PFW-CD6004
Team Miniatures
In 1830 a body of native cavalry was raised under the title Chasseurs Algériens. The following year they were incorporated into the two new regiments of Chasseurs d' Afrique, formed from three squadrons of Chasseurs à Cheval serving with the expeditionary force and from volunteers from other regiments in metropolitan France. By 1841 there were four regiments, which fell to three between 1856 and 1867, when the 4th was re-formed. They served extensively in Algeria and also in the Crimea where they helped to extricate the Light Brigade following its disastrous charge at Balaclava. They also saw action in Italy where they were heavily engaged at Solferino. Elements of the corps also fought in China, Syria and Mexico. In the latter campaign the 1st Regt. received the honour of being the first cavalry regiment to be awarded the Légion d' Honneur, and earned the nickname of 'the Blue Butchers' from their Mexican opponents.
In 1870 all four regiments saw action. The 2nd was engaged in the great cavalry action at Mars-la-Tour, whilst the 1st and 3rd Regts. escorted the Emperor to Châlons from Metz. The 4th Regt. arrived late in France, but joined the 1st and 3rd in time to fight at Sedan. The charges launched by them formed the most spectacular and tragic episode of the battle. Despite sabring a number of Prussian skirmishers they were unable to break through the main enemy lines. According to the French Staff History of the war, the three regiments between them lost 35 officers and 438 men. Unlike most Light Cavalry regiments it appears that the Chasseurs d'Afrique only fielded four squadrons per regiment instead of the usual five. The remainder were kept in Algeria.
The Chasseurs d'Afrique were a light cavalry corps of chasseurs in the French Armée d'Afrique (Army of Africa). First raised in 1831 from regular French cavalry posted to Algeria. For most of their history they were recruited from either French volunteers or French settlers in North Africa doing their military service. As such they were the mounted equivalent of the French Zouave infantry. All four of the regiments then in existence participated in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, with only depot squadrons remaining in Algeria. They suffered heavy casualties in a series of charges at the Battle of Sedan.