A Rare Regimentally marked British Military Special Pattern Rifled Carbine for the mounted CHASSEURS

Description

A Rare Untouched Regimentally marked British Military Special Pattern Rifled Carbine for the mounted CHASSEURS. 17.25″, .62 caliber rifled browned…

A Rare Untouched Regimentally marked British Military Special Pattern Rifled Carbine for the mounted CHASSEURS. 17.25″, .62 caliber rifled browned twist-iron barrel with patent breech is marked on the top of the breech with “Crossed Scepter” TOWER proofs and “C II”. The barrel has an elevated rear sight. The rifle is in its original flintlock configuration. The round-face, convex lock is marked “TOWER”, and a “CROWN” over “GR” (King George III). Standard all brass pattern furniture including the wrist escutcheon with engraved “H H” (HOMPESCH’S HUSSARS Regt.) and the inventory or rack number “29”. The rifle retains the original steel ram rod. The stock has has the Cavalry sling ring and bar intact. Overall the stock is solid with a stress crack along the upper left edge of the fore-end above the sling bar, scratches and dings from years of service. A seldom encountered rifle in good mechanical working order !

Overall length: 33.5″

TTI-596424

According to Wikipedia:

TheHompesch Hussars(German:Hompesch Husarenregiment,French:Régiment des Hussards de Hompesch) was a Germanlight cavalryregimentof the FrenchArmée des Émigrésraised by theFreiherrvon Hompesch. The regiment was raised in 1794 following an expansion of theBritish foreign corps, and served in the Flanders campaign, notably at the Battle of Boxtel. However, following the unsuccessful attempt to overthrow the Republican government, the regiment was deployed to the West Indies instead of a planned deployment to Western France. They were slowly destroyed in the West Indies by disease and fever and finally disbanded in October 1797.

In the spring 1794, the BritishWar Officeordered the formation of several new units within theHoly Roman Empire, notably withinHanoverandSwabia. That year, Charles, Freiherr von Hompesch, signed a capitulation with the British government in which he would organise a legion, later known asHompesch’s Legion. The new group would be composed of the following: one Hussar Regiment of three squadrons and two mountedchasseurs(rifles) were attached totalling 913 in all ranks. The second unit was an infantry battalion of six companies and 801 of all ranks.^[2]

By the end of 1794, the new legion was formed, with its mounted element becoming theHompesch Hussars.^[1]The new regiment was composed of threesquadronsof threetroopsof 3 officers and 81 other ranks each. The horses werePolishorHungarian, and the uniform comprised a greenpelisseand greendolmanwith a red collar and red breeches, and was surmounted by a redhussarcap with a whiteplume. The new regiment was raised atSchwarmand most of its original rank and file with three-quarters of its officers being émigrés, the rest being German. The regiment wore the badge of thePrince of Wales,George August Frederick.^[3]

In just two weeks, Hompesch had gathered some 300 troops to fight in his name. The majority of the officers were formerly part of theFrench Royal Armyand mostly came from theCorps of Chasseurs(Corps de Chasseurs). The remainder were Frenchcounter-revolutionaries,Germansmostly from the Hanover, andFlemingsfrom theAustrian Netherlands.^[2]

By early 1795,Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albanyhad joined theAustrian Army of the NetherlandsinWallonia, in preparation for his plannedInvasion of France. The Duke therefore, asPrince-Bishop of Osnabrück, ordered the newly formed émigré forces intoFlanders. First theUhlans BritanniquesandRohan’s Light Infantry(Rohan’s Legion) arrived, and laterChoiseul’s HussarsandSalm’s Hussars. The Hompesch Hussars arrived last and were in a less favourable position than the other units. By 1 September 1794, the Hompesch Hussars, Ramsay’s Hussars, and Rohan’s Hussars returned 1,000 fit and present, but were 250 short.^[2]

On 14 September 1794, British command received despatches reporting an attack by the majority of the FrenchArmy of the NorthunderGénéral de DivisionJean-Charles Pichegru. The Duke of York immediately sent reinforcements toGeneralmajorBaron von Dalwigk’s position inBoxtel. The following day, the Hompesch Hussars with two squadrons,Hompesch Chasseurswith two Companies, and Irwin’sYork Hussarswith two Squadrons arrived, along with 4 light guns. When the revolutionary French charged theHessianpositions, the Hompesch Chasseurs and Hussars held their post “magnificently”, hanging on after the entirety of the Hessian brigade was routed. During this small engagements, 204 émigrés were killed (none were taken prisoners: the Republicans killed all), and lost their four guns. However, both the Hessians and advancing British gave the Hompesch troops praise for their tenacity, though this came at a cost of 120 casualties among 160 present.^[2][4]

By 1 December 1794, about a dozen foreign corps were in the field, of which the six mounted corps present on 1 September mustered 3,000 officers and men against establishments of nearly 5,000.^[5]

^{By early 1795, theRoyalist Émigrésplanned a two prong attack into the French mainland. From the west, a British Fleet would transport a large émigré force toBrittanyand land atQuiberon Baywith a plan of uniting with theCatholic and Royal Armies, which had already begun the first phase with theWar in the Vendéein 1793. However, throughout the campaign, a mix of miscommunication and lack of loyal émigré soldiers led to a total breakdown of communication. By 11 July Hompesch’s and Salm’s Hussars were still based in Flanders and the desertion rate soared after news arrived that the regiment would be embarking shortly. On 10 October, the regiment’s strength was at 39 officers and 772 other ranks. With news of the initial invasion being a failure, the regiment was instead sent to theWest Indies, which would become known as the graveyard of theBritish Foreign Corps.[6]}