The Situation of the Saxon Army after the Napoleonic Wars:
The Saxon Army 1815 was only a shadow of it's former strenght. By splitting the Kingdom of Saxony in two the army was also cut down to merely half of it's strenght so only 12.000 men remained under their colours.
At Osnabrueck the Saxon Army underwent a reorganisation. It was done after the 1813 outlines. After this was finished the Corps stood as follows:
Brigade Cavalry:
3 Squadrons Leibkürassiergarde
2 Squadrons Clemens Ulanen
4 Squadrons Husaren
1 Squadron Stabs-Dragoner(all what remains of the Chev.Leg.)
2 Batteries of Horse Artillery
1st Inf.Brigade:
1st Battalion Leib-Grenadier Regt.
3 Battalions 1st. Line Infantry Regt.
3 Battalions 2nd. Line Infantry Regt.
3 Battalions 3rd. Line Infantry Regt.
2nd Inf.Brigade:
3 Battalions of the Reserve Landwehr Regt.
2 Battalions of the Duke's of Saxony
Jaeger Battalion
1st. Light Infantry Battalion
2nd. Light Infantry Battalion
Artillery Brigade:
1. 6pdr Battery
2. 6pdr Battery
1. 12pdr Battery
2. 12pdr Battery
Main- and Divisional Park
Sapper Detachment
Train Coloumn
Total:
10 Squadrons 92 Off., 1639 men
18 Battalions 371 Off., 13206 men
Art. and Train 56 Off., 1845 men
Sappers 2 Off., 64 men
All Together 521 Officers, 16754 Men, 3404 Horses and 48 guns
1820 saw some reductions of existing troops to reflect on the dire financial situation of the Saxon state.
The long line of peacefull Years from 1815 until 1849 had no significant changes for the army. The constitution of the German Union placed the Saxon troops into the 9th Army Corps, grouped together with Hessen and Nassau, for which Saxony has to provide the Commander.
1822 The complete Cavalry receives a 'uniform' weaponry and appearence. The Leib-Kürassiergarde receives a 5th Squadron and is renamed 'Garde-Reiterregiment'. The 'Ulanenregiment' is renamed 1. Leichtes Reiterregiment. The Husarenregiment is renamed 2. Leichtes Reiterregiment. The only difference between them was the horses of the Garde-Reiterregiment were of German Origin while the two Leichte Reiterregiments got Polish Horses.
1827 Death of King Friedrich August I. .
The Army mourned for 1 Year
1831 A ministry of War was built.
1832 Parts of the Army receives new Uniforms. The White Uniforms are replaced by the Cavalry against Light Blue with different colors for collars and turnbacks.
The Line Infantry receives green uniforms with light blue collars, cuffs, turnbacks and trousers.
1835 - 1838 all fire weapons are refitted to percussion.
1840 The Cavalry receives a new formation, smallest part of the Regiment is now the Squadron and no longer the company. This brought the Regiments to 639 men in 6 Squadrons each.
1842 The Infantry Regiments are increased in strength by 150 men so they now had 1895 men in 3 Battalions.
1848 Revolution sweeps through Central Europe
1849 Participation of 6400 men in the Sleswig Holstein War.
By resulution of the German Central Power all members of the German Union are ordered to raise 2% of their citiziens to built the Army instead of the earlier 1%. That ment for Saxony to increase the strenght of the army from 12.000 to 25.000 men.
Each of the 4 Infantry Regiments as also the Light Infantry are to raise a 4th Battalion. Such a Contingent, by dissolving the term Regiment, are to be called brigade in the future. Each Battalion has now a strenght of 1016 men. At the same time all Battalions are to be consecutive numbered from 1 to 16.
The Cavalry is also enlarged to a 3. Leichtes Reiterregiment.
The 4 Regiments, with 5 Squadrons each, are now 800 men strong. The title 'leicht' was removed.
The so enlarged Saxon Army was now formed into 2 Infantry and 1 Cavalry Division.
The next part concentrates on the time between 1850 and 1866
Thanks for following
All questions are welcome
Günter