Reorganization of the French infantry from 1854

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Light Infantry 1854

The reorganization of the French infantry of 1854 took place by imperial decree of October 24th of the same year. It specifically concerned the Régiments d'infanterie légère (regiments of light infantry) that had existed until then . The decree was signed by Emperor Napoléon III at the request of Maréchal Vaillant , who was also Minister of War.

In 1854 the French army had 25 regiments of light infantry, which were trained and equipped in the same way as the normal infantry regiments. Only the name and a few details in the uniform were different. The weapon color was daffodil yellow instead of madder red, and they also wielded a shorter rifle, the so-called Fusil du voltigeur .

Until 1821, the light infantry was recruited from the departments in the mountainous areas. After that, the recruits were made from all departments.

After the number of Jäger battalions had been increased in 1853, the Minister of War proposed converting the light infantry regiments into line infantry regiments. However, this was initially rejected on the grounds:

«… Qu'il y avait eu de tous temps des regiments d'infanterie légère, et qu'il y aurait inconvénient à renoncer à cette tradition. »

"... that there have always been regiments of light infantry and that it would be a disadvantage to forego this tradition"

The Chasseurs à pied then represented a real light infantry in the French army around 1850, characterized by their special physical suitability, used to great mobility, equipped with special armament and capable of effective and precise rifle fire. They were also entrusted with the function of tirailleurs , who covered the general movements during the actions, or with special missions - up to the enfants perdus .

Probably for this reason, Emperor Napoléon III decided in 1854 to give up the light infantry and convert their regiments into line infantry regiments.

This measure also reduced the costs for the officers when switching from light to line infantry and vice versa, since in such a case they no longer had to pay for the cost of the other uniform.

The designations of the light infantry were also to be transferred to the Jäger battalions and the 25 regiments, which were designated as "light infantry regiments", were now to be given the numbers from 76 to 100 following the numbers of the existing regiments as 25 new regiments of the line infantry become.

Wording of the order

Décret du 24 octobre 1854

Décret impérial concernant l'infanterie légère

Napoléon par la grâce de Dieu et la volonté nationale, Empereur des Français, à tous présents et à venir, Salut.

Sur le rapport de notre ministre secrétaire d'État au département de la guerre,

Avons décrété et décrétons ce qui suit:

Article 1er

Les 25 regiments d'infanterie légère prendront, dans la série des regiments d'infanterie de ligne, les numéros 76 à 100.

Article 2

L'infanterie légère se composera désormais des battalion de chasseurs à pied.

Article 3

Notre ministre secrétaire d'état au département de la guerre est chargé de l'exécution du présent décret.

Fait au palais de Saint-Cloud, the 24th October 1854.
Signé
Napoléon
Par l'Empereur;
Le Maréchal de France Ministre secrétaire d'état au département de la guerre
Signé
Vaillant

“ Decree of October 24, 1854

Imperial decree on light infantry.

Napoléon, by the grace of God and the national will, Emperor of the French now and in the future, greetings.

On the basis of the report by the State Secretary in the War Ministry, We decide and order:

article 1

The 25 light infantry regiments are numbered 78 to 100 in the row of line infantry regiments.

Article 2

The light infantry will in future be provided by the battalions of hunters on foot.

Article 3

Our State Secretary in the War Ministry has been charged with carrying out this order.

Given in the palace of Saint-Cloud, October 24, 1854, to
Napoléon
For the Emperor;
Marshal of France, Minister of State in the
Vaillant War Ministry "

List of former light infantry regiments with the newly assigned number

literature

  • Henri Victor Dollin you Fresnel: Un Régiment à travers l'Histoire. Le 76e, ex-1er léger. E. Flammarion, Paris 1894 ( full text in the Google book search).
  • E. Lonchampt, Ch. De Picamilh: Bulletin des lois. Volume 11, No. 231, October 24, 1854, p. 737 ( full text in the Google book search).

Footnotes

  1. ↑ a b E. Lonchampt, Ch. De Picamilh: Bulletin des lois. Volume 11, No. 231, October 24, 1854, p. 739 ( full text in the Google book search).