''Chasseur'' ( , ), a French term for "hunter", is the designation given to certain regiments of French and Belgian

light infantry Light infantry refers to certain types of lightly equipped infantry throughout history. They have a more mobile or fluid function than other types of infantry, such as heavy infantry or line infantry. Historically, light infantry often fought ...

() or

light cavalry Light cavalry comprised lightly armed and body armor, armored cavalry troops mounted on fast horses, as opposed to heavy cavalry, where the mounted riders (and sometimes the warhorses) were heavily armored. The purpose of light cavalry was p ...

() to denote troops trained for rapid action.

History

This branch of the

French Army The French Army, officially known as the Land Army (, , ), is the principal Army, land warfare force of France, and the largest component of the French Armed Forces; it is responsible to the Government of France, alongside the French Navy, Fren ...

originated during the

War of the Austrian Succession The War of the Austrian Succession was a European conflict fought between 1740 and 1748, primarily in Central Europe, the Austrian Netherlands, Italian Peninsula, Italy, the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. Related conflicts include King Ge ...

when, in 1743, Jean Chrétien Fischer was authorized by the Marshal de Belle-Isle to raise a 600 strong mixed force of infantry and cavalry. It was called '' Chasseurs de Fischer.'' During the remainder of the 18th century various types of light troops () were employed within the French army, either as independent units or as companies within existing regiments. In 1788, there were 8 battalions of chasseurs, and in March 1793 this was expanded to 21 battalions. The first battalions of Chasseurs raised by 1788 included: * (1st) '' Chasseurs Royaux de Provence'' * (2nd) ''

Chasseurs Royaux de Dauphiné ''Chasseur'' ( , ), a French term for "hunter", is the designation given to certain regiments of French and Belgian light infantry () or light cavalry () to denote troops trained for rapid action. History This branch of the French Army o ...

'' * (3rd) '' Chasseurs Royaux Corses'' (

Corsica Corsica ( , , ; ; ) is an island in the Mediterranean Sea and one of the Regions of France, 18 regions of France. It is the List of islands in the Mediterranean#By area, fourth-largest island in the Mediterranean and lies southeast of the Metro ...

n) * (4th) '' Chasseurs Corses'' (

n) * (5th) '' Chasseurs Cantabres'' ( Cantabrian) * (6th) '' Chasseurs Bretons'' * (7th) ''

Chasseurs d'Auvergne ''Chasseur'' ( , ), a French term for "hunter", is the designation given to certain regiments of French and Belgian light infantry () or light cavalry () to denote troops trained for rapid action. History This branch of the French Army o ...

'' * (8th) '' Chasseurs des Vosges'' * (9th) '' Chasseurs des Cévennes'' * (10th) '' Chasseurs du Gèvaudan'' * (11th) '' Chasseurs des Ardennes'' * (12th) ''

Chasseurs du Roussillon ''Chasseur'' ( , ), a French language, French term for "hunter", is the designation given to certain regiments of France, French and Belgium, Belgian light infantry () or light cavalry () to denote troops trained for rapid action. History T ...

The were the light infantrymen of the French Imperial army. They were armed the same as their counterparts in the regular line infantry (

fusilier ''Fusilier'' is a name given to various kinds of soldiers; its meaning depends on the historical context. While ''fusilier'' is derived from the 17th-century French word – meaning a type of flintlock musket – the term has been used in cont ...

) battalions, but were trained to excel in marksmanship and in executing manoeuvres at high speed. From 1840, they wore a long-skirted

frock coat A frock coat is a formal wear, formal men's coat (clothing), coat characterised by a knee-length skirt cut all around the base just above the knee, popular during the Victorian era, Victorian and Edwardian era, Edwardian periods (1830s–1910s). ...

. After 1850, however the chasseurs adopted a

uniform A uniform is a variety of costume worn by members of an organization while usually participating in that organization's activity. Modern uniforms are most often worn by armed forces and paramilitary organizations such as police, emergency serv ...

consisting of a short frock coat with slits in the sides on the bottom edge to allow for better freedom of movement than the previous design. They also wore light blue baggy trousers (in contrast to the red of the line infantry) tucked into jambières (leather gaiters). The other light infantry unit type, the voltigeurs, specialised as

skirmisher Skirmishers are light infantry or light cavalry soldiers deployed as a vanguard, flank guard or rearguard to screen a tactical position or a larger body of friendly troops from enemy advances. They may be deployed in a skirmish line, an irre ...

s and for advance screening of the main force. The chasseurs could also be called upon to form advance guards and scouting parties alongside the voltigeurs. Following the Napoleonic Wars the continued to exist as a separate corps within the infantry. Initially a specially trained elite, their tactical role eventually came to match that of the ordinary (line infantry). By the late 19th century the differences between the two branches were confined to uniform and insignia, although the chasseurs retained a strong esprit de corps. Immediately after the

Franco-Prussian War The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the War of 1870, was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the North German Confederation led by the Kingdom of Prussia. Lasting from 19 July 1870 to 28 Janua ...

it was argued that the continued existence of a nominally elite class of infantry that was in fact armed and trained to the same standards as the ordinary soldier, was contrary to both military utility and the egalitarian principles of the new republic. However public opinion, influenced by the occasions on which the chasseurs had distinguished themselves during the war was opposed to the disbanding of this distinctive corps. Under the Third Republic the were increased from 20 to 30 battalions. Of these, 4 saw active service in Tunisia, one in Indochina and one in Madagascar during the period 1880-1896. Twelve of the chasseur battalions were re-designated as mountain infantry (). The remaining chasseur battalions were deployed near the frontier with Germany as part of the , charged with covering the bulk of the army during mobilization. During World War I the French Army maintained 31 battalions of infantry chasseurs plus a varying number of reserve and territorial units. Each infantry division was expected to include at least one battalion of either or Each battalion had an establishment of 1,300 to 1,500 men. They were reportedly nicknamed (black devils) by their German opponents, in reference to their dark colored uniforms. The chasseurs served mainly on the Western Front but detachments were sent to reinforce the Italian front in 1917.

Chasseurs à cheval

The , a type of French

, date from 1743 when an independent unit (Fischer's Volunteer Company of Chasseurs) was raised during the

to counter Trenck's Pandurs and

Croats The Croats (; , ) are a South Slavs, South Slavic ethnic group native to Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and other neighboring countries in Central Europe, Central and Southeastern Europe who share a common Croatian Cultural heritage, ancest ...

employed as irregulars by the Austrian army. Originally a mixed corps of light infantry and horsemen, this force proved sufficiently effective to warrant the creation of a single corps: In 1776 this and other volunteer "legions" had their mounted elements converted into 24 squadrons of each of which was attached to one of the existing dragoon regiments of the royal cavalry. In 1779 these squadrons were amalgamated into six regiments, each of which was given a regional title (1st 2nd etc.). In 1788, 6 dragoon regiments were converted to and during the period of the Revolutionary Wars the number was again increased, to 25. During their earlier history these regiments lacked the higher profile of the identically-armed (but much more lavishly uniformed)

hussar A hussar, ; ; ; ; . was a member of a class of light cavalry, originally from the Kingdom of Hungary during the 15th and 16th centuries. The title and distinctive dress of these horsemen were subsequently widely adopted by light cavalry ...

s. Distinguished by dark green uniforms and a bugle-horn badge, they were frequently used as advance scouting units providing valuable information on enemy movements. Both Napoleon's Imperial Guard and the Royal Guard of the Restoration each included a regiment of . In addition Napoleon added a further 5 line regiments to those inherited from the Revolutionary period. At the beginning of the

of 1870, the French Army had 12 regiments of , grouped with 8 hussar regiments to form the light branch of the cavalry and tasked with primarily reconnaissance duties. This intended role continued through World War I and the remained entirely horse mounted until the was motorised in June 1940. Disbanded after the

Battle of France The Battle of France (; 10 May – 25 June 1940), also known as the Western Campaign (), the French Campaign (, ) and the Fall of France, during the Second World War was the Nazi Germany, German invasion of the Low Countries (Belgium, Luxembour ...

, these units were reconstituted in 1944–45 as light armor. During the French occupation of Algeria, regiments of were raised. These were light cavalry recruited originally from French volunteers and subsequently from the French settlers in North Africa doing their military service. As such they were the mounted equivalent of the

zouave The Zouaves () were a class of light infantry regiments of the French Army and other units modelled on it, which served between 1830 and 1962, and served in French North Africa. The zouaves were among the most decorated units of the French Army ...

Flanqueurs Chasseurs

In preparation for the invasion of Russia, Napoleon ordered the creation of additional units for the Guard that included the ''Régiment de Flanqueurs-Chasseurs de la Garde''. Along with the regiment of ''Flanqueues-Grenadiers'', this was mainly recruited from the sons and nephews of forest service civil servants or made up of young men who wanted to obtain a position within the Waters and Forests Administration after concluding their military service. The role of these light infantry soldiers was to flank the main army while on the march, in order to guard against any sudden attack.

Chasseurs Forestiers

The (forest huntsmen) were militarized units of the ''Eaux et Forêts administration'' (Waters and Forests Administration). They were organized in 18 companies and many sections. The existed between 1875 and 1924. The ''chasseurs forestiers'' were classed as light infantry troops and could form advance guards and scouting parties due to their knowledge of natural fields and their ability to make or read maps. Established by a decree of the newly established Third Republic dated 2 April 1875, the ''Chasseurs Forestiers'' incorporated some personnel of the existing Water and Forest Administration into the French Army on a part-time basis. The purpose was to make use of trained and specialist manpower as part of the armed forces in time of war. The specific roles envisaged for the ''Chasseurs Forestiers'' were to provide guides for the regular army and to work with the Engineers in obtaining stocks of timber for military use. While provided with distinctive green and grey uniforms plus stocks of standard infantry weapons and equipment, the ''Chasseurs Forestiers'' performed their normal forestry service functions in peacetime with only limited involvement in army training and manoeuvers. Upon mobilisation in August 1914 personnel aged between 25 and 48 years saw front line service in the

Vosges The Vosges ( , ; ; Franconian and ) is a range of medium mountains in Eastern France, near its border with Germany. Together with the Palatine Forest to the north on the German side of the border, they form a single geomorphological unit and ...

in northern France. Post-war policy changes led to the disestablishment of the ''Chasseurs Forestiers'' as a military body in 1924.

Modern French Army

The modern French Army still maintains (mechanized infantry: 16^e BC), (mountain troops: 7^e, 13^e, 27^e BCA) and regiments of (1^er-2^e RCh and 4^e RCh: light armored regiments). In addition one regiment of (training unit: 1^er RCA) has been re-raised to commemorate this branch of the French cavalry. Since May 1943 there has been a "Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes" (1^er RCP). All of these units have different traditions: * are light infantry units created after 1838. Some of these battalions were converted to specialized mountain units as in 1888, as an answer to the Italian Alpine () regiments stationed along the Alpine frontier. * are units of the "Arme Blindée Cavalerie": armoured units. The basic organic unit is called regiment and not bataillon to avoid confusing cavalry and infantry chasseurs. * The airborne infantry units called ''Régiments de chasseurs parachutistes'' were created in 1943 with airborne troops from the French Airforce (GIA or ), who were transferred into the Army. * are the elite mountain infantry of the modern French Army. They are trained to operate in mountainous terrain and to undertake urban warfare. Although the traditions of these different branches of the French Army are very different, there is still a tendency to confuse one with the other. For example, when World War I veteran Léon Weil died, the AFP press agency stated that he was a member of the 5th "Régiment de Chasseurs Alpins". It was in fact the 5th Bataillon.

Belgian army

From its creation as a permanent force in 1832 the Belgian army included regiments of both chasseurs à pied and chasseurs à cheval, performing the same roles as their French counterparts. Their lineage is a continuation of regiments of hussars and light-dragoons of the army of the Kingdom of the United Netherlands from which they were originated. At the outbreak of World War I in August 1914 there were 3 regiments of Chasseurs à pied, each of 3 battalions, and 3 regiments of mounted Chasseurs. In 1933 a new regiment of light infantry: the Chasseurs Ardennais, was created to garrison the mountainous region of that name. In 2011, the 1st Regiment of Chasseurs à cheval/Guides (result of the fusion of the 1st Chasseurs à Cheval and the Regiment of Guides in 2004) was amalgamated with the 2nd/4th Regiment of Chasseurs à cheval, in order to form the Battalion Chasseurs à Cheval (Bataljon Jagers te Paard). The battalion is dedicated to the ISTAR missions and carries the standard of the 1st Chasseurs à Cheval.

U.S. Army

The

U.S. The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 contiguous ...

Federal Army adopted Chasseurs during the Civil War as a scouting and skirmishing force for use against the

Confederate Army The Confederate States Army (CSA), also called the Confederate army or the Southern army, was the military land force of the Confederate States of America (commonly referred to as the Confederacy) during the American Civil War (1861–1865), fi ...

. Their uniform was patterned after the French style, with the short, vented coat, though they were issued grey kepis. A notable unit of Civil War Chasseurs were the 65th New York Volunteer Infantry (also known as the 1st United States Chasseurs). The Chasseurs were involved in the

Peninsula campaign The Peninsula campaign (also known as the Peninsular campaign) of the American Civil War was a major Union operation launched in southeastern Virginia from March to July 1862, the first large-scale offensive in the Eastern Theater. The oper ...

, as well as the Appomattox campaign, and lost a total of 146 men. They were distinct for choosing to wear M1858 uniform hats (more popularly known as Hardee hats) rather than the kepis. The 14th Brooklyn, one of the most famous regiments of the Civil War, wore a Chasseur uniform their whole term. In 1862, following the capture of Confederate-held

New Orleans New Orleans (commonly known as NOLA or The Big Easy among other nicknames) is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 383,997 at the 2020 ...

by Federal soldiers, an all-black regiment named the Chasseurs d'Afrique was raised.Jacques Sicard and Francois Vauvillier, ''Les Chasseurs d'Afrique''. . p. 40.

Argentinian Army

In the Argentinian Army, the term (Spanish for hunter, although in a military context it means chasseur or ranger) is used to designate certain special units trained to operate in specific geographical areas, such as mountain or jungle. Currently, there are two independent companies of (mountain rangers) and three of (jungle rangers).

Footnotes

{{reflist

References

* Louis Susane, ''Historie de l'Ancienne Infanterie Français, Volume I,'' 1849 Naval and Polytechnical Military Library of Paris, Paris, France.

External links

Chasseurs alpins

* ttps://www.nytimes.com/1861/09/02/news/letter-from-the-first-united-states-chasseurs.html Civil War military equipment of the United States Combat occupations Combat occupations of the late modern period Military units and formations of France French Army no:Jeger (soldat)