Cuirassiers No. 10 - Gens d'Armes

Inhaber
1740 Pannwitz, 1743 Goltz, 1747 Katzler, 1761 Schwerin, 1768 Krusemarck

Unit History
The regiment was formed in 1688. It distinguished itself at Rossbach, Zorndorf and Hochkirch. The unit was engaged at Lobositz, Leuthen and Torgau. It's Inhaber, Schwerin, was one of the notable eccentrics of the army. It was always brigaded with the Gardes du Corps (No. 13) when on service. At Lobositz, October 1756, Frederick, frustrated by his inability to discern the placement of the main body of Austrians, sent eight squadrons of cavalry consisting of the Garde du Corps, the Gens d'Armes, and two squadrons of Prinz von Preussen, all under Lt. Gen. Kyau, as a reconnaissance in force to divine their location. Charged in their exposed flank by six squadrons of the dragoon regiment, Erzherzog Joseph, the Prussian cavalry had to be rescued by the Bayreuth Dragoons who were thrown into the melee. Peppered by musketry fire from scattered Croats and then driven back by the Austrian cuirassier regiments of Stampach and Cordova, the Prussian survivors rode back to their base at the Homolka Hill. In the process the unit captured two standards from Cordova while losing roughly eighty men.
At Rossbach, the regiment captured seven standards after driving off the enemy cavalry.
At Leuthen, the regiment was deployed under Lentulus and first engaged Nadasdy's Hussars on the right flank. Later the unit over ran the Austrian regiment Jung Modena and in the subsequent pursuit captured fourteen standards and fifteen cannon. Later that August, on the left flank at Zorndorf, the regiment lost 98 men while capturing fourteen cannon after driving off the enemy cavalry. In October of the same year, the regiment was at Hochkirch where it covered the flank.
The unit spent the next while in the garrison at Neisse until seeing minor action on the right flank at Liegnitz. The rest of the war saw skirmish actions at Hohgiersdorf, Torgau, Adelsbach, Burkersdorf, and finally by Reichenbach.
An elite unit destroyed in 1806 at Wichmannsdorf.

Comments
This is another unit that has been a solid but unspectacular performer on the gaming table.

Sources
Flag: Prussian troop website at http://www.preussenweb.de/preussstart.htm
Text: Prussian troop website at http://www.preussenweb.de/preussstart.htm