Before 1743 a short civilian cut coat was worn. After that a longer coat was worn, increasingly with the tails turned back. Pocket flaps became an increasingly varied form of decoration. During the mid-century period, the grenadier companies, no longer light infantry messing around with anarchistic bombs, increasingly adopted the Anglo-Prussian style bearskin of miter shape. This was not a characteristic of the Gardes Francaise, as it became for Napoleon's Garde Imperiale in a modified form. One unit, however, the blue coated "Grenadiers de France," was entirely topped in bearskins, and legend hdS it that the Royal Scots Greys won theirs by accepting the surrender of the Royal Allemand Regiment at Blenheim.

The hose, or tight fitting trousers, were in most cases white:

For the painting of highly detailed 54mm figures in dress uniform, a far more detailed study by regiments is required, but for less discriminating painters, intend on massing 18th century French (probably to be slaughtered by their present 18th century Prussian or British troops). The following first installment on regimental uniform colors should give a start.

GRENADIERS DE FRANCE

This regiment, in which all soldiers wore the bearskin, has the familiar white corss with a crowned blue center in which there are three gold fleur de lys, red crown trimmed gold, and gold laurels. The lower left and upper right fields are white and covered with what appear to be blue chamber pots (presumably grenades) surmounted with red flames. In the other quarters are found the familiar motif of gold fleurs de lys on a blue field.

BOURQUIGNONE

For a change of pace, this regiment has a jagged St. Andrews cross of bright red on a white field. The field is covered by gold fleur de lys.

French Infantry Regiments of the 7 Years War
Regiment	Coat	Collar	Lapels	Turnbacks	Trim	Vest	Pants	Buttons
Picardie	white	white	white	white	---	red	white	yellow
Champagne	white	white	white	white	---	red	white	yellow
Navarre	white	white	white	white	---	red	white	yellow
Piedmont	white	white	black	white	---	white	white	yellow
Normandy	white	black	black	white	---	white	white	yellow
La Marine	white	black	black	white	---	red	white	yellow
Boisgelin	white	White	white	white	---	white	white	yellow
Bourbonnois	white	---	white	white	---	white	white	yellow
Avergne	white	---	violet	white	violet	white	white	yellow
DeRouge	white	---	violet	white	violet	white	white	yellow
Chattllux	white	white	white	white	---	red	white	yellow
Du Roi	white	blue	blue	white	---	blue	white	yellow
Royal	white	blue	blue	white	---	blue	white	white
Poitou	white	blue	blue	white	---	blue	white	yellow
Lionnois	white	red	red	white	---	red	white	yellow
Dauphin	white	---	blue	white	--	blue	white	yellow
Vaubecourt	white	black	black	white	black	red	white	yellow
Tourraine	white	blue	blue	white	blue	blue	white	yellow
DaEu	white	blue	blue	white	---	blue	white	yellow
St. Chaumont	white	carmine	carmine	white	carmine	white	white	yellow
Montmorin	white	red	red	white	---	red	white	yellow
Bridueville	white	red	red	white	---	white	white	yellow
La Reine	white	red	red	white	red	blue	white	white
Limousin	white	---	red	white	red	white	white	yellow
Royal Vaisseaux	white	blue	blue	white	---	red	white	yellow
Orleans	white	red	red	white	---	red	white	yellow
La Coronne	white	blue	blue	white	---	blue	white	white
Bretagne	white	---	white	red	black	red	white	yellow
Gardes Lorraine	blue	---	blue	blue	--	blue	blue	white
Artois	white	white	white	white	---	red	white	yellow
Montreval	white	white	red	white	---	red	white	white
La Sarre	white	blue	blue	white	---	red	white	yellow
La Ferre	white	red	red	white	---	white	white	white
Alsace	blue	red	red	red	red	white	white	white
Royal Rousillon	white	blue	blue	white	---	blue	white	yellow
Conde	white	red	red	red	---	red	white	yellow
Bourbon	white	red	red	red	---	red	white	white
Grenadiers de France	blue	red	blue	red	red	blue	blue	white
Beavoisis	white	white	white	white	---	red	white	white
Rouvergne	white	red	red	white	---	red	white	yellow
Bourgogne	white	white	white	white	---	red	white	yellow
Royal Marine	white	blue	blue	white	---	blue	white	white
Vermandais	white	red	red	white	---	blue	white	yellow
Anhalt	blue	yellow	yellow	yellow	yellow	white	white	white
Royal Artillerie	blue	red	red	red	---	red	red	yellow
Royal Italian	white	L.blue	L.blue	white	L.blue	L.blue	white	yellow
Jernor	red	blue	blue	blue	---	blue	red	white
Boccard	red	blue	blue	blue	red	blue	blue	white
Reding	red	blue	blue	blue	---	blue	blue	white
Castella	red	blue	blue	blue	red	blue	red	white
Lanquedoc	white	blue	blue	white	blue	white	white	yellow
Aumont	white	white	white	white	---	red	white	yellow
Waldner	red	blue	blue	blue	red	blue	blue	white
Medoc	white	red	red	white	---	red	white	white
La mps	white	red	red	white	---	red	white	yellow
Bouille	white	---	white	white	---	red	white	yellow
Royal Comtols	white	blue	blue	white	---	blue	white	yellow
Lastic	white	carmine	white	white	carmine	white	white	yellow
Provence	white	red	red	white	---	red	white	yellow
Cambis	white	red	red	white	---	red	white	white (alt. yellow)
d'Arbonnier	red	red	blue	blue	---	blue	blue	white
St. Maurice	white	red	red	white	---	white	white	yellow
Nice	white	white	white	white	---	red	white	yellow
La Mark	blue	---	yellow	white	yellow	white	white	white
Penthievre	white	blue	blue	white	---	blue	white	white
Guyenne	white	red	red	white	---	red	white	yellow
Lorraine	white	white	white	white	---	red	white	yellow
Flandres	white	blue	blue	white	---	blue	white	white & yellow

More French Army in the Mid-18th Century

Part 1: Infantry and Flags (1)
Part 2: French Infantry Regiments of the 7 Years War Uniform Chart
Part 3: Artillery
Part 4: Cavalry (1)
Part 5: Cavalry (2)
Part 6: Infantry