Friday 23 September 2022

The Reichsarmee: Flags of Kurköln Infantry Regiment Wildenstein

One battalion with 6 fusilier companies and one grenadier company; 2 4 pounder guns. Nominal strength around 800 but lower in practice; for instance, in May 1758 it was 559. The two Cologne regiments, although single contingent units, were, as Kronoskaf says, "usually under strength, poorly armed and uniformed, and plagued with a high rate of desertion". The flags were very attractive, though!

In 1757 Soubise rated Wildenstein as "adequate" (Duffy) or "mediocre" (Kronoskaf).



Wildenstein missed Rossbach. In 1758-9 it was attached to Zweibrücken's Corps and was probably at Korbitz on September 21st. In 1760 it was at Strehla. In March 1761 its luck finally ran out and, while trying to guard the Saale river crossing at Schwarza, it, along with Mengersen Infantry, was captured by a roving Prussian corps.

And this was possibly the uniform in 1756 (Kronoskaf favours the coat with red facings):




Monday 19 September 2022

The Reichsarmee: Flags of Swabian Infantry Regiment Fürstenberg (Rodt)

First raised 1683.

In the Seven Years War the regiment had two battalions each with 5 musketeer companies and 1 grenadier company, plus 2 3 pounder cannon. Theoretical strength was 1690 men. Troops were provided by 21 different contingents.

Actual strength in the field in May 1758 was 1473 men.

In 1757 Soubise rated the regiment as Bad.

In 1757 the regiment missed Rossbach. In 1758-9 it was with Zweybrücken's Corps in Saxony; Zweybrücken managed to keep the Reichsarmee out of any serious scrapes in 1758-9, unlike Hildburghausen in 1757. At the battle of Korbitz in September 1759 the Reichsarmee, although present, including Fürstenberg, was not committed to action. At Maxen in November the Reichsarmee contingent again did not play an active part in the battle.

Like Baden-Baden, noted in my previous post, Fürstenberg's moment of glory was at Freiberg in October 1762, when Regiments Fürstenberg, Baden-Baden and Trier repulsed a Prussian attack in the centre and were only forced to retreat when the battle was lost elsewhere on the battlefield. There is a good account of the battle in Duffy's By Force of Arms and, of course, on Kronoskaf.


And this was the uniform of a musketeer and grenadier of the regiment in 1756: