Lancer regiments 1 to 6 were supposedly dressed to the sartorial elegance set down in the decree of 15th July 1811, whereby the mid green tunic (known as a habit-veste) was faced in a different colour for each of the six regiments.

1st Regiment: Scarlet
2nd Regiment: Orange
3rd Regiment: Pink
4th Regiment: Crimson
5th Regiment: Sky blue
6th Regiment: Madder Red

Cuffs were to be of the pointed variety rather than the dragoons straight pattern. Facing colour was on the collar, cuffs, turnbacks and lapels. The front of the habit-veste could button over to obscure the facing colour, the reverse being mid-green.

An interesting example of an officers habit-veste is on display in the museum in Salon de Provannce. This belonged to an officer of the Ist Lancer Regiment circa 1815, the left turnback has two crossed lances, the right turnback carries a bourbon lillie.

Under the 1st Empire the line companies were supposed to have eagle patches on their turnbacks with grenade patches for the elite companies. All buttons on the tunic were to be of yellow metal embossed with regimental numbers.

Breeches were of a middle green colour, in the Hungarian style, with a yellow side stripe, the front having, in the case of the 1st to 4th regiments an inverted arrowhead device, also in yellow. Regiments 5 and 6 had a more complicated Hungarian sword knot. On campaign the 'pantalons' or overalls were worn, these being of the same mid green colour and re-inforced on the inner legs and seat with black leather, a strip of regimental lace ran down the outer seam of the legs, the buttons on the seam being of yellow metal.

Many various patterns of overalls were worn, dependent upon what was available in the individual regimental depots. Stocks of existing cloth had to be used before new batches were purchased, leading to many inconsistencies and irregularities of dress. The 30th Chasseurs for example continued with green jackets and red trousers long after they should have been wearing blue, as the 9th lancers. Grey was also a popular overall colour.

In the 1st to 6th lancers the head-dress was the converted dragoons helmet. Made of a yellow copper alloy this helmet comprised the bowl, surmounted by a 'cimmier' (crest), with a protective leather peak to front and rear trimmed in yellow metal. Troopers helmets had a brown fur turban, of ficers helmets had a turban of leopard skin with a higher more elegant style. To the front of the crest was embellished a pair of crossed lances, the crest itself being topped by a neo-Grecian horsehair crest.

The 1812 regulations ordering the replacement of plumes with coloured discs does not appear to have been followed. From 1812 the fatigue cap became the pokalem model in green with a crossed lance embellishment.

HORSE FURNITURE

Lancer saddles were comprised of beech wood with metal bands for support, the leather covered seat was suspended above the horses back. On campaign the troopers saddles would be covered with a sheepskin shabraque with 'wolves' teeth edging in the regimental colour. A mid green portmanteau was strapped behind the cantle at the rear of the saddle, this being trimmed with yellow lace.

Officers saddles boasted a mid green cloth shabraque trimmed in gold lace, with a leopard skin cover over the pommel and seat. Hungarian pattern bridle's of black leather of the light cavalry type were utilised (see photograph). A greatcoat was tied over the pommel and holsters whilst on the march, but this same greatcoat would often be worn rolled in bandoleer fashion over the right shoulder and diagonally across the body as a protection against sword cuts when in action.

Lancer regiments seemed well down the pecking order when it came to horse allocation, guard lancer regiments being credited with horses of only 14 hands whilst the line regiments received even smaller examples.

Le Chevau-Legere Lanciers Part 2 Uniforms and Regimental Histories

Uniforms and Horse Furniture
The First Line Lancers: Regimental History
The Second Line Lancers: Regimental History
The Third Line Lancers: Regimental History
The Fourth Line Lancers: Regimental History
The Fifth Line Lancers: Regimental History
The Sixth Line Lancers: Regimental History