Cuirassiers No. 3 - Liebregiment zu Pferd

Inhaber
1740 Wreech, 1746 Katzler, 1747 Katte, 1758 Lentulus, 1778 Merian

Unit History
The unit was formed in 1672. It was distinguished at Rossbach but especially at Liegnitz. The unit was present at: Lobositz, Prague, Kolin, Kunersdorf, Torgau and Freiberg. The cuirassiers were selected from the sons of peasants wealthy enough to maintain the horse. The recruits had to be big men to bear the weight of the cuirass and to manage the large mounts. As a result, the Holstein horse breed was particularly in demand as remounts.
At Kolin, June 1757, the unit was involved in Lieutenant-General Peter von Pennavaire's ill-fated charge up Krzeczor Hill in an attempt to break the Austrian regiment flank consisting of regiments Deutschmeister (No. 4), Baden-Baden (No. 23) and Botta d'Adorno (No. 12). The regiment was in a brigade commanded by von Krockow along with the Lieb Karabiniers Cuirassiers (No. 11). The attack failed and the units were thrown back in confusion.
Just prior to Kunersdorf, August 1759, the regiment helped Prinz Heinrich capture and destroy magazines at Saaz and Budin where it captured a general, 800 men, three cannon, eight banners and three standards. At Kunersdorf, the regiment was on the far right flank under the divisional command of Finck. The unit saw heavy action in the engagement losing many men and a standard in the swampy ground around Elsbusch.
At Liegnitz, the unit again tasted success on the left flank as it drove off three enemy cavalry regiments capturing seven banners and five cannon. Present at Torgau where it participated on the left flank attack that petered out due to flanking fire.
The unit was a 'Fehrbellin regiment'; a reference to a battle fought on June 28, 1675 during the Scanian War. The battle saw the emergence of the Prussian military onto the European scene under the Great Elector, Frederick Wilhelm. It performed as a regular unit during the Seven Years War and was disbanded in 1806.

Comments
The unit has been another solid but unspectacular performer on the gaming table. Guess that means that I will keep looking for my Seydlitz.

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