Saturday, 13 August 2022

Speculative but plausible flags for the Prince of Wales American Volunteers 1776-1783

On the understanding that: "Every wargames unit should ideally have a flag or flags" I created these speculative flags for Mark over on the Fife and Drum Forum. They are for the Loyalist unit that served throughout the American War of Independence (or American Revolution, if you prefer) and I thought that I'd offer them here as someone might be interested who does not have access to the Fife and Drum Forum.



There's a good detailed history of the unit here: http://www.royalprovincial.com/military/rhist/pwar/pwarhist.htm

Flags and uniform of Prussian Fusilier Infantry Regiment 44 von Jungkenn Müntzer

Part of my "filling in the gaps" in my coverage of Prussian infantry regiments, this was not one of the classic hard-fighting or famous regiments.

Chefs: 14th January 1749 Colonel Martin Eberhard von Jungkenn Müntzer von Mohrenstamm, later Major General; 4th January 1759 Colonel Rudolf August von Hoffmann; 5th February 1760 Major General Johann von Grant, later Commandant of Neisse to 1764



First raised 1742 from complicated origins.

The regiment saw no action in 1756 but fought in secondary actions in 1757, when it left Wesel to join the Allied Army under Cumberland at Bielefeld. In a rear guard action at night it lost 200 men and then 220 deserted as it moved from Minden to Magdeburg. After Rossbach, the Corps was taken over by Duke Ferdinand of Braunschweig.

In 1758 the regiment was with the Saxon Corps and fought against the Swedes at Fehrbellin.

In 1759 it was again with the Saxon Corps; the second battalion had occupied Breslau and evacuated the city to occupy Torgau and its important magazine. After a protracted defence there it surrendered the place and was allowed to move away on August 15th. The first battalion was in garrison in Dresden, surrendered by General von Schmettau on September 4th, despite the King being on the way to relieve the place. The regiment's chef Colonel von Hoffmann called out to the regiment: "We march out like scoundrels and you are lazy" and fired his pistol without hitting anyone but was shot off his horse. The King said: "I am of Hoffmann's opinion; he could not have expressed himself otherwise about the evacuation!" From September 26th the regiment served with Finck's Corps and fought at Korbitz and Strehla.

In 1760 the regiment was with the King's Army and at the unsuccessful siege of Dresden from July 10th to 22nd. On August 20th there was fighting against the Imperial Army on the heights of Strehla and then the regiment was part of the defence of Torgau until September 26th.

In 1761 the regiment was with Prince Heinrich in his campaigning against the Imperial and Austrian armies along the Mulde.

In 1762 it was at Freiberg in the attack of 12th May, followed by the attack on the heights of Gross Schirma at the major battle at Freiberg on October 29th at its only major battle, in von Taube's Brigade of Forcade's Reserve.

Christopher Duffy Army of Frederick the Great says this of the regiment: "Raised from recruits from Württemberg and other German states. Lightly engaged in most of its actions."

And this was the uniform in 1756:



Tuesday, 9 August 2022

French Cavalry Standards - Mestre de Camp Général Cavalry Regiment

First raised 1635 by the Duke of Saxe-Weimar then became a regular French regiment 21st January 1638. Ranked 2nd in the cavalry. Became Mestre de Camp Général 3rd December 1665.

2 squadrons strong.



Stations and actions:

1733: In Italy at Gera d'Adda and at Pizzighetone
1734: Tortona, Parma and Guastalla
1735: Reggiolo and Revere; at the peace stationed at Belfort
1741: Army of Bohemia; refitted at Pontarlier
1743: Battle of Dettingen
1744: At Weissembourg, Augenheim then at the siege of Fribourg
1745: Tournai
1746: Brussels; battle of Rocoux
1747: Battle of Lauffeld
1748: Siege of Maastricht (where the commandant M. de Clermont-Tonnerre was mortally wounded in the assault), then sent to Moulins
1750: Schelestadt
1751: Lons-le-Saulnier
1753: Haguenau
1754: Camp de Plobsheim
1756: Verdun
1757: Sedan; Army of the Lower Rhine [the commandant M. de Bissy was badly wounded and captured at Rossbach]; Hastenbeck July 26th, with the cavalry of the left wing
1758: Captured at Minden in March but soon exchanged. At the battle of Krefeld on the left wing of the first line
1759: With the main army under Contades and at Minden August 1st. Heavy losses at Minden and so sent to the rear afterwards.
1760: Guarding the coast
1761: Increased to 4 squadrons
1763: 4th April Incorporated the regiment of Seyssel

And this was the uniform in 1761: