Brunswick Line Infantry Organisation

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Introduction

By the time of the Seven Years' War, the organisation of the line infantry of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel was quite similar to the one of the Prussian army.

Composition and Organisation

In 1756, at the outbreak of the Seven Years' War, the army of of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel counted 4 line infantry regiments, each consisting of 2 battalions. Each regiment, including staff, thus totalled 1,640 men.

Regimental Staff

The regimental staff included:

• 1 colonel
• 1 lieutenant-colonel
• 2 majors
• 1 Regiment-Tambour (drum major)
• 1 Bataillons-Tambour (drum major)
• 1 auditor
• 1 provost
• 1 chaplain
• 1 quartermaster
• 1 Regiment-Feldscher (surgeon)
• 1 clerk
• 1 Wagenmeister
• 1 servant
• 2 warrant officers
• 4 staff captains

Organisation of a Regiment

In 1756, a regiment usually counted two battalions. Each battalion consisted of 5 companies of musketeers and 1 company of grenadiers.

Musketeer Battalion

In 1756, a musketeer battalion included 5 companies.

Grenadier Battalion

In 1756, a converged grenadier battalion included 4 companies. Each of these independent grenadier battalions counted 588 men in 4 coys.

Battalion Guns

Each line infantry battalion had two 3-pdr or 2-pdr guns drawn by 4-horse teams. These two guns were manned by: 1 lieutenant, 2 bombardiers, 4 gunners, 4 constables, 1 farrier and 8 labourers.

Train

Each line infantry battalion had:

• 2 x 6-horse covered wagons
• 1 x 2-horse medical cart
• 1 x 2-horse cash cart
• 12 pack-horses (2 per coy)
• 2 x 3-horse ammunition carts
• 1 x 4-horse ammunition wagon
• 1 artillery material cart

Organisation of a Company of Musketeers

In 1756, a musketeer company counted a total of 119 men. More precisely, it consisted of:

• 4 officers
  • 1 captain
  • 1 lieutenant
  • 1 second lieutenant
  • 1 ensign
• 10 non commissioned officers
  • 3 sub-officers
  • 2 sergeants
  • 5 corporals
• 3 drummers
• 1 oboist
• 98 musketeers
• 3 servants

Organisation of a Company of Grenadiers

Each line infantry regiment counted two grenadier companies (one per battalion).

In 1756, a grenadier company counted a total of 140 men. More precisely, it consisted of:

• 4 officers
  • 1 captain
  • 1 lieutenant
  • 1 second lieutenant
  • 1 ensign
• 9 non commissioned officers
  • 2 sub-officers
  • 2 sergeants
  • 5 corporals
• 3 drummers
• 2 fifers
• 1 oboist
• 14 Gefreite
• 6 pioneers/carpenters
• 98 grenadiers
• 3 servants

References

Schirmer; Friedrich, Die Heere der kriegführenden Staaten 1756 - 1763. Edited and published by KLIO-Landesgruppe Baden-Württemberg e.V., Magstadt, 1989