From: pmyers@unlgrad1.unl.edu (Phillip S. Myers)
Subject: Re: Gendarmes d'Elite a Cheval
Date: Sat, 22 Jul 95 13:28:41 CDT

Phil Roberts (robrtsp@orca.cig.mot.com) wrote:
: Anyone know where I can get uniform info on these guys?  The MAA on
: Nap's Gd. Cav have nothing.  I seem to remember seeing a drawing once
: of them.  They looked like the Gd. Gren., but with some different facings.

This is drawn from Empires Eagles & Lions vol 1 no. 98. Jan-Feb 87:
They rode black horses (I would guess except for the trumpeters, who 
might have followed French army practice of riding whites or grays) 
They had a black bearskin with a peak (kinda like later guard foot 
arty) red patch w/white grenade on crown, red plume (white for parade)
white metal chinscales, Blue coat, scarlet lapels and turnbacks
(white grenades on turnbacks) white metal buttons.  white trefoil on 
right shoulder, and aiguilette (shoulder cords)on left (opposite of 
grenadiers), but a Vernet painting shows an OFFICER w/ the cords on 
the right. Breeches and waistcoat yellow chamois (or buff, or strw 
yellow, something around that color) Yellow leather belts w/white 
edges, black cartridge box w/brass grenade badge yellow leather 
gloves, black boots. armed w/ sabre carbine and bayonet blue horse 
furniture trimmed white, white crown in rear corner.

     Hope this helps, I don't know where to get figs with the 
aiguilette on the left side, probably have to convert them yourself, 
maybe from pre 1809 carabiniers w/ post 1810 guard foot arty heads and
make your own cords.  Minifigs included 4 (15mm) in their Nap & staff 
on foot pack, but I don't know if that's available anymore.

From: curaissier@aol.com (Curaissier)
Subject: Re: Gendarmes d'Elite a Cheval
Date: 23 Jul 1995 03:26:33 -0400

Their uniforms are cut the same as the Grenadiers, except their bearskin
has a small bill on the front and no plate.  Coats are same as Gren's. 
Waistcoat and breeches were buff vs. white on Gren's.  Straps were
yellowish-buff with white edges.  These guys were also a black horse
outfit.  Their saddle blankets, etc. were like the Gren's, except trimmed
in white vs. the orange of the Gren's.  The Funcken series has a picture,
as does Elting's "Napoleonic Uniforms."  There won't be many of them in
one place at any given time (4 castings, or 230-250 men, at 1/60 scale),
and they were brigaded with the Grenadiers a' Cheval.

From: chuckvadun@aol.com (CHUCKVADUN)
Subject: Re: Gendarmes d'Elite a Cheval
Date: 23 Jul 1995 13:45:49 -0400

Color plates can be found in Volume 2 of Eltings Napoleonic Uniforms. They
were mounted on black horses. Looked similar to Grenadiers. Blue coat with
red facings and turnbacks. Blue collar. Buff vest, breeches, gloves and
buff lined white belts. Horse furniture blue with white trim. Red
turnbacks with white grenades. Red plume. White cords. White shoulder
straps. Trumpeter shown for 1806 in reversed colors but later plate shows
sky blue coat with red and silver lace. Bicorne trimmed in same lace with
white plume. Horse furniture blue and silver. Hope this helps.