Loen Fusiliers

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Origin and History

On October 15 1756, when the Saxon Army surrendered to Frederick II near Pirna, the Saxon infantry was forcefully incorporated into the Prussian Army, former Prinz Friedrich August Infantry thus becoming Infanterie-Regiment (Nr. 56) Loen.

During the Seven Years' War, the regiment was under the command of:

• since October 31 1756: Major-General J. B. von Loen
• on January 21 1758: Major-General S. A. von Kalkreuth
• on December 9 1758: Major-General L. F. L. von Wietersheim
• on February 25 1759: Major-General F. M. von Horn

In 1763, the regiment took the place of the former IR32 Tresckow Infantry.

Service during the War

In October 1756, the regiment was assigned to the garrisons of Lübben and Guben.

On March 28 1757, the second battalion of the regiment mutinied. The first battalion did the same on March 29. They both escaped to Poland. However, the regiment was soon re-established with new levies. The regiment seems to have continued to assume garrison duties till the end of the war.

By the end of 1757, this regiment along with Saldern Fusiliers, Hauss Fusiliers and the Grenadier-battalion S-54/S-56 Köller were the only Saxon infantry units still in the Prussian service.

N.B.: the grenadiers from the wing grenadier companies were put together with the grenadiers of Saldern Fusiliers, forming the S-54/S-56 Köller Grenadier Battalion (please refer to this article for the details of the service of the grenadiers during the war).

Uniform

Privates

Uniform in 1756 - Source: Dal

Uniform Details

Headgear	Fusilier black tricorne laced white with a green pompom, green tassels and a small yellow button Grenadier mitre with polished brass front plate; light straw headband with a green braid and brass ornaments, light straw backing with a similar braid, green pompom
Neckstock	black
Coat	Prussian blue lined red, 6 yellow buttons grouped 2 by 2 on the chest and 3 yellow buttons on each side to fasten the skirts forming the turnbacks Collar none Shoulder Straps n/a Lapels none Pockets horizontal pockets edged in red, each with 3 yellow buttons Cuffs light straw (in the Swedish pattern) with 2 yellow buttons Turnbacks red, each fastened with a small yellow button
Waistcoat	light straw
Breeches	light straw
Gaiters	black
Leather Equipment	Crossbelt white Waistbelt white Cartridge Box black Bayonet Scabbard brown Scabbard brown Footgear black shoes

Privates were armed with a short musket, a bayonet and a sabre with a curved blade.

NCOs

NCOs wore uniforms similar to those of the privates with the following distinctions:

• black tricorne laced gold with black and white quartered pompom and black within white tassels
• no shoulder straps
• gold laced cuffs
• yellowish leather gloves
• black and white sabre tassel

NCOs were armed with a sabre and a half-pikes measuring 7 ½ Rhenish feet (2.37 m.) in the fusilier companies and 13 Rhenish feet (4.10 m.) in the grenadier companies (carried by the 3 most senior NCOs while other grenadier NCOs were armed with rifled muskets since 1744).

NCOs also carried canes (normally attached to a button at the top of the right front while carrying the half-pike).

Officers

Officers wore uniforms similar to those of the privates with the following differences:

• black tricorne laced with a wide golden braid with a black cockade fastened with a golden clip; black within silver tassels
• no shoulder strap
• no turnbacks

Officers carried spontoons measuring 7 ½ Rhenish feet (2.36 m.).

Musicians

n/a

Colours

Colonel Colour (Leibfahne): White field with yellow corner wedges. Centre device consisting of a black medallion surrounded by a golden laurel wreath and surmounted by a gold crown. The medallion is decorated with a golden eagle surmounted by a white scroll bearing the golden motto "Pro Gloria et Patria". Corner monograms (crowns, laurel wreaths, ciphers) and grenades in gold.

Regimental Colours (Kompaniefahnen): black field with yellow corner wedges. Centre device consisting of a white medallion surrounded by a golden laurel wreath and surmounted by a gold crown. The medallion is decorated with a black eagle surmounted by a black scroll bearing the golden motto "Pro Gloria et Patria". Corner monograms (crowns, laurel wreaths, ciphers) and grenades in gold.

Colonel Colour - Source: rf-figuren from elements by Hannoverdidi

Regimental Colour - Source: rf-figuren from elements by Hannoverdidi

References

Gavan, Dal: Colours of the Saxon regiments in the Prussian service

Grosser Generalstab Kriegsgeschichtliche Abteilung II, Die Kriege Friedrichs des Grossen, Part 3 Der siebenjährige Krieg 1756-1763, Vol. 1 Pirna und Lobositz, Berlin, 1901, p. 125

N.B.: the section Service during the War is mostly derived from our articles depicting the various campaigns, battles and sieges.