Imperial Guard Cavalry
Organization and Composition

Chasseurs a Cheval

Text by John Grehan & Phil Gaffney,
Original Illustrations by Ian Storer


Formed as the Guides de l'Armee de Italie in 1796, the Guides received the name Chasseurs a Cheval de la Garde des Consuls on 13 January 1800.

Chasseur a Cheval de la Garde, campaign dress, 1804-1808

At this time there was only one company of Chasseurs. It was composed of, one Capitaine, one Lieutenant en premier, one Lieutenant en second, one Sous-lieutenant, one Marechal des logis chef, four Marechaux des logis, one Fourrier, eight Brigadiers, ninetysix Chasseurs, one Marechal-ferrant, and two Trompettes.

In the following year the Chasseurs were organised into two squadrons of two companies each. The composition of the Chasseurs was identical to that of the Grenadiers a Cheval. In 1805 a squadron of four companies of velites was added and in 1806 the velites were formed into two squadrons. The velites were reduced to a single squadron of two companies in 1809. The squadron was disbanded in 1812 when the Chasseurs were formed into five regular squadrons.. This was increased to eight squadrons in 1813. For the Waterloo campaign the regiment was reformed with four squadrons.

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