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The uniform as worn by generals was identical in cut to those used in Poland prior to the final partitioning. The kurtka has a slightly different cut from the one which we have come to recognize and associate with the Poles. It is cut somewhat fuller and longer, not the tight shell jacket as worn by lancers of a later date. The cuffs may be cut straight or they may be pointed. Pockets in the back are cut in a diagonal rather than the vertical as seen later. Generals are frequently pictured wearing the kurtka with the left lapel buttoned over the right side except for the two shoulder tabs which are turned back to reveal the lining and at least one owned by General Dombrowski was lined with dark blue, having only crimson piping. The zig-zag lace was worn and the buttons of General Dombrowski's kurtka were of silver, plain, and flat.
OFFICERS
Throughout the history of the legions officers may be.seen wearing a simple bicorne with a plain dark blue single breasted surtout which usually had a blue lining. From circa 1797 this coat had a collar in the color of the battalion in which the officer served. Breeches were white, very tight and worn with hussar style boots which were decorated with silver galons and tassels. Officers are also depicted wearing dark blue breeches in place of the white ones or dark blue pantaloons decorated with double stripes in the outside seams.
In the cavalry, from circa 1802, we find officers who also wear a bicorne but this time with a carrot plume. With this a habit coat, vest, and white or dark blue breeches with the hussar boots.
In the cavalry of the Danube Legion officers worn the dark blue spencer with collar, cuffs, lapels, and turnbacks of dark blue piped in amaranth. The coat is shown being worn open over a dark blue vest which is decorated with amaranth brandenburgs. Buttons are gold. Dark blue breeches were worn with short boots and decorated with an amaranth stripe in the outside seams and Hungarian knots of amaranth on the thighs An amaranth sash is worn round the waist and it covers the upper edge of the breeches nad the lower edge of the vest.
In lieu of the spencer a dark blue dolman may be worn. It, like the vest is decorated with amaranth brandenburgs and piping and is worn with the vest and sash, however, in place of breeches pantaloons are worn. The pantaloons are lined with leather on the insdie of the legs, the thighs are decorated with Hungarian knots and the stripes in the outside seams also run completely around the bottom edge of the pantaloons. 'Cords on the czapkas are in gold.
TROOPERS
Troopers of the cavalry of the Danube Legion also have a dragoon style forage cap and pantaloons which have buttons on the stripes. Czapka cords are in yellow.
HORSE FURNITURE
The shabraque used by the cavalry of the Danube Legion is similar to that used by Chevau-Leger-Lancers. It is of lamb, white for troopers and black for officers. The notable difference is size, they are longer, and the rear corners which are longer and hang down like those of the Guard Lancers although in this case they are rounded and not pointed. The edge is decorated with an amaranth saw-tooth design and for officers there are silver galons between the lamb and edge. Mantlesacks are round, dark blue and piped amaranth.
ARTILLERY
The artillery also worn short boots over their trousers and officers may wear a green spencer with black facings and a black czapka.
In the horse Artillery of the Danube Legion the trumpeter has white piping on the wing of the mirliton. his dolman is red with white piping, galons, and brandenburgs. Buttons are yellow. Vest and trousers are dark blue with red brandenburgs, stripes and Hungarian knots. The boots are hussar style with red galons and tassels.
Parade uniforms for the Horse Artillery consisted of a black czapka with red plume and tricolored cords. Kurtka and breeches are dark green with facings in black. The piping, sash, and stripes are red, buttons yellow. Thighs of the breeches-are decorated with galons of red in a spearhead design. Over the left shoulder a black belt is worn to suspend the cartouche. Boots are short and black, gauntlets, white.
The stable jacket and pantaloons are dark blue with piping and stripes in dark red. There are also leather inserts on the inside of the pantaloons. Galons on the forage cap are black.
INFANTRY
From March of 1799 to January of 1800 the uniform of the infantry of the Danube Legion was primarily French. For the fusiliers the marching uniform consisted of a bicorne with a red pom pom and a dark blue habit coat. Lapels, lining and piping of the coat were white and a white belt was worn for the cartouche. Trousers are white with small blue lines or stripes.
The dress uniform of the grenadiers also consisted of a bicorne with a red horse hair plume. The dark blue habit coat had white facings and lining with white piping while the collar and cuffs were red. White belts were worn for the cartouche and the saber. Breeches were also white and the short gaiters were black.
POLISH UNITS IN THE SERVICE OF PIEDMONT
Two additional Polish units serving in Italy at the same time as the legions are the formations of Foot Hussars in the service of Piedmont. Very little is known of these units, they are therefore of the utmost importance to military historians. In the Polish books of military history of the 18th and 19th century there is very little, if any information. General Dombrowski mentions them in his memoirs but given them no name nor does he provide us with many details. Our main source of information for uniform details are paintings belonging to a one, General Zawiszy. We do not even know for certain the size of these units, they may have been regiments or they may have been battalions, one of the paintings does call them by the name of Battalion of Hussars. It is most probable that they were small units in size and existed only for a short while.
In order that we may better understand these units it is first necessary to view the political situation in Piedmont at the period of their existance.
The King of Piedmont abdicated on the 8th of December in 1798, shortly after an insurrection which was helped along by the French who-were not at all happy with the close proximity of Austria to Piedmont. Piedmont now came completely under the control of France and the army passed into French service. At this time, there were many prisoners of war and political refugees in Piedmont, many of them Poles. We must remember that many Poles from the Austrian controlled teritories of Poland were forced to serve in the Austrian Army.
General Dombrowski sent Chief of Battalion Kosinski to Piedmont to collect these Poles for service in the legion. Some were, no doubt, left behind and these formed the Polish units who served the French in Piedmont from 1798 to 1799. France wished to have as many men as possible under arms. Napoleon was in Egypt, the French in Italy were experiencing defeats, and a revolution was in progress.
The two Polish units were probably first organized as mounted hussars but a shortage of horses and fodder forced them into remaining infantry soldiers.
In both units the uniforms were of the same blue-gray color, with the only distinguishing features being the piping colors.
In the first units the upper portion of the czapka, or konfederatka was of deep crimson (almost purple) while the turban was of lamb. Around all the edges, in the seams, and across the top it was piped with white. The czapka had no cords, pom pom, cockade, or other decorations.
On the blue-gray dolman the collar, pointed cuffs, piping, and brandenburgs are of deep crimson. The barrel sash or belt is composed of two rows of deep crimson and white sections which are separated diagonally. A section of the dolman is visible below the bottom of this sash. Breeches are also of the same blue-gray and are decorated with deep crimson stripes in the outside seams and Hungarian knots on the thigh. With these breeches short gaiters of black are worn, they also are decorated with a galon of deep crimson and a deep crimson tassel, being short and cut in the manner of hussar boots. The uniforms of the French Esterhazy Hussar regiment probably served as the model for the uniforms of this unit.
In the second unit, most probably modeled on the Berchene Hussar regiment, the basic color is also blue-gray but the distinguishing feature is the dark blue used for the top of the czapka, collar, pointed cuffs, brandenburgs, and piping on the dolman. Breeches and short hussar style black gaiters were also decorated in dark blue as in the manner of the otherunit.
Both units were armed with a short carbine-and a short saber, tasak. The knapsack was stiffly formed and the cartouche was carried on a white belt worn over the left shoulder. The officers apparently, were armed with a saber and a brace of pistols.
We may conclude that there were very few men in this uniform, regardless of the size of the unit, from a letter written by General Dombrowski, in which he complains of Poles of whom no one paid any attention, they were not paid, without shirts, shoes, and uniforms. The letter was written in 1799, the same time that the units were formed, in Piedmont.
Polish Legions in Italy 1797-1803
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© Copyright 1978 by Jean Lochet
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