Infantry

Cavalry

Artillery

Biography

The Dutch Army of 1793-1794

By By Geert van Uythoven

Given are two different strengths. The first one is the theoretical strength before the augmentation of 6 February 1793. The second one is the strength after the augmentation

Infantry

An infantry regiment consisted of two battalions, each with a grenadier-company and six musketeer-companies.

Guard Infantry

Hollandsche Gardes (Dutch Guards)(984/1.080)
Garde Zwitsers (Swiss Guards)(1 battalion of 8 strong companies)(1.328/1.728)

Although the regiments had a number, these were only used on their weapons and equipment. The regiments were known by the name of their commander (Colonel). The following infantry units did exist during this period (762/983):

Oranje Gelderland
Oranje Vriesland
Oranje Stad en Lande en Drenthe
Oranje Nassau, No. 1
Oranje Nassau, No. 2
Erfprins van Oranje
No. 1 De Schepper
No. 2 Van Maneil
No. 3 Van Dopff
No. 4 d'Envie (03.1794 Von Wilcke)
No. 5 Des Villates
No. 6 Van Welderen
No. 7 De Bons
No. 8 Bosc de la Calmette
No. 9 Van Randwijck
No. 10 Van Brakell
No. 11 Van Dam -- 1st Battalion became 2nd Battalion Markgraaf van Baden on 17.04.1793, while the 2nd Battalion became 2nd Battalion Regiment Jagers van Bylandt on 17.04.1793
No. 12 Bedaulx
No. 13 Van Huchtenbroek (05.1794 De Thouars)
No. 14 Hessen-Darmstadt (German)
No. 15 De Petit
No. 16 Von Mönster
No. 17 Van Plettenberg
No. 18 Van Wartensleben
No. 19 Douglas (marines)
No. 20 Van Baden-Durlach (12.1793 Von Wiguer; 01.1794 Von Geusau)
No. 21 Westerloo (marines)
No. 22 Van Nijvenheim
No. 23 Stuart
No. 24 Bentinck
Markgraaf van Baden (created 17.04.1793 from 2nd Battalion Regiment Oranje Nassau No. 2, increased to 2 battalions)
Vorst van Waldeck, No. 1 (German)
Vorst van Waldeck, No. 2 (German)
Vorst van Waldeck, 5th Battalion (German, taken into Dutch service with the augmentation of 06.02.1793)
Saxen-Gotha (German)
Nassau-Usingen (Walloons, 3rd Battalion became Battalion Gardewalen De Perez on 01.01.1793)

During the campaigns of 1793 and 1794-1795 the 12 musketeer-companies formed a field-battalion of 8 strong companies, the remainder forming a weak depot. The grenadier-companies from the regular regiments were combined to grenadier battalions. These battalions were named after their commanding officer:

Campaign of 1793 & Campaign of 1794/95

Battalion van Plettenberg Battalion van Plettenberg

Battalion van Buseck Battalion van Buseck

Battalion van Tengnagell (13.09.1793 Prins van Reuss) Battalion Prins van Reuss

Battalion van Breydenbach Battalion van Dongen

Battalion van Raesfeldt Battalion van Raesfeldt

Battalion de Larrey (10.01.1794 van Solms) Battalion van Solms

Battalion van Rechteren Battalion van Panhuijs

Battalion van Hohenlohe Battalion van Mollenbruyn

Battalion van Zillnhardt  

Swiss Regiments

The Swiss regiments had very strong companies, but were not the same strength in each regiment. A regiment consisted of two battalions, each of six companies: There was no separate grenadier-company, but some grenadiers were alotted to each company. Each battalion was about 620 men strong, with the augmentation of 06.02.1793 increased to about 920 men.

Regiment Schmid (Grisons)
Regiment May
Regiment Stockar de Neuforn
Regiment Hirzel
Regiment De Gumoëns

Light Infantry

Korps Jagers van Salm (17.04.1793 incorporated in van Bylandt, 5 companies totalling 501 men, with the augmentation of 06.02.1793 increased to 519 men)

17.04.1793 Rgt Jagers van Bylandt (created from 2nd Battalion No. 11 Regiment van Dam & Korps Jagers van Salm)
16.01.1794 Korps van Matthieu

Miscellaneous

Gardewalen De Perez (Walloons, 01.01.1793, ex-3rd Battalion Nassau-Usingen. Strength 1 battalion of 7 companies, 502 men; after the augmentation of 06.02.1793 615 men).

Mecklenburg: A brigade, consisting of a grenadier and two musketeer battalions, each of four companies.

Brunswick brigade

Anspach brigade (2 jäger companies, grenadiers and fusiliers, released from Dutch service 03.07.1794)

West-Indische Compagnie (200 men)

French Emigrants

25.05.1793: Korps van Béon: Two jäger companies, four light infantry companies (and two companies light cavalry).

25.05.1793: Korps van Damas: (Two jäger companies), four light infantry companies (and two companies light cavalry).

1794: Korps van de Prins van Rohan

1794: Vrijkorps van de graaf van Luningen

A cavalry regiment consisted of four squadrons, each of two companies, and a regimental staff (352/499).

Guard Cavalry

Gardes du Corps (1 sq, 139 men, with the augmentation of 06.02.1793 increased to 148 men)
Hollandsche Gardes te Paard
Garde Dragonders

Regular Cavalry

Karabiniers Oranje Vriesland
Van Tuyll van Serooskerken
Stavenisse-Pous (22.04.1793 Van Bentinck)
Van Hessen-Philipstall
Van der Duijn
Hoeufft van Oijen

Dragoon regiments
Van Hessen-Kassel
Van Bylandt (Walloon)

Hussars Regiments

Korps Huzaren op Holland (17.04.93 Van Heeckeren, also called `Zwarte Huzaren')
25.05.1793 Korps Huzaren Van der Hoop (1 company, 01.02.1794 Regiment Van Timmerman, 2 sq; also called Korps roode hussaren Van Timmerman)

French Emigrants

25.05.1793: Korps van Béon: 2 companies light cavalry.

Foot Artillery

The Regiment Artillery consisted of four battalions, each of five companies. With the augmentation of 21.02.1793 a fifth battalion was raised, also consisting of five companies (106/136).

Horse Artillery

With the augmentation of 21.02.1793 two brigades of horse artillery, each of two companies were raised. The corps was 439 men strong.

Pioneers and Sappers

Pontoneer company of 60 men.

Korps mineurs and sappeurs (miners and sappers): Four companies, 256 men.

Korps Directeurs en Ingenieurs (engineers)(65/92).

Sources

Editor's Note: This material is taken from a book that Mr. van Uythoven is writing on the organisation, orders-of-battle, and uniforms of the Dutch army from 1792-1815. If this information is indicative of the quality the information in his book, it will be the definitive work on the Dutch Army for years to come!

Kesman, Gen-Maj J.H., Beantwoording van de vraag, wat is er van de oude armee geworden? (Article that appeared in the magazine 'Militaire Spectator' Jg. 6 No.1 (Breda 1837).

Raa, F.J.G. ten, De uniformen van de Nederlandsche Zee- en Landmacht, hier te lande en in de kolonien ('s Gravenhage 1900).

Ringoir, H., Afstammingen en voortzettingen der Infanterie ('s Gravenhage 1977).

Ringoir, H., Afstammingen en voortzettingen der Cavalerie en Wielrijders ('s Gravenhage 1978).

Ringoir, H., Afstammingen en voortzettingen der Artillerie ('s Gravenhage 1979).

Ringoir, H., Afstammingen en voortzettingen der Genie en Trein ('s Gravenhage 1980).

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