As mentioned in the first article on French mounted troops, the term "cavalry" pertains to the standard heavy cavalry of the period. Generally these cavalrymen wore the tricorn with trim in the equivalent of the button color, coat (usually turned back by the Seven Years War) over a vest in an arrangement fairly similar to the infantry pattern, high boots, buff leather trousers, and sometimes a white cloth protector between the boot and trouser which shows slightly above the top of the boot as with the heavy cavalry of the first Empire.

Like the infantry, the cavalry of the line usually had buff leather belting. The cartridge pouches were usually of the same color. Horse leather was usually black. The cockade often, but not always black.

As in the case of the infantry, it is impossible in a general article to pin down such things as the shape of the devices on. the turnbacks, number of buttons, etc., for the various regiments. Also like the infantry, cavalry uniforms came in a great variety of colors.

The basic armament of these troops consisted of carbine, pistols, and broadsword - a straight heavy one hand sword usually worn in a black leather scabbard trimmed in brass. Dismounted action was not expected of the cavalry, although the tendency to fire mounted, though inefficient, was common. The carbine was normally worn muzzle down on the right attached to a buff leather bandolier.

The colors unscrambled from Knoetel for the French cavalry of 1761 are as follows:

Regiment	Coat	Cuffs	Coat Tail	Facing	Vest	Buttons
Colonel General	red	black	red	black	yellow	yellow
Maistre de Camp General 1	grey	black	grey	black	red	yellow
Commissaire General	L grey	black	L grey	black	L. grey	yellow
Royal	blue	red	blue	red	red	white
du Roi	blue	red	red	red	red	white
Royal Allemand 2	blue	red	red	--	L. yellow	white
la Reine	red	blue	blue	blue	red	white
Noailles	red	red	red	red	L yellow	white
Fitzjames 3	red	blue	blue	blue	L. yellow	white

According to Knoetel, Royal Etrangere (Foreign), Cuirassiers du Roi, Royal Cravattes, Royal Piemont, Royal Pologne, Dauphin, Burgundy (with red collar), Carabiniers de Provence (with white trim on collar), and Artois regiments followed the same pattern as the Royal regiment except as noted.

The Berry regiment was the same as the regiment du Roi. Before continuing with Knoetel, lets clear up the notes on the list so far:

1. Some British sources give Maistre de Camp credit for breaking through the first British triple line of foot at Minden. As none of the other French regiments did, this led to nothing but trouble, but it was an accomplishment.

2. Royal Allemand (Royal German) wore the bearskin, and,, as a result of having surrendered to the Royal North British Dragoons, have the dubious distinction of being responsible for the famous bearskins of the Royal Scots Greys.

3. The Fitziames regiment, which had detachments at Culloden, is extrenwiy popular as a result of being Irish. However, the uniform is rarely given the same twice. Col. MacCarthy, in SCFH 39/4, gives the following description: (Maitre de Regiment-Sgt. Major?) coat red, with turnbacks lapels, Cuffs, and vest blue, the latter with red turnbacks. White fleur de lys on the coat turnbacks, white trim on the lapels and the vest turnbacks, white buttonholes, red saddle cloth with two blue trim lines. Col. MacCarthy notes that the regulation calls for blue and white checkered trim here as well as on the uniform. His illustration and description also call for a red-brown bearskin of the grenadier pattern with blue bag trimmed white.

Henry Harris, in Pleasures and Treasures: Model Soldiers, shows two figures from the regiment on page 24, one in the uniform described, more or less, by Col. MacCarthy, bearskin, checkered trim, and all, presumable the Maistre du Regiment, and a center company style trooper with no lapels, yellow trim on the saddle cloth, white band and black cockade on the cocked hat, and red cuffs. He is also inspired to give brown horse furniture.

Incidentally, Col. MacCarthy notes that the painting of the Maitre de Regiment which he used as a source (comparing with French records for identification) shows the musquetoon worn dragoon fashion, i.e., muzzle-up, which as he says, is " curious."

It might be appropriate to mention that I have no information as to whether or not it was common for French regiments to have elite companies in bearskins at this time. Col. MacCA.-thy does not mention whether the bearskin was a company or individual distinction. Knoetel says nothing of elites in bearskins under either cavalry or horse grenadiers (in the latter section he mentions Royal Allemand.) The Bayonet, I believe, mentioned the detachment at Culloden as cuirassiers with black breastplates. I cannot disprove this, since there seems to be so much variety to this distinguished Irish unit.

Having muddied the waters, I must admit that the evidence favors blue facings, meaning that once again the author will have to repaint a regimentl I will, however, hold off for one issue waiting for some reader to write in, damning self-appointed 18th Century experts, proclaiming that he happens to have a coat and hat from the Fitziames regiments in his attic, and setting us straight on the matter once and for all (or maybe I will simply convert my Fitzjames regiments to Noailles and to heck with it.)

But, meanwhile, back to Knoetel, who carries on:

The following regiments wore white coats, red cuffs, lapels, and turnbacks with exceptions as noted:

(light yellow vests) bordered as noted
Royal Lorraine: red with black neckband-1
Royal Picardie: red with yellow neckband
Royal Champagne: yellow with black neckband
Royal Navarre: crimson with white trim pattern
Royal Normandy: red and white striped trim
Conde: Rose
Bourbon: Bourbon edge -2
Clermont: Crimson
Pentievre: Yellow/blue trim (red collar)

The same uniform except with white coat tail turnbacks: Orleans Blue border. Chartres: Violet with white trim pattern. Conty- the same uniform with red coat tail turnbacks and no facings. 3 Edge white with red and blue trim.

1: I don't know what to make of this. I've got sketches and notes from a picture of this regiment showing an officer in blue coat with red facings and saddle cloth, the cloth having a gold sun face device on both the rear corner and pistol cover. He is also wearing a silver breastplate under the coat but over the vest.

2: I haven't the foggiest idea what this means. However, a color print accompanying Col. MacCarthy's article previously cited shows a trumpeter in brown coat with red vest trimmed white. The saddle cloth is red bordered white. Three silver fleurs de lys under a silver crown are the motif for pistol covers, trumpet banner, and rear corner of the saddle cloth. The standards of this unit were red with the sun device at the center and the words "nec pluribus impar." Since even though this is a simplified field uniform, as MacCarthy suggests, there is nothing to prove that the vest matched that of the regiment, make of it what you will.

3: While most of use are inclined to think that facings are facings, including turnbacks, this says "ohne rabatten."

At the risk of appearing cynical, I must say that I suspect some players will already have caught on to a trick concerning French cavalry of the 18th Century. Take a reasonably appropriate casting (should have a cocked hat, turned back coat preferably, and rounded saddle cloth with pistol holsters up front - a matter largely of paint) and use almost any combination of colors.

Hair should be natural colors until very late in the century. Betting in buff leather. Take the facing color, whatever it was, for the flag. Put a button color (white or yellow metal) sun face on it. Now pick a name. The name should be recognizably French, for example, Dillon, Fitzjames, Diesbach, Fischer, or some such thing. Do not use the examples listed, because someone might know that the real regiment didn't look like your color combination. However, since the colors and regimental names changed independently from time to time, it would be very difficult for most American collectors or wargamers to catch you at it.

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