5. Herzog Grenadiers

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Origin and History

This grenadier battalion was formed in 1762 from troops of the Leibgrenadierregiment. It was originally designated as the Hausgrenadierbataillon.

In June 1763, when another battalion was created with the name of Hausgrenadierbataillon (House's Grenadier Battalion. The battalion had to be renamed and was designated as the Herzogsgrenadierbataillon (Duke's Grenadier Battalion).

During the Seven Years' War, the battalion was commanded by:

• 1762: colonel Heinrich Franz Ludwig von Altenstein

The battalion was disbanded in 1765.

Service during the War

The regiment did not see active service during the Seven Years War.

Uniform

Privates

Herzog Grenadiers - Source: Frédéric Aubert

Herzog Grenadiers in 1762 - Source: von Stadlinger, 1856

Uniform Details
as per L. J. Stadlinger, completed with other sources where necessary

Headgear	Musketeer not applicable Grenadier Prussian style mitre cap with a brass front plate decorated with a mirrored C (for Carl Eugen) surmounted by a star and a ducal crown, with a yellow pompon
Neckstock	black
Coat	dark blue in Prussian cut with 2 yellow buttons and 2 white buttonholes with tassels under the lapel Collar black Shoulder Straps black fastened with a small wyellow button and with a white aiguillette on the right shoulder Lapels black set with 8 yellow buttons and 8 white buttonholes with tassels Pockets horizontal pockets, each with 3 yellow buttons Cuffs black Swedish cuffs with 2 yellow buttons and 2 white buttonholes with tassels Turnbacks carmine red fastened with a yellow button
Waistcoat	yellow
Breeches	white
Gaiters	white (black during campaigns)
Leather Equipment	Crossbelt white Waistbelt white Cartridge Box black Bayonet Scabbard black Scabbard black Footgear black

Troopers were armed with a musket and a sabre.

Colours

Information about the colours of the Württemberger infantry regiments are very scarce. The following descriptions represent an "educated guess" based on these few sources

We don't know if Württemberger 'regular' Grenadier regiments had flags (converged Grenadiers regiments very probably didn't have flags). But, here, if this 'regular' regiment had flags, we suspect they could be like that :

Leibfahne would be like the one for the other regiments.

Ordinarfahne would have the same design than for the other regiments but with a grenade on each corner instead of the small crowned "mirrored C" monogram:

- on the obverse side, a red ribbon with the motto "Provide et constanter", the arms of the duke of Württemberg, surmounted by a gold and red ducal crown. The arms consisted of an oval shield surrounded by a "Ordenskette" necklace holding the "Militär Carls Orden" star.

The oval shield with the armories had 5 fields : Upper left canton: yellow and black checkerboard pattern (Teck arms), Upper right canton: yellow flags on a blue field (Reichssturm), Lower right canton: brown head with a red bonnet on a yellow field (Heidenheim arms), Lower left canton: two gold fish on a red field (Monbéliard arms), Central escutcheon: left side = 3 black stag antlers, right side = a black eagle, both sides on a yellow field

The necklace had 8 blue 'W' depicting precious stones, each linked with a golden eagle

- on the reverse side, in the center, a gold "mirrored CE" monogram with a gold and red ducal crown. One grenade on each corner.

Leibfahne: white field with silver fringes

Herzog Grenadier Bataillon Leibfahne - Source: Frédéric Aubert

Ordinarfahne: black field with silver fringes with, on the reverse, one grenade on each corner

Herzog Grenadier Bataillon Ordinarfahne - Source: Frédéric Aubert

References

Stadlinger, L., J. von, Geschichte des Württembergischen Kriegswesens – von der frühesten bis zur neuesten Zeit, Stuttgart, 1856

Zahn, Michael, Die Herzoglich Württembergische Armee im Siebenjährigen Krieg, Manuskript, Stuttgart: January 2008