Hussars No. 69 - Royal Nassau

Inhaber
Unknown

Unit History
It was formed in April 1756 as the Nassau-Saarbrück Volontaries. The unit was renamed the Royal Nassau in 1758. The facing colour was changed to orange in December 1762. It was engaged at Rossbach and Sanderhausen.
At Rossbach, July 23 1758, one squadron formed the flank guard, along with one squadron of the Apchon Dragoons, of St Germain’s brigade. The brigade arrived in the early evening in time to cover the retreat. The units actually began the battle between six and seven kilometres away from the main army.
At Sanderhausen, July 23 1758, two squadrons were in the second line along with the Apchon Dragoons and supported the attack on Ellenbach Farm located on the left flank. .
A regular unit heavily used in scouting and screening the army from the enemy.

Comments
This is one of my ‘Bergen’ units in a round about way. I happen to live in the Hoch-Taunus in an area between Idstein and Usingen which is northwest of Frankfurt. In Idstein, there is an old Nassau residence while closer to home there is the Rettershof (an old Nassau hunting lodge) where I celebrated my wedding a few years ago. That should give a few hints as to why a Nassau based force was a natural for the collection (in addition, I really did not like the flag from the Nassau-Usingen infantry regiment preferring the Alsace much more due to the unit’s history). The figures are originally Dixon Prussians. Unit painted in 2003.

Sources
Text: Osprey’s Louis XV's Army (4) Light Troops and Specialists (Men-at-Arms 308)
Sandershausen 1758 by David Cookman in Battlefields Vol. 1 Issue 6
J. Mollo, Uniforms of the Seven Years War 1756-63, Blandford Press, page 160.
Image: http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/fusiliers/vwp?.dir=/Eric+Veitl%27s+pictures&.src=gr&.dnm=Nassau+Saasbrucken+Hr.+1757.jpg&.view=t&.done=http%3a//photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/fusiliers/lst%3f%26.dir=/Eric%2bVeitl%2527s%2bpictures%26.src=gr%26.view=t