The Hesse Kassel army of the SYW is a well-balanced force of approximately 18 battalions of infantry and 7 regiments of cavalry. In wargaming scale, a very do-able force to paint and field. These troops formed an integral part of Prince Ferdinand's Allied Army of Hanover/Hesse/Brunswick/Great Britain. The ruling Landgrave Wilhelm VIII styled his army after Prussia's in both organization and uniform. With his death in 1760, his successor, Friedrich II, also a great admirer of Frederick the Great of Prussia, reorganized his army to mimic Prussia even more, by introducing fusilier mitres and cuirassiers.

At the beginning of the SYW, the Hessian forces were very conventionally organized around Musketeer regiments and Grenadier battalions. They also had one Hussar, two Dragoon, and four Reiter regiments of cavalry. By the war's end, they had three standing Guard infantry units, some cuirassiers, and an array of light/garrison units. Unlike Frederick the Great, Prinz Ferdinand became a strong advocate of Light Troops and by 1760, Hesse had organized a full Jager battalion and two squadrons of mounted jagers.

Organization of the Hessian Infantry

Hessian infantry regiments were single battalion units. Each battalion consisted of ten companies or 770 men. In wartime, converged grenadier battalions were formed from the grenadier companies of the musketeer regiments of line. Aside from the Line, was a single Guard Regiment of 650 men and two standing Grenadier regiments (the Land and Guard Grenadiers).

In 1756 and 1757 Hessian infantry consisted of one Guard and 11 line regiments; 3 garrison or land battalions; and two standing grenadier and two converged grenadier battalions. By 1760, Hessian infantry consisted of two Guard, two fusilier, nine musketeer regiments; and two grenadier regiments plus seven grenadier battalions; augmented by three garrison, one frei-korps, and a Jager battalion. Each regiment included battalion guns manned by trained artillerymen.

The jagers fielded two companies in 1757 and had achieved battalion strength by the time of Minden in 1759. Two jager squadrons of horse (300 men?) were raised in 1759-60.

The organization of the Hessian Guard is somewhat confusing. In 1756 the Guard consisted of one regiment. By 1760-61 the Guard had been expanded by the inclusion of the standing grenadier regiment and the raising of the 1st Guard Battalion. So by 1761, the socalled Guard/Garde consisted of three independent battalions.

Garrison or Land battalions were battalion-strength units which, as in the Prussian army, sometimes served with the field army. All three fought in the 1758 battle of Sanderhausen, as did the Hessian Invalid battalion.

It should be noted that in 1760, the new Landgrave doubled the number of infantry battalions with the stroke of a pen, by splitting the existing infantry regiments into two half strength battalions. Additionally, this order slightly increased manpower per regiment and directed the formation of seven grenadier battalions. It was thought that this was done to deceive the French into thinking that the Hessian army was larger than it actually was, but this ploy apparently did not work.

Organization of the Hessian Cavalry

The Hessians fielded three types of cavalry during the war: hussars, dragoons and reiters. The four Reiter regiments had 360 men each formed into 2 squadrons and they were dressed in white coats without cuirasses. In 1760 they were reorganized/uni formed into regiments of 400 men and wore buff coats with cuirasses (although it is unclear as to whether or not the cuirasse was ever issued to the Reiter regiments during the SYW). The two dragoon regiments were 660 men each (4 sqds.). The second regiment of dragoons, Prinz Friedrich Dragoons were organized in 1757. The Hussar squadron was increased to regimental strength in 1756 (650 men in 4 sqds.). A Guard cavalry squadron was organized in 1760 with an appearance similar to the Prussian "Guard du Corps".

Organization of the Hessian Artillery

In 1756, Hessian artillery consisted of the manning of battalion guns and two field/garrison companies. They were rapidly expanded and by 1759 consisted of five 8 gun field batteries, one garrison artillery unit and a heavy field battery. In 1760 an additional five batteries were raised. Batteries were approximately 90 men strong. The battalion guns were either 3 or 4 pounders and the field guns were 6 pounders with a smattering of 12 pdrs and 10 pd howitzers.

The gun carriages were painted light to medium blue and apparently captured French guns in their original blue/grey color were seen in use by the Hessians. There is no record of horse artillery being organized. It was not unknown for a section of 3/4 pdrs to be attached to independent light troops and cavalry.

Hessian Army of the 7 Years War

Organization
Uniforms
Flags