Thursday 3 January 2008

Austrian Stabs-Dragoner


The Austrian Staff Dragoons were raised at the same time as the infantry, in 1758. They guarded the generals, the staff and the places of detention like the infantry but also provided "escorts for convoys, reconnaissance parties and the like" (Duffy, AMT). Detachments of the regiment saw distinguished service at Maxen. The unit was disbanded in 1763.

Uniform: Black tricorne, black cockade, yellow metal button. Black stock. Dark blue coat, red cuffs, collar tabs and shoulder strap, white turnbacks, yellow metal buttons. Dark blue waistcoat, red breeches, white inner stockings, black cavalry boots.

Shabraque red with blue and white edging lace.

Austrian Stabs-Infanterie-Regiment

A simple uniform to keep things ticking over...

The Stabs-Infanterie-Regiment was raised in 1758 by the new Generalquartiermeister Lacy for specialised duties - "around headquarters the staff infantry provided guards for the generals, the staff and the places of detention" (Duffy, "Army of Maria Theresa", p.136). Duffy also says that its rather Prussian-style uniform helped the regiment evade capture at Torgau. (The commander Johann von Preiss received the Order of Maria Theresa for his performance at Torgau.) The regiment was disbanded in 1763.

Uniform: Black tricorne, red pompom and bobs, white metal button. Black stock. Dark blue coat, red collar and cuffs, white turnbacks with red fasteners, white metal buttons. Dark blue waistcoat. White breeches. Black gaiters.