Grenadier of the Johann Graf von Preysing regiment, 1807

During the period that the Kingdom of Bavaria belonged to the Confederation of the Rhine it Fielded 13 line infantry regiments:

1. Linien-infanterie-Leib-Regiment. (29th April 1811 - 1. Linien-Infanterie-Regiment- Konig).
2. Linien-Infanterie-Regiment Kronprinz Ludwig von Bayern.
3. Linien-Infanterie-Regiment Prinz Carl von Bayern.
4. Linien-Infanterie-Regiment. (8th January 1811-Friedrich Herzog von Sachsen-Hildburghausen).
5. Linien-Infanterie-Regiment Johann Graf von Preysing.
6. Linien-Infanterie-Regiment Herzog Wilhelm in Bayern.
7. Linien-Infanterie-Regiment Dominic First von Lowenstein.
8. Linien-Infanterie-Regiment Herzog Pius in Bayern.
9. Linien-Infanterie-Regiment Georg Graf von Ysenburg.
10. Linien-Infanterie-Regiment Carl Baron von Juner.
11. Linien-Infanterie-Regiment Georg Baron von Kinkel. (Disbanded 2nd December 1806; Reformed 13th July 1807; Disbanded 29th April 1811).
13. Linien-infanterie-Regiment. (29th April 1811-11. Linien-infanterie-Regiment Kinkel).
14. Linien-Infanterie-Regiment. (29th April 1811-13. Linien-infanterie-Regiment).

1. Linien-infanterie-Leib-Regiment was raised on 1st July 1778, as the Leib-Regiment, then becoming:

18th September 1789- 1. Grenadier Leib-Regiment.
6th June 1799- Leib-Regiment.
31st March 1804- 1. Linien-infanterie-Leib- Regiment.

On Bavaria's entry into the Confederation of the Rhine on 12th July 1806, 1. Linien-infanterie-Leib-Regiment had, as Oberst- Inhaber, King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria, and, as Oberst- Commandant, Oberst Joseph Graf von Rechberg.

The regiment consisted of 2 battalions. Each battalion consisted of 1 grenadier company and 4 Fusilier companies

The higher regimental staff consisted of:

1 Oberst-Inhaber
1 Oberst-Commandant
1 Oberst-Lieutenant
2 Majors
2 Unter-Lieutenants (Adjutants)
2 Junker

The lower regimental staff consisted of:

1 Regiments-Quartiermeister
1 Regiments-Auditor
1 Regiments-Chirurg
2 Unter-Chirurgen
2 Chirurgische Fracticanten
1 Regiments-Tambour
8 Hautboisten
2 Hornisten
1 Profoss
1 Profoss-Jung
1 Bichsenmacher

Each company consisted of:

1 Capitain
1 Ober-Lieutenant
2 Unter-Lieutenants
1 Feldwebel
1 Furier
2 Sergeanten
6 Corporals
1 Zimmermann
2 Tambours
12 Gefreite
238 Gemaine

6 of the Gefreite and 14 of the men served as Schutzen.

1. Linien-infanterie-Leib-Regiment was based in Munich.

UNIFORM

Officers

• Light blue coat. Red collar with silver rank lace. Red cuffs with red cuff-flap piping. Red lapels. Red turnbacks. Red pocket piping. White lining. Silver buttons with silver button-hole lace.
• Black helmet, with black bearskin crest, gold metalwork, and light blue and silver cockade.
• White breeches, shirt, belts and gloves.
• Black boots and neckcloth.
• Light blue and silver sash.
• Gold-hilted epee, with light blue and silver sword knots, in black scabbard.
• Brown cane with light blue and silver knot.

Men

• Light blue coat. Red collar. Red cuffs with red cuffflap piping. Red lapels. Light blue shoulder straps with red piping. Red turnbacks. Pewter buttons with white button-hole lace.
• Black helmet, with black woollen crest, brass metalwork, and light blue and white cockade.
• White breeches and belts.
• Black shoes, gaiters, stock and cartridge pouch.
• Brass-hilted sabre, with white sword knob, in black scabbard.
• Brown calfskin knapsack.
• Musket with steel and brass fittings, and red sling, and bayonet.

Drummers

• Light blue coat. Red collar with white lace edging. Red cuffs, with white lace edging and red cuff-flap piping. Red lapels with white lace edging. Light blue shoulder straps with red piping. Red swallows' nests with white lace edging, with a crimson mantle, lined white, bearing a gold cypher MJK, and surmounted by a gold crown. Red turnbacks. White lace chevrons on sleeves, and down sleeve seams. Pewter buttons with white buttonhole lace.
• Black helmet, with black woollen crest, brass metalwork, and light blue and white cockade.
• White breeches, shirt and belts.
• Black shoes, gaiters and stock.
• Brass-hilted sabre, with white sword knot, in black scabbard.
• Brown calfskin knapsack.
• Brass drum, with light blue and white striped hoops, and white tighteners.
• Grenadiers were distinguished by red plumes, and brass grenades badges on their cartridge pouch.
• Schitzen were distinguished by green plumes, and brass horn badges. They carried rifles, and powder horns slung with green cords.

COLOURS

The 1st Battalion of the regiment carried the King's Colour, or Leib-Fahne; the 2nd Battalion carried the Regimental Colour, or Regiment's Fahne.

It is known that the 1808 pattern Leib-Fahne, as above, was issued to 1. Linien-infanterie-Leib-Regiment in 1809, but, apart from this, I know no more details of the patterns of colours carried by the regiment.

1808 PATTERN LEIB-FAHNE

On a white square central Field, a red mantle trimmed with ermine, and tied at the top corners with gold cords. Above the mantle is a gold crown with red and green jewels and white pearls. On the mantle is a shield with light blue and white lozenges, with a gold border.

In the middle of the shield is a smaller shield, red, with a gold crown above two gold crossed swords. Above the shield is a gold crown. The shield is supported by two brown lions, with red tongues and gold crowns, holding small square flags, with light blue and white lozenges, with a gold edging. The flag staffs are brown, with gold finials and gold cravates. The lions are standing on a gold branch. Beneath the shield and lions hang the chains and crosses of three orders. The highest is all gold; the next has a red cross with a gold centre, and its chain has green rosettes with gold centres; the lowest has a gold cross with a green diagonal cross superimposed, and its chain is all gold. Around the centre field are three rows of light blue and white lozenges.

1806-7 CAMPAIGN IN GERMANY AND POLAND

For this campaign, 1. Linien-Infanterie-Leib-Regiment Formed part of the 1st Brigade of the 1st Division. The regiment marched to Silesia in October and November 1806, to help in reducing the Prussian Fortresses there, as part of 9th Corps. After the armistice in June 1807, the regiment at first garrisoned Breslaw, then in August marched to Berlin, for occupation duties there.

1. Linien-Infanterie-Leib-Regiment returned to Munich in November 1807.

ACTIONS FOUGHT 1806-7

10. 11. 1806-24.11.1806 Siege of Glogau.
18.12.1806-3.1.1807 Seige of Breslau.
9.1.1807-16.1.1807 Siege of Brieg.
19.1.1807-22.1.1807 Siege of Kosel.
15.5.1807 Combat of Kanth.
16.5.1807 Combat of Freyburg.
24.6.1807 Storm of the Entrenched Camp at Glatz.

On 8th May 1807, Oberst Aloys Baron von Strohl became Oberst-Commandant, on the promotion of Graf Rechberg to General-Major.

On 5th November 1807, a smaller pattern of knapsack was adopted, to be worn on the back, instead of at the side.

On 8th February 1809, the waistbelt was replaced by a second crossbelt, on which was carried the sabre.

Campaigns 1809+