The heavy brigade of the Guard consisted of armored cavalry. There were no Grenadiers a Cheval, although there were at one time in the Imperial Household (not actually a part of the Guard Corps), Elite Gendarmes of similar appearance. The list Cuirassiers wore the familiar dark blue of the line cuirassiers, with silver colored helmet and breastplate. in place of the black fur turban of the line cuirassiers, was worn a brass plate the went all the way around the base of the helmet. The crest was brass, and the horsehair plume black (red for trumpeters) and the tunic was lined red and worn turned back. Cuffs were red with blue cuff flap. Buttons were white metal. The shabraque was of the familiar pattern with dark blue trimmed white, crowned N's in front and back. The mantlesack had blue, white and red rings with a crown in the middle. Trumpeters as usual rode grays and had a light blue tunic with white lace. Epaulettes were white for the troop and silver for the officers. The 2nd Guard Cuirassiers were similar except that they wore light rather than dark blue, and trumpeters wore red. Both units wore the pantalon rouge on campaign, but usually paraded with white trousers tucked into jackboots.
During an economy move in the 1860's the two line carabinier units were disbanded as well as the second cuirassiers of the guard. However, prior to the Franco-Prussian War a compromise replacement was worked out and the Carabiniers of the Guard were raised. These brilliantly clad fellows were decked out in light blue tunics worn turned back to reveal red facings, gilded breastplates trimmed in white metal including a guilded sunburst with silver rays, brass helmet trimmed white metal with red caterpillar plume, parade trousers white tucked into jackboots, on campaign the pantalon rouge. Troopers had red epaulettes, officers silver trumpeters red coats with white face, blue turnbacks and collar, white instead of red helmet plume. The shabraque was light blue trimmed white.
The guard cavalry went to war twice. In 1859 it went to Italy, w here the Guard Chasseurs a Cheval accompanied the grenadier division to secure a bridgehead at Magenta, and the whole division deployed to support the cavalry of the line on the plain of Medole at Solforino. it is rumored that the dragoons may have threatened a charge to relieve pressure on Desvaux's Chasseurs a Cheval d'Afrique, but on the whole they don't seem to have been very active. In 1870 things caught up with them. The Guard Cuirassiers charged a Prussian division with predictable results at Vionville, while the Carabiniers, Dragoons, and Lancers fought more or less well in the great cavalry battle.
I have commented on the damage allegedly done by the lancers to the Oldenburg Dragoons. Exact figures on the damage done the lancers by the French Guard Dragoons are not available. Most of the Guard cavalry was bottled up at Metz with Bazaine, the depot squadrons being added to regiments of "Cavalry de Marche" during the struggle of the Republic against the invader.
Illustrations
Top: (left:) GUARD CARABINIERS 1866-70 and (right:) 2nd GUARD CUIRASSIERS 1855-60.
More Napoleon III Imperial Guard
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