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 - Source: rf-figuren from a Not By Appointment template

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 before 1760

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

Regimental flags (Kompaniefahnen): blue field; centre device consisting of the yellow cypher of Karl IV Theodor surmounted by a red and gold Electoral cap; each corner monogram consisting of the yellow cypher of Karl IV Theodor surrounded by laurel branches bound with a red ribbon.

Colours from 1760

Each battalion carried 2 colours.

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

Regimental flags (Kompaniefahnen): blue or yellow field bordered with blue and white squares in a checker pattern; centre device consisting of the Electoral arms on a shield resting on clouds and flanked by a lion passant holding a sword and by a cannon and a flag; each corner monogram consisting of the yellow cypher of Karl IV Theodor surrounded by laurel branches bound with a red ribbon.

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.