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[sceic2]

In the Navy there is a publication called the Blue Jackets Manual. This soft-cover book is standard issue to all new recruits and officer candidates. It defines naval terms; describes uniforms, ranks, rates, customs, traditions, and ceremony; how to fold informs in your locker; basically everything that involves the life style of the US Navy.

Can anyone refer me to a definitive book or set of books that have explanations for Napoleonic military terms, perhaps even describing customs, traditions and ceremony? I find that I do not know what terms like Chevaulegers, Dragoons, Cuirassiers, Chasseurs ‘a Cheval, Hussars, Uhlans, Chasseurs de Nassau, Chevau-Legers, and many others (especially the for the French) mean or how they are applied in descriptions of my miniatures. There must be a good source that can describe these and other terms of the 18th and 19th century military.

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi,

Try finding Stephen Popes book the Dictionary of the Napoleonic Wars published in 1999 572 pages. I have not looked at one but it appears well researched. Also check and see if there is an Oxford Companion to Military History book available on the Napoleonic Wars. I have one of them and it is a valuable resource.

I can also tell you that the Chasseurs or Hunters were an elite form of Light Cavalry that was used primarily for scouting and pursuit mode but could and would make an assault like the Heavy Cavalry or Curiassars would ie Austerlitz. The Dragoons were used as mounted infantry which was why they had carbines as well as the other assorted weapons of the cavalry. The Hussars were light Cavalry that were desendants of the Polish and Magyar light horsemen. The Uhlans were Lancers who also trace their lineage from eastern units. If I was a little more fluent in french I would venture a guess on some of the other types you mentioned as it is most of the types you mention are light cavalry like the Chasseurs de Nassau which were Dutch I believe.

Hope this helps some.

Dave

 

[fishead19690]

It looks like dmniot beat me to the punch on helping you out with this one but I think I still have some info that might help you. First thing i want to tell you is to watch out which book you get because I also bought a book by the same name as the one that dmnamiot told you to get by a different author called dictionary of the napoleonic wars by david chandler thinking the same as you that it would help me with the same problem you are having. Well I got the book and its not what you or I are looking for. It STUNK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DON,T WAIST your money on it. Here is a web site that may help you when you want some info just type in say uhlan then hit search.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uhlan Many of the terms you are asking about are just terms as to the kind of troops that they are light,heavy,miltia,sharp shooter,ect. ect.. The thing that makes it so confusing is that when you go from say french to german a term changes from chasser to jager and things like cuirassier is a term that refers to the metal chest plate called a cuirass and carabiner refers to the carabine musket. Sorry if i,m killing you with my bad spelling. But the bottom line is alot of this you,ll start to become more familiar with as time goes on and you learn more. just keep reading and you,ll get even more into it than you already are. Its very intresting stuff and after awhile you,ll start to have an idea of what kind of troops they are with out having ever seen them before like for ex. say you see an infantry man with a green jacket!!! that tells me he must be a light trooper or riffle man someone who is meant to be a skimisher as green jackets were an early form of camouflage. There are many little things like this that you,ll notice. I,m sure you can tell a sapper or pioneer from a unit you,ve that you,ve never seen before just by seeing the leather bib piece they wear over them. any way I hope this helps and if you have any more ??? just ask. I,m no napoleonic expert thats for sure but I always have my nose stuck in those kind of books and may be able to help you.

 

[DMNamiot]

Good idea about wikpedia that site has a ton of different info on it. I use it for other things.

Dave

 

[fishead19690]

Here is a good page on wikpedia to check out. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Grande_Armée This is a really good site that you can learn alot on and not just for napoleonic but any peroid.