Anyone have any information on the uniforms of Saxon Reiters during the Seven Weeks War of 1866? I have one source that says they wore white - as they did in the first half of the century - and another that has them wearing light blue like the infantry. Info on the Net is scarce and contradictory.
Hi HB,
They wore "Cornflower Blue" uniforms, which is rather deeper than most light blues you see. They are illustrated in the Osprey on German Armies of 1870 (2), the uniform colour didn't change between 1866 and 1870, although the helmet did. Mike Embrey has just published a small booklet on the Saxon Army of 1866, which provides some good illustrations. Helion Books is a good site to look for material on this period.
Happy Hunting
Mollinary
You could google grosser-generalstab, which is a good on-line source
Chad
Good idea CHAD, and it does have illustrations of Saxon Reiters for both 1866 and 1870 in the Menzel (?) cigarette card series.
Mollinary
Not Menzel, but Herbert Knotel and Martin Lezius: Deutsche Uniform Band 3, Sachsische Truppen im Feldzug 1866.
Cheers
Mollinary
Thanks for that, guys. That should sort it out for me. :)
Saxon Reiters in cornflower blue. In some sources they are also credited with wearing the peaked field cap whilst on campaign in 1866.
Oddly enough I have just been looking at the very same this evening and found pretty much the same sktechy info at best. However there are enough references toward cornflower blue to keep me happy. :D
Most of the info seems to revolve around a single colour illustration from what appears to be a cigarette card. :-\ Not that I'm dismissing cigarette cards, of course. The peaked cap seems to have been generally worn by all and sundry. Looks a darn sight more comfortable than that raupenhelm!