The first in our Napoleonic Elite Cavalry series is of three Guard Chasseurs a Cheval.

Napoleon’s Elite Cavalry – Chasseurs a Cheval on a Sunday

Three Chasseur à Cheval de la Garde Imperiale, in Sunday “walking out” dress, Paris, between 1804 and 1814. They walk past a cafe called Au Tambour d’Arcole.

Napoleon’s Guard Chasseurs wore Hussar-style uniforms. They wear an under jacket called a dolman, and an outer jacket called a pelisse. Because it’s a Winter day, they wear the outer jackets buttoned up for the cold. In the Spring/Summer, the pelisse would be draped over the left shoulder. The troopers on the left and right wear green dolmans and breeches with tasseled Hussar boots. Their pelisses are red. The man in the center is a trumpeter. He wears different colors, to stand out in the line. That way, an officer giving orders knows here he is, so he can use his bugle to call out the commands. The trumpeter wears a blue dolman and breeches. His pelisse is rose colored.

The Chasseur on the left is a sous-officier, an NCO. The chevron on his pelisse indicate he is a maréchal des logis, a sergeant. His uniform has more gold lace and ornamentation.

The third Chasseur is a trooper. The lesser amount of gold lace and ornamentation of his uniform, and that of the trumpeter, indicates he is subordinate to the sous-officier.

So, the maréchal des logis is likely older than his companions. Napoleon’s army had two levels of sergeant. The maréchal des logis corresponds to the same rank in the modern French army (and US forces) as an E-5. The next rank was maréchal des logis chef, a modern E-8/E-9.

Headgear

All three men wear cocked hats rather than the big, cylindrical Colbacks worn on campaign. The colback offers protection from sabre cuts and bullets. Since they’re walking out in Paris, these men wear a lighter, simpler cocked hat, with plumes matching their uniforms.

All three men carry their sabres, as is required for walking-out dress, but not the ornate purse or sabretache that usually hangs from the sword belt.

Story Ideas

So, who are these men to each other? The sous-officier is several ranks higher than the trooper and trumpter. Are they related? Perhaps the senior man has been in Napoleon’s guides for years, and his younger brother, a musician, enlisted in the same regiment. Maybe the other trooper is a cousin, or perhaps just a friend in the same troop who came along on this lovely Paris afternoon.

Did they come to the regiment as skilled horsemen? Did they learn how to ride when they enlisted? The Chasseur à Cheval de la Garde were the Emperor’s personal bodyguards. A detail chasseurs and an officer accompanied him everywhere. The rest of the regiment stood in the line of battle, usually in reserve. Bonaparte would personally commit his Guard at tipping points in battles, to ensure victory.

While in Paris, the Chasseur à Cheval de la Garde participated in countless military parades and reviews, proud to serve their Emperor.