Prussian Dragoon Plates: 1806-1807 Campaign

 

My new website 

 

In the past, I used to love painting miniature soldiers, specifically 6mm Adler Miniatures, but I lost that desire, and have never gotten it back. I have always gone through these periods in my life where sometimes I am super motivated, almost to my point of obsessing over things, and then the next moment I find myself lacking the desire to work on something. Usually, this happens when my routine shifts or when I am stressed. At the moment, I am not very stressed, other than having my mother-in-law here for six weeks, but she is very kind and a fantastic cook, yet we just have a slight language barrier between us! Also, I have gotten back into gaming, which I hadn't been into in a long time. I am playing Masters of Command and really enjoy the game. It reminds me of the American Conquest: Fight Back game with the European Warfare mod, which I was part of a gaming group about 18 years ago, called the Hawks. The Master of Command game is set in the Seven Years' War, but hopefully, with modding, Napoleonic War uniforms will be added. Hopefully, my interest in painting miniatures will return, but for now, the focus is on research and uniform design.

I decided that, as my way of painting, without the need for extra tools, I would edit and create new uniform plates using Mr. Alexis Cabaret's fantastic Waterloo Campaign plates found on Les Uniformes pendant la campagne des Cent Jours (Uniforms during the Hundred Days Campaign). One of my favorite sites, created by another Napoleonic enthusiast named JC has a blog called The Waterloo Campaign in Miniatures, which expands upon Mr. Cabaret's work and delves deeper into men who fought during the Battle of Quatre-Bras. I have played with the idea of creating uniform plates for Davout's III Corps, very similar to those for the opening battle of the 1809 campaign at Teugn-Hausen.

Uniform plate from JC Waterloo Campaign in Miniatures

 

 

As mentioned in a previous post, I am focusing on the 1806-1807 campaign, with my current focus on Generalmajor Anton Wilhelm von L'Estocq's corps, mainly fighting against Marshal Ney and Bernadotte on the North-Western flank of the Grande Armée. At the moment, I have finished all of the Dragoons, save for making a Cuirassier Pallasch for the Regiment von Baczko. Not sure why, but the design is causing me issues, and I am unhappy with what I have made. I will need to go back to the drawing board. I have also finished the Hussars Nr. 5 von Prittwitz regiment and both the Towarczy regiment and the battalion. I have started a work in progress on the Wagenfeld Cuirassiers, but the Cuirassiers' saddle cloth is very intricate, and it will take me a lot of time to work out the correct design. So we pivot and move to the easier-to-create Prussian infantry next.

 

Below are the four regiments of Dragoons serving with L'Estocq's Corps in 1806. These include the Dragoner-Regiment Nr. 6 von Auer, Dragoner-Regiment Nr. 7 von Baczko, Dragoner-Regiment Nr. 8 von Esebeck and Dragoner-Regiment Nr. 13 von Rouquette. I have done my best to include all the materials required for those painting miniatures, such as the trumpeter lace, the shabraque pattern, and uniform distinctions. I used three main sources to finish these plates and would highly recommend them all. The first is the Osprey Publishing title, Prussian Cavalry of the Napoleonic Wars (1) by Peter Hofschröer. The second, with images depicting the Dragoons and Hussars, was created by Stephan Huber and is titled Dragoons of the Kingdom of Prussia 1806. Unfortunately, Mr. Huber has not created uniform plates of the Cuirassiers. Still, his plates on the Hussars and Infantry are valuable references, with Osprey Publishing offering more detailed information on regimental histories, standards, and organization. Lastly, The Prussian Army 1792-1815 Volume III The Cavalry & Artillery by George F. Nafziger, which can be found as PDF. All great sources, but if you prefer a more contemporary primary source, you can not go wrong with Markus Stein's excellent site, filled with images from the period. 

Dragoner-Regiment Nr. 6 von Auer 

 

 

In 1806, the vaunted Prussian cavalry had 14 Dragoon Regiments, 12 five-squadron regiments, and two 10-squadron regiments. One of those 10-squadron regiments was the Dragoon Regiment von Auer Nr. 7. The regiment was divided into two 5-squadron battalions (each with 2 companies) to facilitate easier battlefield control. The total strength of 1,682 cavalrymen consisted of 63 officers, 150 NCOs, 29 Trumpeters, and 1,440 Privates. The Colonel-in-Chief was aging 69-year-old Generalmajor Johann Kasimir von Auer, a veteran of the Seven Years' War, who commanded from April 1803 to March 1807. On March 20, 59-year-old Christoph Johann Friedrich Otto von Ziethen, a relative of the legendary Frederick the Great's light cavalry commander Hans Joachim von Zieten (Ziethen), through his brother's marriage to Zieten's daughter, was appointed Colonel-in-Chief. The regiment was renamed the von Ziethen Dragoons and took part in the Battle of Heilsberg in June 1807. On September 7, 1808, the 1st Battalion of the Ziethen Dragoons No. 6 and their depot became the East Prussian Cuirassier Regiment and the 2nd battalion of the von Ziethen Dragoons, the depots of Graf Herzberg Nr. 9 and vacant Manstein Nr. 10 Dragoon Regiments, plus cantonists from the Graf Henckel Cuirassier Regiment Nr. 1, the Prittwitz Nr. 2 and Krafft Nr. 11 Dragoon Regiments were merged together to create the 1st West Prussian" Dragoon Regiment Nr. 2.

Generalmajor Johann Kasimir von Auer

Battles & Combats

Campaign in Poland (1794) Tuchel (11/14/1806), Sorquitten (12/31/1806), Eylau (02/08/1807) and Heilsberg (06/10/1807).

Standards

Colonel's: Red with a white cross, blue center disc, gold embroidery, blue pole with gold inlay.

Regimental: Red with a blue cross, red center disc, gold embroidery, blue pole with gold inlay.

Uniforms

Officers: Light Blue Kollet, white collar, lapels, cuffs, and embroidered coats only worn on parades. Interimsrock with long tails was worn on campaign without embroidery. A silver sash was worn around the waist over the coat, and a gold aiguillette was worn on the right shoulder. Officers also wore a Leibrock, a single-breasted coat with gold buttons. Officers wore a white plume with a black tip at the bottom.

NCOs: Light blue Kollet, white leather gauntlets, white collar, lapels, lining, waistcoats, shoulder straps, white buttons, black-tipped white plume & cords on hat, gold cuff lace, white and black aiguillettes, and sword knot.

Trumpeters: Light blue Kollet, white collar, lapels, cuffs, with white lace on blue swallows’ nest, white leather gauntlets, white trim on collar, cuffs, lapels, silver shoulder straps, buttons, red-tipped white plume with red trim & black & white cords on the hat, white & black aiguillettes, and sword-knot.

Karabiniers: Light blue Kollet, white collar, lapels, cuffs, lining on coat tails. White leather gauntlets, white shoulder straps, white buttons, black & white plume & cords on the hat, white and black aiguillettes, and sword knot. Armed with rifled cavalry carbine with 12 Karabiniers per squadron.

Dragoons: Light blue Kollet, white leather gauntlets, white collar, cuffs, lapels, lining, white waistcoats, white shoulder straps, white buttons, white plume, scarlet cords on hat, white aiguillettes, and sword-knot in squadron color.

Schabraque: Made of medium-blue cloth, cut squarely. Its edge consisted of a narrow blue piping, a thin white stripe, a thin red stripe, a broad white stripe, a thin red stripe, and a thin
white stripe. The pistol holster followed the same pattern.

Sources: Hofschröer, P. (2012). Prussian Cavalry of the Napoleonic Wars (1): 1792–1807. United Kingdom: Bloomsbury Publishing.

Huber, S. (2025). Dragoons of the Kingdom of Prussia 1806. Perry Miniatures.

The Prussian Army 1792-1815 Volume III The Cavalry & Artillery George F. Nafziger

Dragoner-Regiment Nr. 7 von Baczko

 

 

The Baczko Dragoons Nr. 7 was created in 1716 and comprised 5 squadrons (each with 2 companies) and a strength of 31 Officers, 75 NCOs, 15 Trumpeters, and 720 Privates, totaling 841 Officers and men. Before the 1806 campaign, the Colonel-in-Chief was the 60-year-old Oberst Adrian-Gottlieb von Rhein, who took command in October 1805, but died in the same month, passing the command in November 1806 to the relatively young 55-year-old Oberst (later Generalmajor) Josef-Theodor-Sigmund von Baczko, who assumed command until September 1808, when it was converted into the Lithuanian Dragoon Regiment Nr. 3.

Battles & Combats

1794 Invasion of Poland, 1806: Schulitz, Thorn, Biezun, Soldau and Gross-Schiemanen,

1807: Schippenbeil, Waltersdorf, Eylau, Domnau, Spanden, Diedersdorf, Heilsberg, and Ludwigswalde.

Standards

Colonel’s: Red with white cross, blue center disc, gold embroidery.

Regimental: Red with a blue cross containing a white cross, black center disc, blue pole with gold inlay.

Uniforms

Officers: Light Blue Kollet, scarlet collar, lapels, cuffs, and embroidered coats only worn on parades. Interimsrock with long tails was worn on campaign without embroidery. A silver sash was worn over the coat around the waist and a gold aiguillette was worn on the right shoulder. Officers also wore a Leibrock, a single-breasted coat with gold buttons. Officers wore a white plume with a black tip at the bottom. Armed with cuirassier Pallasch until 1808.

NCOs: Light blue Kollet, white leather gauntlets, scarlet collar, lapels, lining, waistcoats, shoulder straps, yellow buttons, black-tipped white plume & cords on hat, gold cuff lace, white and black aiguillettes, and sword knot. Armed with cuirassier Pallasch until 1808.

Trumpeters: Light blue Kollet, scarlet collar, lapels, cuffs, with orange and scarlet lace on blue swallows’ nest, white leather gauntlets, orange and scarlet trim on collar, cuffs, lapels, gold shoulder straps, buttons, red-tipped white plume with red trim & black & white cords on the hat, white & black aiguillettes, and sword-knot. Armed with cuirassier Pallasch until 1808.

Karabiniers: Light blue Kollet, scarlet collar, lapels, cuffs, scarlet stripe on coat tails. White leather gauntlets, yellow shoulder straps, yellow buttons, black & white plume & cords on the hat, white and black aiguillettes, and sword knot. Armed with cuirassier Pallasch until 1808 and rifled cavalry carbine with 12 Karabiniers per squadron.

Dragoons: Light blue Kollet, white leather gauntlets, scarlet collar, cuffs, lapels, lining, scarlet stripe on coat tails, white waistcoats, red shoulder straps, yellow buttons, white plume, scarlet cords on hat, yellow aiguillettes, and sword-knot in squadron color. Armed with cuirassier Pallasch until 1808.

Schabraque: Made of pink cloth, cut squarely. Its outermost edge was a thin white piping. Next came a row of white and orange wolf's teeth, the base of the white teeth being to the
outer edge. This was followed by a white stripe, an orange stripe, and another row of orange-and-white wolf's teeth, with the orange teeth's bases toward the outer edge. The holster had the same decorations

Sources: Hofschröer, P. (2012). Prussian Cavalry of the Napoleonic Wars (1): 1792–1807. United Kingdom: Bloomsbury Publishing.

Huber, S. (2025). Dragoons of the Kingdom of Prussia 1806. Perry Miniatures.

The Prussian Army 1792-1815 Volume III The Cavalry & Artillery George F. Nafziger

 

Dragoner-Regiment Nr. 8 von Esebeck 

  

The Esebeck Dragoons Nr. 8 was created in 1744 and comprised 5 squadrons (each with 2 companies) and a strength of 31 Officers, 75 NCOs, 15 Trumpeters, and 720 Privates, totaling 841 Officers and men. During the 1806 campaign, the Colonel-in-Chief was the 61-year-old Oberst (later Generalmajor) Karl-Christian-Burghard von Esebeck, in command from May 1803 to September 7, 1808, when the regiment was absorbed into the 2nd West Prussian Dragoon Regiment Nr. 4.

Battles & Combats

(1794) Raigrad and Biala during the campaign in Poland. (1806) Schulitz, Gniewkowo, Gollub, Beinzun, Soldau, and Gross-Schiemanenz. (1807) Eylau, Braunsberg, Jesau, and Gollau/Wittenberg.

Colonel's: Red with a white cross, blue center disc, gold embroidery, blue pole with gold inlay. Regimental: Red with a blue cross, red center disc, gold embroidery, blue pole with gold inlay.

Standards

Colonel's: Red with a white cross, blue center disc, gold embroidery, blue pole with gold inlay. Regimental: Red with a blue cross, blue center disc, gold embroidery, blue pole with gold inlay.

Uniforms

Officers: Light Blue Kollet, scarlet collar, lapels, cuffs, and embroidered coats only worn on parades. Interimsrock with long tails was worn on campaign without embroidery. A silver sash was worn around the waist over the coat, and a silver aiguillette was worn on the right shoulder. Officers also wore a Leibrock, a single-breasted coat with silver buttons. Officers wore a white plume with a black tip at the bottom.

NCOs: Light blue Kollet, white leather gauntlets, scarlet collar, lapels, lining, waistcoats, shoulder straps, white buttons, black-tipped white plume & cords on hat, silver cuff lace, white and black aiguillettes, and sword knot.

Trumpeters: Light blue Kollet, scarlet collar, lapels, cuffs, with scarlet and white swallows’ nest, white leather gauntlets, scarlet and white trim on collar, cuffs, lapels, and lining of the coat tails, silver shoulder straps, buttons, red-tipped white plume with red trim & black & white cords on the hat, white & black aiguillettes, and sword-knot.

Karabiniers: Light blue Kollet, scarlet collar, lapels, cuffs, lining on coat tails. White leather gauntlets, scarlet shoulder straps, white buttons, black & white plume & cords on the hat, white and black aiguillettes, and sword knot. Armed with rifled cavalry carbine with 12 Karabiniers per squadron.

Dragoons: Light blue Kollet, white leather gauntlets, scarlet collar, cuffs, lapels, lining, white waistcoats, scarlet shoulder straps, white buttons, white plume, scarlet and white cords on hat, white aiguillettes, and sword-knot in squadron color.

Schabraque: Made of red cloth cut squarely. Its outermost edge was a thin red piping, followed by equally thin white and blue piping. Then came a broad white band with another blue, then white piping. The pistol holster was similarly decorated

Sources: Hofschröer, P. (2012). Prussian Cavalry of the Napoleonic Wars (1): 1792–1807. United Kingdom: Bloomsbury Publishing.

Huber, S. (2025). Dragoons of the Kingdom of Prussia 1806. Perry Miniatures.

The Prussian Army 1792-1815 Volume III The Cavalry & Artillery George F. Nafziger

 

Dragoner-Regiment Nr. 13 von Rouquette 

 

The Rouquette Dragoons Nr. 13 was created in 1802 and comprised 5 squadrons (each with 2 companies) with a strength of 31 Officers, 75 NCOs, 15 Trumpeters, and 720 Privates, totaling 841 Officers and men. During the 1806 campaign, the Colonel-in-Chief was the 64-year-old Generalmajor Hans-Stephan von Rouquette, who commanded the regiment from February 1802 to September 7, 1808, when what remained of the regiment and its depot were absorbed into the Silesian Cuirassier Regiment Nr. 1.

Battles & Combats

(1806) Schneidemühl, Bromberg, and Schulitz (1807) Preussisch-Holland, Eylau, Marienwerder, and Siege of Danzig

Standards

Colonel's: White with a blood red center disc, gold embroidery, blue pole with gold inlay. Regimental: Blood red, white center disc, gold embroidery, blue pole with gold inlay.

Uniforms

Officers: Light Blue Kollet, carmen (dark red) collar, lapels, cuffs, and embroidered coats only worn on parades. Interimrock with long tails was worn on campaign without embroidery. A silver sash was worn around the waist over the coat, and a silver aiguillette was worn on the right shoulder. Officers also wore a Leibrock, a single-breasted coat with gold buttons. Officers wore a white plume with a black tip at the bottom.

NCOs: Light blue Kollet, white leather gauntlets, carmen collar, lapels, lining, white waistcoats, brass shoulder straps, yellow buttons, black-tipped white plume & cords on hat, silver cuff lace, white and black aiguillettes, and sword knot.

Trumpeters: Light blue Kollet, carmen collar, lapels, cuffs, with blue and white swallows’ nest, white leather gauntlets, white trim on collar, cuffs, lapels, and lining of the coat tails, brass shoulder straps, yellow buttons, red-tipped white plume with red trim & black & white cords on the hat, white & black aiguillettes, and sword-knot.

Karabiniers: Light blue Kollet, carmen collar, lapels, cuffs, lining on coat tails. White leather gauntlets, carmen shoulder straps, yellow buttons, black & white plume & cords on the hat, white and black aiguillettes, and sword knot. Armed with rifled cavalry carbine with 12 Karabiniers per squadron.

Dragoons: Light blue Kollet, white leather gauntlets, carmen collar, cuffs, lapels, lining on coat tails, white waistcoats, carmen shoulder straps, yellow buttons, white plume, carmen and orange cords on hat, yellow aiguillettes, and sword-knot in squadron color.

Schabraque: According to Nafziger, the schabraque of the von Rouquette Regiment is unknown. However, Huber's illustration depicts the schabraque in a dark red (carmen) cloth. Its outermost edge was a thin orange piping. Next a row of carmen, and finished with another row of orange along the outer edge. The holster had the same decorations

Sources: Hofschröer, P. (2012). Prussian Cavalry of the Napoleonic Wars (1): 1792–1807. United Kingdom: Bloomsbury Publishing.

Huber, S. (2025). Dragoons of the Kingdom of Prussia 1806. Perry Miniatures.

The Prussian Army 1792-1815 Volume III The Cavalry & Artillery George F. Nafziger

I hope this was helpful. I will continue the series next with the Prussian Hussars and Towarczys. Please leave any feedback or comments about the uniform plates. Any errors are my fault, and I will make any necessary changes.