My vigorous attempt to compile a definitive order of battle for the French to accompany my Hastenbeck article led to a flood of darkness rivaling the congressional quest to figure out health insurance. I imagine that an OB exists somewhere, probably in some French text currently unavailable to this Midwestern provincial. I would not be surprised if Ken Bunger has one somewhere in his gigantic library (the best l've seen). Regretably, I have not had the opportunity or time required to dig through Ken's sources. But I digress...

Nevertheless, using the meager resources at my disposal, I'll try to relate what I've been able to unearth regarding the French army at Hastenbeck. Hopefully someone will be inspired by my floundering to write in with the real scoop. [Editor: does anyone know the whereabouts of a French OB for Hastenbeck depicting brigades and the names and numbers of battalions or cavalry regiments therein?]

Sir Reginald Savory's His Britannic Majesty's Army in Germany during the Seven Years War and The German General Staff History of the Seven Years War agree that the French invasion force numbered 115,000 in 135 battalions of infantry and 143 squadrons of cavalry, supported by 100 heavy guns. The Germans break down the invasion force further by indicating that of this total, 109 battalions were French, 4 were Austrian (from the Netherlands), 10 Reichs Execution Army (probably Palatine troops), and 12 were French militia battalions. I'd wager a small amount that as the army advanced deep into enemy territory, the allied and militia battalions were utilized to garrison strategic points in the rear.

Unfortunately, Baron Jomini, in his Treatise on Grand Military Operations, conflicts with these figures, suggesting that the French marched over the Rhine with 112 battalions and 119 squadrons, supported by 300 guns (including battalion pieces).

Of course, total numbers in the theatre of operations have little to do with the strength of the opposing forces on the day of battle. In this regard, the confusion mounts. All sources consulted, except Jomini, agree with the German General Staff that at the battle D'Estrees had 50,000 infantry in 84 battalions, l0,000 cavalry in 83 squadrons, supported by 68 heavy guns, 84 battalion guns and 8 howitzers. The problem I have with the infantry total is that 55,000 men absent from the main army seems like way too many for detached duty, especially if one considers that there were no other significant forces operating against the French at the time of the battle, and the invading force had not been in the field long enough for attrition to have dramatically diminished its strength. Using German figures again, 50,000 divided by 84 gives an average battalion strength of about 600, which suggests minimal attrition.

Jomini shows the French with 102 battalions on the inadequate map that accompanies his treatise. He does not address the number of cavalry squadrons available at all; however, Jomini's battalion total seems closer to the mark. This battalion total means the French had around 61,000 infantry at the battle.

In the article I mentioned every regiment or brigade I found actual reference to in the histories. For example, we know that Chevert's force consisted of the brigades Navarre, Picardie, and La Marine, and that the four battalion brigades of Redding and Champagne went to the support of d'Armentieres. On the sketchy information available to me it appears that most French brigades at Hastenbeck consisted of four battalions each, which works out well for Chevert, as his three regiments were four battalion organizations, and the German General Staff indicates that he had 12 battalions.

Unfortunately, the histories again disagree as to the number of battalions in Chevert's force. Furthermore, throughout most of the war French brigades consisted of more than four battalions, from more than one regiment, with the brigade taking its name from the senior regiment. All Chevert's regiments were very senior units, and Jomini credits him with 22 battalions. He claims that Cumberland redeployed almost 10,000 men (not including Dachenhausen's command) to oppose Chevert's flank attack, but that Francois and his men still prevailed.

As much as I admire the oft-maligned French infantry, that seems like an awesome task for less than 6,000 of them, although they were supported by the four additional battalions of the Brigade d'Eu (a two-battalion regiment, by the way). Finally, Savory suggests that Chevert commanded just 10 battalions plus 12 companies of grenadiers.

I could go on and on about this, but I think the point has been made. Before ending I will add that if one wants to consult Pengel & Hurt's French Infantry Regiments and Flags and Uniforms, Regiments Etrangere, Seven Years War, Part B, a list of French regiments present at the battle can be obtained. According to these sources, the battalions definitely present at Hastenbeck total 73.

Editor: thank you Dean for writing an excellent account of the battle of Hastenbeck, and thank you also for attempting to derive a French order of battle. Perhaps one of our readers has access to the information that we seek, i.e. who were the French brigade commanders at Hastenbeck, and which regiments of infantry or cavalry were in those brigades? Please forward any replies to the editor of this Journal.]