Fusiliers de Montagnes
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Origin and History
In 1689, at the outbreak of war between France and Spain, Louis XIV raised fusilier companies in Roussillon to oppose them to the Migueletes Catalanes defending the gorges of Catalonia. These companies were known as Fusiliers de Montagnes (mountain fusiliers). These fusiliers were not only used for guerilla warfare but also to cover the march of the columns, to flank the wings of the army, to protect the passage of artillery, baggage and provisions convoys. After the Treaty of Ryswick in 197, this unit is not mentioned anymore.
On February 1 1719, 6 battalions (each of 12 companies of 50 men) were raised by the Duc de Noailles, then governor of Roussillon. However, these battalions were all disbanded a few years later on December 19 1722.
During the War of the Polish Succession, on March 20 1734, 4 battalions were raised to serve in Italy. Indeed they fought in the area of Briançon. These battalions were disbanded in February and March 1736.
A new unit was raised in Roussillon as per a decree of February 12 1744. Known as Fusiliers du Roussillon, it initially consisted of 2 battalions (1,200 men) but was reduced to a single battalion in 1747 and to only 120 privates in 3 companies in 1748 at the end of the War of the Austrian Succession, a strength which would remain identical throughout the Seven Years' War. Each of these 3 companies consisted of:
- 1 captain
- 1 second captain
- 1 lieutenant
- 3 brigadiers
- 3 sub-brigadiers
- 33 fusiliers
- 1 drummer
In 1751, the unit was renamed Fusiliers de Montagnes.
The unit garrisoned Antibes.
During the Seven Years' War, the unit was commanded by the Comte de Saint-Marsal.
The unit was disbanded on December 10 1762.
Service during the War
In 1757, after the capture of Minorca, the unit was sent to this island where it assumed garrison duty.
By 1761, the unit was still stationed on the island of Minorca.
Uniform
The original uniform looked quite similar to the uniform of the Migueletes Catalanes. However, by the time of the Seven Years' War, the unit had more traditional uniforms. These latter uniforms are depicted in this section.
Fusilier
| Headgear | black tricorne laced white with a white cockade fastened with a white button | ||||||||||||
| Neckstock | black | ||||||||||||
| Coat | blue lined red with white buttons on the right side and a white button on each side at the small of the back
| ||||||||||||
| Waistcoat | red with two rows of white buttons and horizontal pockets, each with 3 white buttons | ||||||||||||
| Breeches | blue | ||||||||||||
| Gaiters | white | ||||||||||||
| Leather Equipment |
|
Armaments consisted of a musket a bayonet and two pistols.
Officers
Officers wore uniforms similar to those of the privates with the following differences:
- silver laced tricorne
- no turnbacks on the coat
- silver laces on the cuffs
- silver epaulettes (at least on the right shoulder)
NCOs
no information available
Musicians
no information available
Colours
no information available
References
This article contains some texts taken from the following book which is now in the public domain:
- Pajol, Charles P. V., Les Guerres sous Louis XV, vol. VII, Paris, 1891, pp. 217, 220, 221, 234
- Taccoli, Alfonso; Teatro Militare dell' Europa, Part 1, vol. 2; Madrid, March 1760. pp. 154, 156
Other sources
Anon.; Recueil de toutes les troupes qui forment les Armées Francoise, dessinés et illuminé d'après nature; Nuremberg: Nicolas Gabriel Raspe; 1761
Anon.; Recueil de toutes les troupes qui forment les Armées Francoise, dessinés et illuminé d'après nature; Nuremberg: Nicolas Gabriel Raspe; 1762
Menguy, Patrice; Les Sujets du Bien Aimé
Rogge, Christian; The French & Allied Armies in Germany during the Seven Years War, Frankfurt, 2006
Service Historique de l'armée de terre, Sommaire des forces armées Françaises à l'intérieur et à l'extérieur de la France - 1er Août 1757
N.B.: the section Service during the War is partly derived from our articles depicting the various campaigns, battles and sieges.
