Greetings All
Recently I was inspired by Glennj’s posting, Identifying the Unidentified , to start on a bit less daunting project, but one I hope you all will find interesting to some degree.
The object to be considered is a Prussische Kavalleriepistolle M/1850 caliber 15.2mm, standard issue horse pistol of the Prussian Cavalry until the introduction of the M/1879 Reichsrevolver. It is a single shot, black powder percussion pistol and of a pattern carried by many mounted and horse drawn units of the pre-unification army. It displays a unique method of preventing unintentional discharges by the large, lift-up cone protector forward of the hammer. A sound enough idea, but it must have been quite awkward and in the way while trying to reload in a hurry.
This example was manufactured at Suhl in 1852 and displays a set of unit markings on its brass trigger guard, 19.D.4.15. (Oldenburg Dragoon Regiment Nr.19, 4th Squadron, 15th Weapon) . In addition, above and to the right are three hand applied notches in the edge of the trigger guard.
In the early evening of 16 August 1870, the 19th Dragoons formed part of General Barby’s brigade and participated in the last great Cavalry fight on the European continent during the battle of Vionville Mars-La-Tour.
In brief, this battle was a successful attempt by the German III Corps commanded by General von Alvensleben to interrupt the progress of the French Army of the Rhine on their retreat to Verdun. While successful in their efforts, the Germans were sorely pressed throughout the day to contain the numerous and repeated attacks by the vastly superior numbers of the French forces. Many German units fought to the point of near annihilation, with others sacrificed in pre-emptive attacks to contain the French Army, a famous example being von Bredow’s Death Ride of the 7th Magdeburg Cuirassiers and 16th Ulan regiments.
At 6:45pm on the evening of the 16th another French attack was forming up. After the day-long struggle, one of the few German units in reserve at this point included a cavalry brigade comprised of the 13th & 19th Dragoons and 13th Ulan Regiments commanded by General von Barby. He was given orders to advance, and his brigade and additional German mounted units passed below and to the left of the village of Mars La Tour. Their objective was the engagement of the French mounted brigades under the commands of General Legrand and Montagu who also were moving forward at the gallop. The resulting collision of nearly 5000 mounted men was epic, it has been described as a kaleidoscope, a whirling, flashing melee, surging to and fro with charge and counter-charge, intermingled units within an enormous cloud of dust. Visibility became so poor it was difficult to tell friend from foe. In fact, the French Guard Lancers while engaging the Odenburg Dragoons were set upon by other French units not recognizing the white tunics worn by the Guard Lancers.
The fight lasted a brief 15 minutes with the Germans holding possession of the field with the French retiring in haste. The Germans reformed the remnants of their brigades and retired behind the protective lines of German artillery and infantry.
During the battle the 19th Oldenburg Dragoons suffered the loss of fourteen killed and 102 wounded with four of the dead belonging to the 4th squadron, including 2nd Lieutenant Count von Luttichau, pierced by a French lance. In addition 95 horses were lost to the regiment.
One of the two period CDV images depicts a member of the 19th Dragoons, Rittmeister von Luck, commander of 1st squadron, wounded during the battle and awarded the Iron Cross Second Class. The image on the viewers right is of a typical French Lancer NCO, in this instance of the 2nd Regiment which did not partake in this struggle, but he certainly exemplifies the élan of the French Lancer regiments. The colorized cdv image is of a French Lancer of the Imperial Guard, they certainly stood out in a crowd didn't they...
Cheers..
Larmo
Recently I was inspired by Glennj’s posting, Identifying the Unidentified , to start on a bit less daunting project, but one I hope you all will find interesting to some degree.
The object to be considered is a Prussische Kavalleriepistolle M/1850 caliber 15.2mm, standard issue horse pistol of the Prussian Cavalry until the introduction of the M/1879 Reichsrevolver. It is a single shot, black powder percussion pistol and of a pattern carried by many mounted and horse drawn units of the pre-unification army. It displays a unique method of preventing unintentional discharges by the large, lift-up cone protector forward of the hammer. A sound enough idea, but it must have been quite awkward and in the way while trying to reload in a hurry.
This example was manufactured at Suhl in 1852 and displays a set of unit markings on its brass trigger guard, 19.D.4.15. (Oldenburg Dragoon Regiment Nr.19, 4th Squadron, 15th Weapon) . In addition, above and to the right are three hand applied notches in the edge of the trigger guard.
In the early evening of 16 August 1870, the 19th Dragoons formed part of General Barby’s brigade and participated in the last great Cavalry fight on the European continent during the battle of Vionville Mars-La-Tour.
In brief, this battle was a successful attempt by the German III Corps commanded by General von Alvensleben to interrupt the progress of the French Army of the Rhine on their retreat to Verdun. While successful in their efforts, the Germans were sorely pressed throughout the day to contain the numerous and repeated attacks by the vastly superior numbers of the French forces. Many German units fought to the point of near annihilation, with others sacrificed in pre-emptive attacks to contain the French Army, a famous example being von Bredow’s Death Ride of the 7th Magdeburg Cuirassiers and 16th Ulan regiments.
At 6:45pm on the evening of the 16th another French attack was forming up. After the day-long struggle, one of the few German units in reserve at this point included a cavalry brigade comprised of the 13th & 19th Dragoons and 13th Ulan Regiments commanded by General von Barby. He was given orders to advance, and his brigade and additional German mounted units passed below and to the left of the village of Mars La Tour. Their objective was the engagement of the French mounted brigades under the commands of General Legrand and Montagu who also were moving forward at the gallop. The resulting collision of nearly 5000 mounted men was epic, it has been described as a kaleidoscope, a whirling, flashing melee, surging to and fro with charge and counter-charge, intermingled units within an enormous cloud of dust. Visibility became so poor it was difficult to tell friend from foe. In fact, the French Guard Lancers while engaging the Odenburg Dragoons were set upon by other French units not recognizing the white tunics worn by the Guard Lancers.
The fight lasted a brief 15 minutes with the Germans holding possession of the field with the French retiring in haste. The Germans reformed the remnants of their brigades and retired behind the protective lines of German artillery and infantry.
During the battle the 19th Oldenburg Dragoons suffered the loss of fourteen killed and 102 wounded with four of the dead belonging to the 4th squadron, including 2nd Lieutenant Count von Luttichau, pierced by a French lance. In addition 95 horses were lost to the regiment.
One of the two period CDV images depicts a member of the 19th Dragoons, Rittmeister von Luck, commander of 1st squadron, wounded during the battle and awarded the Iron Cross Second Class. The image on the viewers right is of a typical French Lancer NCO, in this instance of the 2nd Regiment which did not partake in this struggle, but he certainly exemplifies the élan of the French Lancer regiments. The colorized cdv image is of a French Lancer of the Imperial Guard, they certainly stood out in a crowd didn't they...
Cheers..
Larmo
