Schorlemmer Dragoons
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Origin and History
In May 1716, Friedrich Wilhelm I acquired this regiment from August II of Saxony. Part of its price may have been paid with valuable porcelain and, thereafter, the regiment retained the nickname Porzellan Dragoons. Another simpler explanation for this nickname is that their uniform was white and blue… It was initially posted in East Prussia.
In 1725, the regiment was increased to 10 squadrons.
In June 1727, the units was divided into 2 distinct regiments giving birth to Dragoner-Regiment Nr. 7, placed under the command of Colonel von Dockum.
Exceptionally, at the end of 1740, the regiment was increased to 10 squadrons rather than the usual 5 squadrons of most dragoon regiments.
In 1745, during the War of the Austrian Succession (1740-48), the regiment distinguished itself at the Battle of Kesselsdorf.
After 1745, hal f of the regiment garrisoned Allenburg while its other squadrons were stationed in Gerdauern, Königsberg in Preussen, Labiau and Wehlau.
During the Seven Years' War, the regiment was under the command of:
- from May 17, 1747: Ludwig Wilhelm von Schorlemmer
- from November 9, 1760 to January 24, 1777: Carl Friedrich von Meier (aka Meyer)
The numbering system (Stammliste) was first used by Leopold I., Fürst von Anhalt-Dessau (Der alte Dessauer) in the Dessauer Spezifikation from 1737. Around 1780 the numbers were used in the printed Stammlisten, still with some variations for the fusilier regiments. It became official by "Cabinets-Ordre" from October 1, 1806. The present dragoon regiment was attributed number 6.
Service during the War
In 1757, the regiment was part of Lehwaldt's Army assigned to the defence of East Prussia against a Russian invasion. On August 30, at the Battle of Gross-Jägersdorf, five squadrons were deployed in the first line of the cavalry right wing under the Duke of Holstein while the five remaining squadrons were deployed in the first line of the cavalry left wing under Lieutenant-General Schorlemmer. In this defeat, the regiment lost 5 officers and 105 privates.
On August 2 1758, during the Russian invasion of Brandenburg, Manteuffel sent this regiment along with Plettenberg Dragoons (5 sqns) to reinforce the Prussian detachment posted at Reppen. On August 25, the regiment fought in the Battle of Zorndorf where it formed part of the reserve. It belonged to the brigade of dragoons who, around 11:50 a.m., delivered a deadly counter attack and threw Gaugreben’s Brigade back into the ranks of the Russian infantry causing disorder and confusion. On September 25, the regiment was part of the detachment of Major-General Wobersnow who was sent by Dohna from Blumenberg to cut off the Russian detachment left at Landsberg by the retreating main army. On September 26, this Prussian detachment captured Landsberg. Two days later, on September 28, the regiment took part in the failed attempt to capture Fehrbellin.
On July 23, 1759, the regiment took part in the Battle of Paltzig where it was attached to Normann's Brigade deployed in the first line of the cavalry right wing. A few weeks later, on August 12, the regiment fought in the bloody Battle of Kunersdorf where it was deployed in the second line of the left wing as part of Spaen's Brigade. Towards the end of the battle, at 5:00 p.m., the regiment took part in an attack on the Grosser-Spitzberg from the rear but the cavalry charges were scattered by the Russian artillery fire. In this battle, the regiment lost 18 officers and 234 privates. On December 3 and 4, 200 men of the regiment were attached to a small isolated Prussian force under Major-General Dierecke who had taken post at Meissen. This small corps was attacked by a much stronger Austrian force and, during the Combat of Meissen, and forced to retire.
In the 1760 campaign the regiment was with the King's Army before Dresden, then it remained in Saxony with Hulsen. On August 20, it distinguishing itself at the Battle of Strehla were it captured 1 gun and 3 standards, losing in the process 4 officers and 90 privates.
In 1761, unable to replenish its ranks because East Prussia was occupied by the Russians, the regiment served in Saxony under Prince Heinrich who reported that the unit was missing 768 men to be at full strength.
The regiment started the 1762 campaign understrength. On October 29, the second battalion took part in the Battle of Freiberg in the Forcade Column.
Uniform
Privates
| Headgear | black tricorne (no lace) with a black cockade fastened with a small white button and red pompoms
N.B.: for combat, the tricorne was reinforced with an iron cap | ||||||||||||
| Neck stock | black | ||||||||||||
| Coat | cobalt blue lined white with 2 white buttons under the lapel and 3 white buttons on each side to fasten the skirts forming the turnbacks
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| Waistcoat | lemon yellow with one row of small white buttons and horizontal pockets, each with white buttons | ||||||||||||
| Breeches | buff | ||||||||||||
| Leather Equipment |
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| Horse Furniture |
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Troopers were armed with a sword, a pair of pistols, a musket and a bayonet.
NCOs
NCOs wore the same uniform as the troopers with the following exceptions:
- black within white pompoms in the lateral "cornes" of the tricorne
- cuffs edged with a silver braid
Officers
The officers wore the same uniform with the following exceptions:
- black tricorne (no lace) with a black cockade (attached with a silver fastener) and red and silver pompons
- silver embroidery loops
- two on each side under the lapel on the coat
- one on each side in the small of the back
N.B.: after 1774, more embroidery loops were added.
Musicians
Drummers of the regiments wore the same uniform as the troopers but decorated around the lapels and pocket flaps, on the edge of the cuffs, on the front edges of the coat, on the seams at the rear of the coat and the side waist slit and on the swallow nest on each shoulder with a white lace decorated with 2 (narrow lace) or 4 (wide lace) blue bands.
Standards
Standards were made of damask. They were swallow-tailed and measured some 50 cm along the pole, 65 cm from the pole to the extremity of a point and 50 cm from the pole to the centre of the indentation. The cords and knots were of silver threads. The pole of the standard was a blue tournament lance reinforced with iron hinges. The golden spearhead wore the crowned monogram of Frédéric Wilhelm (FWR).
When the regiment was expanded to 10 squadrons, five new Eskadronstandarten were issued. Thus the regiment carried the Leibstandarte and four Eskadronstandarten of the FWR pattern, and five Eskadronstandarten of the FR pattern. The regiment lost one of each pattern of Eskadronstandarten at Palzig (Kay) in 1759, the FWR Eskadronstandarte being replaced by an FR pattern.
N.B.: standards captured by the Russians at the battle of Palzig prove that the regiment simultaneously carried standards dating from Frederick Wilhelm I and wearing his monogram (FWR) and standards wearing Frederick II's monogram (FR).
We present two different interpretations of these standards, the first is based on the standards captured by the Russians and displayed in St. Petersburg, the second on standards in the collections of the Heeresgeschichtliches Museum in Vienna and of the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg; and on illustrations of the Dessauer Spezifikationer of 1729 and 1737.
As per the standards on display in St. Petersburg
| Colonel Standard “FWR” design (Leibstandarte): white field with golden flames fringed gold; centre device consisting of a blue medallion surmounted by a gold crown and surrounded by a golden laurel wreath and decorated with a black eagle flying towards a golden sun surmounted by a white scroll edged gold bearing the golden motto "Non Soli Cedit"; corner devices (crowns, laurel wreaths and “FWR” ciphers) in gold. | Squadron Standards “FWR” design (Eskadronstandarte): blue field with golden corner wedges fringed gold; centre device consisting of a silver medallion surmounted by a gold crown and surrounded by a golden laurel wreath and decorated with a black eagle flying towards a golden sun surmounted by a blue scroll edged gold bearing the golden motto "Non Soli Cedit"; corner devices (crowns, laurel wreaths and “FWR” ciphers) in gold. |
 Colonel Standard “FWR” design – Source: Dal Gavan |
 Squadron Standards “FWR” design – Source: Dal Gavan |
| Squadron Standards “FR” design (Eskadronstandarte): blue field with golden corner wedges fringed gold with a silver central medallion surmounted by a gold crown, surrounded by a golden laurel wreath and decorated with a black eagle holding a sword and lightning bolts surmounted by a blue scroll edged gold bearing the golden motto "Pro Gloria et Patria". Decoration in gold in each corner (crowns, laurel wreaths and “FR” ciphers). | |
 Squadron Standards “FR” design – Source: Dal Gavan |
N.B.: the Dessauer Spezifikation of 1737 and the Darmstädter Fahnenbuch of 1742 both mention red corner wedges instead of golden flames as illustrated above. It is possible that the original colour of these corner wedges was red since faded red silk looks golden. The same phenomenon can be seen with the flag of the 1st Duchy of Warsaw Chasseurs à Cheval. When issued in 1809 this latter flag was bright crimson. However, photographs of the flag today show it to be gold as a result of the red dye fading and the stained silk becoming visible.
As per the standards on display in Vienna and St. Petersburg
| Colonel Standard “FWR” design (Leibstandarte): white field with red corner wedges fringed gold; centre device consisting of a blue medallion surmounted by a gold crown and surrounded by a golden laurel wreath and decorated with a black eagle flying towards a golden sun surmounted by a white scroll edged gold bearing the golden motto "Non Soli Cedit"; corner devices (crowns, laurel wreaths and “FWR” ciphers) in gold. | Squadron Standards “FWR” design (Eskadronstandarte): blue field with red corner wedges fringed gold; centre device consisting of a white medallion surmounted by a gold crown and surrounded by a golden laurel wreath and decorated with a black eagle flying towards a golden sun surmounted by a blue scroll edged gold bearing the golden motto "Non Soli Cedit"; corner devices (crowns, laurel wreaths and “FWR” ciphers) in gold. |
 Colonel Standard “FWR” 1747 design – Source: Dal Gavan |
 Squadron Standards “FWR” 1747 design – Source: Dal Gavan |
| Squadron Standards “FR” design (Eskadronstandarte): blue field with red corner wedges fringed gold with a silver central medallion surmounted by a gold crown, surrounded by a golden laurel wreath and decorated with a black eagle holding a sword and lightning bolts surmounted by a blue scroll edged gold bearing the golden motto "Pro Gloria et Patria". Decoration in gold in each corner (crowns, laurel wreaths and “FR” ciphers). | |
 Squadron Standards “FR” design – Source: Dal Gavan |
References
Funcken, Liliane and Fred: Les uniformes de la guerre en dentelle
Grosser Generalstab Kriegsgeschichtliche Abteilung II: Die Kriege Friedrichs des Grossen, Part 3 Der siebenjährige Krieg 1756-1763, Vol. 1 Pirna und LobositzBerlin, 1901, appendix 1
Hohrath, Daniel: The Uniforms of the Prussian Army under Frederick the Great from 1740 to 1786; Vol. 2; Verlag Militaria, Vienna: 2011, pp. 576-583
Vial, J. L.: Nec Pluribus Impar
N.B.: the section Service during the War is mostly derived from our articles depicting the various campaigns, battles and sieges.
