Eclaireurs de la Garde Imperial
Uniform: Dragons d'Imperatrice
by Paul L. Dawson
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The 2eme Eclaireurs were recruited prima-rily from a draft of 1,000 Imperial Postillions. By placing these men into the guard, they would not have to undergo the lengthy process of being taught to ride and how to look after a horse. Reflecting their Dragoon background, the 2nd regiment was dressed in green, akin to the Chasseurs a Cheval de la Ligne. A habit-veste of the 1812 pattern was worn, with red collar and cuffs was worn. Different sources ascribe a short tailed surtout known as a habit-kinski, coloured as before. It may be that the habit-veste was worn by the 2eme dragoons, and the habit-kinski by the Eclaireurs, as the decree creating the 2eme dragoons mentions that they were to be dressed like the chasseurs a cheval. Green riding overalls laced scarlet were worn. The Kinski was adopted by the Chasseurs a Cheval in 1808. This jacket was single breasted and closed down the front by the means of nine copper semi-domed buttons. This jacket was simple, comfortable and devoid of the encumbering tails of the habit-long worn by the regular Dragoons. The dragoons’ distinctive Minerva helmet was replaced with a Shako. Different authors who have dealt with the 2eme Eclaireurs have ascribed to them different style and colour shakos. One source mentions a scarlet Shako Rouleau throughout, with a black leather peak and neck cover; another an 1812 pattern cavalry shako, with a crimson body, aurore top and bottom bands, aurore cords, a white plume rising above a company coloured pompom. Again, as with the Chasseurs a Cheval, it appears that the 1812 pattern shako was worn by the 2eme Dragons, which was replaced with the shako Rouleau when converted to Eclaireurs in December 1813. Other ranks appear to have worn white equipment and officers black. The schabracke was of the light cavalry pattern, green, laced aurore, as was the valisse. Trumpeters appear to have worn the same habit-kinski as the other ranks, but sky blue replaced green; sky blue being the signature colour of Guard Cavalry Trumpeters. The collar, pointed cuffs and turnbacks were crimson laced aurore. The shako cords, and trumpet cords were mixed aurore and green. Eclaireurs de la Garde Imperial
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