Hompesch Hussars

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Hompesch's Hussars
Knoe05 44.jpg
Uniform variations of several regiments including the Hompesch Hussars (right mounted trooper).
Active27 February 1794–October 1797[1]
CountryFlag of New France 3 wht.jpg French Emigres
AllegianceKing Louis XVII
BranchFlag of New France 3 wht.jpg Armée des Émigrés
TypeLight Cavalry regiment
SizeRegiment
Part ofKingdom of Great Britain British Army
Garrison/HQYarmouth Castle, Isle of Wight[2]
Engagements

The Hompesch Hussars (German: Hompesch Husarenregiment, French: Régiment des Hussards de Hompesch) was a German light cavalry regiment of the French Armée des Émigrés raised by the Baron von Hompesch. The regiment was raised in 1794 following an expansion of the British foreign corps and would be disbanded following an unsuccessful deployment to Haiti. The regiment was raised from elements of the regiment still based on the Isle of Wight and would serve until the end of the War of the Second Coalition in 1802.

Formation[]

In Spring 1794, the British War Office ordered the formation of several new units within Germany, notably within Hanover and Swabia. That year, Charles, Freiherr von Hompesch signed a capitulation with the British government in which he would organise a legion, later known as . The new legion would be composed of the following: 1 x Hussar Regiment of three squadrons and two mounted chasseurs (rifles) were attached totalling 913 in all ranks. The second unit was an infantry battalion of six companies and 801 of all ranks.[3]

By the end of 1794, the new legion was formed, with its mounted element become the Hompesch Hussars.[4] The new regiment was composed of three squadrons of three of 3 officers and 81 other ranks each. The horses were Polish or Hungarian, and the uniform comprised a green pelisse and green dolman with a red collar and red breeches, and was surmounted by a red hussar cap with a white plume. The new regiment was raised at Schwarm and most of its original rank and file with 3/4 of its officers being émigrés, the rest being German. The regiment wore the badge of the Prince of Wales, George August Frederick.[5]

In just a fortnight (2 x weeks), Hompesch had gathered some 300 troops to fight in his name. The majority of the officers were formerly part of the French Royal Army and mostly came from the Corps of Chasseurs (Corps de Chasseurs). The remainder were French counter-revolutionaries, Germans mostly from the Hanover region, and Flemings from the Austrian Netherlands.[3]


Flanders Campaign[]

Uniform variations of the Lowenstein, La Tour, and Hompesch Legions/Regiments in 1794/1795.

By early 1795, the Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany had joined the in Wallonia, in preparation for his planned Invasion of France. The Duke therefore, as Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück ordered the newly formed emigre forces into Flanders. First the and () arrived, and later and . The Hompesch Hussars arrived last and were in a less favourable position than the other units. By 1 September 1794, the Hompesch Hussars, Ramsay's Hussars, and Rohan's Hussars returned 1,000 fit and present, but were 250 short.[3]

On 14th September 1794, British command received despatches reporting an attack by the majority of the French Army of the North (Armée du Nord) under General de Division Jean-Charles Pichegru. The Duke of York immediately sent reinforcements to Generalmajor Baron von Dalwigk's position in Boxtel. On the 15th, the Hompesch Hussars with 2 x squadrons, with 2 x Companies, and with 2 x Squadrons arrived, along with 4 x light guns. When the French charged the Hessian positions, the Hompesch Chasseurs and Hussars held their post "magnificently" hanging on after the entirety of the Hessian brigade was routed. During this small engagements, 204 emigres were killed (none were taken prisoners: the Republicans killed all), and lost their 4 guns. However, both the Hessians and advancing British gave the Hompesch troops praise for their tenacity, though this came at a cost of 120 casualties among 160 present.[3][6]

By the 1st December 1794, about a dozen foreign corps were in the field, of which the six mounted corps present on 1 September mustered 3,000 officers and men against establishments of nearly 5,000.[7]

Quiberon[]

By early 1795, the Royalist Émigrés planned a two prong attack into the French mainland. From the west, a British Fleet would transport a large emigre force to Brittany and land at Quiberon Bay with a plan of uniting with the Catholic and Royal Armies, which had already begun the first phase with the Vendée Revolt in 1793. However, throughout the campaign, a mix of miscommunication and a lack of loyal émigré soldiers. By 11 July Hompesch's and Salm's Hussars were still based in Flanders and the desertion rate soared after news arrived that the regiment would be embarking shortly. By 10 October, the regiment's stregnth was at 39 officers and 772 other ranks. With news of the initial invasion being a failure, the regiment was instead sent to the West Indies, which would be known as the graveyard of the British Foreign Corps.[8]

West Indies[]

By late 1796, the Foreign Corps was embarked for the West Indies with the Cavalry going to Saint-Domingue, and the infantry going to the smaller islands. By 1 June 1797, the Hompesch Hussars numbered just 39 officers and 340 men, but by 1 July had shrunk to 36 officers and 318 other ranks. A detachment appears to have been sent to Guernsey and helped form the short-lived .[9]

By October 1797, the regiment returned to Europe and was based at Yarmouth Castle on the Isle of Wight where it was finally disbanded.[4]

See also[]

Footnotes[]

  1. ^ "'Every Species of Foreigner': Britain's Foreign Regiments 1793-1796". www.napoleon-series.org. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  2. ^ "'Every Species of Foreigner': Britain's Foreign Regiments 1793-1796". www.napoleon-series.org. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Atkinson, Volume II, p. 5–7
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b "'Every Species of Foreigner': Britain's Foreign Regiments 1793-1796". www.napoleon-series.org. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  5. ^ Atkinson, Volume VI Section II, pp. 241–242
  6. ^ Smith, Napoleonic Wars Data Book, p. 90
  7. ^ Atkinson, Volume II, pp. 9–10
  8. ^ Atkinson, Volume II, p. 12
  9. ^ Atkinson, Volume IV, p. 111

References[]

  • Chartrand, René (1999). Émigré & Foreign Troops in British Service. Men-at-Arms. I: 1793–1802. Botley, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1472807205. OCLC 1021804719.
  • Atkinson, C. T. (1942). Foreign Regiments in the British Army, 1793–1802. Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research, Winter 1942, Volume XXI, No. 84 (Winter, 1942). I – General Overview. Society for Army Historical Research.
  • Atkinson, C. T. (1943). Foreign Regiments in the British Army, 1793–1802. Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research, Spring 1943, Volume XXII, No. 85 (Spring, 1943). II – The Continent. Society for Army Historical Research.
  • Atkinson, C. T. (1943). Foreign Regiments in the British Army, 1793–1802. Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research, Autumn 1943, Volume XXII, No. 87 (Autumn, 1943). IV – The West Indies. Society for Army Historical Research.
  • Atkinson, C. T. (1944). Foreign Regiments in the British Army, 1793–1802. Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research, Summer 1944, Volume XXII, No. 90 (Summer, 1944). VI – Notes on Each Corps or Regiment, Section II – du Dresnay's to MacLean's Chasseurs. Society for Army Historical Research.
  • Smith, Digby (1998). The Greenhill Napoleonic wars data book. London Mechanicsburg, PA: Greenhill Books Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-1-85367-276-7. OCLC 37616149.
  • Smith, Digby (2006). An illustrated encyclopedia of uniforms of the Napoleonic wars : an expert, in-depth reference to the officers and soldiers of the revolutionary and Napoleonic period, 1792-1815. London Lanham, Md: Lorenz North American agent/distributor, National Book Network. ISBN 978-0-7548-1571-6. OCLC 60320422.
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