Calpe Miniatures
25mm Napoleonic wargames figures, meticulously researched, finely sculpted

Prussian Jaegers and Schuetzen

Prussian Jaegers and Schuetzen: Line Jaegers and Schuetzen

There were several important differences between the uniforms and equipment worn by these troops and those worn by the rest of the line infantry (musketeers, fusiliers, etc.). They were as follows:

• These troops were armed with a rifle not a musket.
• They wore a dark green kollet. This was cut in the same style as the line infantry kollet. Facings were dark red for the East Prussian Jaegers. Their cuffs had no flap as they were cut round in the Swedish style. The Silesian Schuetzen Battalion had black facings piped in poppy red. They did have a cuff flap in the same green as the kollet.
• Both jaegers and schuetzen wore a belt round the waist. The purpose of this was to draw the rest of the equipment close to the body to lessen the risk of entanglement. It was not used to carry belly-pouches as was sometimes the case for the volunteer jaegers.
• The cartridge pouch belt (worn over the left shoulder) was decorated with brass pickers, chains and a flask containing finely ground powder. These were vital pieces of equipment for the function and maintenance of the rifle.
• They were also armed with a straight sword-bayonet. This was only fixed when absolutely necessary as it interfered with the use of the rifle and increased the risk of snagging.
• The greatcoats were carried strapped to the top of the pack, not rolled and worn over the left shoulder. These figures are often depicted wearing a greatcoat roll but these illustrations are invariably modern ones. Contemporary sources and the Knotel prints and pictures, always show them with the coat strapped to the pack. This would make sense as a coat roll would negate the issue of the waist belt and once again increase the possibility of entanglement. For the same reason no haversacks were carried on the left hip.

The rest of the equipment and uniform items were standard issue:

• Black canvas knee gaiters. The East Prussians were originally issued with marching boots but they were subsequently issued with gaiters in 1813 and used these on campaign. The Silesians only used gaiters. NCOs in both formations used marching boots to emphasise their status.
• Grey breeches tucked into gaiters or marching boots.
• Covered shakoes.

Note: there are two variants for each code number. The first is for the East Prussian Jaegers. These figures have Swedish cuffs(round cuffs). The (b) variant of each figure is for the Silesian Schuetzen; these figures have Brandenburg cuffs (cuffs with a flap).

Code	Description
PJ1	Jaeger kneeling firing
PJ1b	Jaeger kneeling firing
PJ2	Jaeger standing firing
PJ2b	Jaeger standing firing
PJ3	Jaeger loading, taking round from pouch
PJ3b	Jaeger loading, taking round from pouch
PJ4	Jaeger loading, ramming rifle
PJ4b	Jaeger loading, ramming rifle
PJ5	Jaeger holding fire, leaning forward
PJ5b	Jaeger holding fire, leaning forward
PJ6	Jaeger holding fire, leaning back
PJ6b	Jaeger holding fire, leaning back
PJ7	Jaeger advancing, trail arms; right leg straight, left leg forward
PJ7b	Jaeger advancing, trail arms; right leg straight, left leg forward
PJ8	Jaeger advancing, trail arms; left leg straight right leg back
PJ8b	Jaeger advancing, trail arms; left leg straight right leg back
PJ9	Jaeger NCO, cradling rifle in left arm, directing with right (this figure has a casting runner on the butt of the rifle which needs to be clipped off)
PJ9b	Jaeger NCO, cradling rifle in left arm, directing with right (this figure has a casting runner on the butt of the rifle which needs to be clipped off)
PJ10	Jaeger bugler (casting runner on bugle needs to be clipped). A note concerning this figure: I have several illustrations, they concur in showing the bugler holding a horn in the French style not a typical U-shaped Prussian horn, perhaps a distinction of these formations. Furthermore, none show any evidence of cords attached to the bugle; peculiar, but I have decided to go with the available evidence
PJ10b	Jaeger bugler (casting runner on bugle needs to be clipped). A note concerning this figure: I have several illustrations, they concur in showing the bugler holding a horn in the French style not a typical U-shaped Prussian horn, perhaps a distinction of these formations. Furthermore, none show any evidence of cords attached to the bugle; peculiar, but I have decided to go with the available evidence
PJ forage cap pack	Versions of PJ2 and PJ6 wearing forage caps
PJ forage cap pack b	Versions of PJ2b and PJ6b wearing forage caps
PJ barehead pack	Versions of PJ4 (barehead), PJ5 (bandaged head) and PJ7 (bald)
PJ barehead pack b	Versions of PJ4b (barehead), PJ5b (bandaged head) and PJ7b (bald)

Prussian Jaegers and Schuetzen: Volunteer Jaegers

These troops were all volunteer riflemen attached to line formations. Most regular line battalions had a company of these troops attached to them. They were generally young men from the professional or wealthy classes. As such, they were expected to provide their own equipment and uniform. The result of this was a proliferation of personalised equipment and uniform items that make these units particularly interesting. I have come across many illustrations of these troops, none bear a "standard uniform". Some of the uniform features might seem over ornate for an infantry soldier but these formations were considered to be training cadres for the line officers and NCOs of the future. The common features are as follows:

• They all wore a dark green coat based on the kollet with facings in the same colour as that of the parent formation (i.e. if they were attached to a Pomeranian unit they had white facings).
• They wore covered shakos on campaign.

The principal differences were as follows:

• Many volunteers had a second cartridge pouch attached to the front of the belt (the belly pouch).
• Some wore breeches tucked into marching boots, others wore trousers, often with a red stripe running down each outer seam.
• Some men wore shakos in the Austrian style with peaks front and back.
• Some formations preferred Swedish cuffs (round), others chose the Brandenburg cuffs (with flaps).

I like to add a company or two of volunteers to each line regiment. When putting these together I use all the different styles within the company to reflect the personal uniform preferences of the men. The only unifying theme I maintain is whether the jackets have cuff flaps or not. This varied from company to company, even within the same regiment.

Note: as above, these figures have two variants. The ones with the (b) code have cuff flaps the others have round cuffs.

Code	Description
PJ11	Volunteer firing. Breeches tucked into boots. Belly pouch
PJ11b	Volunteer firing. Breeches tucked into boots. Belly pouch
PJ12	Volunteer holding fire. Breeches, boots, belly pouch
PJ12b	Volunteer holding fire. Breeches, boots, belly pouch
PJ13	Volunteer loading. Taking round from pouch. Trousers rolled up, belly pouch
PJ13b	Volunteer loading. Taking round from pouch. Trousers rolled up, belly pouch
PJ14	Volunteer loading. Ramming rifle. Long trousers
PJ14b	Volunteer loading. Ramming rifle. Long trousers
PJ15	Volunteer advancing, trail-arms. Trousers, belly pouch
PJ15b	Volunteer advancing, trail-arms. Trousers, belly pouch
PJ16	Volunteer running, high porte. Long trousers
PJ16b	Volunteer running, high porte. Long trousers
PJ volunteer barehead pack	Versions of PJ12 (bandaged head), PJ13 (barehead) and PJ14 (bald)
PJ volunteer barehead pack b	Versions of PJ12b (bandaged head), PJ13b (barehead) and PJ14b (bald)

Prussian Jaegers and Schuetzen: Officers

Initially I had no intention of making officers for this set of figures, as their uniform was identical in cut to that of the fusilier officers but in dark green. However, as this set of figures progressed I felt a couple of officers were required to complement the skirmish poses, so I made them! (as they stand, they can be used for fusilier officers if you paint their jackets Prussian blue and choose the variants with the cuff.

Code	Description
PJ17	Officer advancing, holding sword up
PJ17b	Officer advancing, holding sword up
PJ18	Officer running, pointing with sword
PJ18b	Officer running, pointing with sword