1757 Christian IV Prinz Palatine de Deux-Ponts (Zweibrücken)
Unit History
The regiment was formed in 1757 for French service by the Prince Palatine of Deux-Ponts (or Zweibrücken). It fought at Hastenbeck, Rossbach, Sandershausen, Bergen and Minden, where it was in the third line of Broglie's corps. The initial uniform and flag are very French in pattern. The regiment changed uniform in 1761 to a sky blue coat with red collar and cuffs, white lining, waistcoat, breeches, lace and pewter buttons that was a standard for German regiments in French service as well as adopting a new more Germanic style flag. The facing colours later changed to yellow prior to the American War of Independence.
In 1757, at Hastenbeck, the unit, along with the Royal-Bavarie (No. 101), formed part of Duc de Broglie's division. The division was instructed to march towards the village of Hastenbeck, located in the centre of the Hanoverian battle line, in support of the attack on the left flank.
At Sanderhausen, July 1758, the Anglo-Allied commander, Prinz Isenburg, was forced to draw his converged grenadiers and the infantry regiment, Kanitz, from his centre to reinforce a crumbling left flank; leaving only the militia in the centre. The French commander, Duc de Broglie, seeing this, ordered this regiment along with Rohan-Montbazon (No. 32), Beauvoisis (No. 41), and Royal-Bavarie, all of which had exhausted their powder, to bayonet charge the centre. These regiments managed to collapse the enemy militia troops, forcing the Allies to withdraw.
During the Seven Years War, the Colonel was also Inhaber of the Zweibrücken cavalry regiment in Austrian service and the Alsace regiment (No. 36). The infantry unit retained regular status throughout the Seven Years War period.
The regiment was sent to America in 1778 as part of the first wave of French support and fought at Yorktown. It disbanded during the Revolution in 1791 to form the 99e Regiment d'Infanterie. The 99e was disbanded in 1803 after an undistinguished service record.
The 1761 Regimental and 1761 Colonel’s colour
Comments
This is another of my ‘Bergen’ units. The unit is very interesting in that it changes uniform and flags late in the war. The sky blue uniform so typical of the German troops also has the common diagonal cross pattern for the flag. The earlier uniform and flag look very French. The figures are Dixon and the flag is from GMB Design. Unit painted in 2002.
Sources
Flag: Nec Pluribus Impar site at http://vial.jean.free.fr/new_npi/index.htm
Text: Osprey’s Louis XV's Army (3) Foreign Infantry (Men-at-Arms 304)
Sandershausen 1758 by David Cookman in Battlefields Vol. 1 Issue 6
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