Five of the seven French cavalry regiments in the Army of the Orient were dragoons, starting with 1,960 men, or two-thirds of the 2,290 total cavalrymen in the expedition (including the mounted Guides).

The high percentage of dragoons was intentional. Trained to fight on foot as well as on horseback, the dragoon trooper carried a musket only slightly shorter than the infantryman's and it had a bayonet (the carbines carried by the light cavalry did not). The five dragoon regiments had served in Bonaparte's Army of Italy, as had all of the infantry and cavalry that Napoleon took with him to Egypt.

The dragoons fought on foot until after the capture of Cairo. Napoleon intended to remount his cavalry with captured Arab horses, renowned for their quality. With limited cargo space, only 1,230 horses were taken on board the transport ships. This was no more than 20% of what the army required to mount all its staff, headquarters, cavalry and horse artillery, and pull the cannon and artillery trains. Many of these 1,230 horses did not survive the long voyage.

All of the dragoon uniforms were green, with each regiment distinguished by the facing color and design of the pockets on the tails of the coat (vertical or horizontal). Since no heavy cavalry regiments -- cavalerie de bataille or carabinier -- accompanied the expedition, the dragoons would fill that role once they were mounted.

Large French Dragoons Uniform Guide (slow: 138K)

More Napoleon in Egypt

Napoleon in Egypt: Introduction
Napoleon in Egypt: Why Egypt?
Napoleon in Egypt: Alliance and Assembly
Napoleon in Egypt: Expedition Commences
Napoleon in Egypt: Expedition Arrives
Napoleon in Egypt: Battle of the Pyramids
Napoleon in Egypt: French Artillery Strength
Napoleon in Egypt: French Dragoons Uniform Guide
Napoleon in Egypt: French Light Cavalry Uniform Guide
Napoleon in Egypt: French Army of Orient Order of Battle (text: fast 10K)
Napoleon in Egypt: French Army of Orient Order of Battle (graphics: very slow: 314K)
Cover Illustration: Napoleon in Egypt