From this first period of the legions existence, 9 January to 2 June 1797, no uniforms are known to remain in existence and it is difficult to reconstruct them in detail. The paintings and drawings of most contemporary artists are not always of help in this for they more often than not do not agree in detail. Of these artists Mr. Pachonski seems to be the most accurate. Additionally those men who chose to write, rather than paint what they saw are not always accurate. The most extensive and accurate source of information here are the memories of General Dombrowski.
The uniforms, insignia, and even the organization of the legion were to be as close as possible to the Polish traditions and standards of the past, although the French cockade, which had come to be accepted as an emblem of freedom loving peoples, was to be worn. Additionally the people of Lombardy wished to see their new national colors incorporated into the uniform and also the inscription "Gliuomini liberi du Duche de Varsovie" Chelminski and his colleague Malibran describe contra-epaulettes in the colors of Lombardy with the inscription embroidered upon them. However, these are not elsewhere spoken of nor are they shown in any of the many contemporary plates.
The first volunteers to join the legion were organized into the battalions of Grenadiers and Chasseurs. As a hat they wore the traditional Polish czapka, perhaps in this instance it would be more apt to call it a konfederatka as it had no visor and may not have been reinforced and rigid as they czapka which we associate with the Polish soldier of a later period, nor does it seem to have attained the height of these later models. The upper portion of the hat was constructed of a dark blue cloth with the lower section, the turban, being constructed of black lamb.
All seams were piped in the color of the battalion, amaranth for the Grenadiers and green for the Chasseurs. The hat is worn with one point of the square top centered over the forehead thus the French cockade appears in the center of the left side, it is attached just below the piping which goes around the square top. Immediately above the cockade a pom pom was worn. It is of yellow encircled by a horizontal band of dark red. Although this pom pom is at times illustrated for all soldiers of the legion, grenadiers are also sometimes seen with a pom pom of dark red only or a short horse hair plume of dark red. The hat could not have been elaborate or complicated in construction as its cost was only 19 sous.
The uniform which cost 3 livree and 10 sous consisted of a dark blue kurtka with amaranth piping for the Grenadiers, in the battalion of Chasseurs lapels, pointed cuffs, turnbacks, and piping were in green. For Grenadiers buttons were of white metal or silver with silver epaulettes for officers. Officers serving in the battalion of Chasseurs had gold buttons and epaulettes. The soldiers-of the Chasseur battalion may have worn buttons of yellow metal such as brass.
On the lapels of the kurtka seven buttons are to be found on each side. There are also two in the small of the back. The-pointed cuffs seem to have been without buttons. In the tails of the coat are two vertical pockets which are piped, have three points and a small button in each point. The uniforms of staff officers and generals were faced in carmine and had no piping.
Around the waist was worn a wide belt which was also in the colors of France, red, white, and blue (from top to bottom) and the buckle is also of these colors.
As stated before, the epaulettes do not seem to have been in the colors of Lombardy. Grenadiers are almost always seen with dark red epulettes while the Chasseurs are most frequently shown wearing contra- epulettes of dark blue with green piping.
Breeches for both Grenadiers and Chasseurs, are of dark blue and very tight. There are no stripes running down the outside seams. Over the breeches black gaiters are worn. These gaiters come about halfway to the knee and are also very tight fitting. They are described as being "Hussar style" and are shown both coming to a point below the knee and also curving down to form a "V" as is found on Hussar boots. The top edge'of the gaiter is decorated with a galon of dark red and also a tassel of dark red.
The cartouche, when worn, is suspended from a white belt which is worn over the left shoulder. In some illustrations we find soldiers which do not carry a cartouche but rather have their cartridges tucked into the belt around the waist. Although some of these plates claim to show a Grenadier this practice was probably limited only to the Chasseurs.
In some of the earlier illustrations we find soldiers with a pair of pistols carried tucked into the belt in what may have been a reinforced loop sown into the belt for just this purpose. This practice seems to have been limited only to the Grenadiers and then done only in the very early days of the legion.
The knapsack was of the standard French pattern as were all of the weapons and equipment except for the occasional use of captured Italian or Austrian weapons.
The short curved infantry saber, tasak, was worn in the Polish manner, suspended from the waist, with it was the bayonet and, of course, a musket was also carried.
During the month of March the legion was moved to Mantua where it was to be garrisoned. Here it was joined by the battalion of Fusiliers and formation of the Artillery was being undertaken at Milan.
Uniforms worn by the Fusilier battalion were of the same style and color as those worn by Grenadiers and Chasseurs. The distinguishing, features were the collar, cuffs, lapels, turnbacks, and piping which was done in the battalion color of yellow.
Artillery
In the Artillery green was the predominant color. The czapka or konfederatka. was green with black piping and a black lamb turban. The uniform was completely green, only the piping; was in black. Buttons were in yellow or gold and the officers worn gold epaulettes. Epaulettes of the soldiers were dark red.
Polish Legions in Italy 1797-1803
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