Uniforme Artillerie À Pied

  

La Bonnet a poil model 1814.

The bearskin was adopted in March 1810, initially for the first two companies in time for the Royal Wedding. The remaining companies were equipped with the bearskin by September 1810. The first issue had a black peak, the underside of which was painted green. The bearskin had copper chin-scales from the outset. In 1814 a new pattern was issued, identical to that worn by the Grenadier a cheval, but retaining the scarlet cords and yellow backpatch. Contemporary iconography (Martinet, Genty, Berka) show the cavalry style cords being used throughout the Empire.

 

 

Shako.

Old Guard 1808-1810

Young Guard 1809-1815

L'HABIT-VESTE, MODEL 1808-1810 old Guard, 1809-1812 young Guard

The Habit was cut from imperial blue cloth, the first model had a plain blue collar, and blue cuff flaps piped red. In 1810m the cuff flaps became red piped red and the collar blue piped red. The turnbacks were lined in red serge cloth.

The gallon des grade were aurore for caporal and gold for NCO’s, and were 23mm wide. The amount of  lace issued was as follows:

Sergent Major: 900mm

Sergent: 450mm

Caporal: 900mm

  The gallon du grade were worn at an angle on the lower sleeve. The front of the gallon was to be 20mm above the cuff and the rear 95mm. For Caporal and Sergent Major, the two gallon were to be 14mm apart. 

 

 

 
 

L' Epaulettes.

Red (scarlet) epaulettes a franges or those of the appropriate grade were worn on the shoulder.  These were officially regulated to be worn by grenadiers on 17 March 1788. The regulations stipulated that there had to be four layers of red fringing 72mm long, which was reduced to 55mm in 1812, but increased to 65mm in 1819.

  The red epaulettes cost 9f per pair, Sergent 15f and Sergent-Major 20f.  These items were supplied by M Aubineau  of 213 rue de la Saint-Honore. On August 15th 1809 NCO's were allowed to wear the epaulettes of the guard, identical to those used by the NCO's of the Grenadiers a Pied

Chemise.

Soldiers would be issued three pairs of un-dyed linen shirts, that they would use somewhat like we use t-shirts today. They would wear them always, underneath every tenue, and would also sleep in them. Since they had only three pairs, and occasions to wash were not always very frequent (well, I'll just leave that to your imagination....).

Le Col noir.

Not wearing something round your neck was not done in 18th and 19th century society. Every soldier would receive two cols noirs (black stock) and one col blanc (white stock). The col noir is made of black cloth or linen, lined with white linen, and filled with cardboard. It's purpose was to hold up the head and straighten the neck. And look smart, of course. The French were luckier than the British, since no Frenchman would be so sadistic as to make his soldiers wear the leather stocks that the British used. The col noir is used in most tenues, but on campaign it would often be replaced by neck cloths of every description, colour and denomination. A soldier looks after his comfort!

The stock was to be lower than the jacket collar, between 55 mm and 60 mm tall, and cost 2f.

 

 le Chapeau

Issued to Cannoniers and NCO's for walking out dress from 1811 whilst in Paris. Indeed only 181 were issued during the regiments existence. The chapeau was not worn on campaign as in the Grenadiers a Pied.

 

 

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Gilet a Manches.

This was cut from blue cloth, with a blue collar piped red, blue cuffs piped red. The bottom seam and front opening may also have been piped red. On campaign, this replaced the habit, and had the epaulettes attached. Rank and service chevrons were worn in half width lace. For the young guard companies raised in 1813, the cuffs were scarlet.

This garment was worn in summer in place of the habit long, and fulfilled the same role as the Surtout did in the Grenadiers a Pied.

 

Veste

This was worn under the habit-veste. In summer, white linen waistcoats were issued to be worn with the white overalls. It is unknown if the guard followed this practice.

 

Culotte.

Cut from blue cloth, they reached below the knee where they closed with four small buttons. The front vent was closed by five buttons. These were only worn on Parade occasions and rarely on campaign.

Pantalon.

The 1812 regulations prescribed the artillery white overalls, made from canvas or thick cotton for summer wear and for wearing during fatigues. They could be easily cleaned by either boiling, the application of white wash, or a mix of chalk and fat. Cloth working trousers (overalls), usually linen, calico or canvas, sturdy made, and with a flap draw fly at the front. Usually un-dyed, but striped or white cloth or other colours could also be used. These are service, campaign and often combat trousers. These would sometimes be pretty baggy, and sometimes too long, and in some circumstances soldiers would tie the legs with string, to keep out dust and other things, or rolled up. 

 

On campaign, the blue breaches were replaced with blue overalls. The short gaiters would be worn over the bottom of the overalls.

 

 

Guetres et Soulier.

In full dress, long white cloth gaiters were worn. For normal dress, long black gaiters, and on campaign half length black gaiters.

Shoes in this period would be sturdy and completely made of leather. The issued infantry shoe is low, rather square and has no difference between a left and a right foot. Still, they are surprisingly comfortable. Soldiers were supposed to alternate shoes between left and right, this would avoid excessive wear. They would fasten with either a metal buckle or a bit of (leather) string (like modern shoes). The leather soles would not have much grip on wet surfaces (especially grass), so they would often be hobnailed. Apparently hobnails (clous) were specific to each army, and the patterns in which the shoes were nailed, would also differ between armies.
As shoes were the item that was fastest worn out, and armies would never have enough of them, soldiers would often use "captured" civilian shoes (there is a story of a French general threatening to loot a German town if they didn't bring him 20.000 pairs of shoes for his division), home made shoes, completely worn out shoes, held together with string, wooden clogs (sabots), tied up rags or nothing at all.

Low buckle shoes were worn by all ranks, in any order of dress except barrack dress and winter walking-out dress, when Suvarov style boots were worn. The pattern of shoe was not officially regulated until 1817/18 and 1828, which were very similar to those worn a decade earlier.

 

 

La Manteau-Capote.

When first raised in 1808, the greatcoat was identical to that of the Grenadiers a Pied. In 1811 a new greatcoat was issued, cut from Iron Grey cloth, and was single breasted. The collar was piped red as were the cuffs. For the young guard companies raised in 1809, the greatcoat was like that of the line but in Imperial Blue cloth. On all greatcoats the epaulettes were attached.

The greatcoat worn by Sergents and Sergent-Majors was of the same pattern as that as the gunners but was tailored a la redingote which was more fashionable and elegant.

All were cut to a uniform length, so that regardless of the soldats height, the bottom edge of the great coat was 320mm above the ground
 

 

La BONNET DE POLICE.

This was tailored a la dragonne. The turban and flamme were blue, piped red. The turban also laced red and the front bore a red grenade device. Those of the young guard lacked the lacing and grenade device.

 

CaleÇon.

Although little worn by the lower classes, the army issued long drawers to the soldiers, which would usually be worn, if only to avoid having to wash the trousers often, and to keep warm. These would be full length linen  or cotton drawers, with a button up fly, and a cord round the waist or at the back to fit. They look somewhat like modern pyjama bottoms

(courtesy Y Moreman)

 Sabre Briquet et Dragonne.

La Haversac.

Inside the havresac would be the soldier's possessions, all he had was what he could carry. This would be spare clothing (anything he wasn't wearing at the time, usually spare shirts and drawers, trousers), some cartridges, personal items (soap and some kind of towel, glasses if he needed them, shaving kit, cleaning gear (shoe polish, belt whitener, brass polish, ...), cutlery, cards, money, maybe some herbs or salt or pepper, ...) and whatever else he possessed. Strapped on the outside would be all that wouldn't fit in, apart from the capote, like spare shoes, clogs, a bidon or marmite, dry wood and food.
There is also some discussion about whether or not a cover was used to roll up the capote or the habit in before it was strapped to the haversac. Pictorial evidence is unclear, but it isn't mentioned in the regulations.

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La Giberne

This was a leather box, with a large flap, containing a cut out wooden block. In this block were three sections, two large square ones, each containing a pack of 15 cartouches, and 6 drilled holes in the middle, containing five ready cartridges and the oil bottle. More cartridges would be in the backpack. Gun maintenance gear, spare flints, a horn or wooden practice flint and a turnscrew would be in a small pouch outside the box proper, inside the giberne, or elsewhere in the kit. The baudrier was piqued.

Les Fusils

When the regiment was raised, General Lariboisiere ordered that the Foot Artillery of the Imperial Guard was to be armed like the 1e Regiment of Grenadiers a Pied and not to carry the line pattern sabre or the short 1777 pattern velite/artillery musket. Oddly, The musket sling was ordered to be non-pique, like those of the line.

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