Uniforms and Armies of bygone days Year 2 – No. 8 Contents P.1 The Württemberg Army 1812 R. Kögel Plates 1-2 E. Wagner P.8 Basics … Musket Lengths H.-K. Weiß G. Bauer P.12 Questions and Answers P.13 First-Hand Sources … M. Stein Plate 3 ... The Otto Manuscript E. Wagner P.18 Magazine Round-up P.21 Napoleon’s Allies … J.-P. Perconte Plate 4 … Royal Italian Sapper Battalion E. Wagner 1808-1814 P.33 Document: “Bardin” Regulation of 1812 for the French Army P.34 Table of Contents for Year 2 Unless otherwise noted, the drawings interspersed throughout the text are by G. Bauer and L. Sergent. Editor Markus Stein 2018 translation: Justin Howard Introduction At the close of the second year, I believe that Depesche has finally established itself in the field of military-themed magazines. At the same time, I still get great enjoyment from preparing and putting together each issue. I also post the latest copy with fresh excitement to the various subscribers each time and try to imagine their reaction. Therefore, I’m glad for every comment from the readers, which I will happily use where appropriate to improve our magazine. On one hand, this issue continues longer studies, like the articles about the Württemberg and the Italian armies, however on the other hand introduces a new column, actually two. In no particular order, therefore, in the series “First-hand Sources …”, each time a contemporary pictorial manuscript, an interesting diary or an excellent work from a later date will be discussed. As far as possible, the author, the scope and the content of the work will be investigated. Besides a brief critical assessment, a plate which is prepared exactly after the relevant source materials shall always be used to demonstrate their appearance to the reader. Furthermore, with this issue I have started to publish copies of original documents, as “padding”, so to speak. This applies first of all to the well-known uniform regulation of 1812 for the French Army, named after Colonel Bardin. The reader can thereby make their own impressions on the significance of the object shown in each plate, so I would like to leave out any further description – this time the plate is dedicated exclusively to the generals and general staff. If any reader possesses similar documents or copies, also related to other nations, which they are interested in having published, I would be very glad to have them sent to me. On that note, I wish a pleasant study of (primary) sources. Markus Stein Dragoon Hussar Chasseur à cheval Light Infantry Line Infantry The French Army under the Consulate The Württemberg Army 1812 Combat strengths of III Corps Situation on 1st July Name of the Number of Battalions and Present under Present under arms, Regiment Number Colonel Companies arms horses Officers Men Officers Troop Pack 10th Division 24th Light Belair (1) 1,2,3,4, art. 84 3020 24 - 66 1st Portuguese Pego 1,2 51 500 31 - 6 46th Line Baudinot 1,2,3,4, art. 82 2624 29 - 63 72nd Line Lafitte 1,2,3,4, art. 88 2484 30 - 56 129th Line Freytag 1,2, art. 45 984 17 - 58 350 9612 131 - 249 11th Division (2) 2nd Portuguese Xavier 1,2 49 1432 12 - - 4th Line Massy 1,2,3,4, art. 94 2209 29 - 43 18th Line Pelleport 1,2,3,4, art. 88 2657 30 - 58 93rd Line Bauduin 1,2,3,4, art. 87 2748 31 - 67 318 9046 102 - 168 25th Division Regiment Number 1 Dernbach 1,2 27 1173 - - 16 Regiment Number 4 De Röder 1,2 28 1235 - - 16 Regiment Number 2 Bauer 1,2 29 1309 - - 16 Regiment Number 6 Pollnitz 1,2 27 1220 - - 16 Foot Chasseurs Number 1 Seeger - 15 668 - - 8 Foot Chasseurs Number 2 Scheidemantel - 14 670 - - 7 Light Infantry 1st Battalion Cornotte - 15 675 - - 8 Light Infantry 2nd Battalion Stockmaier - 15 674 - - 8 170 7624 - - 95 Cavalry (9th Brigade) 11th Hussars Collaert 1,2,3,4 29 607 72 602 4 6th Cheveau-Légers Marboeuf 1,2,3 26 530 60 531 4 4th Württemberg Chasseurs Salm 1,2,3,4 21 464 92 461 11 76 1601 224 1594 19 (1) The history of the French army lists this name; however, the Muster Rolls give the name Dubelais. (2) The 1st Illyrian Regiment under Colonel Schmitza also belonged to this division – on 24th July, it consisted of 65 officers, 2505 men and 21 horses. 1 Name of the Number of Battalions and Present under Present under arms, Regiment Number Colonel Companies arms horses Officers Men Officers Troop Pack 14th Brigade 4th Chasseurs Boulnois 1,2,3,4 32 708 73 656 4 28th Chasseurs La Roche 2nd, det. 10 191 23 214 - 1st Württemberg Chevau-Légers De Brockfeld 1,2,3,4 23 509 123 497 7 2nd Württemberg Chevau-Légers De Norman 1,2,3,4 22 496 22 478 12 87 1904 241 1845 23 Artillery Train 6th Battalion principal 1,2,3,4,5 company 5 567 10 96 683 14th Battalion principal 2,3,6 company 2 194 4 25 213 7 761 14 121 896 Engineers' train 6th company - - - - 17 Military Equipment train, 2nd Battalion 1,2 3 220 6 29 256 Ambulance soldiers 10th company 2 99 2 - 4 Artillery 1st Foot Regiment 16,18,21 company 7 279 17 - - 5th Foot Regiment 12,18 company 6 214 14 - - 9th Foot Regiment 2,7, det. 4 182 10 - - 1st Battalion Pontonniers 8th company 2 92 5 - - Labourers 5th company 3 36 7 - - 6th Horse Regiment 5th and 6th company 6 121 14 118 - Württemberg Foot Art. 1 and 2 4 160 12 4 90 Württemberg Horse Art. 1 and 2 6 250 22 102 143 Battery of 12 2 171 4 1 86 Reserve company 4 294 10 4 208 44 1809 1 115 229 527 Engineers 1st Battalion 3rd company 3 104 - - 5 3rd Battalion 7th and 9th company 5 248 - - 12 8 352 - - 17 Gendarmerie 3 72 - - - 2265 General Total 10662 331093 8424 38905 6 1 Translator’s Note: This column actually sums up to 1799. 2 Translator’s Note: This column actually sums up to 1068. 3 Translator’s Note: This column actually sums up to 33090. 4 Translator’s Note: This column actually sums up to 835. 5 Translator’s Note: This column actually sums up to 3818. 6 Translator’s Note: This column actually sums up to 2271. 2 3 Regiment Number Present under arms Present under arms, horses Officers Men Officers Troop Pack Situation on 25th June 10th Division 346 10431 130 - 233 11th Division 372 11605 118 - 256 25th Division 170 7821 - - 95 9th Brigade 79 1644 222 1604 19 14th Brigade 89 2022 242 1963 23 Artillery 43 1811 113 227 582 Engineers 8 333 - - 17 Artillery Train 7 749 14 112 1113 Engineers' Train - 9 - 1 25 Equipment Train 3 221 6 30 327 Ambulances 2 99 2 - 4 Gendarmerie 3 72 7 72 - 10221 36817 854 4009 2694 Situation on 5th July 10th Division 350 9083 136 6 228 11th Division 320 8953 101 - 178 25th Division 170 7624 - - 95 9th Brigade 77 1568 217 1512 8 14th Brigade 87 1899 221 1802 23 Artillery 44 1809 115 229 509 Engineers 8 352 - - 17 Artillery Train 7 770 14 121 860 Equipment Train 1 242 - - 285 Ambulances 2 99 2 - 4 Gendarmerie 3 40 4 - - 1069 32439 810 3670 2207 Situation on 10th July 10th Division 307 8381 119 - 172 11th Division 321 8414 109 - 157 25th Division 163 6814 - - 89 9th Brigade 80 1681 223 1569 15 14th Brigade 83 1836 203 1742 19 Artillery 69 1797 210 223 496 Engineers 8 352 - - 17 Artillery Train 6 755 12 120 849 Engineers' Train - 9 - - 17 Equipment Train 3 220 6 29 256 Ambulances 2 99 2 - 4 Gendarmerie 3 40 4 40 - 1045 30398 888 3723 2091 1 Translator’s Note: This column actually sums up to 1122. 4 Regiment Number Present under arms Present under arms, horses Officers Men Officers Troop Pack Situation on 15th July 10th Division 306 8150 119 - 163 11th Division 319 8119 102 - 154 25th Division 158 6654 - - 89 9th Brigade 79 1700 222 1547 15 14th Brigade 78 1712 198 1617 19 Artillery 42 1784 111 222 492 Engineers 9 333 - - 16 Artillery Train 6 744 12 120 859 Engineers' Train - 7 - - 11 Equipment Train 3 213 6 29 223 Ambulances 2 99 2 - 4 Gendarmerie 3 40 7 40 - 1005 295661 779 3575 2045 Situation on 1st August 10th Division 303 7314 117 - 184 11th Division 317 6964 102 - 149 25th Division 147 4320 - - 85 9th Brigade 79 1483 222 1326 15 14th Brigade 85 1689 220 1565 19 Artillery 41 1753 109 204 492 Engineers 10 286 16 - - Artillery Train 6 664 12 31 701 Engineers' Train - 7 - - 10 Equipment Train 3 156 6 22 149 Ambulances 2 89 2 - 4 Gendarmerie 3 39 7 39 - 996 24764 813 3187 1808 Situation on 15th Au gust 10th Division 299 7569 117 - 183 11th Division 317 7144 102 - 146 25th Division 146 3462 - - 75 9th Brigade 74 1652 214 1321 6 14th Brigade 73 1619 196 1480 17 Artillery and train 47 2417 121 243 1193 Engineers and train 9 302 16 - 11 Military Equipment 3 170 6 19 137 Ambulances 2 88 2 - 4 Gendarmerie 3 40 7 40 - 973 24463 781 3103 1772 1 Translator’s Note: This column actually sums up to 29555.