WSS French dragoons - a small riddle

[Flambeau]

With the new Strelets sets upcoming I started a little quest to look for suitable regiments to paint. So I compared my books on the subject (Ospreys on Blenheim and Ramillies and Christopher Scott's on Oudenaarde and Malplaquet) to find out which regiments participated in these battles.
So I find that the Rohan-Chabot Dragoons took part in all of them. Great, I'm gonna paint these, let's look what they looked like. But, surprise: This regiment is nowhere to be found, neither in Grant nor on the web (http://www.spanishsuccession.nl/armies/ ... ments.html). Oops ... The only information I found is in (http://racineshistoire.free.fr/LGN/PDF/Chabot.pdf), saying that "Gui-Auguste de Rohan-Chabot 1683-1760" was "mestrre de camp d’un régiment de Dragons de son nom (12/1702 ou 03/02/1703, ex-régiment de Sainte-Hermine)". Only that a "regiment de Sainte-Hermine" also seems nowhere to be found. Any specialists out there who can help?

[Fire at Will]

I have the H&C book on the French Dragoons, The regiment St Hermine (1690) changed it's name in 1702 to Rohan-Chabot. Basically the uniform is a red justacorps with blue facings/lining fawn culotte yellow buttons red bonnet lined in blue There is also a picture of the uniform and flag, I'll see if I can make a copy without breaking the book spine.

[Flambeau]

Wow, thanks, that was a fast response and a really helpful one too. Great community here! Guess I'll have to buy yet another book

[Rich W]

Do you know which dragoon regiments were based just outside the village at Blenheim? Fire At Will, could you post a link to the book you have and would you recommend it?

Strelets are doing an amazing job with this WSS range so far and I'm really looking forward to seeing what else they'll come up with.

[Minuteman]

Rich,

I'm sure that Will will reply, but you may wish to have a look at the excellent account of Blenheim at Obscure Battles http://obscurebattles.blogspot.com/2013 ... -1704.html

This includes an order of battle for the opposing armies; It seems that the dismounted French dragoon brigade of Hauteville (four regiments: Mestre de Camp/Reine/Vasse/Rohan Chabot) was part of the force in and around Blenheim village.

I agree regarding the Strelets WoSS range, which seems to be moving from strength to strength.

[Flambeau]

Rich,

I suppose Will means "French Dragoons. Volume 1: 1669-1749" by Ludovic Letrun and Veronique Letrun. It's available from Amazon for 20$.
For Blenheim you can also look at http://www.thewaroffice.co.uk/Blenheim/Index.htm, this site also has some information on uniforms and flags.
Most likely for the Blenheim garrison are the dragoon regiments listed by Minuteman, but there seems to be a lot of uncertainty about the correct order of battle for most of the WSS battles, especially for the French side. If you want to add some colour there's a painting of the battle by John Wooton (in the National Army Museum I think) showing mounted French dragoons in yellow coats fighting with the Allies.

[Fire at Will]

Yes the book is "French Dragoons. Volume 1: 1669-1749" by Ludovic Letrun and Veronique Letrun. I got a remaindered copy for £5

Here's the relevant page for Rohan-Chabot Dragoons from the book


and a bigger copy
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dJ4LvCpyUjI/YBaPqmSRBII/AAAAAAAAZe0/O1hTXCg8ZtMpJTGaCJSGfqYn_4HSW9IKwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Rohan-Chabot%2BDragoons.jpg"

[Rich W]

Thanks everyone for your replies! That looks like a good book so I guess I'll have to get it...! And thank you for the links!

[Michael Robert]

Interesting Information, all this.
Many thanks
Michael

[Flambeau]

Will,

thanks for the excellent hint, I got hold of a copy and it's really very useful book!

As identifying the respective regiments for the period may be somewhat confusing due to the habit of naming a lot of regiments after their owner, for anybody interested this may help: C.A. Sapherson, "The French Cavalry 1688-1715" (available as pdf on the net). Sapherson has an index of all french cavalry regiments by name, which makes them really easy to identify.

Have fun!