Isselbach Infantry

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Origin and History

The regiment was raised in 1672. It garrisoned Düsseldorf.

At the outbreak of the Seven Years' War, the regiment was not at full strength, totalling only some 1,000 men. It consisted of 2 battalions. Theoretically, each of these battalions should count 1 grenadier coys (100 men) and 5 musketeer coys (each of 140 musketeers). The regimental artillery consisted of 1 gun per battalion, each served by 20 artillerymen detached from the Palatine Artillery.

While campaigning, its grenadiers were usually formed into converged grenadier battalions.

During the Seven Years' War, the Chef of the regiment was:

• from December 9 1750 until 1762: Baron Ferdinand von Isselbach

During the Seven Years' War, its commanders were:

• from 1752: Count von Hatzfeld
• from 1756: von Helling
• from 1757 to 1758: von Haultepenne
• from 1759 to 1763: Baron von Horst (became Chef of the regiment in 1763)

Service during the War

The regiment did not form part of the Palatine contingent under French subsidies nor of the contingent destined to the Reichsarmee. Therefore, it remained in Electorate of Palatinate (aka Pfalz) throughout the war. Until 1758, it garrisoned the fortress of Düsseldorf on the Lower Rhine, then it garrisoned Mannheim.

Uniform

Privates

Uniform in 1757 - Copyright Kronoskaf

Uniform in 1757

Headgear	Musketeer black tricorne laced white with blue within white pompoms Grenadier Isselbach Infantry Grenadier Mitre Cap - Source: rf-figuren from a Not By Appointment template Austrian style bearskin with pewter shield and a red bag laced white with a white tassel
Neckstock	black
Coat	blue coat with 3 pewter buttons under the lapels and 1 in the small of the back N.B.: during summer, a linen smock was worn instead of the coat Collar none Shoulder Straps red with 1 pewter button (left shoulder) Lapels red, laced white/red/blue with 7 pewter buttons grouped 1,2,2,2 Pockets horizontal pockets, each with 3 pewter buttons Cuffs red laced white/red/blue with 3 pewter buttons Turnbacks red fastened with a small pewter button
Waistcoat	white with 15 pewter buttons
Breeches	white
Gaiters	black with 22 pewter buttons
Leather Equipment	Crossbelt paille (straw) or white Waistbelt white Cartridge Box black with 4 little yellow grenades, grenadiers wore an additional little cartridge box at their waistbelt, it was black carrying one yellow grenade Bayonet Scabbard natural leather Scabbard natural leather with brass fittings only at the beginning of war, later none Footgear black shoes

Privates were armed with a musket, a bayonet and a curved sword.

NCOs

no information available yet

Officers

The officers wore the same uniform with the following exceptions:

• scalloped tricorne with a black cockade and no pompoms
• silver gorget (since 1755)
• silver buttons and laces
• white and blue striped sash (silver and blue for staff officers)
• white and blue sword frog (silver and blue for staff officers)
• buff gloves
• black cane

Grenadier officers used a musket instead of a spontoon. Therefore, they wore a little cartouche (laced gold with a golden front plate) at the waistbelt.

Musicians

no information available yet

Colours

For more details on the various patterns of Palatine colours used during this period, please refer to our article on the Palatine Line Infantry Colours.

Warning: we are still working on the graphical representations of the colours and some details may change during the week of July 16 to 22.

Colours before 1760

Colonel flag (Leibfahne): white field; border consisting of with white and blue flames with golden decorations; centre device consisting of an image of the Madonna standing on a snake, surmounted by a red scroll carrying the motto “Sub Tuum Praesidium Virgo Gloriosa”; each corner monogram consisting of the crowned golden cypher of Karl IV Theodor and golden decorations.

Regimental flags (Kompaniefahnen): blue field decorated with golden floral patterns; centre device consisting of the golden cypher of Karl IV Theodor surmounted by a red and gold Electoral cap; each corner monogram consisting of the crowned golden cypher of Karl IV Theodor.

Leibfahne - Copyright: Kronoskaf

Kompaniefahne - Copyright: Kronoskaf

Colours from 1760

Each battalion carried 2 colours: the first battalion carried the Leibfahne and a 'Kompaniefahne, while the second battalion carried two 'Kompaniefahnen. A red and a yellow variants of the Kompaniefahne seem to have cohabitated.

Colonel flag (Leibfahne): white field; border consisting of with white and blue flames with golden decorations; centre device consisting of an image of the Madonna standing on a snake, surmounted by a red scroll carrying the motto “Sub Tuum Praesidium Virgo Gloriosa”; each corner monogram consisting of the crowned golden cypher of Karl IV Theodor and golden decorations.

Regimental flags (Kompaniefahnen)

• red variant: red field bordered with a light blue and white lozenges pattern; centre device consisting of the crowned arms of the Elector of Palatinate within a rococo frame, flanked by a trophy of arms and a golden couchant lion, a collar of the Order of Saint Hubertus beneath, the whole resting on a white cloud the crowned golden cypher of Karl IV Theodor; each corner monogram consisting of the crowned golden cypher of Karl IV Theodor with a cross of Saint Hubertus beneath.
• yellow variant: yellow field bordered by three rows of white and light blue lozenges; centre device consisting of the crowned arms of of Pfalz-Sulzbach within a rococo frame, flanked by a trophy of arms and a golden couchant lion, the Collar of the Order of St. Hubertus beneath, each corner monogram consisting of the crowned golden cypher of Karl IV Theodor with a cross of Saint Hubertus beneath.

Leibfahne - Copyright: Kronoskaf

Kompaniefahne (red variant) - Copyright: Kronoskaf

Kompaniefahne (yellow variant) - Copyright: Kronoskaf

References

Bezel, Oskar; Geschichte des Kurpfälzischen Heeres ..., Bayrisches Kriegsarchiv, München, 1925

Pengel, R.D. And G. R. Hurt; Bavaria, Saxony & the Palatinate Supplement: Uniforms and Flags of the Senen Years War, Hopewell: On Military Matters, 1981

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

Acknowledgments

rf-figuren for the initial version of this article.