Background
The Cavalry
The Artillery
Organisation & Tactics
Arms & Equipment
Flags & Standards
(Plate By: Ottenfeld)
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The Infantry - Uniforms
The 1798 Uniform (Cont'd)
The sword was carried on slings from a waist belt just over 5cm wide, of black and gold stripes for field officers and white leather for others, with a plate bearing a gilt two-headed eagle; some company officers seem to have adopted the black and gold unofficially. The black and gold sash (Feldbinde), the universal mark of commisioned rank, passed twice around the waist, over the belt, and knotted at the left side, from which fell two heavy tassels; was of silk for field officers and camel hair for others. Only from 1798 was an attempt made to standardise the design of swords. The Germans carried a straight-bladed Epee or Degen, with a large pommel, short quillons and sigle knuckle bow, gilded fittings and leather scabbard with gilded locket and chape; the knot was black and gold. Grenadiers and Hungarians carried curved sabres with gilded stirrup hilts.
To conserve the expensive white coat, officers were permitted for ordinary duty to wear a dark grey, double-breasted frock coat or Oberrock extending to no lower than mid-calf (or even shorter), with regimentally-coloured buttons; it normally had the collar, or collar and cuffs, of the regimental facing colour, but its lining was dark grey. Officially to be worn when the rank and file used their greatcoats, the Oberrock was the favourite wear for all active service, and was probably the most common garment worn by officers throughout the Napoleonic wars. Its colour varied from dark grey to black. In addition, the full-length grey greatcoat with detachable short cape continued in use.
1798
A company officer (left) and field officer (right) of the German infantry 1798.
(Plate By: Ottenfeld)
The length of the queue was set at 12.5cm, 10cm wrapped with black ribbon and 2.5cm protruding at the end. Instead of being dressed in curns at the side, the hair was now combed down from the temples. Officers still carried canes as a symbol of rank, with silver head, brass ferrule and gold tassel. Grenadier officers wore the bearskin cap with gilt plate, but (especially in peacetime) officers often wore a bicorn hat instead of the helmet or bearskin cap as worn before 1798, the hat was black with gold or silver loop some 12.5cm long, with matching buttons, and gold 'roses' in the corners. When the hat was worn, it was common to omit the sash, and to wear just the waistbelt over the Oberrock.* A common addition on campaign was a piston holster on a belt over the shoulder, usually of brown leather and worn either at the front or the rear of the hip according to personal preference.
Note:*See illustration at left.
  
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