Guards regiment of Chevau-léger (Lancers).

Guards regiment of Chevau-léger (Lancers)

The Guards regiment of Chevau-léger (Lancers) was organized in 1809 like the most of the regiments of the army. The regiment was designated as three squadrons and one spare regiment (660 people). 188 people were obliged to be in each squadron and 104 people in the spare one.

The Chevau-léger Guards had been issued with black leather helmet with a black plume caterpillar and red sultan. The first squadron of the regiment was armed with pikes with the weathervanes colors of the Polish flag. There was red top and white bottom. The Polish flag colors on weathervanes peak was given as a tribute to the Polish light cavalry of Jerome Bonaparte escort that accompanied him in Kassel.

By 1812 the number of members of the regiment was increased to 4 combatant squadrons and a spare company. There were only 874 people. The number of people in the squadron remained the same - 188 people. In the spare company there were 104 people.

The Chevau-léger Guards regiment of the 1st, the 2nd, the 3rd and the 4th squadrons that were composed of 31 officers and 592 established men went to Russia under the command of Colonel Henry C. Muller. The regiment was in the cavalry of the 8th Army Corps, commanded by Brigadier General Pierre M. Chabert. This Corps belonged to the Royal Guard Cavalry Brigade commanded by Brigadier M.F.ZH. Wolff.

After the time, when the Life Guards Company with Jerome Bonaparte went to Kassel as an escort, the regiment of the Guards Lancers returned to Russia with the 8th Army Corps by August 12.

Together with its corps the regiment participated in the battles in Valutina Mountain on August 19, 1812, in Borodino on September 7, 1812 and on the Berezina on November 26-28, 1812.

In 1813, the Chevau-léger Guards fought at Grosse Beerene on August 23, at Dennewitz on September 6th and at the Battle of Nations under Leytsptsigom on October 16-19.