Post
by danschorr » Wed Jan 16, 2019 6:56 pm
Here are my notes on Saxon grenadiers, boar spears, etc for 1682-97.
Baron,
In 1683 the first grenadier company under a Hauptmann von Bose was formed with a strength of 103 men. At the time, it was an independent company. Over the next few years, a grenadier company was added to each infantry regiment. In addition, von Bose’s Company became a small battalion of three companies in 1684. This battalion was dissolved in 1685 with the men going to the Leibregiment zu Fuß. A new grenadier battalion of six companies was formed in 1687 from the returning survivors of the three regiments that had been in Venetian service, but it was broken up in 1688. Through 1689, it appears that each regiment retained its grenadier company in addition to the on-again, off-again grenadier battalion. In 1690, another grenadier battalion of six companies was formed, this time from the grenadier companies of the regiments. The following year it was reduced to four companies, and dissolved in 1692 with each regiment again receiving a grenadier company of 8 gefreiters and 48 men.
In 1687 each regiment also had a grenadier company that had a prima plana of 7 (Hauptmann, Leutnant, Sergeant, three Korporals and 1 Drummer), 15 gefreiters and 77 grenadiers. The actual strength of these companies was often far less than authorized, normally around 60 according to Schuster and Francke.
In April1694 the regimental organization was dissolved, and 10 independent battalions were formed from the 6 infantry regiments. Each battalion had 10 companies of 89 men plus prima plana, and a grenadier company of around 64 men. This organization lasted until October 1694 when the regiment was reintroduced. Five regiments were created with 1,494 men in 10 companies. The Leibgarde zu Fuß had 2,988 men in 20 companies or four battalions. It is unclear if the grenadier company was retained, or grenadiers were assigned to each of the line companies.
Reference boar spears, plug bayonets and flintlock:
Schuster and Francke indicate that the first bayonets (plug bayonets) were received in January 1686. By March of that year 500 bayonets were issued in Regiment zu Fuß Herzog Christian, and by 1687 the delivery of bayonets to the infantry was “much advanced”. Even though bayonets were issued, the infantry continued to also carry the boar spear throughout most of the period. This was partculary true when fighting the Turk. They were used to form the chevaux de frise. If not carried by the individual soldier, they were carried in regimental wagons along with the beams to form the chevaux de frise. This was true even during the GNW when the Saxons deployed chevaux de frise at Kliszov 1702 and Fraustadt 1706.
In 1687 the first delivery of iron ramrods was received, and the first issue of flintlock muskets took place in 1688 when 3 NCOs and 56 men in each of the six infantry regiments were supplied with flintlocks. These might possibly represent the grenadier company in each of the regiments. By 1693-1694 all of the infantry were equipped with flintlock muskets.
RightfulKing,
Coats and facing colors 1689 and 1690 from contemporary sources:
Leibregiment zu Fuß red faced blue
Regt. Zu Fuß Flemming white faced blue
(Feldmarschall)
Regt. Zu Fuß Graf Reuß white faced red
Regt. Zu Fuß Zinzendorf grey faced blue-1689, green-1690 **
Regt. Zu Fuß Prinz Christian grey faced red
Regt. Zu Fuß Uetterodt grey faced red
Bataillon Grenadier 1690 only - red coat, grey overcoat (überrock)
** The blue facing might in fact have been green. The color might have faded from weather, etc., or the green facing might have been blue but seemed green to the observer.
Hope this helps answer both your questions.