Keith Rocco's painting of an officer of the 17th Lithuanian Lancers, the only non-Danish unit with Lallemand's division at Bornhoft. Created in late 1812, it did not advance into Russia, but appeared in mid-December at Konigsberg to take part in rearguard skirmishing.

On 11 February 1813, the 17th was surprised and defeated by Cossacks, and engagement inwhich the regiment's commander, Count Tyskiewicz, received three lance wounds. The 17th, brigaded with the 19th Lithuanian Lancers, was swept up in the army's retreat to Germany, where it arrived in Magdeburg in late February with only 250 men.

Pulled back to rebuild, 120 members of the 17th were incorporated into Napoleon's Imperial Guard Cavalry on 31 March. By this time, the 17th and 19th appear to have been merged into one unit and assigned to marshal Davout, who commanded Napoleon's northern flank in 1813.

After the battle of Leipzig in October, Davout, now cut off from Napoleon, contracted his army to defend Hamburg, where it soon faced the Swedes and Wallmoden's corps.

Several members of the 17th distinguished themselves in fighting alongside the Danes. One in particular, Joseph Kaszyc, wounded the famous Prussiam Major Schill and took him prisoner in an action near Lubeck. The same Kaszyc, with only 50 troopers, later conducted a daring raid that netted 50 prisoners and 200 horses.

The 17th Lithuanian Lancers remained with Danish service after the armistice in December 1813, and were disbanded in early 1815.

Back to Table of Contents -- Napoleon #11

Mornerska Hussars

Hussars
Hussars Regimental Organization
Hussar Uniform
Battle of Bornhoft Maps (extremely slow: 431K)
Battle of Bornhoft Order of Battle: Graphical (slow: 128K)
Battle of Bornhoft Order of Battle: Text (fast)
Issue Cover: Officer of 17th Lithuanian Lancers (very slow: 215K)

Related:

Swedish Horse Artillery and the 1813 Campaign
Swedish Jagare