Train d'Artillerie

At the beginning of the Revolutionary Wars, the drivers and horse teams for the artillery were hired civilian drivers. This was not only awkward, it was dangerous. In the middle of a fight, the civilians might decide things were getting just a little dangerous and depart, leaving the gunners on their own to save or move their guns as best they could. This was particularly inconvenient for the new horse artillery arm, organized in 1792, which was an excellent idea and innovation, but could quickly be converted to 'foot' artillery after the shooting started.

  Napoleon fixed this upon becoming First Consul in 1800. The 'artillery train' was militarised, becoming the excellent train d'artillerie, with its own distinctive uniform, and organized into battalions. The companies were parcelled out in wartime, matching up to artillery companies, and through long service together, became crack, battle-tested units. It also gave the foot companies trumpeters, which the battery commanders undoubtedly found to be very helpful, especially as their drummers might not always be available as they were on foot like the gunners. Quite possibly, the greatest innovation undertaken by the artillery after the introduction of the Gribeauval system. The train was a 'highly efficient military organization,' organized in battalions and companies, of which one was assigned to every artillery company to move its guns and equipment. They would always take the field together and because of this long time service together, became highly efficient and cohesive. Originally the train company commanders were sergeants, but this was later changed to lieutenants. The chef de bataillon was a captain. This worked quite well, as they were one grade lower than the corresponding artillerymen. The train troops also brought along a trumpeter, which had to have come in handy.

Horse teams were harnessed two abreast, and then hitched in tandem. The train drivers rode the left-hand horse of each pair, controlling both paired horses. It was difficult work, definitely not for lightweights. Twelve-pounder guns were assigned six horses to pull them and their limbers; the other guns got four. At least one of the 12-pounder caissons per gun was also given a six-horse team-all others were allotted four horses.

Soldiers who had been wounded in the hand in 1813, and were not suitable for either infantry or cavalry duty, were assigned as replacements for the train. It must have been hard, brutal work for those maimed troopers, but they served efficiently and bravely. It also had to be rough having to sit under fire and not being able to shoot back. A good degree of the effectiveness of the French artillery of the period has to be credited to the efficiency and valour of the artillery train.

  The 2eme regiment of the Artillery train of the guard wore a simplified version of the uniform worn by the 1st regiment.

 A shako of 1812 pattern was worn with crowned eagle over crossed cannon plate. A red pompom was worn in place of the plume, and the top band ,may also have been red, like the shako of the Young Guard Artillery. An iron gray habit veste was worn with Bleu Imperiale collar, lapels, turnbacks and cuffs, all of which were piped red. In place of the red epaulettes worn by the first regiment, iron gray piped Bleu Imperaile shoulder straps were worn. Iron Grey trousers were worn with black hussar boots. The line pattern sabre was carried from a white shoulder belt, which had a brass belt buckle, which had a crowned eagle over crossed cannon device. A small cavalry pattern giberne was worn. On campaign the trousers were covered by Iron Grey ridding overalls, with pewter buttons on the side, and leather reinforcing to the inside leg. An Iron Grey cavalry style greatcoat was worn.

The regimental buttons were the same as for the artillery of the guard but were cast out of pewter, also all NCO’s rank bars were silver, and the epaulettes, aiguillettes and shako cords were mixed red and silver. NCO’s schabraque was like that of the Grenadiers a Cheval, though Iron Grey, and was laced red, as were the pistol holsters. NCO’s and trumpeters were armed with the An XI light cavalry sabre, worn from a white leather waistbelt.

The trumpeters wore the same uniform as the rank and file but with white lace to the collar, lapels and cuffs. In full dress white sheepskin breaches were worn. The Trumpet-Major wore the same uniform, but the white lace was replaced with silver, and sergent-majors rank stripes were worn at the cuff. The schabraque was a la Hongroise, also Iron Grey, and was laced red.

  Officers wore the same uniform as the 1st regiment attached to the old guard companies. It consisted of a sky blue chasseur style habit with long tails, the collar, lapels, turnbacks and point cuffs being Bleu Imperiale, piped scarlet. The waistcoat, riding overalls, and full dress breaches were also Sky Blue. The waistcoat was braided  a la Hussar in silver, and the breaches had silver lace depicting the officers rank as in the Light Cavalry. The shako had a silver lace top band and cords, and in full dress a red plume was worn. On campaign the shako was replaced by a silver laced chapeau. As the artillery train was part of the guard, the officers wore a silver aiguillette on the right shoulder and silver epaulette on the left.

The junior officers of the 2eme regiment did not wear the aiguillette. The schabraque was a la hongroise, was sky blue and was laced gold, with silver eagle devices appearing in the corners. The bridelry was the same as the Polish Lancers of the Guard.

(back to homepage)