Hanoverian Freikorps Freytag, 1760–1763

In 1757, the Electoral Brunswick-Lüneburg Major General and Vizeoberjägermeister, Christian Günther Graf von der Schulenburg, formed a Jäger-Corps, initially consisting of two companies of foot and two companies of mounted Jägers. Its command soon fell to the Major and Second-in-command of the Corps, Heinrich Wilhelm von Freytag, as Schulenburg was always engaged elsewhere. In February 1760, Freytag was formally appointed commanding officer of the corps.
“Jäger Corps. See Presentation No. 47 a und b. In 1756, a start was made on establishing a mounted Jäger Corps in Hanover, which has steadily expanded over time and, after the former Stockhausen Corps was incorporated, now consists of six mounted companies and six companies of foot, the latter of which consist partly of grenadiers, partly of professional Jägers and Schützen, and is commanded by the current Major General Heinrich Wilhelm von Freytag.
This corps has rendered outstanding service both in open field battles and skirmishes, and since it consists of light troops, it has been used to particular advantage in petty warfare. However, due to its size, it is impossible to cite all the incidents in which it has particularly distinguished itself.1”
Available Miniatures
- Freytag’s Jäger with Hunting Horn, 28 mm Venture Miniatures 7H21
- Freytag’s Jäger, firing, 28 mm Venture Miniatures 7H19
- Freytag’s Jäger, kneeling, firing, 28 mm Venture Miniatures 7H20
- Luckner’s Hussars, Grenadiers zu Pferde, and Freytag’s Jägercorps, 15 mm Old Glory SYH-05
Freytag‘sches Jäger-Corps, April 1759
- Major Heinrich Wilhelm v. Freytag (1759 Oberstleutnant, 1762 Generalmajor)
- 1. (white) Brigade – Major Caspar Friedrichs (1761 Oberstleutnant)
- Kompanie Jäger zu Pferde, Major Caspar Friedrichs
- Kompanie Jäger zu Fuß, Kapitän Brunsich (Brunsig)
- Kompanie Jäger zu Fuß, Kapitän Hattorf
- 4-pounder Battalion Gun
- 2. (yellow) Brigade – Kapitän Bernhard Thilo Kurt Eitel von Linsingen
- Kompanie Jäger zu Pferde, Rittmeister von Campen
- Sekondleutnant Carl Christian von Linsingen (1804 Maj. Gen., KGL)
- Kompanie Jäger zu Fuß, Kapitän Bernhard von Linsingen
- Kompanie Jäger zu Fuß, Kapitän Friedrich Ernst von Bülow (jung Bülow)
- 4-pounder Battalion Gun
- Kompanie Jäger zu Pferde, Rittmeister von Campen
- 3. (red) Brigade – Kapitän von Bülow (Bülow sen.)
- Kompanie Jäger zu Pferde, Rittmeister Conrady
- Kompanie Jäger zu Fuß, Kapitän von Bülow (Bülow sen.)
- Kompanie Jäger zu Fuß, Kapitän von Rhoeden (Röden)
- 4-pounder Battalion Gun
Uniform
- green coat with pewter buttons
- green cuffs with three buttons
- green lapels with nine buttons
- green turnbacks with one button
- white, yellow, or red shoulder strap on the left shoulder (1. to 3. Brigade)
- black neck stock
- green waistcoat with two pockets, and pewter buttons
- white breeches
- Raw linen-coloured, grey, or black gaiters, or black knee-length boots
- tricorne with green cockade, black loop and pewter button, as well as small white, yellow, or red side pompoms (1. to 3. Brigade)
- white waistbelt
- infantry sabre with brass crossguard, black scabbard with brass throat and chape, suspended from a white leather crossbelt
- brown cartridge pouch with black lid, on a white leather crossbelt
- brown calfskin Tornister knapsack, and metal canteeen
- sergeants wore silver lace on waistcoat and cuffs
- officers wore a yellow sash, silver gorget, and silver lace on waistcoat, and cuffs
Bibliography
- Mollo, John: Uniforms of the Seven Years’ War, 1756–1763, plate 165
1 Raspe: Accurate Vorstellung der saemtlichen Churfürstl. Hanöverischen Armee zur eigentlichen Kentniss der Uniform von jedem Regimente. Nebst beygefügter Geschichte, worinne von der Stiftung, denen Chefs, der Staercke und den wichtigsten Thaten jedes Regiments Nachricht gegeben wird; P. 41 (Nürnberg, 1763)↩