Order of battle

 

of the

Prussian army

at the Rhine,

end of July until medium November

 

1793

 

Composed by Geert van Uythoven

 

Notes:

1.   The Prussian army contained a large detachment of Saxons and a Kurtrier Jäger company. The difference is marked as follows:

      Prussian

      Saxon

       Kurtrier

2.   For strengths, an infantry battalion is estimated at 500 men; a cavalry squadron at 120 men; an artillery battery at 150 men.

3.   Each infantry company had ten Schützen (‘sharpshooters’), armed with rifled muskets.

4.   Every Prussian infantry battalion had two battalion guns, 3pdr or 6pdr cannon. The Saxons had light 4pdr cannon attached to their infantry as regimental artillery.

5.   The fusilier battalions fought in two, not in three ranks.

 

 

 

Commander in Chief:

(König Friedrich Wilhelm II von Preuβen)

 

1. HEERESTHEIL (‘FIRST ARMY CORPS’[1]) (König Friedrich Wilhelm II von Preuβen)

         Regiment Fuβjäger[2] (Leib-kompagnie)

         Regiment Husaren No. 8 ‘Göltz’[3] (I. Bataillon, 5 squadrons)

         Generalmajor Otto Heinrich Friedrich von Borch

                   Generalmajor Ernst Friedrich Wilhelm Philipp von Rüchel

                            Regiment zu Fuβ No. 30 ‘Wegnern’[4] (I., II. and Grenadier-Bataillon)

                            Regiment zu Fuβ No. 9 ‘Manstein’ (Grenadier-Bataillon)

                            Schwere (‘heavy’) 6-pf. Batterie ‘Plümcke’ (6x 6pdr cannon, 2x 7pdr howitzer)

                   Generalmajor von Thadden

                            Regiment zu Fuβ No. 12 ‘Kleist’ (I., II. and Grenadier-Bataillon)

                            Schwere 12-pf. Batterie ‘Heidenreich’ (6x 12pdr cannon, 2x 10pdr howitzer)

         Generalmajor Friederich Wilhelm Kronprinz von Preussen

                   Generalmajor von Manstein

                            Regiment zu Fuβ No. 37 ‘Wolframsdorff’ (I. and Grenadier-Bataillon)

                            Regiment zu Fuβ No. 3 ‘Thadden’ ( II. Bataillon)

                            Schwere 6-pf. Batterie ‘Sager’ (6x 6pdr cannon, 2x 7pdr howitzer)

                   Oberst (‘Colonel’) von der Goltz

                            Regiment zu Fuβ No. 3 ‘Thadden’ (I. and Grenadier-Bataillon)

                            Regiment zu Fuβ No. 9 ‘Manstein’ (I. and II. Bataillon)

                            Regiment Garde No. 15 (Königs I. Bataillon Leib-Garde)

                            10-pf. Mörser (‘mortar’) Batterie ‘Tiemann’ (8x 10pdr mortar)

         Generallieutenant Prinz Louis von Württemberg

                   Oberst Prinz Louis von Preuβen

                            Regiment Husaren No. 5 ‘Markgraf von Anspach-Baireuth’ (10 squadrons)

                   Generalmajor Herzog von Weimar

                            Regiment Kürassiere No. 6 ‘Herzog von Sachsen-Weimar’ (5 squadrons)

                   1/2 6-pf. Reitende Batterie No. 4 ‘Hahn’ (4x light 6pdr cannon)

 

                            Total strength 1. Heerestheil: 16 1/4 battalions, 20 squadrons, 4 1/2 batteries; 8,125 infantry, 2,400 cavalry, 675 artillery

 

 

2. HEERESTHEIL (‘SECOND ARMY CORPS’) (Herzog Karl Wilhelm Ferdinand von Braunschweig)

         Regiment Fuβjäger (4 companies; Oberstlieutenant von Valentini, Kapitain von Valentini, Kapitain von Meyer, Major von Spitznaβ)

         Füsilier-Bataillon No. 10 ‘Martini’

         Füsilier-Bataillon No. 18 ‘Müffling’

         Generalmajor Erich Magnus von Wolffradt

                   Regiment Husaren No. 6 ‘Wolfrad’ (10 squadrons)

         Generallieutenant Wilhelm / Guillaume René de l'Homme de Courbière

                   Generalmajor von Kleist

                            Regiment zu Fuβ No. 34 ‘Prinz Ferdinand von Preuβen’ (I., II. and Grenadier-Bataillon)

                            Regiment zu Fuβ No. 49 ‘Borch’ (II. Bataillon)

                            Schwere 6-pf. Batterie ‘Menz’ (6x 6pdr cannon, 2x 7pdr howitzer)

                   Generalmajor Ludwig I, Wilhelm August Prinz zu Baden

                            Regiment zu Fuβ No. 49 ‘Borch’ (I. Bataillon)

                            Regiment zu Fuβ No. 37 ‘Wolframsdorff’ (II. Bataillon)

                            Regiment zu Fuβ No. 41 ‘Schladen’ (I. Bataillon)

                            Leichte (‘light’) 6-pf. Batterie ‘Decker’ (6x 6pdr cannon, 2x 7pdr howitzer)

                            Schwere 6-pf. Batterie ‘Scholten’ (6x 6pdr cannon)

         Generallieutenant Ludwig Karl von Kalckstein

                   Generalmajor von Herzberg

                            Regiment zu Fuβ No. 19 or 21 ‘Braunschweig’ (I., II. and Grenadier-Bataillon)

                            Schwere 6-pf. Batterie ‘Wundersitz’ (6x 6pdr cannon, 2x 7pdr howitzer)

                   Generalmajor Friedrich Gisbert Wilhelm Freiherr von Romberg

                            Regiment zu Fuβ No. 35 ‘Prinz Heinrich von Preuβen’ (I., II. and Grenadier-Bataillon)

                            Schwere 6-pf. Batterie ‘Potozky’ (6x 6pdr cannon, 2x 7pdr howitzer)

         RESERVE: Generallieutenant Friedrich Adrian Dietrich von Röder

                            Regiment Garde No. 15 (II. and III. Bataillon Garde)

                            Regiment No. 6 Grenadiergarde-Bataillon ‘Rohdich’

                            Haubitze-Batterie ‘Lieutenant Alkier’ (4x 7pdr howitzer)[5]

                            Schwere 6-pf. Batterie ‘Wille’ (6x 6pdr cannon)

         Generallieutenant von Schönfeld

                   Generalmajor Johann Friedrich Heinrich Christoph von Katte

                            Regiment Dragoner No.1 ‘Lottum’ (5 squadrons)

                            1/2 6-pf. Reitende Batterie No. 4 ‘Hahn’ (4x light 6pdr cannon)

                   Generalmajor Hans Friedrich Heinrich von Borstell

                            Regiment Dragoner No. 11 ‘Tschirschky’ (5 squadrons)

                            Regiment Kürassiere No. 7 ‘Borstell’ (5 squadrons)

                            6-pf. Reitende Batterie No. 6 ‘Meyer’ (8x light 6-pdr cannon[6])

 

                            Total strength 2. Heerestheil: 19 battalions, 25 squadrons, 7 1/2 batteries; 9,500 infantry, 3,000 cavalry, 1,125 artillery

 

 

3. HEERESTHEIL (‘THIRD ARMY CORPS’) (Generallieutenant Erbprinzen von Hohenlohe)

         Regiment Fuβjäger (3 companies; Kapitain von Tümpling, Major von Uttenhoven, Kapitain von Nürnberg)

         Füsilier-Bataillon No. 19 ‘Ernest’

         Füsilier-Bataillon No. 13 ‘Thadden’

         Füsilier-Bataillon No. 20 ‘Legat’

         Generallieutenant Erbprinzen von Hohenlohe

                   Regiment zu Fuβ No. 10 ‘Romberg’ (I., II. and Grenadier-Bataillon)

                   Schwere 6-pf. Batterie ‘Hahn’ (6x 6pdr cannon, 2x 7pdr howitzer)

         Oberst Daniel Noah Louis von Crousaz

                   Regiment zu Fuβ No. 47 ‘Herzberg’ (I., II. and Grenadier-Bataillon)

                   Schwere 6-pf. Batterie ‘Fiebig’ (6x 6pdr cannon, 2x 7pdr howitzer)

         Generalmajor Karl Friedrich Gottlieb von Schladen

                   Regiment zu Fuβ No. 32 ‘Hohenlohe’ (I., II. and Grenadier-Bataillon)

                   Regiment zu Fuβ No. 41 ‘Schladen’ (Grenadier-Bataillon)

                   Schwere 6-pf. Batterie ‘Berneck’ (6x 6pdr cannon, 2x 7pdr howitzer)

         Generallieutenant Karl Adolf August Freiherr von Eben und Brunnen

                   Oberst Hans Karl Ludolph von Strantz

                            Regiment Dragoner No. 4 ‘Katte’ (5 squadrons)

                   Generalmajor von Schmettau

                            Regiment Dragoner No. 2 ‘Schmettau’ (5 squadrons)

                   6-pf. Reitende Batterie No. 3 ‘Schönermark’ (8x light 6pdr cannon)

                   Generalmajor Georg Ludwig Egidius von Köhler

                            Regiment Husaren No. 3 ‘Köhler’ (10 squadrons)

                            Regiment Husaren No. 2 ‘Eben (10 squadrons)

                            6-pf. Reitende Batterie No. 2 ‘Lange’ (8x light 6pdr cannon)

 

                            Total strength 3. Heerestheil: 13 3/4 battalions, 30 squadrons, 5 batteries; 6,875 infantry, 3,600 cavalry, 750 artillery

 

 

4. HEERESTHEIL (‘FOURTH ARMY CORPS’) (Generallieutenant Friedrich Adolph Graf von Kalckreuth)

         AVANTGARDE[7]: Oberst Szekele[8]

                   Kurtrier Jäger Kompagnie

                   Füsilier-Bataillon No. 1 ‘Wedel’

                   Sächsischen Husaren Regiment (2 squadrons)

                  Dragoons and hussars (500 men, equalling about 4 squadrons)

         Generalmajor Georg Friedrich von Wegnern

                   Regiment zu Fuβ No. 39 ‘Crousaz’ (I., II. and Grenadier-Bataillon)

                   10-pf. Mörser (‘mortar’) Batterie ‘Stockhausen’ (8x 10pdr mortar)

         Generalmajor August Wilhelm Freiherr von Vietinghoff

                   Regiment zu Fuβ No. 38 ‘Vietinghoff’ (I., II. and Grenadier-Bataillon)

                   Schwere 12-pf. Batterie ‘Kirchfeld’ (6x 12pdr cannon, 2x 10pdr howitzer)

         KURSACHSISCHE DIVISION: Generallieutenant von Lindt

                   Generalmajor von Bomsdorff

                            Regiment zu Fuβ ‘Prinz Gotha’ (1 batallion)

                            Regiment zu Fuβ ‘Prinz Anton’ (1 batallion)

                            Regiment zu Fuβ ‘Prinz Clemens’ (1 batallion)

                            Regiment zu Fuβ ‘Kurfürst’ or Garde zu Fuβ (1 batallion)

                            Regiment zu Fuβ ‘Christiani’ (Grenadier-Bataillon[9])

                   Generalmajor von Gersdorff

                            Karabinier-Regiment (5 squadrons)

                            Chevauxleger-Regiment ‘Prinz Karl von Kurland’ (5 squadrons)

                   Granatstück-Batterie ‘Rouvroy’ (4x 8pdr cannon, 2x 8pdr howitzer)

 

                            Total strength 4. Heerestheil: 12 1/4 battalions, 14 squadrons, 3 batteries; 6,125 infantry, 1,680 cavalry, 450 artillery

 

 

5. HEERESTHEIL (‘FIFTH ARMY CORPS’) (Generallieutenant Alexander Friedrich von Knobelsdorff)

         Regiment Fuβjäger (2 companies; Major von Böltzig, Kapitain von Rötecken)

         Regiment Husaren No. 8 ‘Göltz’ (II. Bataillon, 5 squadrons)

         Generalmajor Franz Georg Gneomar von Kunitzky

                   Regiment zu Fuβ No. 44 ‘Kunitzky’ (I., II. and Grenadier-Bataillon)

                   Schwere 6-pf. Batterie ‘Grynaeus’ (6x 6pdr cannon, 2x 7pdr howitzer)

         Generalmajor Georg Bogislav von Köthen

                   Regiment zu Fuβ No. 48 ‘Köthen’ (I., II. and Grenadier-Bataillon)

         Generalmajor von Pirch

                   Regiment zu Fuβ No. 5 ‘Kalckstein’ (I., II. and Grenadier-Bataillon)

                   Regiment zu Fuβ No. 27 ‘Knobelsdorff’ (I., II. and Grenadier-Bataillon)

                   Schwere 6-pf. Batterie ‘Lassan’ (6x 6pdr cannon, 2x 7pdr howitzer)

         Generallieutenant Heinrich Sebastian von Reppert

                   Leib-Karabinier-Regiment No. 11 (5 squadrons)

         Generallieutenant Ernst Christian von Kospoth

                   Leib-Kürassier-Regiment No. 3 (5 squadrons)

 

                            Total strength 5. Heerestheil: 12 1/2 battalions, 15 squadrons, 2 batteries; 6,250 infantry, 1,800 cavalry, 300 artillery

 

Total strength of the Prussian army at the Rhine: 73 3/4 battalions, 104 squadrons, 22 batteries; 36,875 infantry, 12,480 cavalry, 3,300 artillery (total 52,655 men)

 

 

GARRISON OF MAINZ (MAYENCE):

         Regiment zu Fuβ No. 49 ‘Borch’ (Grenadier-Bataillon)

         Regiment zu Fuβ No. 41 ‘Schladen’ (II. Bataillon)

© Geert van Uythoven



[1] This cannot be compared with the more independent army corps’ of later years!

[2] The Regiment Fuβjäger consisted of ten companies. The 1st company was called ‘Leib-Kompagnie’.

[3] Until medium August, this unit was with the 3. Heerestheil.

[4] Later Regiment zu Fuβ ‘Rüchel’.

[5] This battery was composed from the howitzers taken from the batteries ‘Scholten’ and ‘Wille’.

[6] Sources differ somewhat about the composition of a horse artillery battery. Officially, such a battery consisted of 8x light 6pdr cannon and a 7pdr howitzer (beginning of 1794, an additional howitzer was added). Other sources mention eight guns strength only. As the howitzers were often detached and combined into separate howitzer batteries, I have assumed here the composition of the horse artillery batteries at 8x light 6pdr cannon only.

[7] Until medium August, the Avantgarde was with the 3. Heerestheil.

[8] Often his name is written as ‘Szekuly’.

[9] Composed from converged grenadier companies: 2 companies from the Regiment zu Fuβ ‘Kurfürst’ and 2 companies from the Regiment zu Fuβ ‘Langenau’ [information given by Paul Demet!].