Cuirassiers and dragoons shared a great deal of identical equipment and pieces of uniforms such as headwear, hairstyle, leggings, trousers, boots, stockings and shoes, gloves, neckstock, horse furnitures, shabraque and holster covers, carbines, pistols, sword knots, etc.
The dragoon straight sword, the Degen, was similar to the famous Pallasch of the cuirassiers. The 7th Dragoons were equipped with the Pallasch.
The dragoons' uniform reflected the origin of this arm of the military and for that reason the light blue tunic was of a cut similar to that of the infantry until 1802 when the infantry tunic was ordered to be replaced by the cavalry Kollett.
Dragoon regiments, like the cuirassiers, were identified by facing and button colors. As can be seen on the color plate, the color facings were displayed on the collar, cuffs, shoulder strap, and turnbacks. The tunic had been somewhat shortened and cut narrower so it could no longer be buttoned over. Since 1799, the collar had been made higher and stiffened.
The cartridge belt was now worn on the right shoulder and the shoulder cord (yellow or white according to the button color) had been changed to accommodate the change. Aiguillettes were worn around the right shoulder.
The Kollett was worn by the rank and file but the officers retained their long-coated infantry uniform. The color remained Iight blue and the regimental colors remained as before on the cuffs, collar, and lapels. The Kollett tails were held together and trimmed in the regimental colors.
The lapels were hooked together. There were 8 buttons on each row. The tin or brass buttons were about 3/ 4 of an inch in diameter and were no longer flat but slightly rounded. There were 8 on each lapel, 2 on each cuff next to one another, two on the tails, and one for the shoulder strap, which was sewn on the collar.
Regiment No.9 changed the position of the buttons and of the loops to 20, 8 on each lapel and 2 on each cuff. The regiment facings were also changed to red and the tail trim remained white". The loops were no longer worn by that regiment.
The dragoon Kollett kept its Swedish cuffs, shoulder cords, and the dragoon strap as before.
The sword was attached to the sword belt that was now set on the Kollett instead of the waistcoat.
Chart
- (*) Troopers and NCOs had 8 white loops on each side of the Kollett, 2 on the cuffs.
In 1801, the waistcoat, called Weste, was replaced by the white Unterkamisol.
Officers had great coats without regimental color facings or distinctions.
TRUMPETERS:
Light Blue Kollett with swallows nests. Hat with red trimming, black and white cords and white feather plume with a red tip. Black and white sword knot, cartouche, Queue rosette, and long trousers with boots.
SOURCES
Funcken, Liliane and Fred, Les uniformes et les armes des soldats du Premier Empire, vol. 1, Paris, 1968
Kling C. Geschichte der Bekleidung, Bewaffnung und Ausruestung derKoeniglich Preussischen Heeres, Berlin 1902.
Picard, Commandant, La Cavalerie dans les Guerres de la Revolution et de l'Empire, Milon fils, Paris 1895.
Tranie, J. & Carmigniani J.C. Napoleon et I'Allemagne, 1806, Charles Lavauzelles, Limoges, 1984.
Hofschroer, Peter, Prussian Cavalry of the Napoleonic Wars 1, 1792-1870, Osprey Men-At-Arms Series, London, 1985.
Reichel, Daniel, Davout et l'art de la guerre, Neuchatel, 1978,
Tradition, issue No.77, June 1993.
More 1806 Prussian Uniforms Part II: The Cavalry
-
Introduction
The Cuirassiers
The Dragoons
Uniform Illustration: Horseman of the Regiment von Beeren (slow: 136K)
Uniform Illustration: Dragoons and Cuirassiers (slow: 105K)
Prussian Uniforms of the 1806 Campaign Part III
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