - 3rd Ersatz Battalion April 1815

‘The 25th Regiment was formed at the beginning of April on the right bank of the Meuse from the Lutzow infantry and about 1000 men of Ersatz Battalions Nos 3 and 10, which came from Halberstadt and Westphalia, territories which had recently come under Prussian administration again.” Waterloo Campaign Vol 1 pp67-68.

This sketch is suggested attire that the men of the 3rd Ersatz (Replacement) Battalion may have worn in early April when the regiment was formed. It is speculative and is based on the interim uniform worn by IR22 at about the same time. The short, tail-less jacket has the distinctives of IR3 (2nd East Prussian), the parent regiment of 3rd Ersatz Battalion, brick-red (a light to medium orange) collar patches and red shoulder straps. The typical Prussian cap has the same brick-red distinctives. The soldier’s equipment comprises a cartridge box, probably old Prussian stock, although it could just as easily be British supplied or ex-French, a canvas knapsack and bread bag. His water bottle is typical of the kind contemporary illustrations show being carried by Prussian soldiers at the period and is probably personal property, rather than issued. His ill-fitting white trousers, still relatively clean at this stage, could be civilian or military in origin. He carries a British India Land Pattern musket.

Sketch 2 - 3rd Ersatz Battalion 16 June 1815

“Parts of the 25th Infantry Regiment, who got their orders by 9 a.m., only managed to arrive in Namur in dribs and drabs starting from 5 p.m. The regiment then marched on to Wagnelée early on 16th and had to take part in the battle without the men having the chance even to cook a meal.” Waterloo Campaign Vol 1 p218.

The soldier of 3rd Ersatz Battalion in this sketch is starting to show the signs of campaigning on his largely British supplied uniform. His shako is a typical British ‘stovepipe’ originally intended for the Portuguese army, complete with lion shako plate and short red plume, although a Prussian or French shako, or Prussian cap with brick red distinctives, as in Sketch 1, would be equally plausible. The British stovepipe was sized and, like most shakos, adjustable by means of a buckle and strap around the base. When worn by British troops, contemporary pictures tend to show a shako with parallel sides. When worn by Prussians, however, it appears more conical in appearance. This, it is possible to speculate, indicates that smaller sizes tended to be shipped to the Prussians.

The jacket is also probably British supplied and modified to resemble a Prussian kollet, with the distinctives of IR3. The knapsack is a British ‘Trotter’ with the wooden stiffeners removed and the ubiquitous bread bag haversack, of Prussian or British origin, perhaps even a personal item, hangs on his left hip. Slung over his left shoulder is a simple blanket; it is unlikely that he would have received the luxury of a greatcoat. The colour of his trousers suggests old Prussian stock but could equally be a civilian item. He carries a French Charleville musket with a cloth sling in lieu of a proper one. The apple is probably a French Golden Delicious, liberated in Wagnelée.

Sketch 3 - Freiwilligen Jäger detachment 16 June 1815

“The retreating Prussians fell back through Wagnelée which had now been occupied by the volunteer (Jäger) detachment of 25th, previously guarding 10th Foot Battery. Lieutenant Luckow, commander of the detachment, was on the point of ordering his men to fall back as well when Major von Helmenstreit of the 1st Battalion came into sight. Luckow asked him for orders, and he was told to hold the position.” The Waterloo Campaign Vol 1 p278

Here we see examples of the ‘sublime to the ridiculous’. The figure on the right is a former member of the Freikorps von Lutzow, whose uniform has seen better days and had probably seen ‘action’ during 1813/14. His shako is of French origin and he carries a simple canvas knapsack and bread bag. The small buff cartridge box worn at the front is illustrated in contemporary pictures of Lutzow Jäger, and may be the small cartridge box referred to in the text of the article. A ‘hirschfänger’ sword bayonet hangs from his left hip. This particular soldier is armed with a Anspach-Bayreuth Jägerbusch hunting rifle. His powder horn is his own property is, indeed, his rifle may be, and is typical of the kind carried. Lutzow Jäger are often depicted with pointed red cuff trim and pointed red shoulderstraps.

On the left, kneeling and covering the Lutzower while he reloads, is a Jäger from part of the second detachment, a son, perhaps, of a Bremen merchant. He is dressed in the Jäger version of the new 1814 uniform, almost certainly privately purchased, which was authorised for IR25 in March 1815. On his head is the new style bell-topped shako with its distinctive raked peak and chin-scales, covered in an oilskin cover. His green jäger kollet has the madder-red (a purple-red colour) distinctives and yellow shoulder straps of the new uniform. A feature of the 1814 ensemble was a new hide knapsack, the shoulder and breast straps of which were wider than the previous version, and worn over the rolled greatcoat, rather than beneath it as before.

Strapped to the back of the knapsack is a canteen in its cover. A canvas bread bag, regulation grey breeches and marching boots complete his outfit. He is armed with a Scharfschützen Gewehr 1787.

Sketch 5 - Musketeer ex-Freikorps von Lutzow 18 June 1815

‘While Napoleon’s attention was focused on his final effort to break Wellington’s centre, at 8 p.m. Prussian troops again attacked Plancenoit, this time capturing it for good. Pirch I sent Tippelskirch’s 5th Brigade up to support 14th and 15th Brigades. The 25th Regiment from the 5th Brigade played a leading part. This unit had been formed from the Lutzow Freikorps of 1813-14 and the men were still dressed in their old black uniforms.’ Waterloo Campaign. Vol II p144.

The sketch here was inspired by one of Gerry Embleton’s wonderfully evocative pen and ink drawings of the Peninsular War. I hope he will accept it as a compliment. The effects of several days marching and fighting are evident on this already well used uniform. It is typical of the Freikorps von Lutzow although the red cuff piping is straight, rather than pointed as seen on the Jäger’s uniform in Sketch 3, and the shoulder straps have plain rather than pointed ends. His battered shako is Prussian in origin and, although a musketeer, the binding to the top is black leather, in Lutzow style, rather than the white of a musketeer in a line regiment. His musket in a British India Land Pattern. This soldier is taking advantage of the situation to re-equip himself with the cartridge pouch, knapsack and greatcoat, formerly belonging to the Young Guard Tirailleur who has been killed earlier in the defence of Plancenoit.


More Prussian 25th Uniforms Uniforms of the Waterloo Campaign

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