I recently received this e-mail in response to an enquiry I sent to the editor and creator of the on-line Seven Years War Magazine, Nec Pluribus Impar (see Newsletter section of this issue for more information on this wonderful on-line magazine). Mr. Vial was kind enough to send me the following reply:

Dear James,

I send you a list of the French regiments present at the battle of Hastembeck. I have not found any valid information about the exact positions of entire regiments.

26 July 1757 Battle of Hastenbeck

Infantry:

Royal Corse, Bergh, Jenner, Lochmann, Reding, Royal Bavière, La Dauphine, Salis, Alsace, Royal Pologne, Royal Allemand, La Marck, Royal Suédois, Berwick, Picardie, Navarre, La Marine, Champagne, Belzunce, Mailly, Le Roi, Lyonnais, Vaubécourt, Touraine, Aquitaine, Eu, La Couronne, Bretagne, Gardes Lorraines, La Roche Aymon, Enghien, Condé, Vastan, Provence, Chartres, Barrois, La Marche.

Grenadiers Royaux commanded by M. de Guerchy: Grenadiers Royaux de Modène and Grenadiers Royaux de Chantilly

Grenadiers de France commanded by M. de Roqueval.

Cavalry:

Carabiniers de France, Fitz James, Royal Pologne, Royal Allemand, Royal, Le Roi, Archiac, Colonel Général, Mestre de Camp Général, Lusignan, Fleury, Royal Roussillon, Maugiron, Royal Piédmont, Fumel, La Rochefoucauld, Talleyrand, Lameth, La Reine, Dauphin, Bourgogne, Moustier, Berry, Aquitaine, Orléans, Bellefonds, Condé, Bourbon, Clermont Prince, Bourbon Busset, Descars.

Hussars: Turpin

Dragoons: Colonel Général, Mestre de Camp Général, Harcourt, Orléans, Caraman.

Light Troops:

Volontaires de Schomberg, Volontaires Royaux, Volontaires de Flandre, Volontaires du Hainaut, Volontaires Royaux de Nassau.

Artillery commanded by M de Vallière and M. de Fontenay.

Palatine Regiment and the Austrian brigade represented 6000 men. An important remark: a brigade was a formation with 4 battalions, most of the French regiments were of 1 or 2 battalions then they were amalgamated into brigade to be of 4 battalions, as the Eu brigade composed with Eu and Enghien regiments. Some of the oldest regiments were of 4 battalions and named regiment or brigade as for Picardie.

Amicalement, Jean-Louis VIAL

(Hastenbeck has become sort of an obsession of mine. Of all the Seven Years War battles, it seems to be one of the least documented. Even the French sources do not seem to include any orders of battle. This is rather odd considering that the French won this one and that it was their first pitched battle on the continent of Europe after the declaration of war.

One would think that it would be a lot better documented than it is. Possibly the fact that d'Estrées seems to have reorganized his army just prior to the battle and then was subsequently relieved of command may have played some part in the lack of a comprehensive description. Nevertheless, I still have many sources to consult for additional information on this most enigmatic of battles.

In a forthcoming issue of the Journal, I hope to have the organization of the above units worked out for a more comprehensive OB showing the command structure. In the mean time, if anyone has more light to shed on this subject, please contact me -Editor)

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