napoleonicwars-3

The Dutch army (1792-1815) page 3

2.2.3 INFANTRY 1790-1795

The infantry of this period can be divided into infantry of the line and light infantry. The Dutch army had, as far as is known, no integral skirmishers in the line infantry, but had some separate light units. When the war broke out, new light units (national, German and émigré) were created.

The army can also be divided into the nationality of the units; there were National (Dutch), Walloon and Swiss troops. Up to 1783 some Scottish regiments existed but these were turned into National regiment in that year (which ended a long period of almost 200 years of Scottish service in Dutch pay. Also, some contracts were signed with German rulers (eg with the Dutch Stadtholder as ruler of the principality of Nassau) and foreign regiments and/or battalions were hired in Germany in the 1792-1795 period. When the revolution broke out, French émigré units were also taken into service.

Infantry organisation and strength
The strength of the regiments given, are of course theoretical. The real strength was mostly far lower as is shown in the 1793/94 battlefield organisation where of the 12 musketeer companies of a national regiment a field battalion of 8 companies (1793) or even 6 companies (1794/95) was formed. Of the remaining companies a weak depot was formed.
The given strenght is based on H.Hardenberg: "Overzicht der voornaamste bepalingen betreffende de sterkte, zamenstelling, betaling, verzorging en verpleging van het Nederlandsche leger" (The Hague 1858).
In the table I have given the strength for the 1792 budget, the 1793 augmentatie (a) or reinformcements of beginning 1793 and the new 1793 strength. In the table are the strength of regimental staff, grenadier and musketier companies, the amount of battalions in the regiment and the amount of companies (grenadier/musketeer) in the battalion and at last the battalion and regimental total strength. Remember, these are theoretical.
Also the grenadier companies of the regiments were combined to separate grenadierbattalions, how they were combined is given later.

Guard
In 1792 there existed a regiment Hollandse Garde, a Swiss guard regiment and from 1/1/1793 a battalion Garde Walen de Perez (although on the budget of 1792 already).
There existed also 2 seperate guard companies (although no battlefield troops) of 202 men (Garde Friesland) and 75 men (Garde Groningen).

Line infantry
In 1792 there were 38 line infantry regiments (5 "Orange"named, "Erfprins", 24 Dutch, 3 German and 5 Swiss) of 2 battalions and one (Walloon) regiment of 3 battalions.
On 1/1/1793 the Walloon regiment lost one battalion as Garde Walen de Perez battalion so now had two battalions. A new German regiment (Baden) was formed in april 1793 and one regiment (Van Dam, or 11th) was disbanded (1st batt. to the new Baden and 2nd to the Bijlandt jagers) at the same time.
For the names of the regiments see the Uniform table underneath.

All regiments except the 5 Swiss regiments, had a regimental staf and 2 battalions each 1 grenadier and 6 musketeer companies.
The Swiss regiments had a regimental staf and 2 battalions each of 6 musketier companies but no grenadier companies. As grenadier uniforms are known of the Swiss units (see under in the Uniform table), grenadiers were integral in line companies but the amount of them isn't known.

Light infantry
The sole light infantry on the budget for 1792 was the Jagers of Bijlandt unit (renamed from the jager unit of the disbanded Salm Legion) consisting of a battalion staf and a battallion of 1 grenadier and 4 jager companies. The Bijlandt battalion received in april 1793 a second battalion (from the 2nd battalion Van Dam or 11th line) and now became a regiment. Theoretical strength of the 2nd battalion would be the same as for the 1st battalion.
The 5th Waldeck was added in the beginning of 1793 by recalling it from Germany were it had been on half pay with a strength the same as th Garde Walen battalion.
In januari 1794 was added the jager unit of Matthieu. As Louis Matthieu died in june 1794 the name changed into Korps Jagers von Heydte. I don't know it's strength (yet) but probably theoretical the same as a Bylandt battalion.

1793 Augmentatie.
As the army strength seems too low, the Prince of Orange proposed an addition to the army which was granted in the beginning of 1793. Almost all companies were added to (mostly around 15 to 18 men although the Swiss received 50 men per company) and the staff of line regiments received 5 musicians.
Remark I: the Hollandse Garde received 96 men for the total regiment but how this is divided amongst grenadier and musketier companies is not known to me, so I have divided them amongst the musketier companies in the table.
Remark II: the same for the jagers van Bijlandt; added were 18 for the regiment so I have divided them among the companies.
Remark III: with the augmentatie of 1793 the 5th battalion Waldeck was recalled to the Netherlands and received the same strength as the batallion Walen de Perez, these are added in the (a) column.

	staff			strength grenadier comp			strength musketier comp			no. of batt	gren comp in batt	musk comp in batt	battalion strength			regimental strength
	1792	a	1793	1792	a	1793	1792	a	1793	no. of batt	gren comp in batt	musk comp in batt	1792	a	1793	1792	a	1793
Hollandse Garde	32	-	32	74	-	74	67	8	75	2	1	6	476	48	524	984	96	1080
Zwitserse Garde	8	-	8				150	50	200	1		8	1200	400	1600	1208	400	1608
Garde Walen	6	5	11	58	18	76	53	15	68	1	1	6	376	108	484	382	113	495
Garde Friesland							202		202			1				202		202
Garde Groningen							75		75			1				75		75

Line infantry regiment	10	5	15	58	18	76	53	15	68	2	1	6	376	108	484	762	221	983
Swiss line regiments	8		8				100	50	150	2		6	600	300	900	1208	600	1808

Jagers van Bijlandt	5			58	2	60	80	4	84	1	1	4	378	18	396	401	18	419
5th batt Waldeck		11	11		76	76		68	68	1	1	6		484	484		495	495

Uniforms
In the presented table of regiments, the start date is 1772 as from that date onward, the regiments received numbers. This number was put on buttons etc although the regiments were still known after their owners' name. The name with which the regiment is known is underlined. If in the table the first date is 01/01/1772, it means that the regiment existed before this date.
In 1795 the existing regiments or corps were reorganized (r) into units of the Batavian Republic or were disbanded (d). All guard and most "Orange" units were disbanded. Some German and Swiss units stayed in Dutch pay without any change and were later disbanded.

In the table, the Dutch names are used.

		raised	Disbanded/ reorganized	uniform in 1792-1795
NATIONAL LINE REGIMENTS
Regiment Hollandse Gardes	Regiment Hollandse Gardes	01/01/1772	08/07/1795 (d)
Regiment Zwitserse Gardes	Regiment Zwitserse Gardes	01/01/1772	08/07/1795 (d)
Bataljon Garde Walen ( Joseph Guilain de Perez ) (remark: was 3rd batt regiment Walen 1-1-1793)	Bataljon Walen de Perez	01/01/1793	08/07/1795 (r)
Regiment Oranje Nassau nr 1	Regiment Oranje Nassau nr 1	01/01/1772	08/07/1795 (r)
Regiment Oranje Nassau nr 2 (remark: 2nd batt became 1st batt regiment Baden, later a new 2nd batt was raised)	Regiment Oranje Nassau nr 2	01/01/1772	08/07/1795 (r)
Regiment Erfprins	Regiment Oranje Nassau nr 3 Regiment Erfprins	01/01/1772 17/10/1772	08/07/1795 (r)
Regiment Oranje-Gelderland	Regiment Oranje-Gelderland	01/01/1772	08/07/1795 (r)
Regiment Oranje-Friesland	Regiment Oranje-Friesland	01/01/1772	08/07/1795 (r)
Regiment Oranje-Stad en Land en Drenthe	Regiment Oranje-Stad en Lande	01/01/1772	08/07/1795 (r)
Regiment infanterie nr 1	Hobbe van Aylva Jetze Eduard van Burmania Duco Martens van Burmania Willem Frederik, Prins van Oranje Jan de Schepper	22/08/1772 24/12/1772 04/04/1775 12/09/1775 05/11/1784	08/07/1795 (r)
Regiment infanterie nr 2	Cornelis, Baron van Maneil	22/08/1772	08/07/1795 (r)
Regiment infanterie nr 3	Cornelis Evertsen Zeno Arend Bentinck Willem Jacob Fredik van Dopf Anne van Dopf	22/07/1172 07/01/1773 26/03/1778 07/1794	08/07/1795 (r)
Regiment infanterie nr 4	Hyacinth, Graaf d’Envie Willem Frederik van Wilcke	22/08/1772 03/1794	08/07/1795 (r)
Regiment infanterie nr 5	Frederik, Hertog van Holstein-Gottorp Hendrik Pallardy Gerrit Willem Jacob des Vilattes	22/08/1772 08/08/1785 13/07/1791	08/07/1795 (r)
Regiment infanterie nr 6	Frans Steven Carel, Graaf van Randwijck Walraad Lamoraal Batavus, Graaf van Welderen	22/08/1772 06/01/1786	08/07/1795 (r)
Regiment infanterie nr 7	Johan Adorf, Baron van en tot Hardenbroek Andreas de Bons	22/08/1772 02/08/1791	08/07/1795 (r)
Regiment infanterie nr 8	Boudewijn Onderwater Gabriel Bosc de la Calmette	22/08/1772 15/05/1790	08/07/1795 (r)
Regiment infanterie nr 9	Leopold Casimir, Graaf van Rechteren Hans Heinrich Baron van Sommerlatte Willem Karel Hendrik, Graaf van Randwijck	20-10-1772 04-06-1778 11-10-1790	08-07-1795 (r)
Regiment infanterie nr 10	Ernst Christoffel, Baron van Raders Dirk Willem Hendrik, Baron van Brakel	22-08-1772 28-11-1785	08-07-1795 (r)
Regiment infanterie nr 11 17-04-1793: 1st battalion became 2nd battalion Regiment van Baden, 2nd battalion became 2nd battalion jagers van Bijlandt	Jacques Elie de Maleprade Rudolf van Leusden Albrecht Augus Graaf van Ysemburg David Francois Pain Frederik Adriaan van Efferen Graaf Karel van Dam	22-08-1772 19-11-1774 19-02-1782 17-12-1782 16-01-1784 03-10-1987	17-04-1793 (d)
Regiment infanterie nr 12	Frederik Christoffel Willem Lodewijk, Graaf van Bijlandt Jan Hendrik Bedaulx	22-08-1772 09-09-1789	08-07-1795 (r)
Regiment infanterie nr 13	Willem Lodewijk, Prins van Baden-Durlach Otto Lodewijk van Quadt van Huchtenbroek Maxemiliaan Anthony de Thouars	22-08-1772 31-12-1788 -05-1794	08-07-1795 (r)
Regiment infanterie nr 14	Karel Willem, Prins van Nassau-Usingen Georg Karel, Prins van Hessen-Darmstadt Lodewijk, Prins van Hessen-Darmstadt	20-08-1772 01-05-1772 23-10-1787	08-07-1795 (r)
Regiment infanterie nr 15	Johan Ernst Hertell Rogier Sulyard de Leefdael Yves Marie Desmorets, Graaf de Mallebois Anton Frederik Theophile de Petit	20-08-1772 21-07-1783 18-04-1788 28-12-1791	08-07-1795 (r)
Regiment infanterie nr 16	Hendrik Ruysch Jean Louis de Cassembroot Gerard Göding Frederik Unico van Mönster	22-08-1772 09-03-1776 11-09-1777 02-02-1781	08-07-1795 (r)
Regiment infanterie nr 17	Martinus Acronius Traugodt, Baron de Nostitz David Antony, Baron van Plettenberg Lodewijk, Baron van Plettenberg	22-08-1772 08-12-1780 02-06-1786 08-08-1792	08-07-1795 (r)
Regiment infanterie nr 18	Francois Cornelis van Aersssen van Sommelsdijk Arnod Jacob Hendrik Maurits van Pabst Alexander, Graaf van Wartensleben Karel Lodewijk Christiaan, Graaf van Wartensleben	22-08-1772 18-06-1781 -04-1793 -12-1793	08-07-1795 (r)
Regiment infanterie nr 19 (Regiment Mariniers)	Jan Marius de Salve Robert Douglas	26-07-1763 22-08-1768	08-07-1795 (r)
Regiment infanterie nr 20	Willem Lodewijk, Prins van Nassau Weilburg Frederik, Markgraaf van Baden Durlach Ludwig Wilhelm Johan von Wiguer Von Geusau	22-08-1772 17-12-1784 12-1793 1794	08-07-1795 (r)
Regiment infanterie nr 21 (Regiment Mariniers)	Louis Henri de Fourgeod Willem Bentinck Frederik Johan Otto, Rijngraaf van Salms Lucas Lambertus van Westerloo	20-10-1772 08-04-1779 09-08-1784 20-11-1787	08-07-1795 (r)
Regiment infanterie nr 22 (until 01-01-1783 Scottish Regiment nr 1)	Reg Schotten nr 1 Alexander Marjoribanks Reg Schotten nr 1 Hugh Mackay Reg Schotten nr 1 John Houston John Houston Walter van Nijvenheim	22-08-1772 17-12-1773 06-07-1775 01-01-1783 19-08-1788	08-07-1795 (r)
Regiment infanterie nr 23 (until 01-01-1783 Scottish Regiment nr 3)	Reg Schotten nr 3 John Stuart John Stuart	22-08-1772 01-01-1783	08-07-1795 (r)
Regiment infanterie nr 24 (until 01-01-1783 Scottish Regiment nr 2)	Reg Schotten nr 2 James Gordon Reg Schotten nr 2 Ralph Dundas Ralph Dundas Rudolph Bentinck van Schoonheten en Yrst	22-08-1772 -02-1776 01-01-1783 01-12-1789	08-07-1795 (r)
Garde Friesland	Garde Friesland	01-01-1785	08-07-1795 (in Batavian service)
Garde Groningen	Garde Groningen	01-01-1785	08-07-1795 (in Batavian service)
FOREIGN LINE REGIMENTS

Regiment Baden 17-04-1793: 1st battalion was 2nd bat Oranje-Nassau nr 2, 1st battalion was 1st bat Regiment van Dam nr 11.	Carel Frederik, Prins van Baden-Durlach	17-04-1793	08-07-1795 (r)
Regiment van Waldeck nr 1	Frederik, Vorst van Waldeck 1e Regiment van Waldeck	01-01-1772	08-07-1795 (in Batavian service)
Regiment van Waldeck nr 2	Frederik, vorst van Waldeck 2e Regiment van Waldeck	01-01-1772	08-07-1795 (in Batavian service)
Regiment Saksen-Gotha	August, Prins van Saksen-Gotha Emil Leopold August, Prins van Saksen-Gotha Ernst, Hertog van Saksen-Gotha	01-01-1772 01-12-1775 23-05-1775	08-07-1795 (in Batavian service)
Regiment Walen	Regiment Walen van Jan Carel Smissaert Junior Regiment Walen van David Grenier Regiment Walen van Eugene de la Bellegarde Regiment Walen van Karel Willem, Vorst van Nassau-Usingen	01-01-1772 19-04-1775 05-08-1790 18-10-1790	08-07-1795 (r)
Regiment Zwitsers nr 1	J.C. Escher Ludwig Hirzel G.Lochman	01-01-1772 1786 1794	08-07-1795 (in Batavian service) 1796 (d)
Regiment Zwitsers nr 2	L. Bouquet B. Marty Johan Frederik Stockar de Neuform	01-01-1772 1784 1786	08-07-1795 (in Batavian service) 1796 (d)
Regiment Zwitsers nr 3	B.L. Stürler B.L. de Watteville Ch. Stürler N.T. Goumoëns	01-01-1772 1773 1775 1788	08-07-1795 (in Batavian service) 1796 (d)
Regiment Zwitsers nr 4	J.C.F. Schmid	01-01-1792	08-07-1795 (in Batavian service) 1796 (d)
Regiment Zwitsers nr 5	Frederik May	01-01-1772	08-07-1795 (in Batavian service) 1796 (d)

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