Manstein 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 Minckwitz Infantry thus becoming Infanterie-Regiment (Nr. 53) Manstein and stationed at Frankfurt an der Oder.

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

• since October 15 1756 till September 1757: Major-General C. H. von Manstein

The regiment was disbanded in Pomerania in 1757.

Service during the War

In October 1756, the regiment was assigned to the garrison of Frankfurt an der Oder.

In the Spring of 1757, the second battalion of the regiment took part in the invasion of Bohemia. On May 6, this battalion was taken prisoners at Brandeis. For its part, the first battalion marched to Stettin where it was incorporated into the Pomeranian Provincial troops.

N.B.: the grenadiers from the wing grenadier companies were put together with the grenadiers of Jung-Braunschweig-Bevern Fusiliers, forming the S-53/S-57 Diezelsky 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 yellow pompom, yellow tassels and a small white button Grenadier mitre with polished brass front plate (even though the regiment had white as metal colour); light straw headband with a yellow braid and polished brass ornaments, light straw backing with a similar braid, yellow pompom
Neckstock	black
Coat	Prussian blue lined red, 6 white buttons grouped 2 by 2 on the chest and 3 white 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 white buttons Cuffs light straw (in the Swedish pattern) with 2 white buttons Turnbacks red, each fastened with a small white 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 silver with black and white quartered pompom and black within white tassels
• no shoulder straps
• silver 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 silver braid with a black cockade fastened with a silver 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 red flamed cross. 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 red flamed cross. 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.