French Régiment des Volontaires de Flandre, 1749–1776

The Arquebusiers de Grassin, raised by order of 1 January 1744; the Fusiliers de la Morlière, by order of 16 October 1745; the Volontaires Bretons, raised by order of 30 October 1746, were united in the same corps, under the name of Volontaires de Flandres, by an order of 1749, and composed of three brigades of four companies each, of which two of infantry of 40 men, and two of cavalry of 20 men each, officers not included. By order of 25 March 1757, it was divided into two regiments, under the title of Volontaires de Flandre and Volontaires du Hainaut, composed of six companies each, the company of 70 men, of which 40 of infantry and 30 of cavalry.

By order of 25 February 1758, each of these regiments was increased to 600 men by raising two new companies, and adding five mounted men to each of the six existing ones, so that they are currently each composed of eight companies of 75 men, of which forty on foot and thirty-five mounted.

État-Major

  • Colonel (without company)
  • Lieutenant-Colonel (without company)
  • Major
  • Aide-Major d’Infanterie
  • Aide-Major de Cavalerie
  • Aumônier – Chaplain
  • Chirurgien

Plus one Enseigne to carry the flag.

Composition of each Company

  • one Capitaine Titulaire

For the Infantry

  • one Capitaine en second
  • one Lieutenant
  • two Sergents
  • three Caporaux
  • three Anspessades
  • 31 Fusiliers
  • one Drummer

For the Cavalry

  • one Capitaine en second
  • one Lieutenant
  • one Cornette
  • one Maréchal des Logis
  • two Brigadiers
  • 32 Cavaliers
  • one Trumpeter or Kettledrummer

Uniform

Blue coat, waistcoat and coat lining, vertical pockets, white breeches, red cuffs and lapels, white buttons and boutonnières (buttonhole lace), tricorne with silver lace.

Commanding Officer

  • Colonel from 1757, M. de la Morlière
  • Lieutenant-Colonel, M. de Segent
  • Major, M. ...

Campaign History

  • Engaged in the Petite Guerre of the French Army of the Rhine
  • Battle of Hastenbeck, 26.07.1757
  • Capture of Hanover, 08.08.1757
  • Battle of Krefeld, 23.06.1758
  • Battle of Lutterberg, 10.10.1758
  • Engagement at Corbach (Korbach-Sachsenhausen), 10.07.1760

Lineage

  • Disbanded 1776.

Bibliography

French Light Troops