Chevauxleger and Hussar, pre-1798. Note the peakless shako of the Hussar, with the plume worn inside a black waterproof cover.
(Print after R. von Ottenfeld)
Chevauxleger, pre-1798 uniform, showing the taller version of the infantry Casquet, and the gree uniform with red facings, as worn by the two senior regiments.
(Print after R. von Ottenfeld)
Background
The Infantry
The Artillery
Organisation & Tactics
Arms & Equipment
Flags & Standards
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The Cavalry
The German Cavalry - Pre-1798 Uniform (Cont'd)
 Pictured at left: Carabinier pre-1798. The uniform is virtually identical to that of cuirassiers, even to the Paroli on the collar though the hat-lace is indicative of Carabiniers.
(Print after R. von Ottenfeld)
NCOs were dressed as troopers, except for a gold sword knot. For Wachtmeister and Estandardtenfuhrers (standard-bearers) the hat bore gold lace and the shabraque three laces; corporals and Carabinier troopers had silver lace on their hats. Wachtmeisters carried 'Spanish reed' canes with an ivory top, and corporals a hazel cane. Trumpeters wore the uniform of the troopers, minus the cuirass, but with a red plume and rode horses of either white or grey colour.
Officers' uniforms were radically different, with the cuirass worn over the facing-coloured waistcoat and underneath a long white coat with facing-coloured Paroli and cuffs, instead of over the coat like those of the other ranks. Officers' cuirasses had a gilded rim and a gilded 'arrowhead' on the breast, extending to the lower edge for field officers. Their hats were gold-laced, their white or straw yellow breeches were worn with high boots, and the universal gold and black sash was worn around the waist; their scabbards were black leather. Horse furniture was like that of the other ranks, but with gold or siver lace and ornaments.
 Pictured here at right: A dismounted Dragoon wearing the pre-1798 uniform. Not especially the large size of the turnbacks, and the tricorn hat, which latteraly tended to have the front 'corner' flattened to resemble a bicorn. (Print after R. von Ottenfeld).
Dragoons were uniformed and equipped in a similar fashion to the Cuirassiers, but without the cuirass, and with turn-down collars in the facing colour, without the Paroli.
Chevauxlegers were dressed and equipped like the dragoons, except that the first two regiments wore bottle-green uniforms with crimson facings instead of the white coats of the remainder. All wore a felt or leather Casquet, taller than that worn by the infantry, with a 23cm false front and a 16.5cm rear, the front edged with yellow braid and bearing a brass plate; at the left side was the national yellow rosette with black centre, and above it a black over yellow feather. Latterly the Casquets had detachable sun visors. Officers wore a cocked hat instead of the Casquet, and trumpeters of the first two regiments had 'reversed colours' crimson coats faced bottle green.
A noted exception was the Latour Regiment, the old 14th Dragoons who had enjoyed a distinguished record earlier in the century. They had worn a green Walloon uniform, which colour was restored to them as a mark of distinction when converted to Chevauxlegers in 1791. They wore cocked hats and, having remained loyal during the Netherlands agitation, were especially favoured by the Imperial family, carrying an 'honour standard'. One side bore a half-length partrait of Emperor Leopold II (1790-92) with the inscription 'Leopoldus II Augustus', and the other was inscribed 'A La Fidelite et Valeur Signalee du Regiment de Latour Dragons Reconnue par l'Empereur et Roi'.
Troopers wearing the uniforms of two of the component parts of the newly formed 12th Cuirassiers, 1798: left, Anhalt-Zerbst cavalry (yellow faced light blue); right, Royal-Allemand Dragoons (dark blue faced cherry red, white lace). Both wear the black and yellow Austrian plume.
(Print after R. von Ottenfeld)
  
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