Frei-Husaren von Schill

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Origin and History

Trooper of the Frei-Husaren von Schill in 1761 - Copyright: Franco Saudelli and Dr Marco Pagan

A squadron of Frei-Husaren commanded by Rittmeister von Schill (a former Austrian officer) was raised in 1761.

On campaign, this single squadron served as Life Guard for Prince Xavier (aka Comte de Lusace). According to Schirmer, this unit also included a number of mounted and foot Jägers. They might have been raised for similar tasks as the Fusiliers-Guides serving with the French General Staff.

In 1763, the squadron was incorporated into the re-raised Freiherr von Sacken Light Dragoons (former Graf Rutowsky Light Dragoons).

Service during the War

no information available

Uniform

Our sources for this uniform are an old plate by R. Trache, copied later by Schirmer 1989 and Friedrich 1998; and another plate in De Ridder collection kept at the Bibliothèque Nationale de France in Paris.

Troopers

Frei-Husaren von Schill uniform in 1761 - Source: David at Not By Appointment

Uniform Details

Headgear	red mirliton; a black flame edged white normally wound round the mirliton; white over red plume
Pelisse	white Fur trim brown Lace red Buttons white
Dolman	yellow Collar no information available Cuffs probably white Waist belt brown leather Lace white
Breeches	red breeches with white Hungarian knots and lace
Leather Equipment	Crossbelt no information available Scabbard brown leather scabbard with steel tips and fitting Boots black Hungarian boots edged white with a white tassel
Horse Furniture	Saddlecloth white, pointed and decorated with a red van-dyked stripe in the Hungarian style N.B.: this is a conjectural reconstruction because we have no certain information about the colour of the saddle-cloth Sabretache red edged a white braid with 2 yellow stripes; decorated with an embroidered "AR" cipher surmounted by a crown Blanket roll probably red

Troopers were armed with a short, curved sabre and two pistols.

Officers

no information available

Musicians

no information available

Standards

no information available

References

Collection Gustave de Ridder (Bibliotheque Nationale de France) - Uniformes de l'Electorat de Saxe

• Uniformes de l'Electorat de Saxe de 1750 a 1775

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

Schuster, O.; Francke, F.A.: Geschichte der Sächischen Armee von deren Errichtung bis auf die neueste Zeit, Erster Theil, Leipzig 1885

Summerfield, Dr. Stephen: Saxon Army of Austrian War of Succession and the Seven Years War, Ken Trotman Publishing, 2011

Trache, R.: old plate later copied by Schirmer in 1989 and Friedrich in 1998