Nassau-Ussingen Infanterie

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Origin and History

The regiment was raised on November 1 1745 by the comte de Fersen.

In 1754 the regiment was transferred to Jean Adolphe Count of Nassau Ussingen.

During the War of the Austrian Succession, the regiment served in Flanders from 1746 to 1748.

The regiment counted one battalion.

During the Seven Years' War, the regiment ranked 110^th and was under the command of:

• since November 12 1754 to March 20 1758: Jean Adolphe Comte de Nassau Ussingen

On March 20 1758, while serving at Cologne on the Rhine, the regiment was disbanded and its single battalion amalgamated into Nassau Saarbrück Infanterie to form the new Nassau Prince Louis Infanterie. The single battalion of Nassau Ussingen became the first battalion of this newly formed regiment.

Service during the War

In 1757, the regiment served in Germany. At the end of the year, it took its winter quarters in the first line of the French Army at Rethem on the Aller River.

At the end of January 1758, the regiment was assigned to the army that Louis XV planned to send to Bohemia for joint operations with the Austrian Army. However, when Ferdinand of Brunswick launched his offensive in West Germany in February, the regiment retired on the Rhine with the rest of the French army. From March 30 to April 4, it was in the first line of Clermont's army in the camp of Wesel on the Lower Rhine. On March 20, it was incorporated into the new Nassau Prince Louis Infanterie.

Uniform

Privates

Uniform in 1758 - Source: Kronoskaf

Uniform Details as per
Etrennes Militaires 1756 and 1758, Etat Militaire 1758, Abrégé du Dictionnaire Militaire 1759
completed when necessary with information from Charles Pajol and Lucien Mouillard's uniform plates

Headgear	Musketeer black tricorne laced silver Grenadier black tricorne laced silver towards 1759, bearskins became increasingly common among grenadiers
Neckstock	probably black
Coat	blue with 2 white buttonholes under the lapel Collar none Shoulder Straps red fastened with a small white button (as per Mouillard) Lapels red with 7 white buttons and 7 white buttonholes (3 pairs and 1 near the upper corner) Pockets horizontal pockets, each single pocket with 3 white buttons (with white buttonholes as per Mouillard) Cuffs red with 3 white buttons and 3 white buttonholes Turnbacks red (as per Mouillard)
Waistcoat	white
Breeches	white
Gaiters	probably white
Leather Equipment	Crossbelt natural leather Waistbelt natural leather Cartridge Box natural leather Bayonet Scabbard n/a Scabbard n/a

Armaments consisted of a musket and a bayonet. Fusiliers carried a sword (brass hilt) while the grenadiers had a sabre.

Officers

no information available yet

Musicians

The drummers of the regiment wore the prince of Nassau's livery. The drum were orange and and carried the arms of the House of Nassau.

Uniform Details

Headgear	black tricorne (van-dyked lace) and bordered with plumes
Neckstock	probably black
Coat	orange with 4 white buttons under the right lapel Collar none Shoulder Straps yellow laced silver Lapels scarlet with 7 white buttons (3 pairs and 1 near the upper corner) Pockets horizontal pockets, each with 3 white buttons Cuffs scarlet with 3 white buttons and 3 white buttonholes Turnbacks scarlet
Waistcoat	scarlet laced silver
Breeches	orange
Gaiters	probably white

Colours

The colonel flag of the regiment was white with a white St. Andrew cross.

The ordonnance flags were red (upper and lower triangles) and blue (left and right triangles) with a white St. Andrew cross.

Colonel Colour - Source: PMPdeL

Ordonnance Colour - Source: PMPdeL

References

Évrard P., Praetiriti Fides

Funcken, Liliane and Fred; Les uniformes de la guerre en dentelle

Menguy, Patrice; Les Sujets du Bien Aimé

Mouillard, Lucien, Les Régiments sous Louis XV, Paris, 1882

Pajol, Charles P. V., Les Guerres sous Louis XV, vol. VII, Paris, 1891

Rogge, Christian; The French & Allied Armies in Germany during the Seven Years War, Frankfurt, 2006

Service historique de l'armée de terre, Archives du génie, article 15, section 1, §5, pièce 23

Vial J. L., Nec Pluribus Impar