French Régiment des Volontaires d’Alsace, 1758–1759
Created in 1747, under the name of Geschray, on the footing of eight infantry companies of 100 men and eight dragoon companies of 50 men each, reduced by Order of 25 March 1749, to 120 men, officers included, in two infantry companies of 40 men and two dragoon companies of 20 men each; was increased, by order of 1 February 1758, to 420 men in six companies of 70 men each, of which 40 infantry and 30 dragoons, officers not included. Took the name of Volontaires d’Alsace.
Composition of each Company
- one Capitaine en premier titulaire
For the Infantry
- one Capitaine en second
- one Lieutenant
- two sergents
- one Capitaine d’Armes
- three Caporaux
- 33 Fusiliers
- one Tambour
For the Dragoons
- one Capitaine en second
- one Lieutenant
- one Maréchal des Logis
- 27 Dragoons
- one Drummer or Trumpeter
État-Major
- Colonel (without company)
- Lieutenant-Colonel (without company)
- Major
- Aide-Major
- Aumônier – Chaplain
- Chirurgien
There is also one Ensign and one Cornet to carry the flag and the standard.
Uniform
Blue coat, red lapels, cuffs, waistcoat, breeches and coat lining, yellow buttons and boutonnières (buttonhole lace), three below the lapels on each side, two below the stomach and one at each corner, two red boutonnières above the coat lapels, open cuffs without buttons, one vertical pocket on each side, garnished by three buttons and buttonhole lace; black boutonnières on one side of the waistcoat, black collar, tricorne with golden lace.
Commanding Officer
- Colonel, M. de Beyerlé
- Lieut.-Col., M. Berquein de Gromont
- Major, M. Canver
Campaign History
- Engaged in the Petite Guerre of the French Army of the Rhine
- Battle of Bergen, 1759
- Raid on Hemeln, 04/05 July 1759
- Engagement at Münden and Bursfelde, 05 July 1759
- Engagement at Wellingholzhausen, 07 July 1759
Lineage
- Disbanded 22 November 1759; remnants were incorporated into Volontaires de Flandre, Volontaires du Dauphiné, Volontaires d’Austrasie, and Volontaires du Hainaut.
Bibliography
- Chartrand, René: Louis XV’s Army (4) – Light Troops and Specialists (Botley 1997)
- Kroll, Ingo: Gefechtskalender der Alliierten Armee 1757–1762 (2013)
- Montendre-Longchamps: État militaire de France, pour l’Année 1758 (Paris 1758)