French Dragoons of the Napoleonic Wars, 1792–1815
Officers and men of the 16th French (dismounted) Dragoon Regiment marching across Central Europe. Napoleon intended to capture enough horses during the campaign in order to fully mount his cavalry regiments. These 15 mm dragoons by Minifigs have been painted with artists‘ acrylics. They are mounted on infantry company bases compatible with the Empire III game system.
French cavalry regiments of the Napoleonic Wars had four squadrons of 160 officers and men each, organised in two companies for administrative purposes. Dragoon regiments followed the same organisation, with the exception of the 1805 dragoon regiments, which had a higher complement of troops. In addition to its field companies, the cavalry regiment had a depot squadron responsible for recruiting, training and replacement. The 1st company of the 1st squadron was an elite formation, similar to the grenadier company of an infantry regiment. These «dragons d’élite» wore bearskin grenadier caps with red plumes to indicate their elite status.
Miniatures
- French Dragoons, 1:32 A Call to Arms 20
- French Dragoons 1812–1815, 28 mm Perry Plastics FN120
- French Dragoons, 1:72 Italeri 6015; Zvezda 8024; Revell 02587
- French Dragoons, 1:72 HaT Industrie 8009
- Officer, Porte-Aigle, Trumpeter of Dragoons, 1:72 Art Miniaturen JS 72/0175
- French Dragoons in reserve (4 figures, without horses), 1:72 Art Miniaturen JS 72/0174
- French Dragoons, 20 mm Hinton Hunt BB15
- French Dragoon Elites, 20 mm Hinton Hunt BB17
- French Dragoons, 20 mm Kennington BP73
- French Dragoons, 20 mm RSM95 NF-CD
- French Dragoons, 15 mm Battle Honours BFR20
- French Dragoons, 15 mm Heritage Miniatures
- French Dragoons (command), 15 mm Minifigs 56NFC
- French Dragoons, 15 mm Minifigs 6NFC
- French Dragoons, grande uniforme, in reserve, 15 mm Old Glory FMD02
- French Dragoons, service dress, charging, 15 mm Old Glory FMD03
- French Dragoons, campaign dress, charging, 15 mm Old Glory FMD04
- French dismounted Dragoons 1809, 1:32 Prince August 80-16
- French Foot Dragoons, 1:72 Waterloo1815 041
- French dismounted Dragoons, 1:72 Strelets 009
- French dismounted Dragoons, 20 mm Hinton Hunt BB29
- French dismounted Dragoons, advancing, 15 mm Minifigs 32NF
- French dismounted Dragoons, standing firing, 15 mm Minifigs 33NF
- French dismounted Dragoons, kneeling firing, 15 mm Minifigs 34NF
Organisation
- Regimental Staff
- 1st Squadron
- 1st Company (compagnie d’élite)
- 2nd Company
- 2nd Squadron
- 3rd Company
- 4th Company
- 3rd Squadron
- 5th Company
- 6th Company
- 4th Squadron
- 7th Company
- 8th Company
- Depot Squadron
Uniform
French dragoons wore a green uniform with red, carmine, rose, yellow, or orange facings.
Régiment | Campaigns | Lapels & Turnbacks | Collar | Cuffs | Cuff Flap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1re | 1805–1807 | Scarlet | Scarlet | Scarlet | Scarlet |
2e | 1805–1807, Spain, Russia | Scarlet | Green | Scarlet | Green |
3e | 1805–1807 | Scarlet | Scarlet | Green | Scarlet |
7e | Austria 1809, Russia | Carmine | Carmine | Carmine | Carmine |
8e | 1805–1807, Spain | Carmine | Green | Carmine | Green |
9e | 1805–1807, Spain | Carmine | Carmine | Carmine | Green |
13e | 1805–1807, Russia | Rose | Rose | Rose | Rose |
14e | 1805–1807, Spain, Russia | Rose | Green | Rose | Rose |
15e | 1805–1807 | Rose | Rose | Green | Rose |
19e | 1805–1807, Russia | Yellow | Yellow | Yellow | Yellow |
20e | 1805–1807, Spain, Russia | Yellow | Green | Yellow | Green |
21e | 1805–1807 | Yellow | Green | Green | Yellow |
25e | 1805 | Orange | Orange | Orange | Orange |
26e | 1805–1807, Spain | Orange | Green | Orange | Green |
27e | 1805–1807, Spain | Orange | Orange | Green | Orange |
Bibliography
- Knötel-Sieg: Handbuch der Uniformkunde, pp. 168–169
- Funcken, L. & F.: L’Uniforme et les Armes des Soldats du Premier Empire, pp. 51-53
- Cassin-Scott, Jack: Uniforms of the Napoleonic Wars in Colour 1796–1814, Plate 19
- Haythornthwaite, Philip: Uniforms of 1812, Plates 1, 11, 18
- Haythornthwaite, Philip: Uniforms of Waterloo in Colour, plate 55
- Allevi, Piersergio: Zinnsoldaten, p. 148