Nassauers in Netherlands Service
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Geert van Uythoven
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Fri Oct 20 2000
12:57:49
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WATERLOO CAMPAIGN
NASSAUERS IN NETHERLANDS SERVICE
by Qeert van Uythoven
In the same way that the Netherlands army in general during this period is very much undocumented, information in English about the Nassau contingent of the Duke of Wellington's army is also scarce. Misunderstandings and incorrect 'facts' have arisen from this. The Nassau troops were a mixture of veteran and raw units, but nearly everyone lists them as 'veteran' for wargaming and historical purposes.
Admittedly, the Nassauers behaved astonishingly well during the Waterloo campaign, 'especially for non British units', to use yet another commonly used statement. However, they were of a very differing quality, just as was the whole Netherlands army, which also included a contingent of Nassau troops. The purpose of this article is to clear up some points regarding this contingent. Research on this subject is continuing, and I have already found the whereabouts of some very intriguing archive material. If this will be of interest, I will forward this in future articles, if the editor permits. For now, I will restrict myself to what I have found up until this moment.
The House of Orange-Nassau
To understand the relationship between Nassau and the Netherlands, we first need to look at the relationship between both territories. Although this relationship is rather complicated and difficult to explain, it boils down to the following. At the end of the 16th century, the northern part of the Netherlands rose against its ruler, Philip II of Spain. Leader of this revolt was William 'the Silent', Prince of Orange, count of Nassau, Katzenelnbogen, Vianden, Diez, etc. etc. Orange was a small principality in France, and the House lost possession of it to France in 1713 - only the name still exists. During the rebellion, William the Silent frequently fled to his hereditary lands in Germany (that is, Nassau) when things went badly in the Netherlands.
During the rebellion the northern Netherlands was reformed into the Republic of the United Provinces, consisting of seven independent provinces, each governed by its own States (or Council). The provinces had each one vote in the States-General, which took care of all joint cases. The States of each province chose a 'stadtholder', so theoretically there could be seven at the same time, although in reality after 1600 there were no more then two stadtholders, and from 1747 only one. There was only one restriction: the States had to choose the stadtholder from the House of Nassau (as a recognition of the troubles the House took to 'free' the Republic). Practically the position was hereditary to the House of Nassau, and in fact became effectively hereditary after 1747.
The stadtholder was Captain-General of the army, and Admiral-General of the fleet. In this role he had to report to the States General and these took the important decisions. Most of the time, the States General attached representatives to the field army, not unlike the practice during the French Revolution, to watch over the actions of the stadtholder. The House of Nassau thus ruled their hereditary lands in Germany (including Nassau), but did not rule the Netherlands.
Throughout this period, the territories possessed by the House of Nassau became divided amongst different lines of the family. Because of the great disadvantages that derived from this, the family took steps to unite all the territories under one ruler. A so-called 'Erbverein' was agreed in 1736 by the Ottonian and Walramian branches of the family. This family treaty was renewed and augmented by second in 1783. It was signed by William (V), Prince of Orange, Monarch of Nassau and stadtholder of the Republic of the United Provinces; Carl Monarch of Nassau; Carl Wilhelm Monarch of Nassau; Ludwig Monarch of Nassau; Friednch Prince of Nassau-Usingen; and Adolph Prince of Nassau-Usingen. This treaty resulted in a 'Primogenitor-Constitution', which stipulated that all the territories in possession of the House of Nassau would be ruled by the first born male. Josef II, the then Holy Roman Emperor, ratified the treaty in 1786. Because of this treaty, rule of the German hereditary territories went to William V. stadtholder of the Republic of the United Provinces. However, things would soon change.
During March 1793, revolutionary France declared war, in true revolutionary style not on the Republic itself but on the stadtholder of the Republic of the United Provinces. A divided population, the behaviour of the allies, and a very cold winter that made the big rivers passable for the French armies, resulted in the occupation of the Republic and in William V went into exile in England on 18 January 1795. The family went its separate ways. William V died in England on 9 April 1806. Prince Willem George Frederik went to Germany to serve in the Austrian Army, eventually reaching the rank of 'Feldzeugmeister' and commander in chief of the Austrian army in Italy; he died from disease on 6 January 1799. In 1802 the hereditary prince, the future William I (of the Ottonian branch) received from Napoleon the principality of Fulda, as a compensation for the loss of Nassau and the Republic. The hereditary territories of Nassau went to the Walramian monarchs, eventually to become part of the Confederation of the Rhine.
 During 1806 Prince William threw in his lot with the Prussians, commanding a division and fighting with some distinction at Auerstâdt. As a consequence, Napoleon took Fulda from him. Leaving for Austria, William took part in the battle of Wagram as an aide to Archduke Karl, and was wounded twice in his legs. Returning to England, he remained there, whilst his eldest son Prince William (of Waterloo fame) went to Spain to serve with distinction in the British army as an aide to Wellington. The Prince of Orange was not as green as many think, but that is another story.
After the Prussian declaration of war on Napoleon after the debacle in Russia, the future William I offered his services to the Prussian king. However, Friedrich Wilhelm Ill did not want to give him a field command, and found other (diplomatic) use for him. His son Prince Frederik (who was to command the Allied troops at Hal during the battle of Waterloo) did serve in the Prussian army as an aide, and took part in a number of battles among which are LUtzen and Bautzen, Dresden, Kulm, Leipzig and Laon.
It is commonly accepted that the Allies wanted to create a strong northern bastion to keep a future France in check once peace was declared. However, they never promised the hereditary prince William this territory, but there was not much choice left after the population of (the northern) Netherlands invited William to return (30 November 1813). Until a new constitution was ratified, William would receive the title of William I, Sovereign of the United Netherlands, as well as resuming his reign over Nassau.
When the Walramian monarch or duke tried to ally himself with the Great Alliance (16 November 1813), he was told plainly by the Austrian emperor that he had to return to William all territories that had originally belonged to the House of Orange (treaty of 26 November 1813). William I and the duke of Nassau ratified this on 14 July 18 14. William also hoped to receive the Duchy of Berg, to connect his hereditary lands with the Netherlands, but that was denied by the treaty of 11 December 1813, William received possession of the Nassau territories of Dillenburg, Siegen, Hadamar, Dietz and Beilstein (effected on 31 December 1813). Possession would not, however, last long: Prussia had set her eyes on Nassau, and, eventually, William on 31 May 1815 had to cede his hereditary lands in return for the Duchy of Luxembourg. The next day, however, Prussia exchanged most of these territories for territories on the right bank of the Rhine from Ehrenbreitstein to Deutz, owned by the Monarchs of Nassau-Usingen and Nassau-Weilburg.
It was still not clear what was to be done with the Southern Netherlands - on 16 August 1814, William I was appointed governor-general of the Southern Netherlands. However, the return of Napoleon accelerated events and on 16 March 1815 William I was made king of the United Netherlands. As we have seen, as well as being king of the United Netherlands he was also the sovereign of the hereditary lands of Orange-Nassau. To simplify matters, from now on when talking about Nassau, I will use 'Duchy of Nassau' and 'Orange-Nassau' to distinguish the territories governed by the Duke of Nassau and William I respectively.
The Duchy of Nassau
On 11 December 18 13 Friedrich August, sovereign duke of Nassau, ordered troops raised to defend the Duchy of Nassau and to take part in the war against Napoleon. Nassau was also obliged to do so to comply with a secret article, part of the treaty that was signed when joining the Allies, to raise two line infantry regiments, each of 1,680 men. Already available in Nassau was a depot battalion for the infantry and the reserve squadron from the chasseurs a cheval, in all about 1,100 strong including the sick.
In addition, there was a 'Landjãgerbrigade' of two regiments, each of two battalions consisting of five companies each, about 4,000 strong. These were used for policing the Nassau territories. With the 1St Regiment Nassau interned in France and the 2nd Regiment Nassau in England and not ready for immediate service in a field army, Nassau had to raise new units. The following troops were to be raised:
a. I regiment 'light' line infantry
b. I regiment landwehr-infantry
c. 1 corps foot jager
The above units took part in the blockade of Mainz as part of the Nassau Brigade, which was incorporated in the 5th German Army Corps commanded by General Duke Ernst Ill of Sachsen-Coburg-Saalfeld. In addition, for service in the Nassau territories, 'Landsturm' was raised. The chasseurs a cheval were disbanded, because of the lack of horses. There was no artillery.
a. 3rd Infantry Regiment
 The 3rd Infantry Regiment was raised from the depot battalion present in Nassau, and commanded by Colonel Ernst Ludwig Heinrich von Steuben. Peacetime strength was fixed on 1,680 men, divided in a regimental staff and two battalions of four companies each; a grenadier company, a light company and two fusilier companies. Further men were transferred from the 'landjagerbrigade' to the regiment (690 men?).
The regiment was finally brought up to strength by conscription, and on 28 February 18 14 strength was 41/1,641'. On 19 May, each battalion received a colour. Clothing the men was a problem, and it was decided that for the time being the men from the 'landjãgerbrigade' would retain their uniform: a dark green coat of infantry model, with green collar and cuffs; white waistcoat, trousers, and gaiters. All belting was black with a black leather cartridge pouch. The headgear was a shako, with the grenadiers distinguished by a black plume. Armament was a musket with bayonet whilst NCO's had additionally a sabre.
On 19th December the uniform was altered as follows: The same uniform as the 1st and 2nd Regiment, with the following changes: dark green coat with a lower front so that the waistcoat was no longer visible. Yellow 'paspelierungen' on the collar and on the black shoulder straps. The grenadiers were not issued with a busby but wore the same shako as for the fusiliers with possibly a red plume.
b. Landwehr Infantry RegIment
The Landwehr Infantry Regiment would be raised for service during the war against Napoleon only, and was commanded by Colonel Carl Fr. von MUlmann. It had the same composition as the 3rd Infantry Regiment. Originally, the regiment was to be made up of volunteers, but if it could not be brought up to strength by the end of December 1813, it would be completed by conscription. At the end of this term, only 410 volunteers of the fixed number of 1,680 had come forward, but after conscription the regiment was 37/1,524 strong on 28 February 1814.
On 19 December 1813 the uniform was also decreed to be the same as for the 3rd Infantry Regiment, only with red 'paspelierungen' and white buttons. However, due to shortage of green cloth, on 2 January it was decided that the trousers would be grey. The volunteers were allowed to distinguish themselves by wearing a silver cord on the collar. The grenadiers also wore shakos, from April onwards with red plumes and a brass grenade on the cartridge pouch. Greatcoats were not issued until the first six months of 1814.
On 20 May 1814, the Landwehr Infantry Regiment received colours, and it was disbanded by the Order of 19 June 1814.
These troops were initially armed with outdated Austrian or Bavarian muskets, any captured French muskets being used to arm the 2nd Regiment Nassau. Only when additional French muskets were captured by the Allies were these issued.
c. 'Nassauische Jãgerkorps'
The 'Nassauische Jagerkorps' would be a body of sharpshooters, composed of hunters, foresters, etc. aged between 18 and 40. This corps would be raised only for service during the war against Napoleon, and was commanded by Colonel Friedrich von Wintzingerode. The nucleus of the men came from the chasseurs a cheval, which had been disbanded because of the lack of horses, and which amounted to 77 men. Augmented by volunteers and others, the corps reached the strength of 11/274 in February 1814, growing to 12/382 in September 1814.
Orange-Nassau troops
In December 1813, Prince William of Orange ordered the raising of troops in the hereditary territories of Orange-Nassau. The following troops were to be raised initially:
* 1 battalion line infantry
* 1 battalion landwehr-infantry
* 1 corps 'Freiwillige Jãger' (volunteer foot jager)
On 19 January 1814, this was changed to:
d. 2 line battalions and a depot battalion
e. 2 companies 'Freiwillige Jager'
f. 1 veteran company
In addition, 'Landsturm' was raised for service in the territories of Orange-Nassau.
d. Line Infantry Regiment
Raising the 1st Battalion Orange-Nassau was no big problem. Its nucleus consisted of a few hundred soldiers from the former Grand Duchy of Berg, which were augmented by conscripts. There was no shortage of officers; many of those that had served earlier under Orange in the Netherlands, England, or Fulda came forward.
The 1st Battalion Orange-Nassau consisted of a grenadier company, a flanker company, and four fusilier companies. It reached full strength on 24 January 1814 and left for Mainz to take part in the blockade, forming part of the Nassau Brigade in the 5th German Army Corps commanded by General Duke Ernst III of Sachsen-Coburg-Saalfeld. The 1st Battalion had strength of 19/727, and was commanded by Major Wilhelm Ferdinand von Dressel. Both field battalions together would have paper strength of 4 1/1,526. A company had the following composition:
During the end of March 1814, the grenadier company and the flanker company of the 2nd battalion Orange-Nassau were added to the 1st Battalion, to be followed by the fusilier-companies during the end of April. Both battalions together now had strength of 39/1,496. Sometime in June 1814, after the peace had been signed, the regiment returned to Orange-Nassau. Half of the men were sent on leave, whilst the remaining half went on garrison duty.
e. Corps 'Freiwillige Jager'
Although originally fixed at two companies, the actual strength would only be one company. After the peace was signed, the corps was disbanded.
Nassau Troops in Netherlands Service
The first Nassau unit to be taken into Netherlands service was the remainder of the 2nd Regiment Nassau light infantry under the command of Colonel August H.E. von Kruse. This regiment had originally fought for Napoleon in Spain, but went over to the British with a strength of 43/ 1 ,073 on 1 0 December 1 8 1 3, leaving behind their depot, sick and wounded, and the regimental musicians, who were disarmed and imprisoned In Bayonne (6/149).
The 1st Regiment Nassau and both squadrons of the chasseurs a cheval did not have the chance to go over and were disarmed on 22 December at Barcelona and near Gerona respectively. That a Nassau unit did go over to the Allies was politically very Important for the existence of Nassau as an 'independent' territory, and for its acceptance as a member of the coalition against Napoleon.
The 2nd Regiment Nassau embarked on four British transports in the Northern Spanish harbour of Passages, and after a stormy and difficult journey it arrived in Plymouth. On travelling to London, Colonel von Kruse was told it was that it was the wish of the British government and the Prince of Orange (later to become King William I) to use the regiment in the Netherlands. Von Kruse agreed to garrison a fortress in the Netherlands until his sovereign had decided on their final destination.
Waiting during the whole month of January for the weather to clear, and augmented by Nassau officers who up until this date had been held prisoner in Britain, the Nassauers remained in their transports at Plymouth. Lieutenant Colonel Friedrich Wilhelm von Goedecke was now in command, Colonel von Kruse having left for Germany on his own. When they at last left for the Netherlands, the Nassauers met a heavy gale which dispersed the ships.
Two managed to reach the Netherlands' ports of tlellevoetsluis and Brielle, but during the night of 8/9 February the two remaining ships were stranded on a sandbank called 'Haaksbank', in the vicinity of the island of Texel. From one of these ships there were no survivors at all. On the other ship, of the two hundred soldiers that were on it about a hundred managed to cling to the mast and the yards of the ship. During that night many of them froze to death or had to let go from exhaustion. The next day no help came as the survivors were not visible from the nearby land due to the bad weather. After another dreadful night, the next day the crews of the French fleet in the Texel roads2 at last saw those Nassauers still alive, and boats were sent.
Because of the storm, it was impossible to reach the wrecked ship and to save anyone, and a second terrible cold night followed. Most of those who had survived thus far now froze and died - it was so cold that there were ice floes on the seal. Early in the morning of the 11 February, boats started from the coast to rescue the Nassauers, but the ice, and the heavy seas meant that it took until about 2.00 p.m. for the first boat to reach the shipwrecked men. It was not until 2.00 a.m. on the 12th that the last of the survivors was rescued: three officers, 26 others, and eight sailors.
About four hundred Nassauers had drowned in the disaster. The survivors were taken to the island of Texel and it took three weeks before they were well enough to be transported to a hospital in Alkmaar. After having become fit for duty again, the men left on 8 March for 's Hertogenbosch, arriving there on the 13th, and were for the time being taken into Netherlands service.
The men were combined into the le Bataljon Nassausche Lichte Infanterie, commanded by Colonel von Kruse, while the surplus cadre went to Usingen to raise two new battalions from recruits. Each company was to be 140 men strong, and the regiment consisted of two battalions each of six companies to give a unit strength of 47/1,696. On 11 April 1814, the le Bataljon tlassausche Lichte Infanterie (14/497) became part of the Light Infantry Brigade of the 1st Division, commanded by Colonel von Kruse, and located at Lepelstraat and lialterense-molen, taking part in the blockade of the fortress-city Bergen op Zoom. After the capitulation of this fortress the battalion returned to 's Hertogenbosch.
 On 16 July 1814, another unit was taken into Netherlands service. This was the Regiment Oranje-Nassau, to be formed from the 1st and 2nd Battalion Orange-Nassau. The regiment would consist of a staff and two battalions. Each battalion consisted of four fusilier companies, a grenadier, a flanker, and a depot company, so the regiment counted fourteen companies in all. Total strength would be 56/1,944. The 1st battalion was soon brought up to strength and on 29 August 1814, commanded by major Wilhelm Ferdinand von Dressel, left for the Netherlands initially to garrison the fortress-city Nijmegen but later to be transferred to 's liertogenbosch. On 15 January 1815, the Regiment Oranje-Nassau became an integral part of the Netherlands army, receiving the number '28'.
Popular resistance against the Regiment Oranje-Nassau becoming part of the Netherlands army was strong. An article in the Rheinische Merkur from 5 September 1814 gave proof of this: 'The situation in our region has not become better after our relief of the French. Our government has continued the conscription of the French, and has raised the quota by two percent. In this way, 2.000 young people are taken away from their parents and sold to Holland. Nobody has objections against a reasonable conscription to defend our homelands, but now they have to serve in the army of a foreign country! This despotism is much worse then that of the French, and contradicts with the appeal the sovereign made on 6 December 1813 (...)3'. The article had a lot more on the same tone, and found its way to other newspapers in Europe. It found approval in France, but Prussia itself was not happy.
At the end of March 1815, when the 2nd battalion received the order to prepare for battle, it was still two hundred men short. By emptying the depot, another 65 men fit for duty were found. The unIt was further brought up to strength with men form the landwehr and fresh recruits. During the month of May the battalion left for the Netherlands when it was commanded by Major Christian Philipp Schleyer. It left behind the depot battalion, but it was accompanied by the re-activated Freiwillige Oranische Jãger-Kompanie or Compagnie Nassausche Vnjwillige Jagers commanded by 'Oberhofgerichtsrat' Captain Emilius Bergmann. The jager would stay attached to the 2nd battalion of the Regiment Oranje-Nassau. These units arrived with the field army in the Southern Netherlands on 12 June 1815.
 On 18 July 1814, a convention was agreed with Frederick Augustin, Duke of Nassau-Usingen, and Frederick Wilhelm, sovereign monarch of Nassau-Weilburg, for taking an infantry regiment into Netherlands service, for a period of six years. This convention included the condition that the regiment would rank directly after the Netherlands light infantry regiments, and that it should receive no number! This regiment Nassausche Lichte lnfanterie (2nd Regiment Nassau) would consist of a staff and three battalions, each of four fusiller companies, a carabineer company4, and a voltigeur company5. In addition, there would be two depot companies. Composition was as follows:
The 1e Bataijon Nassausche Lichte Infanterie was already present in the Netherlands garrisoning 's Hertogenbosch. Numbering 22/625, it would form the first battalion of the regiment. The 1st Regiment Nassau would be raised again by the Nassau monarchs, and during peacetime would serve as a depot for the 2nd Regiment Nassau in Netherlands service.
On 15 May 1814, the first replacement draft consisting of 454 recruits reached 's Hertogenbosch. The regiment was transferred to garrison Maastricht, and further additional replacements arrived by the end of June consisting of 390 recruits. A third batch of recruits was send, but over a hundred of them deserted during their march to the Netherlands because of rumours that the regiment would leave for the East and West Indies. The next batch of recruits was sent by ship on the Rhine, anchoring in the middle of the river during the night to prevent desertion. To bring the 2nd Regiment Nassau up to strength, and to complete all three battalions, it was decreed by the Duke of Nassau on 11 August 1814 that the 3rd Nassau Infantry Regiment would deliver nine 2nd lieutenants, 48 NCO's, eight drummers and 1,000 soldiers. Once this was done the 3rd Infantry Regiment was disbanded. In addition to some more recruits, officers were taken from the 1st Regiment Nassau and the Iandwehr. This huge transport left for Maastricht during September 18 14 under the command of Captain Johann Friedrich Sattler, and had the strength of 37 officers, 87 NCO's, 20 musicians and 1,254 soldiers. On 1 September command of the 2nd Regiment Nassau was taken over by the soon to be promoted Lieutenant Colonel Friedrich Wilhelm von Goedecke on place of Colonel von Kruse, who was promoted to major general on 22 August.
Overall, the Nassau soldiers were for the greater part raw recruits. Experienced officers and NCO's, veterans of many battles in French service, led them, although the same can be said of the Netherlands army as a whole.
Editors Note: Our thanks to Partizan Press for permission to reproduce this article.
First published in The Age of Napoleon - available for Caliver Books
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Sam Boldman
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Tue Dec 12 2000
17:50:58
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bior
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Tue Dec 25 2001
21:14:21
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I found very iteresting the article of the nassauers troops in netherlands service, but what is very difficult to me, is to find some information about the uniform of a little unit , the FREIWILLIGE ORANISCHE JAGER KOMPANIE , under Captain Bergmann command. This unit was attached to the 2btn ,28 nassau-oranien regiment. May be you can help me in my research. Thank you .
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bior
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Tue Dec 25 2001
21:15:27
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I found very iteresting the article of the nassauers troops in netherlands service, but what is very difficult to me, is to find some information about the uniform of a little unit , the FREIWILLIGE ORANISCHE JAGER KOMPANIE , under Captain Bergmann command. This unit was attached to the 2btn ,28 nassau-oranien regiment. May be you can help me in my research. Thank you .
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S Berntsen
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Mon Jun 10 2002
15:20:44
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dear sir'
great information! I hope you can help me with a detail that is hard to get: a clear picture of the sjakoplate worn by tha Nassau troops at waterloo.
thanks very much in advance,
Sebastiaan Berntsen
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Andrew Barrett
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Tue Dec 3 2002
08:45:34
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This information is very interesting and useful and I need information on the uniforms of both batallions of the Regiment Oranje-Nassau for Waterloo.
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reza
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Thu Jan 30 2003
07:42:35
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paul bessant
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Sun Mar 23 2003
20:06:39
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hi I am interested in the nassau volunteer jager co under the command of captain E Bergmann.I am interested in the uniform they would be wearing at waterloo 1815.thankyou
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David Hamer
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Fri Apr 25 2003
18:16:47
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Hallo Geert,
First thanks for all the useful information. I too am interested in the uniforms of the Orange Nassau Regiment and would appreciate any additional information.
S Bernstein showed interest in a picture of a Nassauer Waterloo shako plate. I have a photo of a watercolour that I could send to you or him but I see nowhere to post it here.
Thank you in advance and all the best,
D Hamer
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