Historical Troop Designations

[Scotley]

I'm trying to find a source with listings of the meaning of various historical troop designations for use in my campaign. I am interested in the meaning of terms like Dragoon, Musketeer, Castradore (sp?), etc. I'm not having much luck with Google. Maybe I don't know what to ask for. I've had some sucess, but I would like a more comprehensive list. There is a lot of good stuff our there on rank and I can guess the more obvious ones like Musketeer or Lancer and I even discovered that Fusiliers used Fusiles which were light muskets. But that's as far as I got. Did Grenadeers use grenades? What about Hussars, Voltesures (sp?) Any help or links to useful sites would be appreciated. I figure there must be a few wargamers hanging out here. Please add to my list if you know of designations.

Thank you,
Scotley

 

[Wombat]

I'm trying to find a source with listings of the meaning of various historical troop designations for use in my campaign. I am interesting in the meaning of terms like Dragoon, Musketeer, Castradore, etc. I'm not having much luck with Google. Maybe I don't know what to ask for. I've had some sucess, but I would like a more comprehensive list. There is a lot of good stuff our there on rank and I can guess the more obvious ones like Musketeer or Lancer and I even discovered that Fusiliers used Fusiles which were light muskets. But that's as far as I got. Did Grenadeers use grenades? What about Hussars, Voltesures (sp?) Any help or links to useful sites would be appreciated. I figure there must be a few wargamers hanging out here. Please add to my list if you know of designations.

Thank you,
Scotley

Most of these terms are quite late in origin, many from 17th century forward..

Musketeers were soldiers schooled to use muskets; equally grenadiers originally threw grenades (tiny bowling-ball bombs). Lancer is very much a late term (18th century, I believe) as most European cavalry during the Middle Ages and the like would carry a lance/spear and then switch to back-up hand weapon after a charge. Hussar is a title that shows up in the very late 17th, early 18th century in the Austro-Hungarian Empire as a designation for some of the crazier Hungarian cavalry (they still collected heads as trophies). Dragoons is a designation, beginning in the 17th century, for troops who would (usually) ride into battle and then fight on foot, often with muskets or other firearms.

I'll see about finding some more proper links for you.

 

[francisca]

I'm trying to find a source with listings of the meaning of various historical troop designations for use in my campaign. I am interesting in the meaning of terms like Dragoon, Musketeer, Castradore, etc.

I don't think I want to know what a Castradore does.....

You might want to try webster.com. I got this:

Main Entry: 1dra·goon
Pronunciation: dr&-'gün, dra-
Function: noun
Etymology: French dragon dragon, dragoon, from Middle French
: a member of a European military unit formerly composed of heavily armed mounted troops

Also, try to find some historical miniature wargame websites/forums. The grognards should be all over that stuff.

 

[EB3]

Scotley, please excuse some (likely) spelling errors.
Dragoons originally were cavalry that acted as scouts for the army and were expected to fight dismounted (as a light infantry covering force). They were generally equipped as infantry (i.e. did not carry lances), and carried additional equipment like shovels and picks so that they could dig in. Their horses were not as high quality as those of heavy cavalry and generally being a dragoon was less prestigious (ie they got paid less than other cavalrymen). In later periods, if you think of the United States cavalry in the 19th century, you are thinking of dragoons.
By castradore, I think you might mean cacadore, which was a Portugese light infantryman in the Napoleonic era. Generally, a light infantry skirmisher type.
Grenadiers originally had little bombs, but became a kind of elite part of a larger infantry regiment/battalion, ussually about 1/10 of the force (a company). Grenadiers were frequently picked on the basis of being the biggest men in the regiment and were used as assault troops. Sometimes the grenadier companies from regiments would be pooled together as a grenadier battalion for assualts/attacks.
Voltesures may be the same a voltigiers, which were the French version of cacadores (ie light infantry skirmishers).
Lancers were also not heavily armored. They worked frequently as scouts, but unlike dragoons, they didn't hold ground and would fight from horseback in battles with (suprisingly) a lance.
Cuirassiers (or Kuirassiers, I've seen it spelled both ways) are another cavalry unit, that was armored (with a cuirass - a chest and backplate). These units were the heavy cavalry in 19th century Europe and fought with a very heavy and long cavalry sword, had big horses, and were the classically depicted charging mass of men and horse.

 

[Scotley]

Hussar is a title that shows up in the very late 17th, early 18th century in the Austro-Hungarian Empire as a designation for some of the crazier Hungarian cavalry (they still collected heads as trophies).
I'll see about finding some more proper links for you.

Thanks, this is the sort of information I was looking for. Are you suggesting that Hussar might translate as "head hunter"? I'll look forward to the links.

Scotley

 

[Scotley]

You might want to try webster.com.

Also, try to find some historical miniature wargame websites/forums. The grognards should be all over that stuff.

Great, I'll hit webster for the one's I've got so far and see if I can find some new ones from wargame sites. You're all very helpful.

Scotley

 

[Scotley]

Grenadiers originally had little bombs, but became a kind of elite part of a larger infantry regiment/battalion, ussually about 1/10 of the force (a company). Grenadiers were frequently picked on the basis of being the biggest men in the regiment and were used as assault troops. Sometimes the grenadier companies from regiments would be pooled together as a grenadier battalion for assualts/attacks.

That clears up some confusion for me. I saw several references to Grenadiers, but it didn't seem right that there were that many guys running around throwing little bombs.
I'm sure you are right about the voltigiers and cacadores, I was working from memory and my spelling isn't that good in english much less other languages. Cuirassiers is a new one for my list. Can anyone else add some more?

Thanks,
Scotley

 

[Evil Eli]

These are pics from the 5th Reggimento Corazzieri

The Cuirassiers was a type of lancer who named after the special armored Breastplate that they wore.

Dismounted Cuirassier from Napoleons 5th Regiment 2nd Squadron

Original Cuirass (Circa 1812)

 

[VirgilCaine]

Dragoons is a designation, beginning in the 17th century, for troops who would (usually) ride into battle and then fight on foot, often with muskets or other firearms.

According to my 1e DMG, this kind of troop were called "hobilars" during medieval times.

 

[A2Z]

I don't think I want to know what a Castradore does.....

You might want to try webster.com. I got this:

Main Entry: 1dra·goon
Pronunciation: dr&-'gün, dra-
Function: noun
Etymology: French dragon dragon, dragoon, from Middle French
: a member of a European military unit formerly composed of heavily armed mounted troops

Also, try to find some historical miniature wargame websites/forums. The grognards should be all over that stuff.

Instead of websters try this;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragoon

I think it'll give more of the information you're looking for.