The student of Napoleonic uniforms has plenty of information on how the infantry of the period were supposed to lock_ but very little to show they actually did appear. This brief article is an attempt to describe the appearance of French line infantry in the campaigns following the Retreat from Moscow, when the chaotic state of supply created grotesque ragamuffins out of the once immaculate Grande Armee.
The most interesting; of the illustrations is the Voltigeur (taken from a Knotel plate) - it will be noted that he not only lacks a shako but also sword and epaulettes; the coat is of a most peculiar design lacking a collar. The 'half-mast' pantaloons add to the comic effect.
The Fusilier is slightly more orthodox in appearance although he is wearing his forage cap up and under his shako in a peculiar manner. Note also the small flask slung right to left, and the cooking pan fixed to the pack.
The Grenadier wears more or less regulation equipment. Note the small quarterbelt at the back of his 'shortie' coat, and the pantaloons tucked into short gaiters.
Officers probably wore a black cocked hat, fore-and-aft, covered by a waterproof; a dark blue coat with a large floppy collar, and pantaloons of any colou., either outside or tucked into the regulation boots (black with fawn tops).
To sum up, coats and pantaloons were of practically any colour, the latter often being cut in blue and white, or red and white striped material. Most garments were scruffy and ill-fitting. Swords, shakos and coloured epaulettes were in short supply and consequently French infantry had to make do with pieces of equipment stolen from dead enemy troops. They probably even wore such items as Landwehr caps or Russian forage hats. Gaiters also seem to have been of odd colours; Knotel shows grey-blue, brown, fawn, black, gray and white. I had never seen drawings of the forage cap before -- previous types seemed to be more conical with a tassel. However, Knotel must be considered a reputable authority and obviously forage caps were of more than one type.
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© Copyright 1964 by Donald Featherstone.
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