French Artillery 1793

[BESPJL]

Hi,

I'm doing a vignette of a french artillery position being overrun by portuguese troops in December 1793 near the Courten.

I need to know the french uniforms of that period and what artillery guns would be available to the french.

Can anyone give a hand with this?

Thanks.

Paulo

 

[marcellin de marbot]

Hello Paulo,
For the guns, you can see my message on the post about Nemrod News in main page, answering to a question of Robert C33. There is the drawing of a gun Gribeauval system, used from Revolutionary wars to the end of the Empire and more.
The common guns used by French Artillery were of three types:
Campaign guns caliber 4,8 and 12.
Siege/castle guns caliber 12,16 and 24.
Howitzers short barrelled guns caliber 6 and 8 pouches
Concerning the uniforms of french artillery, I need a detail, rather important: foot artillery or horse artillery?
Foot artillery had an uniform very similar to the infantry of that period, but almost entirely dark blue, with red piping on the collar and lapels. Red cuffs (dark blue strapped) and turnbacks, blue grenades on the turnbacks. Dark blue trousers, black gaiters in winter, white in summer. Short black bicorne hat with red feather.
The horse artillery had an uniform similar to the hussars, a dark blue dolman, with eighteen red braids on three rows of buttons, partially covered by a red and d/blue waist sash. Red piping on collar, red pointed cuffs. Dark blue trousers (with black, edged red, boots) or dark blue campaign trousers black skin reinforced inside. Black mirliton shako, with a red cloth wrapped around.
If you specify what artillery you are looking for, I'll put on line some pics.
Regards
MdM

 

[BESPJL]

Thanks Marcellin.

I'm interested in foot art. The bicorne was used normal or tranverse?

Regrads,
Paulo

 

[marcellin de marbot]

Hi Paulo,
Here a pic of a french gunman. The bicorne was carried also in the other way as you mean and had often also a simple red carrot instead of the plume you see.
The piping of lapels was red, in this pic seems almost white, but was red. I think also the use of straps d/blue piped red on the shoulders, instead the fringed epaulettes shown here.
Remember that in 1793, or generally during those years, French Army was not still well organized as later, and had poor means after the Revolution. France was fighting against other european countries (Austria, Spain, Prussia and Russia above all) that would oppose the young Repubblic and his ideas, the money was very scarce, the soldiers were often unpayed and the dress aproximate, then don't expect regular and elegant uniforms, observing rules.
Regards
MdM

 

[BESPJL]

Thanks.

Would the fringe bonnet (I don't know if this is the correct name), white trousers with blue stripes and wood shoes be used? Or since artillery is a specific corp be more well furnished with clothes similar to those your pic shows?

Regards,
Paulo

 

[marcellin de marbot]

Hi Paulo,
No, the frigian cap (and wood shoes as the revolutionary man sculpted by my friend Maurizio Bruno for Pegaso) were a dress tipical of the Revolution time. In the period 1792-1795 you are speaking, french soldiers were dressed with uniforms, although often with some exception to the normal rules. I mean that Military Administration had no money and the men had to spare their uniform, so, expecially in battle, they could have something not perfectly regular as the striped trousers as you said, instead the normal d/blue and gaiters. I mean also that if an uniform was damaged, they couod not change it, they put a patch on the old dress and so more, also for the shoes. If you want make a battle scene, probably is better make the men with some damaged uniforms, but the base is the pic I gave you.
Regards
MdM

 

[BESPJL]

Thanks for the explain.

One last thing do you have a front image of the uniform? Or do you know any site that I may consult?

I'm sorry for all this questions.

Regards,
Paulo

 

[marcellin de marbot]

Hi Paulo,
Uh, I thouht it was useful the rear wiew to see the cartridge pouch and the sabre-briquet(sword) without bayonet.
However here another image of the royal french artillery, a little before your 1793. The officer and the graduate, using an howitzer, have some things tipical of the Monarchy, as the white bow on the bicorne, or the fleur de lys on the turnbacks, but the uniform is exactly as you want. More, and a scene from battle, in the period you are looking for. As you can see, the graduate wears a striped waistcoat, instead the d/blue regulamentar. This is an exemple of dress not regular, but common in that period. Remeber also that the first pic I sent showed fringed epaulettes, while the most used epaulettes were the simple straps. The fringed epaulettes, on my opinion, are an exception for specially trained artillery.
Regards
MdM

 

[BESPJL]

Marcello,

thanks for all the help.

Those are most valuable.

Regards,
Paulo

 

[BESPJL]

Hi Olympo,

Is it possible to retrive the images of this topic?

I can't see them.

Cheers.

 

[marcellin de marbot]

Hello Paulo,
I sent the images at your mail box, did you receive them?
Bye
M>