Description

50 signed and numbered prints

As with many regiments of the Imperial Guard in 1815, determining the dress of the Horse Chasseurs is problematic. What was worn by Louis XVIII’s Royal Corps serves as a starting point to determine what might have been worn in the Waterloo campaign of June 1815.

The Royalists issued new clothing—126 pelisses (fur-lined short jackets) and  22 dolmans (short jackets) were made. Another 141 were in depot and 111 were issued. There were also 452 pairs of gray wool riding trousers, 136 greatcoats, 21 redingotes (tailored greatcoat) for NCOs, 13 for trumpeters, 4 habits, 60 stables coats (of which one was for a trumpeter), and 136 bonnets de police (fatigue caps).

With Napoleon’s return 594 pairs of Hungarian breeches were made along with 681 pairs of gray wool riding trousers, 629 pelisses, 21 dolmans for NCOs, 565 dolmans for troopers, 372 braided waistcoats, and 546 greatcoats. Furthermore, 561 bonnets de police and 548 stable coats were issued.

The sabretaches (leather pouches), suspended from the saber belt, were a diverse lot. Carried over from the Royal Corps were 638 embroidered versions in good condition and 312 in need of repair, along with 52 of black leather, and 90 old cloth covers. Not all items had been changed to Royalist emblems—219 old embroidered sabretaches

with the Imperial Eagle were still in the depot.

Between 22 September 1814 and 31 April 1815, a total of 349 sabretaches were made, 130 of which were issued. Napoleon’s return resulted in the distribution of 79 new ones of black leather, as well as embroidered ones, 15 for NCOs and 91 for troopers.

Napoleon presumably ordered not only the removal of Royal arms on the sabretaches but the Royal cypher from the schabraques (saddle covers) as well. Although 229 new schabraques were made between September 1814 and the following March, 589 were ordered in 1815 after Napoleon returned to Paris on March 20. Only 280 of these were distributed before the campaign started, the remainder arrived after the battle of Waterloo.

The figures in Rocco’s painting have sabretaches with black cloth covers used in the field.

In July 1814 the Royal Corps inherited some 906 bearskin colpacks (short round hats), with another 127 that needed repair. An additional 117 were never issued (28 more in depot were condemned to be replaced, for a total of 145). Between September and March 245 more were manufactured, plus 474 in April and May. Of these, 387 had a scarlet flame, or bag. On 17 June 1815, 50 arrived in depot.

On 18 June the Horse Chasseurs were placed in the third line behind Count Kellermann’s 3rd Reserve Cavalry

Corps and Count Reille’s 2nd Corps.

At Waterloo: Imperial Guard Light Cavalry Division, Count Lefebvre-Desnouëttes/1st Brigade, Baron Lallemand