4th (2nd West Prussian) “Porzellan” Dragoon Regiment

Westpreußisches Dragoner-Regiment No2

Another Prussian cavalry regiment off the desk, the 2nd West Prussian regiment for my 1813-15 army. Figures are 28mm elite miniatures as per the majority of my Prussian army. 

1st Sqaudron

2nd Sqaudron

3rd Sqaudron 

In May 1716, Friedrich Wilhelm I acquired this regiment from August II of Saxony. Part of its price may have been paid with valuable porcelain and, thereafter, the regiment retained the nickname Porzellan Dragoons. The regiment joined the Prussian army as dragoon regiment no 6 von Schorlemmer and fought during the War of Austrian Succession and in 1760 becoming dragoon regiment Meier (Meyer) for the remainder of the 7 Years War. The regiment then was the von Zieten Dragoon--Regiment Nr 6. Finally the regiment became the von Prittwitz dragon regiment NR 2 in the 1780s, then during the reshuffle after 1806 became the 4th Dragoons, although retained the 2nd west Prussian just to confuse things!

Campaigns and actions 

Was in the general major Graf Tauenzien corps at Hohenlohe (6-14 October 1806) in General Major von Kraffts cavalry brigade at Jena, Dragoon Regiment Prittwitz Nr. 2 later surrendered at Prenzlau [28.10.1806].


In 1813, the regiment saw heavy fighting. Part of 1st Brigade, Ist Corps Reserve Cavalry, it was present at Dannigkow, Groß-Gorschen (where it rode down a square of French infantry), Bautzen and was present for MacDonald's defeat at the Katzbach. The regiment captured 9 guns, 8 ammunition wagons and a field forge in the pursuit. The regiment was then present at Möckern, where it charged a French battery and captured a howitzer, a cannon and 8 ammunition wagons.

In 1814 Westpreußisches Dragoner-Regiment was again active, at La Chaussèe charging the French 2nd Carabinier Regiment in the flank and later capturing three guns and an ammunition wagon at the same battle. Present at Montmirail and Chateau-Thierry, the regiment clashed with the French Dragoons of the Guard at the latter battle, being roughly handled. It fought again at Laon and was present for the entry into Paris.

1815 saw the regiment as part 1st Brigade, I Korps Cavalry reserve, fighting in Belgium and France. Gefreiter Seidel rescued Feldmarschall Fürst von Blücher when he was unhorsed leading a charge against the final French breakthrough. During the pursuit of the French following La Belle Alliance, the regiment captured two guns at Nanteuil.

The regiment carried a Regiments-Standarte of the old v. Zeiten Dragoner-Regiment Nr 6 during the Napoleonic wars.

Cheers
Matt