Buccow Cuirassiers

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Origin and History

In 1684, a regiment previously in the service of the bishopric of Osnabrück entered into the Austrian service a the cuirassier regiment of Friedrich August prince of Braunschweig-Lüneburg.

The regiment counted 6 squadrons and a company of carabiniers. For battles, the latter was usually converged with other similar companies to form an elite unit.

During the Seven Years' War, the regiment inhaber was:

• since 1743: Joseph count Lucchesi d’Abarra (killed at Leuthen on December 5 1757)
• from 1758: Adolf Nikolaus baron von Buccow

During the Seven Years' War, the regiment was commanded by:

• 1756: Philipp von Vicque
• 1759: Franz Hrobschitzky von Hrobschütz

The regiment was disbanded in 1768.

Service during the War

In June 1756, at the beginning of the war, the regiment was stationed in Hungary and counted 782 men and 788 horses. In September, the regiment was in Bohemia with Piccolomini's covering force in the Königshof-Kolin region.

On May 6 1757, the regiment took part to the battle of Prague where it was deployed in baron Bretlach's brigade, in the first line of the right wing under count Lucchesi. On November 22, the regiment took part to the Breslau where it was deployed in Aspremont's brigade in the first line of the right wing under count Lucchesi. Towards the end of the battle, Erzherzog Joseph Dragoons were threatened by a Prussian counter-attack but the regiment along with Carl von Lothringen Infantry Regiment relieved them, forcing the Prussians to retire towards the suburbs of Saint-Nicholas. On December 5 at the battle of Leuthen, the regiment was deployed in Spada's brigade in the first line of the cavalry right wing under general Lucchesi.

On October 14 1758, the regiment took part to the battle of Hochkirch where it was deployed in the leftmost column under O'Donnell, to the west of Steindörfel.

By mid August 1759, the regiment was part of Daun's corps posted in Silesia. On September 2, it took part in the combat of Sorau.

To do: campaigns from June 1760 to 1762

Uniform

Privates

Uniform around 1762 - Source: Richard Couture and Ibrahim90, from an illustration of the Albertina Handschrift

Uniform Details
as per the Albertina Handschrift of 1762
completed with other sources when necessary

Headgear	Trooper black tricorne (no lace) with a black cockade fastened with a small pewter button Carabinier black tricorne (no lace) with a black cockade fastened with a small pewter button
Neckstock	black
Coat	white with 15 pewter buttons on the right side Collar none Shoulder strap red fastened with a pewter button Lapels none Pockets 2 horizontal pockets, each with 3 pewter buttons Cuffs red with 3 pewter buttons Turnbacks red
Waistcoat	red with 2 rows of pewter buttons and with 2 horizontal pockets (each with 3 pewter buttons)
Breeches	red
Leather Equipment	Crossbelt white (according to an illustration of the Bautzener Bilderhandschrift of 1762) Waistbelt none Cartridge Box n/a Scabbard black with brass decorations Footgear black boots
Horse Furniture	Saddlecloth red laced in white and red (according to an illustration of the Bautzener Bilderhandschrift of 1762) Sabretache red laced in white and red (according to an illustration of the Bautzener Bilderhandschrift of 1762) Blanket roll white and red (according to an illustration of the Bautzener Bilderhandschrift of 1762)

Troopers were armed with a black breastplate (worn over the coat), a pallasch (sword) and a pair of pistols. Carabiniers also had a carbine and carried a sabre instead of a sword.

Other interpretations

The Bautzener Bilderhandschrift of 1762 shows a lace on the tricorne, a red neckstock and straw breeches.

Raspe in 1762 shows 12 buttons on the coat.

Officers

The officers (according to the Bautzener Bilderhandschrift of 1762) wore the same uniform with the following exceptions:

• laced tricorne with a green and white cockade
• yellow saddlecloth and sabretache both laced in green and fringed in yellow

Musicians

According to Donath (Kaiserliche Kürassiere 1740-1765), trumpeters wore a black tricorne laced white with a white round cockade and a black plume tipped red. They wore a red coat laced silver with white shoulder straps, white swallow nests, white buttons, red cuffs laced silver and white turnbacks laced silver. Their waiscoat was red and their breeches red. Saddle cloth and sabretache were similar to those of the troopers.

Standards

Leib Standard: no information available yet

Regiment Standard: red

References

Bleckwenn, Hans; Die Regimenter der Kaiserin, Gedanken zur "Albertina Handschrift" 1762 des Heeresgeschichtlichen Museums Wien, Köln: 1967

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

Grosser Generalstab, Die Kriege Friedrichs des Grossen, Hiller, Berlin, 1830-1913

Kornauth, Friedrich, Das Heer Maria Theresias: Faksimile-Ausgabe der Albertina-Handschrift, "Dessins des Uniformes des Troupes I.I. et R.R. de l'année 1762", Wien: 1973

Raspe, Accurate Vorstellung der sämtlichen Kayserlich Koeniglichen Armeen zur eigentlichen Kentnis der Uniform von jedem Regimente. Nebst beygefügter Geschichte, worinne von der Stiftung, denen Chefs, der Staercke, und den wichtigsten Thaten jedes Regiments Nachricht gegeben wird., Nürnberg: 1762

Thümmler, L.-H., Die Österreichiches Armee im Siebenjährigen Krieg: Die Bautzener Bilderhandschrift aus dem Jahre 1762, Berlin 1993

Zahn, Michael, Oesterreichische Kürassier und Dragoner Standarten in Siebenjährigen Krieges, Zusammenstellung, 1988