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
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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