The Von Schmalen Prussian Soldier Images: Cavalry and Freitruppen

Are we the baddies? 

Dear Reader,

Today, we are going to examine the second portion of Von Schmalen's, Accurate Vorstellung der Samtlichen Koeniglich Preussischen Armee, a series of uniform prints of the Prussian Army from the era of the Seven Years' War. Schmalen published his book in 1759.  Last week, we looked at the Infantry and Artillery uniforms. Although available elsewhere online, the copy I photographed in Washington, D.C. has distinctive features, such as the clearly marked gaiter buttons for the Jäger zu Fuss. Though certainly an imperfect source, it does give a window into the uniforming of the Prussian army during the Seven Years' War.

You can find the first section, with the uniform guide key, here. Readers of American history may recall that Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben served in Frei-Infantrie von Mayr, image number 108 in this series. It is the first of the units marked, "Frey Battalion," in this series.