Hessian Leib Cavalry

From Project SYW

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Contents 1 Origin and History 2 Service during the War 3 Uniform 3.1 Privates 3.2 Officers 3.3 Musicians 4 Colours 5 References

Origin and History

Originally formed in 1684 as the Leibregiment zu Pferd, it fought in the War of the Spanish Succession at the battles of Höchstädt, Castillione, Oudenarde, Malplaquet and Belgrade.

During the War of the Austrian Succession, the unit served with the Austrian army in Saxony

At the beginning of the Seven Years' War, the regiment counted 360 men formed into 2 squadrons. In 1760, it was increased to 400 men.

After the Seven Years War, the unit only saw service against the French Revolutionary forces in 1792 before being disbanded in 1806.

The regimental names of the unit were:

• 1684 Leibregiment zu Pferd
• 1760 Gens d'Armes

Service during the War

During the Seven Years War, the regiment was engaged at Hastenbeck, Dorsten, Krefeld, Lutterberg, Bergen, Minden, Grüningen and Nauheim.

On July 26 1757, the regiment took part to the battle of Hastenbeck where it fought in the center of the second line.

On May 26 1758, the regiment was with the corps of the prince von Anhalt in the camp of Coesfeld. On May 31, this corps accompanied Ferdinand in his offensive on the west bank of the Rhine. On June 12, during the aborted attack on the French positions at Rheinberg, the regiment was in the Spörckens (second) column of attack under major-general von Urff. On June 23, the regiment took part to the battle of Krefeld where it was deployed on the right wing under the command of the Erbprinz (hereditary prince) of Brunswick. On October 10, the regiment took part to the battle of Lutterberg where it was placed in the second line of the right wing.

Uniform

By the 1740's the horse troopers did not wear a cuirass anymore.

Privates

Uniform Details

Headgear	Trooper black tricorne laced yellow with oak leaves as a field sign and a black cockade Grenadier none
Neckstock	black
Coat	white Collar none Shoulderknot yellow Lapels white Buttons brass Cuffs red with yellow lace Turnbacks red
Waistcoat	sky blue with red trim
Breeches	pale straw
Leather Equipment	Crossbelt white Waistbelt white Cartridge Box black Scabbard black Footgear black
Horse Furniture	Saddlecloth sky blue with broad yellow bordering; inside yellow border is a red line. Landgraf's monogram in the corner Sabretache sky blue with broad yellow bordering; inside yellow border is a red line. The Landgraf's monogram is in the centre Blanket roll red

Troopers were armed with a straight steel hilted sword, two pistols and a carbine. The carbine was slung from the shoulder belt on a swivel hook.

Officers

The officers had gold trim rather than yellow lace on their tricorne.

Musicians

Trumpeters wore white coats laced red with swallows nests (very similar to Prussian cuirassier regiment Prinz von Preußen). They were usually mounted on white or grey horses.

The bugle cord was made of interwoven white and red braids. Any banner from the trumpet would use the same markings as those on the sabretache.

Colours

The flag poles were red. The regiment probably carried a white Leib (colonel) standard and a regimental flag. Both standards were of the same pattern and wore the same cypher.

Image:Hessian Leib Cavalry Colonel Standard.jpg        

References

Henry, Mark, Hessian Army of the 7 Years War, Seven Years War Association Journal Vol. VII No. 3

Pengel & Hurt, German States in the Seven Years War 1740 to 1762, Imperial Press

Rogge, Christian, The French & Allied Armies in Germany during the Seven Years War, Frankfurt, 2006

Trenkle, K., Nix wie weg… die Hesse komme, Verlanganstalt Marburg