Svensk Militärhistoria / Swedish Military History

 

 

Basic facts on the enlisted (värvade) units of the army of Gustav III (1788-90)

Allotted infantry

Allotted cavalry

Auxiliary units

Main sources:

The drawings of the colours are based upon some photos I have taken while visiting the Swedish war archive. The details are based on the articles by Leif Törnqvist published in the Swedish army museums book "Between the imperial eagles" and the booklet " Med blå glob och tre kronor uti".

The uniform drawings are based on the war archives on-line pictures of CG Roos paintings from 1783. for details I have used the article of Leif Törnqvist in the Swedish army museums book "Between the imperial eagles" and some photos taken by Dan Schorr several years ago at library of the Swedish Army museum. The sources are however to some point contradictive. Since all sources refers to the work of  CG Roos, I have chosen to follow his version.

The other information found below are drawn from the two books by Julius Mankell  "Anteckningar rörande Svenska regementenas historia". and the "Anteckningar rörande Finska arméens och Finlands krigshistoria".  The books are written in 1860-70 so there should be some new facts that mr Mankell have missed. I have also used the Generalstabens "Sveriges krig åren 1808 och 1809", GH Jägerhorn, "I fält för Gustav III" (editor Petra och Pertti Hakkala), CG Aminoff "Nyuppsatta truppförband i Finland mellan 1770 och 1808" and the Army museums great book "Between the imperial eagles".

The campaign in Finland was limited to the area close to the border river of Kymmene älv. Since I don't expect anyone to be familiar with the geography in that area I have downloaded a map showing the situation during the early 1800-hundreds. The scale is 1:500 000.

Enlisted units

General information

By tradition, the enlisted units are often referred to by the name of it's commanders. Researching their history can for that reason be a bit confusing.

The enlisted units were in most cases used for garrison duty, and was for that purpose organised as infantry. The technically more advanced Artillery regiment was through the whole period also based on enlisted personnel. Later on some "field units" as light cavalry (dragoons or hussars),  foot jaegers or rifleunits were recruited as well.

The colours:

 The allotted infantry had some very strong bonds to the provinces where they were recruited, something that the enlisted troops lacked. For this reason the colours were in most cases decorated with some general Swedish emblems. The proportions of the colours were the same as for the allotted units.

 The light units were not issued any colours or standards. Their tactics didn't require any, and there was also a too big risk for a colour to be captured by the enemy. 

To be able to display details when printed for 15mm figures, I have distorted some proportions and made some "simplifications". To compare with the originals, please check the photos.

The uniforms:

The enlisted units were entitled to a new uniform every third year. It's my guess that they all were equipped with the m/1779 when the war broke out in 1788. There is however a note stating that the Artillery received their new outfit in 1791, still there are lots of paintings from the war displaying the artillery in m/1779. A mystery to be investigated...

Also note that the two "German" regiments stationed in Stralsund, Pomerania were issued a uniform in a more traditional style.

The navy blue colour of the m /1779 uniform has unfortunately been distorted. The rest of the colours are ok. I will fix the navy-blue when I have the spare time.

If you would like to have the drawings in Power-Point just send me an e-mail.

I have not displayed the "Drabantkåren". I don't regard them as a "field unit", thus, they are irrelevant to me.

Livgardet (the Life Guard)

Infantry regiment serving as garrison in Stockholm. The unit is also known as:

bulletKunglig Majestäts Livgarde till fots (- 1791)
bulletKunglig Majestäts Första livgarde till fots (1791-92)
bulletSvea livgarde (1792-1808)
bulletFleetwoodska regementet (1808-1809)
bulletKungliga Svea Livgarde (1809-)

 Colours presented in 1772 and used until 1798 when they were replaced by colours with the monogram of Gustav IV Adolfs.

Gustav IV Adolf showed his dissatisfaction over the poor achievements of the guard regiments during the "Finnish war". In 1808 they all lost the "guard" status and was reduced to regular enlisted units. They also lost their right to their royal colours. This is the colour of the "Fleetwood regiment"

Shortly after the coup against king Gustav Adolf, the regiment was once again granted the status of "Life guard". The white colours was returned in1810 but now with the monogram of King Karl XIII.

Uniform m/1779.

Man power 1200 numbers
Numbers of companies 10 companies (split in three battalions)
Activities during the 1788-90 war:

1788

23 June              Two battalions are shipped to Helsingfors / Helsinki.

25 July                The battalions takes part in the advance towards Fredrikshamn / Hamnina. When the events in
                          Anjala gets known, the battalions are sent as guards to the Army Headquarter in Lovisa. Here
                          they also spent the winter.

1789

The two battalions stays in Finland, while the third are sent to man some of the forts around the naval base of Karlskrona.

27 may             The regiment are gathered at Borgå

18 June            The regiment moves to Elimä, and later to Kouvala

26June              The two battalions participate in the main army's advance across the Kymmene river at Werälä.

28 June              Advances towards Villmansstrand and takes part in the actions at Uttismalm.

1 July                The regiment follows the King in the advance on Liikala.

3 July                  Takes part in the actions at Liikala. Parts of the regiment makes a decisive assault that
                          eventually forces the Russians to withdraw from Liikala.

21 July                The regiment serves as rear guards during the withdraw to Anjala and are the last unit to pass
                          back across the bridge.

22 July                The regiment are part of the force that are sent to face the Russians that has crossed the river at
                          Ummeljoki. The Russians are pulled back without any fighting's.

End of July         The regiment are sent to Kymmenegård to reinforce the defence along the coast.

29 August          Participate in the actions when a Russian amphibious assault on Kymmenegård is repelled.

1 September    The Russians performs a number of landings in the area of Broby. One battalion comes to support
                          the Västgöta-dals regiment that are defending parts of the area. The joint force can hold the
                          Russians back long enough to allow the retreating Swedes to slip through.

2 September   The regiment takes up defence at Fessiö

Winter                 They spend the winter at Lillby, just north of Borgå.

1790

15 April            The regiment is ordered to join the archipelago fleet in Helsingfors as infantry.

8 May                 Embarks the archipelago fleet at Sveaborg.

13 May             The last parts of the regiment embarks at Fantnäs, near Svartholmen.

15 May               Takes part in the action at Fredrikshamn.

27 may             A detachment of 200 men is put ashore to raid a Russian depot at Pytterlaks. The surprised
                          Russian defenders takes to the run, and the depot, containing a number of larger cannons, is
                          destroyed.

7 June               A task force of 3000 men is put ashore at Björkö near Viborg. The Life guard and the Hussars
                           advances to Makslaks on the road to Viborg.

15 June             200 men embarks on the archipelago fleet to participate in the kings naval attack on Trångsund
                           and Viborg.

16 June             The 200 men is put ashore at Kakkis. With the support from the artillery of the vessels, they
                           manages to capture the Russian batteries.

18 June             Once again the 200 men makes a land fall, this time on the island of Uuransaari. The land fall
                           is a part of the general assault on Trångsund planned by the king. The landing is performed behind
                           the Russian batteries defending the strait of Trångsund. The first stages of the operation develops
                           according to plan, but after a while the landed troops finds themselves in trouble. The day before,
                           the attack was cancelled by the king, but that order never reached the squadron carrying the life
                           guard. Soon the Russians can concentrate on the isolated force and most of them is either killed
                           or captured as they tried to get back to the boats.

                           The same day the rest of the regiment embarks the archipelago fleet.

3 July                  The battalions are onboard the archipelago fleet during the break-out at Viborg.

9 July                   Takes part in the second naval battle of Svensksund.

10 July               The third battalion joins the forces at Kymmenegård. Mankell doesn't tell anything on when this
                           battalion arrived to Finland and if they had been participating in the actions in the Viborg area.

i

Garrison regiment in Gothenburg

The regiment was set up in 1721 based on the "Västgöta tremänningsregemente". It had eight companies in 1723 and was stationed in Gothenburg. Several periods were spent in Finland, the first one in 1742, the second in 1751-62 to participate in the construction of the castle of Sveaborg. The third period was in 1790. In 1801 the regiment was disbanded and the personnel were sent to The newly formed Göta artillery regiment. Regimental commanders has been:

bulletGenmj Bengt Ribbing 1721-1730
bulletGenlt Daniel Johan Zander 1730-1747
bulletGenlt Carl Edward von Hessenstein 1747-1769
bulletGenmj Hans Gustaf Gyllengranat 1769-1774
bulletGeneralmajor Hugo Hernumbers von Zaltza 1774-1789
bulletField Marshall Curt Bogislaus von Stedingk 1789-1801

Colour in use between 1725-1731.

Colour in use between 1755-1793

Uniform m/1779.

Man power 800 numbers
numbers of companies 8 companies
Activities during the 1788-90 war:

The regiment participated in the second battle of Svensksund in 1790.

 

Enlisted regiment in Skåne (1753 Kronprinsens and 1772 Konungens eget)

The unit was formed in southern Sweden in 1719 by merging the "Smålands tre- och femmänningsregementen". The unit was sent to Finland in 1751-1762 to participate in the construction of Sveaborg. In 1828 the regiment was reduced to a garrison company in Landskrona. The unit was disbanded in 1858. The unit is also known as:

bullet Col Ture Sigismund Horns regemente 1723-1724
bullet Genmj Filip Bogislaus von Schwerins regemente 1725-1729
bullet Colonel Bengt Horns regemente 1729-1736
bullet Generalmajor Jean Louis Bosquets regemente 1736-1747
bullet Prins Gustavs regemente till fot 1747-1753
bullet (Colonel Georg von Heijne) 1747-1756
bulletKronprinsens regemente till fot 1753-1771
bullet (Generalmajor Carl Adlerfelt) 1756-1764
bullet (Colonel Ulrik Scheffer) 1764-1766
bullet (Generalmajor Abraham von Björnmarck) 1766-1771
bullet Prins Adolfs Fredrik regemente till fot 1771-1772
bulletKonungens eget värvade regemente 1772-1828(-29?)
bulletGarnisonskompani i Landskrona 1828(-29?)-1858.

Colour in use between 1718-1744

Colour in use between 1748-1777

Drawing in the war archive from 1771 when the regiment were known as "Prins Fredrik Adolfs regemente. I don't know if it ever were used.

Colour presented in 1776. The drawing in the war archive shows a colour that is identical to the one shown for the life-guard. This colour was used by the regiment at least until 1815.

Uniform m/1779 presented in 1785.
Man power 500 numbers
numbers of companies 8 companies
Activities during the 1788-90 war:

1788-89

I have no information of any activities.

1790

In april the regiment is sent to serve on the fleet.

 

Enlisted regiment in Skåne/Pommern (Posse, Sprengtporten and others)

The "Västra skånska utskrivningsregementet" was formed in 1712. After the end of the great nordic war the regiment was in 1721 transformed into an enlisted garrison regiment. The regement was stationed in Skåne and Stralsund, Pommerania. In 1789 the regiment was merged into the Konungens egna värvade regemente. Regimental commanders has been:

bulletCol Carl Posses regemente 1721-1728
bulletCol Carl August Dohnas regemente 1728-1737
bulletCol Klas Filip von Schwerins regemente 1737-1749
bulletCol Carl Gustav Cronhiorts regemente 1749-1755
bulletCol Johan Maximilian Löwenfels regemente 1755-1763
bulletCol Johan Wilhelm Sprengtportens regemente 1763-1795
bulletCol Georg Peter Dankwardts regemente 1796-1798

Colour in use between 1712-1724

Colour in use between 1724-1740

Colour in use between 1740-1757

Colour in use between 1762-1788.

The colours were lost in the battle of Hogland. A new set was issued in 1789, now with the monogram of Gustav III.

Uniform m/1779.

Man power 800 numbers
numbers of companies 8 companies
Activities during the 1788-90 war:

Mankell lists the regiment as one of those serving on the fleet in 1788 and in 1790. He has no info regarding their activities in 1789.

 

Garrison regiment in i Stralsund (Spens, Psilanderhielm and others)

The regiment was recruited in 1749 and was formed on two battalions with four companies each. Initially the regiment was stationed in Sweden. When Sweden entered the seven year war against Prussia, the regiment was transferred to Pomerania. In the 1788-90 war the regiment served in Finland, but was once again returned to Pomerania after the war. When the French forces occupied Pomerania in 1807 the regiment was once again returned to Sweden (after suffering from heavy losses due to desertions). During the short peace 1810-1812 the regiment was once again back, just to be disbanded during the second French occupation in 1812. The regiment was restored in 1813. In 1815 the regiment became a Prussian unit when Pomerania was handed over to Prussia. Regimental commanders has been:

bullet

Generalmajor Gabriel Spens regemente 1749-1765

bullet

Colonel Carl Fredrik Lillienbergs regemente 1765

bullet

Colonel Balthsar Achtes von Platens regemente 1766

bullet

Colonel Conrad Christopher von Blixens regemente 1766-1779

bullet

Generalmajor Johan Psilanderhielms regemente 1779-1796

bullet

Generalmajor Hernumbers von Engelbrechtens regemente 1796-1815

Colour in use between 1750-1757

Colour in use between 1761-1809

The looks of the colours after 1809 is unknown.

       

Uniform m/1779.

Man power 1200 numbers
numbers of companies 12 companies
Activities during the 1788-90 war:

1788

According to Carl Herlitz in Meddelanden 43-44 från Armemuseum: The regiment were moved to the area of Gothenburg after the Danish-Norwegian invasion. They spent the winter there.

1789

Mid August      The regiment arrives to Finland

31 august         When the Russians opens up the offensive along the coast, the regiment is stationed in Elimä.
                          To strengthen the coastal front, the regiment are sent to defend the bridge at Hirvenkoski.

5 September   The regiment is sent to Lovisa

3 October        The regiment is sent to Elimä, but are later sent to Sveaborg in Helsingfors for winter quarters.

1790

18 February    The regiment is ordered to the archipelago fleet.

28 may            A small force made up by 50 dragoons and 75 men from the Psilanderhjelms regiment is
                         landed at the village of Koskila. They raid a Russian depot at Yli Urpala on the road between
                         Viborg and Fredrikshamn. The depot is guarded by 125 Russians, but they are taken by surprise
                         and are driven away. The depot is destroyed.

7 June              A task force of 3000 men are put ashore at Björkö, near Viborg. The Psilanderhjelms
                          regiment and the life dragoons stays in the area while the rest of the force is spread out.

18 June            The troops are brought back onto the ships again.

 

Drottningens livregemente (Stralsund)

The unit was formed in 1720 bay merging the "Upplands- and Västgöta femmänningsregementen". The name "The Queens life regiment" was presented in 1722 and was kept until it was transferred to Prussia in 1815.

Company colours in use between 1783 and 1802. The new ones presented in 1802 probably had the monograms of Gustav IV Adolf and Sofia Magdalena.

Drawing found in the war archive. It's likely to show the colonels colour. The arm is the combined Swedish Danish arms, since the queen was a Danish princess.

 New colours was distributed in 1802, now showing the monograms of Gustav IV Adolf and queen Fredrika Dorotea Wilhelmina.

In 1810 the regiment received new colour now with the monogram of XIII and queen Hedvig Elisabet.

       

Uniform m/1779.

Man power 1200 numbers
numbers of companies 12 companies
Activities during the 1788-90 war:

1788

According to Carl Herlitz in Meddelanden 43-44 från Armemuseum, After the Danish-Norwegian invasion. the regiment were moved to the area of Gothenbourg, and that they spent the winter there.

1790

Spring         The regiment is sent to serve on the fleet.

 

Garrison regiment at Sveaborg later The Queen Dowagers Life regiment (in Swedish "Änkedrottningens regemente")

The regiment was formed in southern Sweden in 1742 but transferred to Finland and the construction of Sveaborg in 1753. After a short period in Sweden, it was in 1762 once again sent to Finland. Initially the regiment was formed on two battalions with 500 numbers each. In 1773, a third battalion was formed. The new battalion was based in Stockholm. The regiment was disbanded in 1808 after the Russian capture of Sveaborg. Regimental commanders has been:

bullet Colonel Gustaf David Hamiltons regemente 1741-1758
bullet Colonel Magnus David Lillieswärds regemente 1759-1761
bullet Colonel Carl Fredrik von Liewens regemente 1761-1762
bullet Prins Fredrik Adolfs regemente 1762-1771
bullet Generalmajor Zöge von Numbersteuffels regemente 1771-1772
bullet The Queen Dowagers Life regiment / Änkedrottningens livregemente 1772-1808

Colour in use between 1741-1757

Colour in use between 1760-1772.

They were issued new colours when the regiment changed it's name to Änkedrottningens (The Queen Dowagers Life regiment)

It is likely that the new company colours had the monogram of Gustav III on one side and Lovisa Ulrikas on the other. The colonels colour might have had the combined Swedish Prussian arm on one side.