Nice Infanterie

Hierarchical Path: Seven Years War (Main Page) >> Armies >> French Army >> Nice Infanterie

Origin and History

The regiment was formed on December 8 1678 from troops from Savoie. On May 8 1691, it took the name of the province of Nice.

During the War of the Polish Succession, the regiment served on the Rhine from 1734 to 1735.

During the War of the Austrian Succession, the regiment took part to the invasion of Bohemia in 1741. In 1743, it was stationed in Fribourg. From 1745 to 1748, it took part to the various campaigns in Flanders.

On March 10 1749, the regiment incorporated the disbanded Tour d'Auvergne Infanterie.

The regiment counted two battalions.

During the Seven Years' War, the regiment ranked 65^th and was under the command of:

• since September 10 1744: comte de Châteaugay
• May 1758: marquis de Juigné
• ???: vicomte de Latournelle
• 1761: chevalier de la Tour-du-Pin

Service during the War

On May 21 1756, the arrived at Minorca as reinforcement for the French army besieging Fort St. Philip.

In 1757, the regiment was sent to Bretagne to defend the coasts against British raids.

In 1761, the regiment was among the French force garrisoning Belle-Isle when the British landed on the island.

Uniform

Privates

Uniform in 1758 - Source: Kronoskaf

Uniform Details as per
Etrennes militaires 1758,
and Etat militaire 1761

Headgear	Musketeer black tricorne laced gold with a black cockade Grenadier black tricorne laced gold with a black cockade towards 1759, bearskins became increasingly common among grenadiers
Neckstock	black
Coat	grey-white Collar none (white in 1761) Shoulder Straps n/a Lapels none Pockets double vertical pockets (3 copper buttons on each single pocket) Cuffs grey-white with 3 copper buttons Turnbacks none
Waistcoat	grey-white (red in 1761)
Breeches	grey-white
Gaiters	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

n/a

Musicians

n/a

Colours

The colonel flag was white with a white cross. Ordonnance flags had red cantons with waved blue lines and a white cross bordered in blue. Ordonnance flags remained unchanged from 1691 to 1791.

Colonel Colour - Source: Kronoskaf

Ordonnance Colour - Source: Kronoskaf

N.B.: The reconstitution of the ordonnance flag is highly hypothetical. It is based exclusively on the textual descriptions found in the various Etats militaires and differs widely from the usual representation found in specialized publications.

References

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

Vial J. L.; Nec Pluribus Impar

Yahoo SYW Group Message No. 1710