Dragoons No. 15 - Apchon Dragoons

Inhaber
1756 d' Apchon, 1761 Nicolaï

Unit History
The regiment of dragoons was raised in 1675. The count of Apchon became colonel by commission on 29 November 1748. On February 20th 1761, Armand Charles François, marquis of Nicolaï of Osny obtained this office and held it until 5 June 1763.
In 1757, the regiment was with the Soubise corps and suffered heavily in the retreat from Rossbach. After the battle, it retired to Hanau. In 1758, the unit served with distinction at the battles of Lutzelberg and Sanderhausen. At Sanderhausen, it was in the second line along with the Royal Nassau Hussars. The unit participated in the battle of Bergen on April 13, 1759. Later that month, on the 19th, combined with the Chasseurs de Fischer to crush the Hanoverian Grenadiers and Prussian Finckenstein dragoons, taking two flags. On June 26th, the unit expelled the enemy from Debrucke. It was present at Minden. During the next campaign seasons they were at Korbach and Warbourg. Later in 1762 the unit served with distinction at Johannisberg but suffered heavy losses. The unit performed as a regular unit.

Comments
Although not the most colourful of flags, the unit itself saw a lot of action in the Western theatre being present at almost all major engagements. No self-respecting French cavalry brigade should be without this unit. This is another one of my ‘Bergen’ units. Unit repainted in 2003.

Sources
Flag: Nec Pluribus Impar site at http://vial.jean.free.fr/new_npi/index.htm
Text: Nec Pluribus Impar site at http://vial.jean.free.fr/new_npi/index.htm