Chasseurs du Quartier Général
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Origin and History
The unit was created by a decree dated March 31, 1761 by M. Monet, then major in the Chasseurs de Fischer. The unit initially totalled 150 men and consisted of:
- 60 chasseurs à pied (foot jägers)
- 40 chasseurs à cheval (mounted jägers)
- 50 hussars
The Chasseurs du Quartier Général were also known as Chasseurs de Monet or Compagnie franche de Monet.
After the defeat of Wolfangen, in July 1761, where the chasseurs suffered heavy losses, the unit was reconstituted and strengthened. M. de Bonn became its commander. It was then organised as follows:
- 1 coy of chasseurs à pied
- 1 captain
- 2 lieutenants
- 1 capitaine d'armes (probably equivalent to provost)
- 1 master-worker
- 1 armourer
- 3 cappenters
- 2 sergeants
- 2 corporals
- 2 ansepessades
- 2 horn players
- 2 drummers
- 45 foot jägers
- 1 coy of chasseurs à cheval
- 1 captain
- 2 lieutenants
- 1 maréchal-des-logis (billeting officer)
- 2 brigadiers
- 2 sub-brigadiers
- 1 trumpeter
- 35 mounted jägers
- 1 coy of hussars
- 1 captain
- 2 lieutenants
- 1 maréchal-des-logis (billeting officer)
- 1 fourrier (quartermaster)
- 3 brigadiers
- 3 sub-brigadiers
- 2 trumpeters
- 48 hussars
On November 1 1761, the strength of the unit was increased to 3 companies of 50 chasseurs à pieds, 2 companies of 52 chasseurs à cheval and 1 company of 50 hussars. The staff was also increased and consisted of:
- 1 aide-major
- 1 lieutenant
- 1 capitaine d'armes
- 1 master-worker
- 1 armourer
- 10 carpenters
- 17 supernumerary jägers
During the Seven Years' War, the unit was commanded by:
- since March 1761: M. Monet
- from August 1761: M. de Bonn
The unit was disbanded by a royal decree dated November 20, 1762.
Service during the War
On February 15, 1761, the unit was posted at Mühlhausen during the Combat of Langensalza.
On July 1, Prince Xaver of Saxony wrote from the camp of Dringenberg the following letter to M. Monet:
- “I am delighted to be able to announce to you Sir that M. the Maréchal de Broglie leaves you with me. And, because I saw yesterday you valour and the goodwill of the troops you are commanding, I expect that we will do good work together. For the moment, you are destined to scout out the left of my reserve; and, to fulfill this objective, you will go tomorrow to Driburg from where you will push your patrols on Lippspringe and Nieheim, instructing them to carefully observe everything happening in this quarter. You will use of all proper means to be informed of the movements and direction of the enemy, which you will make me frequent and exact accounts. Upon arriving in Dribourg, you will find the Volontaires de Flandre which you will relieve; and you will send me news at Brakel where my reserve will be encamped tomorrow”.
On July 29, the unit marched to Lippspringe. On July 30 in the evening, the unit was attacked near Lippspringe by Luckner. It resisted for a while in the hedges near Lippspringe before rallying back on the Légion Royale who forced Luckner to retire. The same month, the unit suffered heavy losses in an encounter near Wolfangen.
By March 1762, the unit formed part of the Army of the Upper Rhine. On May 17, as the Allies seemed to threaten the Diemel, 6 French bns took position from the villages in front of Kassel to the Fulda, while the Volontaires de Saint-Victor, the Chasseurs du Quartier Général and Chamborant Hussards were charged to reconnoitre the country between the Diemel and Kassel, passing the river and advancing up to Höxter where they made a few prisoners. On May 30, the Volontaires de Saint-Victor and the present unit, who had been sent to the relief of Sababurg reached the town after the retreat of the Allies. On the morning of June 4, the Volontaires de Saint-Victor and the Chasseurs du Quartier Général, supported by the Volontaires Royaux de Nassau and the Volontaires de Soubise, drove Freytag from the height of Gerbenstein, following him beyond the heights of Liebenau.
On July 6, General Luckner captured the Chasseurs du Quartier Général at Scharffhoff (unidentified location) close to the walls of Kassel.
Uniform
Chasseurs
| Headgear | green mirliton lined white | ||||||||||||
| Neckstock | probably black | ||||||||||||
| Coat | green
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| Waistcoat | green | ||||||||||||
| Breeches | green | ||||||||||||
| Gaiters | white | ||||||||||||
| Leather Equipment |
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Armaments consisted of:
- for mounted jägers: a carbine, 2 pistols and a sabre;
- for foot jägers: long rifle, a knife-shaped bayonet (2 inches longer than the bayonet of the infantry).
Hussars
| Headgear | a green felt mirliton lined white, with a white flame edged green and a green royal cipher embroidered on the front of the mirliton | ||||||||
| Pelisse | green
| ||||||||
| Dolman | white with green braids and 4 rows pf buttons
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| Trousers | white with intricate green laces | ||||||||
| Leather Equipment |
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| Horse Furniture |
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Troopers were armed with a sabre and 2 pistols.
Officers
No information found yet.
NCOs
No information found yet.
Musicians
The livery of drummers and trumpeters is unknown.
Colours
This unit carried no colours.
References
Expilly, Louis Alexandre; Dictionnaire géographique, historique et politique des Gaules et de la France, 1764
Pajol, Charles P. V., Les Guerres sous Louis XV, vol. VII, Paris, 1891, p. 222
Mouillard, Lucien; Les Régiments sous Louis XV; Paris 1882
Rogge, Christian; The French & Allied Armies in Germany during the Seven Years War, Frankfurt, 2006
Acknowledgements
Jean-Louis Vial of Nec Pluribus Impar for the initial version of this article.
