The Prussian Uhlan regiments facing France in 1870 had two things going for them besides lances and a good supply of pipe tobacco - the name, which suggested tartar hordes to the levies who fought for France after the surrender at Sedan and Metz, and brass scaled epaulettes which had prevented the collarbone and rib cage slices favored by Austrian heavy cavalry in the previous war. NOTE: Only the first 12 regiments were available in 1866. Coats were of Prussian blue in the Prussian units, green in the Bavarian units. Other distinctions as follows: Regiment Collar, Cuffs Turnback Epaulettes Buttons Shoulder Strap of Greatcoat 1st Guard Scarlet, white turnbacks w/2 yellow lace bars on collar, 1 on cuff White White White 2nd Guard As above Scarlet Yellow Scarlet 3rd Guard Yellow, white lace Yellow White Yellow piped as epaulettes 1st Scarlet White Yellow D. Blue 2nd Scarlet Scarlet Yellow D. Blue 3rd Scarlet Yellow Yellow D. Blue 4th Scarlet L. Blue Yellow D. Blue 5th Scarlet White White D. Blue 6th Scarlet Scarlet White D. Blue 7th Scarlet Yellow White D. Blue 8th Scarlet L. Blue White D. Blue 9th White White Yellow D. Blue 10th Crimson Crimson Yellow D. Blue 11th Yellow Yellow Yellow D. Blue 12th L. Blue L. Blue Yellow D. Blue 13th White White White D. Blue 14th Crimson Crimson White D. Blue 15th Yellow Yellow White D. Blue 16th L. Blue L. Blue White D. Blue 17th Dark Red, white piping, cap band L. Blue 2 bars white lace on collar, 1 on cuff, undersurface of epaulette L. Blue L. Blue Yellow L. Blue w/white piping 18th Dark Red, white piping, 2 bars of yellow lace on collar, 1 on cuff under- surface of epaulette L. Blue L. Blue ellow L. Blue w/white piping 19th Scarlet Scarlet White D. Blue piped Scarlet 20th Yellow Yellow White D. Blue piped Yellow 1st Bavarian Crimson Crimson Yellow Crimson 2nd Bavarian Crimson Crimson White D. Green piped Crimson Girdles: Prussian Wurtemburg, Saxon, dark blue with 2 stripes in turnback color. Overalls: Dark grey, but light blue in 17th & 18th Regts. Dark green in Bavarian units with crimson stripe. Czapska: Black polished leather, scale chin-chan, emblem in front with metal binding on peak. The full dress underpart is covered with a cloth in epaulette color. Forage Cap: Dark blue in Prussian and Wurtemburg, white in Saxon, dark green in Bavarian lancers. Belts: Normally white and worn under tunic, black, outside in Bavarian units. Shabraque: Dark blue except in Bavarian and Saxon units. in former, dark green trimmed crimson, in latter, black sheepskin. Lance: 10 feet long, 1 inch thick, 6" point, shaft painted black. Penons black and white in Prussian, green and white in Saxon, black and red in Wurtemburg, light blue and white in Bavarian units. Sword: 39.76" curved for rank and file, single guard, steel scabbard. More Prussian Cavalry 1870 Introduction Hussars Cuirassiers Dragoons Uhlans Part II: French Army: Line and Light Infantry Part II: French Army: Chasseurs a Pied Infantry Part II: French Army: Zouave Infantry Part II: French Army: Turco Infantry Part II: French Army: Cavalry Back to Table of Contents -- Courier Vol. VII #1 To Courier List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1986 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