Trumpeters c1806

This 19th century uncoloured print shows two hussar trumpeters cantering and sounding their instruments. The caption to the print does not identify the regiment but it was copied from a small part of a large painting by John Singleton Copley of the Prince of Wales in Field Marshal’s uniform. The scene has a Troop of hussars cantering down a slope, led by an officer and preceded by the two trumpeters. Since the Prince was Colonel of the 10th Hussars, and was a keen advocate of hussars in his army, it would be safe to assume that they are 10th Hussars. This assumption is supported by the uniform worn by the officer which has yellow facings and a scarlet shabraque. The painting was executed between 1805 and 1809 during which time the 10th Hussars were in the process of converting from light dragoons to hussars. The history of the regiment by Liddell says:
‘Although 1806 has hitherto been fixed as the year in which the Tenth became hussars, there can be no doubt that as early as 1803 the regiment was clothed in this manner, as the Clothing Regulations at the Record Office for that year show the issue of the hussar dress of the Tenth, but to no other regiment:- “Clothing Regulations, 22nd April 1803. For 10th Light Dragoons — Once every four years - 1 pelisse, 1 dress jacket, 1 hussar cap. Once every eight years - 1 sash.”’
The figures are clothed in hussar jackets, pelisses, sashes and fur caps which confirms the issue of hussar dress. Also the men of the Troop have red shabraques with white vandyke edges which agrees with all other prints and paintings of the Tenth in the first two decades of the 19th century.
The unusual uniforms and horse furniture of the trumpeters fit in with what we know of the Prince’s influence on military dress at that time. It was probably he that supplied the regiment with these expensive outfits. We know from the Stubbs painting of 1793 that the trumpeters of the Tenth were distinctive in their uniforms, differing substantially from the rank-and-file.
The busby bags for all ranks, including the trumpeters, are yellow. The jackets are scarlet but the pelisses are blue. There are crimson and yellow/gold barrel sashes around their waists although the hussars have blue and yellow sashes. The trumpets have banners which are crimson with gold fringes. The shabraques are very ornate, having a gold vandyke edge, a scarlet outer colour and heavily embroidered inner blue colour. The two men ride matching grey horses.

Regimental Details | Drumhorses and Trumpeters