Bergh Infanterie

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Origin and History

The regiment was raised on August 12 1744 in the country of Juliers (present-day Jülich).

During the War of the Austrian Succession, the regiment served in Flanders from 1744 to 1748.

The regiment counted one battalion.

During the Seven Years' War, the regiment ranked 108^th and was under the command of:

• since 1744: Baron de Bergh
• from 1757 to 1760: Baron de Bergh (son of the former baron)

On January 18 1760, when the German Infantry was reorganised, the regiment was disbanded and his unique battalion incorporated into Alsace Infanterie.

Service during the War

By August 1 1757, the regiment was in Germany with the army of the Weser. It took its winter quarters in the first line in the area of Bremen.

In February 1758, when Ferdinand of Brunswick launched his offensive in West Germany, the regiment retired on the Rhine with the rest of the French army. From March 30 to April 4, it was in the first line of Clermont's army in the camp of Wesel on the Lower Rhine. By July, it had joined the army of the Prince de Soubise assembling near Friedberg in Hesse.

On March 13 1759, upon Broglie's request, d'Armentières sent him a corps (1,400 foot and 1,200 horse, including Bergh Infanterie) under the command of d'Auvet. This corps took post at Hachenburg with detachments at Siegen. On April 13, the regiment took part in the battle of Bergen where it formed part of reserve of the left wing deployed in regimental columns behind the Warthberg. In June, during the French offensive in West Germany, the regiment was part of the main army under the command of the Marquis de Contades where it was deployed in the second line, on the right wing of the infantry centre. On August 1, the regiment took part in the battle of Minden where it was deployed in the second line of the infantry right wing under the command of the Comte de Saint-Germain. As part of the Anhalt brigade, it covered the retreat of the defeated French army but was thrown back by the Prussian dragoons.

To do: campaigns from 1760 to 1762

Uniform

Privates

Uniform in 1758 - Source: Kronoskaf

Uniform Details as per
Etrennes Militaires 1756, 1758 and 1760, Etat Militaire 1758, Abrégé du Dictionnaire Militaire 1759
completed where necessary as per Taccoli and the manuscript Troupes du Roi, Infanterie française et étrangère, année 1757

Headgear	Musketeer black tricorne laced gold Grenadier black tricorne laced gold towards 1759, bearskins became increasingly common among grenadiers
Neckstock	probably black
Coat	blue with 3 yellow buttons under the lapel on the right side Collar none Shoulder Straps red (as per Mouillard) Lapels red with 7 yellow buttons (3 pairs and 1 near the upper corner) Pockets double vertical pockets, each single pocket with 3 yellow buttons (laced red as per Mouillard) Cuffs red open cuffs with 3 yellow buttons Taccoli illustrates standard cuffs with 3 yellow buttons Turnbacks red
Waistcoat	white
Breeches	white
Gaiters	probably white
Leather Equipment	Crossbelt natural leather Waistbelt natural leather Cartridge Box natural leather Bayonet Scabbard n/a Scabbard n/a

Armaments consisted of a musket and a bayonet. Fusiliers carried a sword (brass hilt) while the grenadiers had a sabre.

Officers

no information available yet

Musicians

no information available yet

Colours

The colonel flag of the regiment was white with a white cross. In the middle: a white eagle with a white scroll underneath bearing the motto “Fortes creantur fortibus” and 3 white eaglets underneath.

The ordonnance flags had a white field and a white cross. The inner borders sides of each canton were bordered by red and blue waved lines. Each canton carried a golden fleur de lys. In the middle: a white eagle with a white scroll underneath bearing the motto “Fortes creantur fortibus” and 3 white eaglets underneath.

Colonel Colour - Source: PMPdeL

Ordonnance Colour - Source: PMPdeL

References

Anon.; Manuscript Troupes du Roi, Infanterie française et étrangère, année 1757, tome I"; Musée de l'Armée, Paris

Bunel, Arnaud, Vexillologie militaire européenne

Évrard P., Praetiriti Fides

Funcken, Liliane and Fred; Les uniformes de la guerre en dentelle

Menguy, Patrice; Les Sujets du Bien Aimé

Mouillard, Lucien, Les Régiments sous Louis XV, Paris, 1882

Pajol, Charles P. V., Les Guerres sous Louis XV, vol. VII, Paris, 1891

Rogge, Christian; The French & Allied Armies in Germany during the Seven Years War, Frankfurt, 2006

Service historique de l'armée de terre, Archives du génie, article 15, section 1, §5, pièce 23

Sommaire des forces armées Françaises à l'intérieur et à l'extérieur de la France - 1er Août 1757, Service Historique de l'armée de terre

Taccoli, Alfonso; Teatro Militare dell' Europa, Part 1, vol. 2; Madrid, March 1760