Saturday, March 28, 2015

IR #48 Erbprinz von Hessen-Cassel


More RSM Prussians
I'm going to take a week off painting RSM minis as I was given by madame and the kids a couple of packs of the re-engineered Tradition "Willie" Gardes Francaises for my birthday last Sunday. They look rather nice and will go well with the couple of the older Suren officers I painted up a few years back.

As to the Prussians, I have four units of Foot and three of Horse with another three units worth of foot on the blocks in the form of unpainted castings and another of Horse to be getting on with. After them, I'd rather like to do one more of foot and horse each. The former preferably as one of the Grenadier Battalions of IR 15. I mean, if you can't paint the Garde, then what's the point of toy soldiers then, eh? That ought to get the Prussiand up to a state where they can reliably match it against my French armies - eight battalions and seven squadrons once everything is all based up.

From Kronoskaf:

This Fusilier Regiment was created on July 28 1755 from Garrison Regiment XIII stationed at Minden, which had been raised in 1743, and from Wied Fusiliers. Furthermore, Dossow Fusiliers, Jungkenn Müntzer Fusiliers and Garrison Regiment IX contributed another 360 men. The new regiment also received the "old" uniforms of Wied Fusiliers. The regiment had no district to levy its troops and had to rely on recruitment.
In August 1755, the new fusilier regiment was transferred to Wesel where it replaced Wied Fusiliers while the latter took post at Minden. On May 31 1756, the Hereditary Prince Friedrich of Hesse-Cassel took command of the new regiment.
During the Seven Years' War, the regiment was under the command of:
  • since May 31 1756: Friedrich Erbprinz von Hessen-Cassel
  • from January 8 1757 to April 28 1763: Friedrich Wilhelm von Salmuth (aka Behringer)

The fruit of the past week and a halfs' painting time

Service Record
In 1756, the regiment garrisoned Wesel.
In 1757, the regiment formed part of the Prussian contingent which joined the Allied Army. On March 24, the regiment marched to Bielefeld. In mid June, it took part in a minor engagement against the French near Bielefeld. The Allied Army vainly tried to prevent the French invasion of Hanover. The regiment then retreated towards Magdeburg.
In 1758, the regiment initially served in Saxony under Prince Henry. During the Autumn, it joined Wedell in his campaign in Pomerania against the Swedes. However, the regiment was soon recalled to Saxony to defend Dresden.
In 1759, the regiment began the campaign with Prince Henri in Saxony. On May 23, it took part in an engagement against Austrian light troops at Aue. On August 6, during the Austro-Imperial invasion of Saxony, the first battalion capitulated at Leipzig but was allowed to retire freely. On August 20, part of the regiment was part of the garrison of Wittenberg who surrendered and retired to Potsdam. The second battalion took part in the defence of Dresden which surrendered on September 4. The defender were allowed to retire freely from the town and the second battalion joined Finck's Corps. Meanwhile, on September 8, the 1st battalion of the regiment took part in the Combat of Zinna where it was deployed on the left wing. It was at the recapture of Torgau.
In July 1760, the regiment took part in the unsuccessful attempt to recapture of Dresden. On August 20, it fought at the Combat of Strehla before retiring towards Torgau.
In 1761, the regiment served on the Mulde under Prince Henri.
In 1762, the regiment served in southern Saxony. On October 15, Syburg detached the regiment to get hold of the heights of Erbisdorf before Campitelli but it was surrounded and captured as soon as it debouched from the village.
N.B.: The grenadier company, which originated from the Garrison Regiment XIII, never joined the regiment and kept its former uniform until 1776. This company was converged with grenadiers from Dossow Fusiliers (2 coys) and Garrison Regiment IX (1 coy) to form the Nr. II. "Standing" Grenadier Battalion 

7 comments:

Stryker said...

Very smart indeed!

WSTKS-FM Worldwide said...

Very Gilderesque, old bean. Fantastic! Oh, and happy belated birthday.

Von Tschatschke

tidders said...

A fine looking regiment

Der Alte Fritz said...

Note that the inhaber of a regiment often did not take direct command of it in the field. It could be an honorary title. For example, Prinz Georg of Hesse Darmstadt was simultaneously the inhaber of regiments in Prussian, Austrian and Russian service.

Jim

Bloggerator said...

Thank-you gentlemen.

The old RSMs respond quite well to the "Gilder style".

Jim - noted. Thank-you.

Greg

Keith Flint said...

Ah, RSM95s! If only they were more often seen on wargames tables. You have more than done them justice.

Great stuff.

Bloggerator said...

G'day Keith,

Welcome!

Nice figures and easy to paint. I'm thinking Frei Battalion Mayr next from RSM Russians in the unlapelled coat.

Greg