Hessian Leib Dragoons

From Project SYW

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1 Origin and History
2 Service during the War
3 Uniform
4 Colours
5 References

Origin and History

The regiment was formed in 1688 as the Wartensleben Dragoons. Their roots were four companies of the Roten Reuter (Red Riders) established by Landgräfin Sophie. The name remained in use throughout the history of the regiment.

During the war of the Spanish Succession, the unit fought at Höchstedt, Malplaquet and Castillione. At Höchstedt, the regiment, along with the Auerochs Dragoons, furiously charged and succeeded in capturing the French Marshall, Tallard. At Malplaquet, the regiment rode down the French infantry.

When Erbprinz Friedrich assumed the Swedish throne in 1721, the regiment changed its name to Königsdragoner (King's Dragoons).

Later the unit was assigned to the Austrian corps during the War of the Austrian Succession.

At the beginning of the Seven Years' War, the regiment consisted of 660 men formed into 4 squadrons.

In the French Revolutionary Wars, the regiment fought in the Champagne, Brabant, Flanders and in Westfalen before being disbanded in 1806.

The regimental inhabers were:

1688 von Wartensleben Dragoner
1690 von Gräffendorf
1695 Erbprinz
1721 Königsdragoner
1751 Leib Dragoner

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Service during the War

During the war, the regiment was engaged at Hastenbeck, Krefeld, Bergen, Minden and Langensalza.

At Hastenbeck, on July 26 1757, the regiment fought in the center of the second line.

On May 26 1758, the regiment was with the corps of the prince von Holstein in the camp of Dülmen. On May 31, this corps accompanied Ferdinand in his offensive on the west bank of the Rhine. 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.

At Langensalza, on February 15 1761, the regiment captured the Saxon regiment Prinz Karl along with numerous colours and guns.

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Uniform

During the Seven Years War, the unit used a temporary field sign of oak leaves. The use of the field sign was due to the French cavalry having units with similar coat and facing colours.

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Privates

Image:Hessian Leib Dragoons Uniform Plate.jpg

Uniform - Source: Kronoskaf

Uniform Details

Headgear

Trooper	black tricorne laced yellow with oak leaves as a field sign and a black cockade
Grenadier	n/a

Neckstock

black

Coat

sky blue

Collar	none
Shoulderknot	red
Lapels	none
Buttons	brass
Cuffs	red
Turnbacks	red

Waistcoat

red

Breeches

pale straw

Leather Equipment

Crossbelt	white
Waistbelt	white
Cartridge Box	black
Scabbard	black
Footgear	black

Horse Furniture

Saddlecloth	red with yellow border; within border a thin red line. Landgraf monogram in the corner.
Sabretache	red with yellow border; within border a thin red line. Landgraf monogram 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.

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Officers

The officers had gold trim rather than yellow lace on their tricorne. They also wore a silver sash interwoven with small red striping and a brass gorget.

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Musicians

Drummers were uniformed in reverse colors with infantry chevrons along the sleeves and "swallow nests" on the shoulders. They were usually mounted on grey or white horses.

The drum barrels should be similar to the infantry which were of polished brass and were decorated with the Hessian lion surrounded by a laurel wreath with a crown above. The Hessian lion was striped red and white with a red tongue on a royal blue background. The drum cords were white and, for this cavalry regiment, the rim would likely have been a pattern of alternating white and red diagonal stripes.

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