From: pany@aol.com (Pany)
Subject: Re: French Imp. Guard Cavalry Query
Date: 7 Jun 1996 12:40:30 -0400

You are correct on the Imperial Guard Grenadiers au Cheval as being
mounted on black horses. This would probably be correct up to the 1812
Campaign. After that the shortage of suitable mounts would have dictated
the need to mix different color horses, probably chestnuts and roans.
Remember the buglers were usually mounted on whites or greys.

The Shabraque you refer to was normally only utilized by cavalrymen
dressed in Grand Tenue ala Hussard. (Hussar dress) The GI Chasseurs au
Cheval were dressed in such mode all the way through the wars. Many 1815
GI Chasseurs had replaced the fur busby with the tall shako by Waterloo,
but still retained the dolman and pelisse.

Dale Bruner
The Soldier Exchange
http://db-associates.com/soldier-exchange