Saintonge Infanterie

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Origin and History

The regiment was created on September 8 1684. Indeed, expecting a Coalition to soon form against France, Louis XIV raised 30 new regiments from September 1 to 30 for the defence of the various places of the realm. By raising one regiment a day, he avoided any problem of precedence among these new regiments.

During the War of the Polish Succession, the regiment served on the Rhine from 1733 to 1735.

During the War of the Austrian Succession, the regiment was initially stationed in Bavaria in 1742. In 1743, it took part in the relief of Egra. In 1744, it was at Bitche. It then served in Flanders in 1745 and 1746. In 1747, it was transferred to the Alpine theatre of operation and, on July 19, took part in the Battle of Assietta where its colonel, M. de la Granville, was killed.

The regiment counted only one battalion.

During the Seven Years' War, the regiment ranked 77^th and was under the command of:

• since 1747: Comte de Boisgelin
• from February 20 1761: Marquis du Roure
• from May 11 1762 to 1780: Vicomte de Béranger

Service during the War

At the beginning of the Seven Years' War, the regiment was stationed in Bretagne.

By August 1 1757, the regiment was stationed at Rouen in Upper Normandy.

In 1759, the regiment was among the expeditionary corps assembled to attack Great Britain.

In 1761, the regiment was sent to French Guyana where it was stationed in Cayenne.

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 (blue in 1761) Shoulder Straps n/a Lapels none Pockets horizontal pockets (3 copper buttons on each pocket) Cuffs blue with 3 copper buttons Turnbacks none
Waistcoat	grey-white (blue 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 a white cross, each of their cantons consisted of four opposed triangles (yellow, blue, green, red). Ordonnance flags remained unchanged from 1684 to 1791.

Colonel Colour - Source: Kronoskaf

Ordonnance Colour - Source: Kronoskaf

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

Sommaire des forces armées Françaises à l'intérieur et à l'extérieur de la France - 1er Août 1757, Service Historique de l'armée de terre