The Prussian Towarczy Corps
(Prussian inspection)
Translated and composed by
Geert van Uythoven
Sources:
- "Stammliste aller Regimenter und Corps
der Königlich-Preußischen Armee" (Berlin, 1799) pp. 232-235, 238.
- "Stammliste aller Regimenter und Corps
der Königlich-Preußischen Armee. Für das Jahr 1804 (nebst Nachträgen und
Verbesserungen bis zum 1sten Junius 1805" (Berlin, 1805) pp. 247-251.
- "Historische Notizen über das
Offizier-Korps des ehemaligen Towarzys-Regiments vom Jahr 1806“ by Major von
Kesteloott, in "Militair-Wochenblatt" 6. Jahrgang (Berlin 1821)
pp.1717-1718.
- "Historische Notizen über das
Offizier-Korps des ehemaligen Bataillons Towarzys von 1806“ by Major von
Kesteloott, in "Militair-Wochenblatt" 6. Jahrgang (Berlin 1821)
pp.1736-1737.
With many thanks to Jan W. Kowalik, for providing
the Polish names of the garrison towns.
Garrison: Tykoczyn (Tykocin), Ostrolenka (Ostro³êka),
Drohyczin (Drohiczyn), Kuyszyn (Knyszyn), Zabludow (Zab³udow),
Bransk, Bockzy (Boczki), Wyzkowo (Wyszkow), Ostrow, and Lomza (£om¿a).
Uniform: Dark blue coat closed in front with ponceau red
Polish turnbacks, cuffs, standing collar and likewise lining. The tails of the
coat are hooked up, and lined with a small red stripe of clothing, the same as
a cuirassier-collet. On every seam there are 8 half round buttons of a new
pattern. The NCO’s and private have a red cord on both shoulders, The turnbacks
of the former also have a ‘Legaturtreffe’ [‘lace’] attached to it.
Further a white waistcoat. Long leather Hungarian breeches and hussar boots.
Felt shako with plume, cordon and cockade. The shako differs from that of the
hussar regiments, that it is somewhat wider at the top. With the officers,
these are in addition lined with fringes. The uniform of the 10 squadrons
Towarczys have yellow, and the 5 squadrons white buttons; these are the same
colour as the colours for the shoulder straps, which for the 10 squadrons is
yellow, white for the 5 squadrons. The officers on the contrary, have golden
long-looped shoulders straps for the former, silver ones for the latter; with
cords accordingly.
Of
the 5 squadrons Towarczys, one consists of the original Tartars. Of these, as a
distinction they had not the silver cords, but lace on their shoulder straps in
the same colour. And the NCO’s, Towarczys and privates have white instead of
red cords on their shoulders. The Tartar-squadron has 72 privates. To
distinguish them from the Towarczys, they have no shoulder straps. The same is
the case with all trumpeters and all company / squadron blacksmith’s [‘Fahnenschmieden’].
The private Tartars wear white, all Towarczys however the usual NCO plume
without any exception. The shape of it is however different again, that these
are somewhat wider at the top then the are on the lower side. The officers wear
cavalry sashes. The NCO’s and privates however a red belt with white lining,
and black leather sabretaches. Officers have no sabretache.
The
armament of the Towarczys is a sabre, lance, and a pair of pistols.
Canton: Its canton is the lower nobility of New-, East-, and
South-Prussia.
History:
- 1745: Under the name of Bosniaken Corps or later Regiment, they
are incorporated with the Hussar Regiment No.5, one company (‘Fahne’)
strong.
- 1760: The Regiment is augmented to 10 companies.
- 1763: Reduced to one company again.
- 1771: It was ordered that the Bosniaken would part from the
Hussar Regiment No.5 to form a separate Corps, and to be augmented to 10
squadrons; this was achieved by enlisting men from other cavalry regiments and
new recruits. The officers came for the greater part from the Hussar Regiment
No.5.
- 1788: The Corps is completely separated from the Hussar Regiment
No.5.
- 1800: The Bosniaken Regiment is dissolved. The privates are for the
greater part enlisted in the other hussar regiments. Instead of the Bosniaken,
from the lower nobility of the new Prussian provinces, a Corps of 15 squadrons
is raised. This Corps receive the name of a Regiment and a Battalion of
Towarczys. Most officers of the Bosniaken Regiment go to this new Corps,
augmented with chosen officers from other regiments.
- 1807: The regiment is disbanded.
Campaigns:
- 1757: The company took part in the battle of Groß-Jägerndorf.
- 1758-1759: In Pommern and Silesia.
- 1761-1762: Now 10 companies strong, the Regiment was in Silesia
during the whole period, distinguishing itself during heavy fighting in the
combat near Cant.
- 1762: Distinguishing itself in the action near Adelsbach, as well
as at Hohenfriedberg, Langenbeile, and Burkersdorf. Part of the Regiment
covered the siege of Schweidnitz. The other part was detached to Saxony, were
it took part in the march to Thüringen during which they distinguished
themselves because of their bravery.
- 1778: During the war of the Bavarian succession the were with the
king’s army.
- 1794: Participated in the Polish campaign. A squadron, together
with about 200 fusiliers of Bataillon No.6, defeated an enemy force of about
700 men which attacked Piontnitza, inflicting heavy loss. Next, four squadrons
and two companies of the Füsilierbataillon No.6, without cannon however,
attacked the enemy in Collno. They captured two small iron cannon and an 8-pdr
Russian unicorn. The withstood the enemy cannon fire for ten hours, and
evacuated the city only when it was set on fire by the enemy, but not before
they captured also part of their baggage. Further, three squadrons were present
at the glorious engagement when the enemy --which had occupied the height near
Demnicki and Sboyne village with 6,000 men, six cannon, and a howitzer-- was
completely defeated, the heights of Demicki taken, all redoubts and all the
guns captured, while the enemy was driven from Sboyne as well. Near Czarnutzin,
a command of 200 horse took many prisoners and captured 35 horses. After that,
the enemy was dislodged from Kordowa by a command of 150 Bosniaken. 170
Bosniaken, supported by one hundred fusiliers, chased General von Rornokowsky
with several hundred men near Roczan back across the Narew. Four squadrons were
present at the glorious combat near Magniszewo, were an enemy corps of 6,000
men was completely defeated, losing six cannon, and were a general, 11
officers, and 400 others were taken prisoner.
Chefs:
- 1745: Colonel von Ruesch: chef of the Hussar Regiment No.5; discharged as major-general.
- 1758: Colonel von Beust: chef of the Hussar Regiment No.5; died.
- 1765: Colonel von Lossow: became in 1771 chef of the 10
companies, and general-major; died as a lieutenant-general.
- 1783: Major-General von Hohenstock: separated them from the
Hussar Regiment No.5.
- 1788: Colonel von Günther: received in 1795 the Inspection
of the Tartarenpulk; died as a lieutenant-general.
- 1803: Major-General von l’Estocq.
Officers in 1806:
- Lieutenant-General
von l’Estocq: died in 1810 as governor of Berlin.
- Major-General
von Kall: pensioned when the regiment was disbanded in 1807; rothen
Adler-Orden; died in 1812 in Biala.
- Major
von Jeaneret: pensioned as general-major; in 1820 living in Landsberg on the
Warte.
- Major
von Konarsky: pensioned in 1806; lived in Faulbach near Johannisburg, died
there in 1817.
- Major
von Wiede: pensioned as lieutenant-colonel; in 1820 living in Ostrow, one of
the former garrisons of the regiment.
- Major
von Gerhardt: was killed in the battle of Heilsberg in 1807.
- Rittmeister
[‘Cavalry-captain’] Corsepp: pensioned when the regiment was disbanded in 1807;
died in October 1819 in Bransk, one of the former garrisons of the regiment.
- Rittmeister
Michaelis: was major of the Provinzial-Invaliden-Kompagnie in Tapiau;
died there in 1811.
- Rittmeister
von Saint Paul: as a major he was commander of the 3. Brandenburgisches
Ulanen-Regiment. Died in Crossen in 1812.
- Rittmeister
Lar. von Starkenfels: as a major-general he was in 1820 commander of the 11th
Cavalry Brigade.
- Stabs-Rittmeister
von Golnitz: pensioned as major; in 1820 living in Sarken near Lyck.
- Stabs-Rittmeister
Kayser: pensioned as lieutenant-colonel; died in August 1819 in Wartenberg.
- Stabs-Rittmeister
Kopka: pensioned as major; in 1820 living in Darkehnen in Lithuania.
- Stabs-Rittmeister
von Kasetzky: died in 1806 in Sykolozyn, one of the garrisons of the regiment
[?].
- 1st
Lieutenant von Poblotzky: pensioned as Rittmeister; in 1820 living in
Berlin.
- 1st
Lieutenant von Schön: died in 1806 in Sondjencz, one of the garrisons of the
regiment [?].
- 1st
Lieutenant von Bartkowsky: pensioned when the regiment was disbanded in 1807,
in 1820 living in Zabludow (Zab³udow), one of the former garrisons of
the regiment.
- 1st
Lieutenant von Manstein: died in 1807 in Tapiau.
- 1st
Lieutenant von Furtenbach: pensioned as Rittmeister.
- 1st
Lieutenant von Kesteloott: as a major placed on half-pay on 1 April 1817;
living in Berlin.
- 2nd
Lieutenant Domisch: died in 1807 in Mehlsack.
- 2nd
Lieutenant von Blacha: colonel with the 2. Leib-Husaren-Regiment; died
on 8 October 1820 in Wohlau.
- 2nd
Lieutenant von Grabowsky: pensioned as major; after that Landrath of
Bromberger Kreises.
- 2nd
Lieutenant von Wegnern: was killed during the storming of Soldau in 1806.
- 2nd
Lieutenant von Naurath: died in 1809 in Western Prussia.
- 2nd
Lieutenant von Witzleben: in 1820 Rittmeister with the 2.
Schlesisches Ulanen-Regiment.
- 2nd
Lieutenant Dallmer: in 1820 major with the 1. Westpreußisches
Ulanen-Regiment.
- 2nd
Lieutenant John: in 1820 Rittmeister with the 2. Schlesisches
Ulanen-Regiment.
- 2nd
Lieutenant Heydweiler: pensioned as Rittmeister when the regiment was
disbanded in 1807; after that a civilian occupation on the Rhine.
- 2nd
Lieutenant von Schlichting: pensioned.
- 2nd
Lieutenant Wachavsky: died as Rittmeister in 1820.
- 2nd
Lieutenant Dietrich alias von Schenk: died in October 1818 in Cöpnick.
- 2nd
Lieutenant Gebhardt: as Rittmeister, in 1820 postmaster in Ruppin.
- 2nd
Lieutenant von Höval: discharged in 1807.
- 2nd
Lieutenant Dallmer: was killed in the battle of Lützen in 1813.
- 2nd
Lieutenant von Michaelis: died as Rittmeister.
- 2nd
Lieutenant von Tyska: civilian occupation in 1820.
- 2nd
Lieutenant von Ciemiewsky: discharged with a pension because of a wound
sustained during the battle of Lützen in 1813.
- 2nd
Lieutenant von Podbielsky: in 1820 Rittmeister with the 4.
Pommersches Ulanen-Regiment.
- 2nd
Lieutenant von Drigalsky: died suddenly.
- 2nd
Lieutenant von Wimer: transferred to the Gendarmerie; after that
discharged; in 1820 living near Kitschen.
- Cornet
von Podscharly: in 1820 Rittmeister with the 5. Westfälisches
Ulanen-Regiment.
- Cornet
von Lupinsky: in 1820 Rittmeister with the Garde-Landwehr-Kavallerie-Regiment.
- Cornet
von Koppelow: died.
- Cornet
von Altenberg: unknown.
- Cornet
von Zalewsky: returned to his fatherland after the disbandment of the regiment
in 1807.
- Cornet
von Mojewsky: returned to his fatherland after the disbandment of the regiment
in 1807.
- Cornet
von Lupinsky: transferred to the Gendarmerie. After that discharged, in
1820 living in Upper-Silesia.
- Cornet
von Leo: discharged.
- Cornet
von Wiewsnewsky: returned to his fatherland after the disbandment of the
regiment in 1807.
- Cornet
von Woitkowsky: returned to his fatherland after the disbandment of the
regiment in 1807.
Lower staff of the regiment:
- Regimental
quartermaster and auditor Heinrichs: discharged as 2nd lieutenant; in 1820
living in the Amt Lyck.
- Army-chaplain
Herker: unknown.
- Auditor
Skalley: as 2nd lieutenant killed in the battle of Lützen in 1813.
- Regimental
surgeon von Roszynsky: discharged with a pension; in 1820 living in Eastern
Prussia.
Garrison: Augustowa (Augustow), Riagrod (Rajgrow),
Suchawolla (Suchowola), Janow, and Lipsk.
Uniform: See the Regiment Towarczys.
Canton: Same as for the regiment.
History:
- 1800: The first four squadrons have the same origins as those of
the regiment; the 5th squadron however is based on the former Tartarenpulk
of 5 squadrons, raised by King Friedrich Wilhelm II in December 1795. As such
it was given the name ‘Tartar Squadron’. In addition, the officers of the Tartarenpulk
were kept, promotion only among themselves, while those of the other squadrons
rank with the army.
- 1807: The battalion is disbanded.
Commandeur:
- 1800: Major Schimmelpfennig von der Oye.
Officers in 1806:
- Major and commanding officer Schimmelpfennig von
der Oye: pensioned as lieutenant-colonel; died in 1813 on his Layken estate
near Insterburg.
- Major Goell: discharged with a pension when the battalion was disbanded in 1807; in 1820 living on the Rhine.
- Rittmeister von Sieranowsky: pensioned as lieutenant-colonel; died in 1814 on his Satzkowen estate near Ortelsburg.
- Rittmeister von Stolfersoth: died in 1812 in Jostrow, one of the garrisons of the regiment [?].
- Stabs-Rittmeister von Glaser: died in 1813 in Johannisburg.
- Stabs-Rittmeister von Wilzewsky: pensioned as major; in 1820 living in Prussian Wartenberg.
- 1st Lieutenant Wolky: pensioned as colonel; in 1820 living on his Lindenau estate near Mehlsack.
- 1st Lieutenant Beier: colonel in 1820, responsible for buying horse harnesses; living in Berlin.
- 1st Lieutenant von Moerner: in 1820 major with the 5. Westfälisches Ulanen-Regiment.
- 2nd Lieutenant Preuß: unknown.
- 2nd Lieutenant von Drigalsky: Rittmeister with the Gendarmerie; discharged in 1819.
- 2nd Lieutenant von Tallotzko: unknown.
- 2nd Lieutenant von Wildowsky: pensioned as major; in 1820 Ober-Kasernen-Inspektor in Königsberg in Prussia.
- 2nd Lieutenant von Chaleky: returned to his fatherland after the disbandment of the battalion in 1807.
- 2nd Lieutenant Tarlo: in 1820 Rittmeister with the Gendarmerie.
- 2nd Lieutenant von Thiele: in 1820 Rittmeister with the 2. Schlesisches Ulanen-Regiment.
- 2nd Lieutenant von Zeromsky: in 1820 1st lieutenant with the 2. Schlesisches Ulanen-Regiment.
- 2nd Lieutenant von Baranowsky: returned to his fatherland after the disbandment of the battalion in 1807.
- 2nd Lieutenant von Stugotzky: in 1820 Rittmeister with the Posener Landwehr-kavallerie-Regiment.
- 2nd Lieutenant von Norelly: died in 1816 in the vicinity of Sedan.
- 2nd Lieutenant von Uniaczewsky: returned to his fatherland after the disbandment of the battalion in 1807.
- 2nd Lieutenant von Newieka: returned to his fatherland after the disbandment of the battalion in 1807.
- 2nd Lieutenant von Ledebur: placed with the cavalry.
- 2nd Lieutenant von Tyska: in 1820 1st lieutenant with the 2. Schlesisches Ulanen-Regiment.
Lower staff of the battalion:
- Regimental
quartermaster Kopka: in 1820 having a civilian occupation.
- Army-chaplain
Herker: unknown.
- Regimental surgeon Geitner: pensioned; died later.
© Geert van Uythoven