tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-590309052265150737.post5664920693359651763..comments2023-10-18T03:31:38.776-07:00Comments on il Desto Fante: A little perplexedDestoFantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01494137805021399084noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-590309052265150737.post-89386206954681501652009-12-27T07:07:01.315-08:002009-12-27T07:07:01.315-08:00I spotted this while Googling for something comple...I spotted this while Googling for something completely different, so sorry the comment is about 2 years too late....<br /><br />The leather cap (casquette) was introduced during the Revolution, although it had been discussed during the Royalist period. I think a few units may have got them in Royalist times. It was intended to be smarter, more practical and longer-lasting than the bicorne. Unfortunately it was also more expensive, so wasn't universally adopted.<br /><br />During the Egyptian campaign, the army was to a great extent re-equipped - partly because Euopean uniforms were too damn hot, but mostly because the kit they went over in had worn out. The new uniforms were locally made in a wide variety of colours (and from lighter cloth than the normal wool !), and many infantry units were given casquettes.<br /><br />In Europe, the casquette was also issued, but proved unpopular. Mostly because they were made in a hurry, and the turbans were made of uncured fur (dog, according to rumour) which rapidly became maggoty and horrible. The 9eme Leger were famous for throwing all theirs in a river and buying replacement bicornes from regimental funds. As far as I know, by about 1800, they had been phased out in all units.Alonicushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06971555666858205773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-590309052265150737.post-72197983985760840142009-10-23T04:48:37.443-07:002009-10-23T04:48:37.443-07:00I'm afraid these minis wear the very peculiar ...I'm afraid these minis wear the very peculiar uniform devised in Egypt.abdul666https://www.blogger.com/profile/16172686098173637906noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-590309052265150737.post-49417282967019530312008-09-24T01:54:00.000-07:002008-09-24T01:54:00.000-07:00I believe the helmet was a holdover from the Royal...I believe the helmet was a holdover from the Royal days. The one pictures seems oddly represented though.<BR/><BR/>NYPL has great plates of the French in this period. <BR/><BR/>http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgtitle_tree.cfm?level=2&title_id=614958<BR/><BR/>In Bernhard Voykovitsch's Castiglione 1796 he states, the grenadier headgear of the royal army, the casquet, in fact a helmet, was still worn, and guarded with jealousy.Oldpawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10796120919600647275noreply@blogger.com