Plettenberg Dragoons
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Origin and History
The regiment was created on June 15, 1727 from 5 squadrons of the Dragoner Regiment Nr. 6. It garrisoned Tilsit which would remain its garrison place throughout its existence. It recruited in the districts of Tilsit, Memel and Insterburg.
In 1740, on the eve of the War of the Austrian Succession (1740-48), the regiment was increased to 10 squadrons. In 1742, it took part in the Battle of Chotusitz where it lost more than 500 men killed or wounded. In 1745, it took part in an engagement near Meissen and in the Battle of Kesselsdorf
In 1744, the regiment contributed 5 squadrons for the creation of Dragoner Regiment Nr. 8. Thus, it was itself reduced to 5 squadrons.
At the beginning of the Seven Years' War, the regiment counted 5 squadrons.
During the Seven Years' War, the regiment was under the command of:
- from August 3, 1756: Christoph Friedrich Stephan von Plettenberg
- from June 1761 to September 10, 1763: vacant
In 1763, at the end of the Seven Years' War, the regiment consisted of 688 Prussians, 17 Saxons, 162 "foreigners".
Service during the War
In 1757, the regiment was part of Lehwaldt's Army assigned to the defence of East Prussia against a Russian invasion. On August 30, at the Battle of Gross-Jägersdorf, it was deployed in the first line of the cavalry left wing under Lieutenant-General Schorlemmer. During this battle, the regiment lost 136 men but captured a battery of 10 guns.
On August 2 1758, during the Russian invasion of Brandenburg, Manteuffel reinforced the Prussian detachment at Reppen with this regiment along with Schorlemmer Dragoons (5 sqns). On August 21, the regiment joined King Frederick II at Cüstrin. On August 25, the regiment fought in the Battle of Zorndorf where it formed part of the reserve behind the left wing. It belonged to the brigade of dragoons who, around 11:50 a.m., delivered a deadly counter attack and threw Gaugreben’s Brigade back into the ranks of the Russian infantry causing disorder and confusion. Frederick then sent the regiment to reinforce his right wing but changed his mind and recalled it to the left to support the attack of the Prussian cavalry. During this battle, the regiment captured 5 guns and lost 63 men. On September 15 in the evening, Dohna received orders from Frederick instructing him to send the regiment to Berlin where it would join Wedel who was advancing against the Swedes. On September 16, the regiment departed for Berlin. On September 26, it attacked a Swedish foraging party in the Combat of Tarmow where it charged Västmanlands Infantry six times but did not succeed to break them, loosing 2 officers and 120 men in this action. The Swedish regiment retreated in good order. On September 28, the regiment took part in the unsuccessful assault on Fehrbellin.
On September 8, 1759, the regiment took part in the Combat of Zinna where 2 squadrons were deployed on the right wing and 3 others on the left wing. Major Pogrell at the head of 3 sqns of the regiment charged the first Austro-Imperial line and broke it, capturing 8 guns. In this combat, the regiment lost 2 officers, 4 NCOs, 82 private and 160 horses. On September 21, the regiment took part in the Combat of Korbitz where it was deployed in the second line of the right wing under Lieutenant-General Finck. In this affair, the regiment lost 3 officers and 30 men killed, and 5 officers (including Pogrell) and 100 men wounded.
In mid-May 1760, the regiment was transferred from Frederick's Army to Western Pomerania. In the Autumn, two light squadrons were established with the Polish remounts recently received. These were in addition to the 5 regular squadrons of the regiment.
In mid-September 1761, during the Siege of Colberg, the regiment was attached to Werner’s small detachment who raided the Russian magazines. On October 21, Platen sent the regiment to the assistance of the small force of Lieutenant-General Courbière involved in the engagement of Zarnglaff against the Russians. However, reinforcements arrived too late to prevent Courbière’s surrender. On October 22, the regiment took part in the Combat of Gollnow. In mid-December, it formed part of the force under the Prince of Württemberg who vainly tried to relieve Colberg. On December 12, it fought in the Combat of Spie. At the end of December, after a very tough campaign, the various Prussian corps operating in Eastern Pomerania took up their winter quarters. The regiment, belonging to the corps of Prince Eugen von Württemberg, took up its winter-quarters in Mecklenburg.
On May 12, 1762, the regiment took part in the Combat of Doebeln where it was attached to the right column under Seydlitz. At the end of July 1762, the regiment formed part of Seydlitz’s Corps who launched a raid into Bohemia. On August 2, it fought in the Combat of Teplitz. Finally, on October 29, it participated in the Battle of Freiberg where it formed part of the vanguard.
Uniform
Privates
| Headgear | black tricorne (no lace) with a black cockade fastened with a small yellow button and red pompoms
N.B.: for combat, the tricorne was reinforced with an iron cap | ||||||||||||
| Neck stock | black | ||||||||||||
| Coat | cobalt blue with red lining and with 8 yellow buttons on the chest and 3 yellow buttons on each side to fasten the skirts forming the turnbacks
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| Waistcoat | straw yellow with one row of small yellow buttons and horizontal pockets, each with yellow buttons | ||||||||||||
| Breeches | buff | ||||||||||||
| Leather Equipment |
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| Horse Furniture |
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Troopers were armed with a sword, a pair of pistols, a musket and a bayonet.
NCOs
NCOs wore the same uniform as the troopers with the following exceptions:
- black within white pompoms in the lateral "cornes" of the tricorne
- cuffs edged with a golden braid
Officers
The officers wore the same uniform with the following exceptions:
- black tricorne (no lace) with a black cockade (attached with a golden fastener) and black and silver pompons
- golden embroidery loops on the coat
- 6 on each side on the breast
- 2 on each side below the waist
- 1 on each side in the small of the back
- 1 to the left and right of each side waist button
- 2 on each pocket flap
- 2 on each cuff
Musicians
Drummers of the regiments of dragoons probably wore the same uniform as the troopers but decorated on the edges and seams with a red lace decorated with a yellow central band.
Colours
Standards were made of damask. They were swallow-tailed and measured some 50 cm along the pole, 65 cm from the pole to the extremity of a point and 50 cm from the pole to the centre of the indentation. The cords and knots were of silver threads. Exceptionally, the pole of the standard was a blue tournament lance (sources disagree about the exact shade, it being either pale blue or cornflower blue) reinforced with iron hinges. The golden spearhead wore the crowned monogram of Frédéric Wilhelm (FWR).
Originally this regiment used standards dating from Frederick Wilhelm I: a Leibstandarte and four Regimentsstandarte of the "FWR pattern". In 1740, when it was increased to 10 squadrons, the new squadrons required flags. These were issued in 1742/43 and were all of the "FR pattern", so the regiment carried equal numbers of "FWR pattern" and "FR pattern" flags.
When the regiment was split to form the new Dragoon Regiment No. 8 in 1744, the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th squadrons remained with the present regiment while the 2nd, 4th, th, 8th and 10th squadrons formed the new Dragoon Regiment No. 8. The 2nd squadron became the Leib or 1st squadron of the new regiment and was issued a new Leibstandarte in 1744 or 1745. Thus both regiments had a mixed set of flags, the present regiment having three of the "FWR" pattern flags (for the Leib, 2nd and 3rd squadrons) and two "FR" patterns (for the 4th and 5th squadrons). The regiment lost a couple of flags during the wars. All were Regimentsstandarten, but which squadrons lost flags (an unlucky squadron may have lost two flags) is not specified in our sources. However the present regiment still had "mixed sets" in 1806, which suggests that it retained at least one "FWR" pattern flag, as well as his "FWR" pattern Leibstandarte.
| Colonel FWR Standard (Leibstandarte): white field with red waved corners, fringed gold with a black central medallion surrounded by a golden laurel wreath and decorated with a golden eagle flying towards a golden sun surmounted by a white scroll laced gold bearing the golden motto "Non Soli Cedit". Decoration in gold in each corner (crowns, laurel wreaths and “FWR” ciphers). | Squadron FWR Standard (Eskadronstandarte): black field with red waved corners; fringed gold with a silver central medallion surrounded by a golden laurel wreath and decorated with a black eagle flying towards a golden sun surmounted by a black scroll laced gold bearing the golden motto "Non Soli Cedit". Decoration in gold in each corner (crowns, laurel wreaths and “FWR” ciphers). |
 Leibstandarte – Source: Dal Gavan |
 Eskadronsstandarte – Source: Dal Gavan |
| ' | Squadron FR Standard (Eskadronstandarte): black field with waved red corners, fringed gold with a silver central medallion surrounded by a golden laurel wreath and decorated with an armed black eagle surmounted by a black scroll laced gold bearing the golden motto "Pro Gloria et Patria". Decoration in gold in each corner (crowns, laurel wreaths and “FR” ciphers). |
 Squadron Standard – Source: Dallas Gavan | |
| ' | Squadron FR Standard (Eskadronstandarte): some of the squadron standards may have had the “FR” ciphers on the eagle breast, otherwise, they were similar to other squadron standards. |
 Squadron Standard – Source: Dallas Gavan |
References
Funcken, Liliane and Fred: Les uniformes de la guerre en dentelle
Grosser Generalstab Kriegsgeschichtliche Abteilung II: Die Kriege Friedrichs des Grossen, Part 3 Der siebenjährige Krieg 1756-1763
- Vol. 1 Pirna und LobositzBerlin, 1901, appendix 1
- Vol. 12 Landeshut und Liegnitz, Berlin, 1913, p. 14
Hohrath, Daniel: The Uniforms of the Prussian Army under Frederick the Great from 1740 to 1786; Vol. 2; Verlag Militaria, Vienna: 2011, pp. 588-591
Vial J. L.: Nec Pluribus Impar
N.B.: the section Service during the War is mostly derived from our articles depicting the various campaigns, battles and sieges.
