Fusiliers-Guides de Metzenius
Hierarchical Path: Seven Years War (Main Page) >> Armies >> French Army >> Fusiliers-Guides de Metzenius
Origin and History
The unit was created by a decree dated February 20, 1761. It consisted of a single mounted company of fusiliers-guides comprising:
- 1 captain
- 1 lieutenant
- 1 second-lieutenant
- 2 sergeants
- 2 corporals
- 2 ansepessades
- 34 guides
The company was attached to the staff of the army where it served.
During the Seven Years' War, the unit was commanded by:
- since 1761: M. de Metzenius
The company was disbanded by a royal decree dated November 20, 1762.
Service during the War
By June 1, 1761, the unit was attached to the Army of the Lower Rhine.
In March 1762, the unit was attached to the Army of the Lower Rhine.
Uniform
We assume that the uniform was similar to the uniform of the Fusiliers-Guides de Plinchamp. This seems to be corroborated by the partial description made by Sapin-Lignères.
Privates

Headgear | black tricorne laced false silver with a white cockade fastened with a small pewter button | ||||||||||||
Neckstock | black | ||||||||||||
Coat | blue lined blue with pewter buttons on the right side
| ||||||||||||
Waistcoat | blue with pewter buttons | ||||||||||||
Breeches | blue | ||||||||||||
Gaiters | white or white | ||||||||||||
Leather Equipment |
|
Armaments consisted of a musket and a dragoon style bayonet, a pistol, a sabre and a cartridge box (20 cartridges).
The housing colours are unknown. However, they were probably similar to those of the Fusiliers-Guides de Plinchamp: blue edged white.
Officers
Officers wore uniforms similar to those of the privates with the following distinctions:
- silver laced tricorne
- silver buttons
- no turnbacks
- black boots with white knee covers
NCOs
NCOs wore uniforms similar to those of the privates with the following distinctions:
- sergeants: silver laced tricorne with 3 silver brandebourgs on each sleeve
- corporal: 3 white woollen brandebourgs on each sleeve
- anspessade: 2 white woollen brandebourgs on each sleeve.
Musicians
There were no musicians attached to this company.
Colours
This company carried no colours.
References
Menguy, Patrice; Les Sujets du Bien Aimé
Pajol, Charles P. V., Les Guerres sous Louis XV, vol. VII, Paris, 1891, p. 220
Acknowledgements
Jean-Louis Vial of Nec Pluribus Impar for the initial version of this article.