For the main armies during the Seven Years War most of the year was spent either in winter quarters or marching during the campaigning season. Not so for the "light troops", who along with the hussars and dragoons, were in constant contact with the enemy (or the unfortunate local populace) throughout the war. The light troops were active in raids, scouting, foraging and securing advance positions for the main army. This never ending warfare is termed "la petite guerre". This article attempts to describe the organization and uniforms of the light troops that fought in Germany. The hussars and dragoons have been covered in other articles. Besides the following units, the grenadier companies of the line regiments were formed into battalions for similar work. As the war progressed most line regiments also formed piques, or chasseur, companies. The light corps were generally made up of foreigners and varied wildly in discipline. They could be fierce fighters and in fact distinguished themselves often. Strength of Light Troops in 1759 (Approximate) Unit Strength Legion Royale 1800 Chass. Fischer 2000 Vol. Flandre 948 Vol. Friezen 1000 Vol. Austrasie 948 R. Cantabres 604 Vol. Dauphine 948 Fus. Montagne 120 Vol. Hynault 948 Vol. Clermont 1200 Vol. Chambefot 150 Vol. Grammont 100 Gd. Brunelli 25 By the end of the war more units were raised, as follows: Volontaires Corses (Corsica), Chasseurs de Poncet Volontaires de Wurmser, Volontaires de Soubise, Volontaires de Saint-Victor, Fusilier-Guides de Metzenius Chasseurs de Monet, Chasseurs a pied de Dorigny, and the Chasseurs a pied de Granapre. Also existing were the Volontaires Liegeois, Volontaires Alsace (Geschray) and Volontaires Nassau-Saarbruck. Some general notes on the uniforms described below are as follows: Unless otherwise mentioned headware is a black tricorn hat with white tape and black cockade. Helmets are black with a brass crest and varied colored turbans. Swords are carried in black scabbards with brass fittings. Buttons are tin. Chasseurs de Fischer This corps existed within the French Army from 1743. (see figure 8) Johann Christian Fischer was the brilliant leader and founder of this unit, and all other light corps were patterned after his. In 1756, there were four companies of SO chasseurs a pied and four companies of 75 chasseurs a cheval. Fischer was mortally wounded in 1761. The corps was placed under the command of the Marquis de Conflans to continue their active role in the war. A special ordinance of the King in 1761 reorganized the unit as the Dragoons-Chasseurs de Conflans, now authorized at eight companies of 75 horse. Foot: green coats with no turnbacks, collar or cuffs; green vest and breeches; black gaiters and militron; yellow fleur d'lis on militron front; yellow buttons. (Note: The organization and grenadier uniform shown in Mollo's book was not adopted until 1763. Mouillard makes same error.) Horse: green pelisse and dolman, gold button loops and trim, brown fur; red cuffs, breeches and sabretache; green housings bordered gold with a design of three crossed gold dauphins in corners (Mollo is correct except dauphins are upside down); militron as for foot; red and yellow sash. Volontaires de Clermont Prince Authorized on 27 April, 1758 at a strength of two companies of 53 grenadiers, nine of 105 fusiliers, sixteen of 53 dragoons and two regimental guns. (see figure 7) Dragoon: light brown coat with red lapels, turnbacks, collar and small cuffs; light brown breeches and housings bordered white edged red; white button holes on both vest and coat; red vest; white epaulettes brass helmet with leopard skin turban and black horsehair crest. Fusilier: same as above, except red breeches and shoulder strap, full cuffs, black gaiters and belt, brass helmet with red turban and white tuft. Grenadier: same as fusilier, except red helmet tuft. Standard: white cross on light brown (b) and red (a) diamond design (figure 4). Volontaires Entrangers Formed in 1756 with three battalions. Second battalion went to Canada in 1758 and participated in defense of Louisbourg. Battalion strength was one company of 63 grenadiers and twelve of 53 fusiliers. On 27 January 1759, the first and third battalions were united under Colonel Vignolles, also taking his name. The strength was one grenadier and sixteen fusilier companies. On 22 November, 1759, the unit was named the Volontaires d' Austrasie with the new standard organization of one company of 60 grenadiers, eight of 71 fusiliers and eight of 40 dragoons. In 1758 the battalions wore a white coat with green full cuffs, collar, turnbacks, lapels and shoulder strap; white vest and breeches. In 1759 the following uniform was authorized. Fusilier: blue coat with red lapels, small cuffs, turnbacks and front half of collar; blue vest; white button lace, shoulder strap, breeches and belt. Grenadier: same, but fur hat. Dragoon: same, but helmet with leopard skin turban; blue housings with black border; red half-lapels and epauletts. Standard: black with double white cross (figure 6). Chasseurs de Poncet Formed on 7 March, 1761 with 7 officers and 200 chasseurs a pied. The uniform was a green vest with yellow half-lapels and small cuffs; green overcoat with yellow lapels and collar; green breeches; yellow canvas gaiters. Chasseurs de Monet Formed on 31 March, 1761 with 60 chasseurs a pied, 40 chasseurs a cheval and 50 hussars. Renamed Chasseurs de Bonn in December 1761. Chasseur: green coat with white collar, cuffs and turnbacks (Mouillard shows short plain green coat); green vest and breeches; green militron with white trim and cockade. Chsseur a cheval: same, brown Hungarian boots. Hussar: green pelisse with green loops and trim; white breeches and dolman with white loops and trim; red sash; militron and boots as chasseurs. Fusiliers Guides de Metzenius Formed on 20 February, 1761 as couriers with the Army of the Lower Rhine. Wore a blue coat, vest and breeches; white button lace, sergeants had silver Brandenburgers; black belt; blue housings bordered white; brown sabretasche; black turban on helmet. Strength was 3 officers and 40 men. Fusilier Guides de Plinchamp Formed in 1756 with 3 officers and 25 men as couriers with the Army of the Lower Rhine. Renamed and increased to 40 men under Mr. Brunelli in 1760. Uniform was the same as Metzenius. Volontaires du Haynault Formed on 25 March, 1757 from the splitting of the Volontaires de Flandre. On 25 February, 1758 the unit was increased to eight mixed companies of 40 fusiliers and 35 dragoons. Fusilier: blue coat with black collar, full cuffs and turnbacks; blue vest and breeches; white button lace on coat, vest, cuffs and collar. Dragoons: blue coat with black Bavarian cuffs and collar both trimmed white, blue turnbacks trimmed white; blue vest and breeches; brass helmet with black (red cross ties) turban and red tuft; blue housings bordered white. Standard: white cross on pink (a) and medium blue (b) design (figure 3). Volontaires Royaux In 1756, there were two companies of 45 grenadiers, twelve mixed companies of 40 fusiliers and 30 dragoons, and one company of 20 pioneers. On 7 May, 1758, the name was changed to the Legion Royale. The mixed companies were increased to 100 men and the pioneers to 30. A company of 75 hussars and two regimental guns were added. The uniform dating from 1745 was as follows -- Fusiliers: blue coat with red cuffs, vest, collar and turnbacks; Grenadier and Pioneer: same, fur hat. Dragoon: same, but white aigu illette, red housings with white border. Sometime after 1758, the following uniform was adopted (Mouillard says 1759) - - Fusilier: short blue coat with red Bavarian cuffs and collar; blue vest; white breeches; black gaiters and belt. Grenadier and Pioneer: same, fur hat with no bag. Dragoon: blue coat with red turnbacks and Bavarian cuffs; red and white aiguillette; red vest; blue breeches; white cockade; blue housings with a red white-red horizontal striped border. Mouillard shows a 1748 hussar uniform of a blue pelisse, dolman and breeches; white loops and trim; blue and red sash; red sabretasche trimmed white; blue housings as dragoon; black militron, blue flap and black cockade. Standard: white cross on blue quarters, each with gold fleur d' lis (figure 1). Volontaires Entrangers de Geschary Formed in 1747 and had strength of 1200 men in 1756. Geschray, as a partisan in Saxony, was taken captive by Prussian hussars. Entering Prussian service he formed a new free corps. His old unit was reformed as the Volontaires de Beyerle, and in February of 1758, was reorganized as the Volontaires d'Alsace. There were six companies of 40 fusiliers and 30 dragoons. The unit was disbanded in November of 1759. Fusilier: blue coat with red turnbacks, small cuffs, half lapels and shoulder straps; yellow buttons and button lace; red vest and breeches; black belt and gaiters; yellow hat tape. Dragoon: same, blue housings bordered red. Standard: white diagonal cross on blue (b) and red (a) half-quarters (figure 2). Volontaires de Cambefort Formed on 12 December, 1759 with 199 fusiliers and 40 dragoons. On 13 September, 1761, the corps was increased to 103 fusiliers and 105 dragoons. Fusilier: blue coat with red small cuffs, lapels, turnbacks and epauletts, no collar; blue vest; white breeches; yellow buttons; fur hat with red bag. Dragoon: same, blue housings bordered red. Volontaires de Dauphine On 1 February, 1758, there were six mixed companies of 40 fusiliers and 30 dragoons each. Two companies were added in April of 1758. Reorganized on 22 November, 1759 to one company of 60 grenadiers, eight of 71 fusiliers and eight of 40 dragoons. Fusilier: blue coat, turnbacks and breeches; fawn collar, full cuffs and vest (Mouillard shows fawn turnbacks); white gaiters, belt and button lace on coat and vest. Dragoon: same as fusilier, except white epaulette, fur hat with light blue bag, blue housings bordered white with upside-down fawn dauphin design. 1761 Dragoon: blue coat and turnbacks; yellow collar, cuffs and vest; white button lace; helmet without bousetail crest, yellow hide turban, red tuft. Standard: medium blue diagonal cross, fawn quarters, a blue dauphin in each quarter (Mouillard shows large bluish dauphin centered on cross in upside-down position) (figure 5). Guidon: fawn, gold sun device with four gold dauphins, fringed silver. REFERENCES Sapin-Lignieres, Les Troupes Legeres de l'Ancien Regime, Saint-Julien-du-Sault, 1979. Lucien Mouillard, Les Regiments Sous Louis XV, Paris, 1882. Louis Susane, Histoire de la Cavalerie Francaise, Paris, 1874. Louis Susane, Histoire de l' Ancienne Infanterie Francaise, Paris, 1853. Back to Table of Contents -- Courier Vol. 2 #2 To Courier List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1980 by The Courier Publishing Company. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com