Napoleon's - Karatunov.net

Artillery, c. 1808.The French artillery of Napoleon's armies was reputed to beamong the most advanced of its time. The second half of the18th century had seen dramatic progress in the materiel andthe training of artillerymen in France, thanks to the systembrought forth by General Gribeauval.The one major irritant left in the 1790s was the persistentdifficulty faced by commanders on campaign when privatecontractors might not bring too swiftly to battle lines theexcellent Gribeauval system artillery. Shortly after he came topower, Napoleon decreed, in January 1800, that the drivers bemilitarized, formed into 'Battalions of the Artillery Train' andput into a blue-grey uniform. Blue facings were soon addedand eventually, some variations were perceived. For instance,it seems sky blue was often used instead of a light blue-greyfor the coatees and white piping edging the facings is alsorecorded. The figure in the plate shows the standard dress forthe Train in about 1808.Gunners of the French Foot Artillery of the Line regimentswore a uniform that was almost completely blue except for thered cuffs, turnbacks and piping. Apart from the change frombicorns to shakos in 1807-1808, the uniform remainedpractically identical until 1812 when the coatee replaced thelong-tailed coat. Shakos usually had red bands and pomponsbut some sources also show red feathers. The gunner in theplate shows the dress worn about 1808.Many regiments of Light or Horse Artillery were raisedduring the Revolution, proved to be useful and wereappreciated by Napoleon. Being 'light' the dress of the HorseArtillery followed that of the light cavalry and featured hussardolmans and breeches. The colours were in keeping with themore reserved character of the gunners being all blue with redcords rather than the outlandish styles worn by hussars. TheHorse Artilleryman shows the full dress used in about 1808.Guns were usually of polished brass, the carriages andlimbers painted olive-green with hardware in black. Painting byChrista Hook.Above left.Captain Dreux-Nancre, ADC to General of Division Gudin,c. 1809. Print after miniature.Above right.Napoleon in his favourite dress: the green trimmed redcampaign coat of the Chasseurs a cheval of the Guard,c. 1804. Print after Duplessls-Berteaux.18 Senior OffiCe1"S mid StoffSenior Officers and Stoff19