Prussian Dragoons

Black Powder: Prussian Dragoons

Prussia was renowned for its superb infantry under Frederick the Great. Less well known is the effectiveness of Prussian cavalry on the European battlefield of the 19th century. Early in the Napoleonic Wars, Bonaparte himself warned his generals about the excellent Prussian cavalry.

The well-trained and disciplined Prussian horse fielded regiments of Cuirassiers, Dragoons, Hussars and Lancers during the Hundred Days Campaign. At Waterloo, eight dragoon units were in the field, making up 9% of the cavalry under Blücher's control.

Next to the Cuirassiers, the Dragoons were the heavy cavalry of the Prussian army. Their uniform was business-like - an unmistakable blue Litewka greatcoat and grey overalls, topped by a plain shako, often covered with an oilskin cover. Armed with a curved sabre in an iron scabbard, dragoons were unusual amongst Prussian cavalry in the Hundred Days campaign in that they carried cavalry carbines into battle.

Models supplied unpainted and require some assembly.