The uniform of the Neufchâtel Battalion

General

In essence the Battalion was equipped and uniformed as a French light infantry battalion but with an unusual cut of coat lapels and a unique coat color which earned the Battalion its nickname of the "Canaries."

The Shako was of regulation French pattern; of black felt with black leather top and bottom bands and a shiny black leather peak. The ubiquitous tricolor cockade was placed above the normal lozenge shako plate in the light troops' steel color. After the implementation of the 1812 Bardin regulations (see below) the plate appears to have been of the new "eagle" pattern but again in steel.

The Coat was prior to 1812, of a cut almost unique in French Service with "German" lapels [9] (see color plate) and in the highly unusual hue of yellow - variously described as "mustard yellow," "canary yellow," "bright yellow," or "buff yellow" (see Appendix II) - with scarlet collar, lapels, cuffs, cuff flaps, and turnbacks all piped in yellow. The same coloring was retained after the Habit Veste was taken into use [10] in 1813 but with pointed "Polish" cuffs. All buttons were silver, bearing the inscription "Bataillon de Neufchâtel" in the center and "Empire Français" around the edge. The tails on the early coat were only of sufficient length to come just below the buttocks, the Habit Veste tails of regulation length. Pockets were vertical and piped scarlet. Breeches were white and gaiters were short; plain black for Fusiliers, Gunners, etc. but tasselled and edged in the light infantry imitation Hussar-boot style for the Voltigeurs and Grenadiers. Belts and Equipment were of the usual French style and coloring. The Greatcoat was grey and the Bonnet de Police was yellow with red-piping, braiding and tassel.

Fusiliers [11]

In common with the French light infantry formations, Fusiliers wore the sabre-briquet and bayonet on a strap over the right shoulder and the cartouche box over the left. After 1812 this combination was almost certainly replaced by the more usual center company practice of a single strap over the left shoulder supporting the bayonet as well as the cartouche box. The sabre-briquet knot and strap was white as were the shako cords, pompom and plume. Fusiliers' turnbacks were embellished with a yellow star.

Prior to the introduction of the Habit Veste the center companies wore plain white fringed epaulettes in imitation of the elite companies - a practice not uncommon amongst the Light Regiments - but with the new coat the regulation called for the normal shoulder strap in yellow piped red, although it is not impossible that this part of the regulation was "overlooked," certainly this is indicated by a number of sources.

Grenadiers

The Grenadiers' shako had, not surprisingly, red cords, pompom and plume but for full dress, the Company wore a bearskin without plate, cords or plume. Epaulettes were red as was the sabre-briquet knot and gaiter piping and tassel. The sabre-briquet itself was of regulation pattern with brass hilt and a black scabbard with brass chape. The bayonet scabbard was brown leather. The turnback ornaments were in the usual form of a grenade but in the usual color of yellow.

Voltigeurs

Shako ornaments were all green, as were the epaulettes (although these had yellow crescents), the sabre-briquet strap and knot, the horn ornament which decorated the turnbacks, and the edging and tassel on the gaiters.

Like the Fusiliers, the Voltigeurs should have lost the sabre-briquet in 1812 but this regulation was widely ignored throughout the Army; the Neufchâtel were no exception and continued to be carried. Likewise the pre-Bardin epaulettes continued to be worn.

Officers

Wore the same general cut, style and colour as the rank and file but with long tails and silver turnback ornaments and rank epaulettes (which followed the usual French pattern). Boots were of Hussar pattern edged and tasseled silver. All shako ornaments, etc. were also silver and the shako had a silver upper reinforcing band.

On active service officers normally abandoned the above uniform in favor of a nine button surtout in the Battalion colours and a plain black bicorne with tricolor cockade.

The sword was carried from a white waistbelt fastened with a square silver plate bearing the Imperial Eagle.

(Oddly, the officers' undress uniform was a dark blue surtout with a red collar.)

Officers of field rank had a gold upper band on the shako (a double band in the case of the Chef de Bataillon) and gild plate and chinscales. Epaulettes were also gold as opposed to the silver of Company Officers.

Grenadier Officers had a full dress Bearskin similar to their OR's but with a red plume and silver cords and flounders.

Sappers

Apart from the usual distinctions of axes/cartouche box, apron, beard, etc., the Neufchâtel sappers differed from the rest of the battalion's Grenadiers as follows:

The Bearskins (which they wore in all orders of dress) had red cords and a red plume, but still no plate or patch. The sabre-briquet was replaced by the heavy Guard-style sapper's sword. Epaulettes were red with white crescents. The coat was decorated with white crossed axes on the upper sleeves (some authorities give these as being on a red field) and the cross belts were decorated with crossed axes surmounted by a grenade, all in silver metal.

Drummers and Hornists

Company musicians wore the standard uniform of the Neufchâtel but their coat was of dark blue with red turnbacks, collar, lapels, cuffs and cuff flaps, all of which were edged with a broad lace braid of alternate yellow and blue bands. The usual Company distinctions were worn in the form of turnback ornaments, epaulettes, etc., but, oddly, all authorities show the fusilier drummers wearing plain blue shoulder straps with edging of blue and yellow braid.

The Drums and Horns were of regulation French pattern, i.e., the former was brass with mid-blue hoops and white straps, the latter brass with green cords.

Artillery, Train, etc.

In general the uniforms of this Company followed the cut of the main Battalion and like them the Habit Veste was taken into use in 1812. Because the company was so small the uniform details given below are only an outline.

All ranks wore a dark blue coat and breeches, the latter with a broad yellow stripe down the outside seam. The sole exception to this were the drivers of the Train who wore buff leather breeches. After 1812 plain breeches were universally worn by the Artillery Company.

Shakos, etc., followed the pattern of the Neufchâtel 's Grenadier Company but note that the Habit Veste of the artillery Company had plain round cuffs and not the Polish cuffs of the Line Companies.

Gunners

Yellow collar and cuffs, edged red; blue lapels and cuff flaps edged yellow. Red epaulettes and grenade turnback ornaments. Gold distinctions for Officers.

Train

As for the gunners but with iron grey cuffs and cuff flaps, both piped yellow and white turnback ornaments. Brass shako plate.

Engineers

Blue collar and cuff flaps, black cuffs, yellow turnbacks and lapels, all piped red. Silver distinctions for Officers. NB: no turnback ornaments.

Appendix I - Flags

There is no record of the issue of an Eagle [12] to the Battalion. It appears that it was originally intended that an Eagle be issued [13] but by the time the Battalion was fully organized Napoleon's 1808 edict forbidding the issue to units of less than 1000 men was in force, and whilst this was below Neufchâtel's establishment it was never achieved after 1808 so they would never qualify - despite Berthier's pleadings on their behalf.

Pierre Charrié says the following on the flag and fanion of the Neufchâtel Battalion (based on French archival data):

The Etats de situation mentions a Flag-bearer in May 1808, a flag was only given at the end of 1809. The model of that flag is unknown. It is very likely that it was decorated with the arms of the Principality used from 1806 to 1814. We only know that in the beginning of 1809 while awaiting the manufacturing of the flag, the Battalion displayed a tricolor fanion blue, white, red, having on both sides BATAILLON DU PRINCE DE NEUFCHATEL. [14] We can add that the Fourier François Robert reports in his memoirs that the Emperor saluted the flag in 1813 at Dresden.

Appendix II - Yellow Coats

The color of the Neufchâtel battalion's uniform was similar to that of the "Gardes de Ville" of Neufchâtel and this is perhaps one of the best guides as to what color the uniform was intended to be.

As mentioned above, virtually every authority gives a different interpretation of the color although most modern authorities now opt for the bright yellow of the Garde de Ville. Although, when the rigors of campaigning and the harsh Spanish sunlight got at such color perhaps the "drab chamois" of Malibran is not too far wrong, although I remain skeptical of the orange coloring shown by Knotel amongst others.

Nonetheless, as the color plate shows, I have come down in favour of the bright yellow as given by Hourtoulle, Nafziger and Rigo.

Appendix III -Staff and Company organization