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French 2nd Empire Army - Infantry

When Marshal Niel commenced his work of reform, he proposed, by the decree of the 27th of February 1867, to place all the regiments upon a footing of two active battalions of eight companies each, and one depot battalion of six companies. Only the active battalions were to retain their elite companies of Grenadiers and Voltigeurs. On a war footing the regiment was to be brought up to a strength of three field battalions of seven companies and a depot battalion of six companies - that is, to a total of twenty-seven companies. Only the first two battalions of a regiment were then to have elite companies. At the same time the companies were to be strengthened, and by that means the battalions brought up to about the Prussian strength of 1000 men each.

By a decree of the 22d of January 1868, the elite companies were entirely abolished, and their soldiers distributed equally as soldiers of the first class among all the companies of the field battalions. This measure had always been intended by Marshal Niel; but it met with very great opposition, and even, after its execution, was violently blamed, although it was undoubtedly well-timed, as it put an end to the deterioration of the personnel of the central companies. The regiment consisted now of three peace battalions, each of eight equally-formed companies. On a war footing each battalion gave up its seventh and eighth companies to form a depot battalion. The whole of the infantry of the line received the red epaulettes, which had formerly distinguished the Grenadiers, and, at the same time, a long instead of a short tunic. The war strength of each company of the line was fixed at 3 officers and 112 men. On being mobilised, therefore, a battalion would number, without officers, 672 men. The field battalions of the 100 line regiments consequently gave a total of 201,600 men-the depot battalions, 67,200 men.

A battalion of Rifles had, on a war footing, six field and two depot companies. The field battalions gave a strength of 13,440 men-the depot divisions, 4480 men.

Each of the three Zouave regiments had twentyseven companies, in three field battalions of seven companies each, and a depot battalion of six companies. The three regiments placed in the field 5985 men, with 1710 at the depot.

Each regiment of Turcos, or Algerian skirmishers, had, before the reduction, twenty-one companies; but, while the European troops were being reduced, each regiment of Turcos was increased to twenty-eight companies, so that it might be possible to use the native Algerian population in a more elastic manner than formerly to recruit the army. Each regiment of Turcos, therefore, consisted of four field battalions of six companies, and of one depot battalion of four companies; and the three regiments could place in the field 7660 men, having 1260 men at their depots.

The Foreign Regiment had been increased during the Mexican war to eight battalions, two of which were depot battalions. During the war it suffered severely ; and afterwards it was, by a decree of the 4th of April 1867, reduced to four battalions, including one depot battalion. The Foreign Regiment, therefore, now stood on the same footing as an ordinary line regiment, with 2016 men for the field, and 672 men for its depot. The Discipline troops, the Veterans, the Paris Sapeurs (Pompiers), and the Municipal Guard of Paris, we may leave out of our reckoning.

It follows, then, that the collective French infantry could muster on its normal war footing 247,381 men for the field, and 75,592 men for the depots-a total of 322,973 combatants.