Uniforms of the Polish Artillery: 1812

By Paul Dawson

Horse Artillery Officer

The V Army Corps of the Grande Armee was mainly composed of Polish troops. The V Corps artillery was commanded by a Frenchman, General-de-Brigade Jean-Baptist Pelletier. At this time, the Polish artillery arm had 14 foot artillery batteries, 13 and 14 Batteries being designated as heavy position artillery, armed with six 12 pounder field guns. The foot artillery batteries were armed with four 6 pounder and two 6 inch howitzers of French design. The horse artillery had 3 batteries, consisting of six 6 pounder guns, and was attached to the Light Cavalry Division.

In full dress, Officers wore a long tailed habit, the same cut as for the Chasseurs-á-Cheval de la Garde. The collar was to be of black velvet, piped red, closed by four hooks and eyes and to measure some 100 mm tall. Gold grenades, of the same pattern as for the turnbacks of officers of the Grenadiers-á-Pied de la Garde, appeared on each side of the collar. The cuffs were cut from velvet, pointed and piped red, and were closed by two small uniform buttons. The cuff measures 60 mm at the seams and 100 mm at the point. The revers were also piped red, each having 7 small uniform buttons, and were closed by 10 hooks and eyes. The tails 440 mm long, the turnbacks being black, piped red, and are decorated with gold grenades to the same pattern as on the collar. The tail lining is also black. A black waistcoat, with gold lacing was worn in full dress.

Detail of Officers Epaulette. Note that the crescent is embroidered, but the field is made from gilded brass scales.

The undress uniform was a dark green kurtka. This had the same collar and cuffs as the dress habit. The front was closed by the means of 9 small uniform buttons, the front seam being piped red. The tails measure some 223 mm deep, the turnbacks being green piped red. Two large buttons appear at the bottom of the turnbacks, two at the waist and two small at the shoulder to attached the epaulettes and aiguillette. The buttons are semi-domed and gilt copper.

Dark green breaches were worn over low boots, with balck velvet side stripes 50 mm wide, piped red. They are closed about the ankle by the means of 7 ties and a black velvet button at the bottom. In undress, grey overalls were worn, with Hungarian boots, which were laced gold.

A black colpack, 226 mm tall, slightly bell topped was worn in full dress. The flame was green piped gold and was held down by a small gilt button. Gilt lions heads bosses supported chin scales. Gold cords were worn, similar to the French pattern. A pompom was worn above the national cockade.

Officers Full Dress Habit	Detail of Collar Embroidery

In undress, a black chapeau was worn. A green surtout was also worn, again green with a black velvet collar. It was cut to the same pattern as the French. The greatcoat was white, the same pattern as those worn by the Polish Lancers of the Garde, the collar was piped red and bore gold grenades on each side.

Detail of Waistcoat Lacing. Note this lace is fact French baton gallon lace.	Detail of Habit Cuff

Date: 2015-02-28; view: 1317