POLICE HAT WITH BELLOWS OF THE 7TH REGIMENT OF CUIRASSIERS OF THE LINE, model of April 13, 1860, Second Empire. 26989

POLICE HAT WITH BELLOWS OF THE 7TH REGIMENT OF CUIRASSIERS OF THE LINE, model of April 13, 1860, Second Empire. 26989

Hat body in madder cloth with blue cloth piping placed on the vertical seams and in the middle of the sides. These pipings come together on the right side to form a point whose apex reaches the bottom of the hat.
Two elliptical-shaped side flaps, in blue cloth, bordered on their convex development with madder cloth piping;
its two flaps at the top in the middle attach to the hat using a ring and a black lacquered metal hook, H 12 cm each.
On the front, in the curvilinear angle formed by the recess of the two flaps, a pomegranate cut from white cloth is sewn (width 3.5 cm, H 5.5 cm). At the front corner of the peak of the cap, a white wool tassel is attached. Interior cap in ecru canvas numbered “5278” with a previous number scratched, marking of the 7th Cuirassier Regiment “7e Cui”. Chin guard in ocher calfskin.
Total height of the cup 13.5 cm.

France.
Second Empire.
Very good state.

HISTORY:
The 7th Cuirassier was reformed in 1825. Between this date and the proclamation of the Second Empire, it only served in garrison, sometimes being engaged in some operations against social unrest, notably in Lyon.
Having received its new flag on 10/5/1852, the regiment garrisoned at Versailles served on various escorts of Napoleon III, notably on 30/1/1853 during his wedding. He did not participate in any campaign of the Second Empire before that of 1870.
During the Franco-German War he was part of the Forton division (3rd reserve cavalry division of the Army of the Rhine). He fought at Rezonville, enlisted with the 10th regiment and distinguished himself against the Prussian Bredow cavalry brigade. The Forton division is then backed by the Villiers woods north of Rezonville, behind the French artillery, the Murat brigade of dragoons deployed in line on the right, the brigade of Cuirassiers in two columns on the left, the 7th Cuirassier being in first position. line.
"At the moment when the batteries began their fire, a column of Prussian cavalry climbed the slopes and emerged on the crests, surrounding my two batteries which had their artillerymen sabered and several officers killed. This column was made up of the 7th Cuirassiers (Magdeburg), the 16th Uhlans, as well as dragoons and hussars, approximately 1200 to 1500 horses. After having passed the crest, it continued its movement and arrived at the height of the right of my division, presenting the left flank about 400 or 500 meters from my line of battle. I immediately launched the Murat brigade, the shock of which separated the column into two sections. The head, pursued by the dragoons, came up against the cavalry of the 2nd corps and was almost annihilated. The tail, composed mainly of Cuirassiers, tried to gallop back to his line of retreat, then marching in front of my brigade of Cuirassiers which I had held in reserve. I had it charged by the 7th Cuirassiers, supported by a squadron of the 10th and kept three squadrons in reserve. The shock was decisive; the enemy column, in disorder, was approached a second time by our horsemen and almost destroyed. The few men who were able to escape were killed further away by our infantrymen. In this affair, the number of killed and wounded in my division was relatively low, which must be attributed to the fact that the Prussian cavalrymen used exclusively the edge of their latte, while ours only used the blade. point. The number of injuries from spear blows was extremely minimal. It must also be added that the horses of the enemy cavalry, upon arriving in front of my division, were already exhausted, while ours were perfectly rested."
(Report of General de Forton). The 7th Cuirassiers committed four of its squadrons and lost 4 officers and 17 non-commissioned officers and soldiers.
He later capitulated in Metz.
A 7th marching regiment was formed at the end of 1870 and took part in the operations of the Army of the Loire.
After 1871, the 7th Cuirassier Regiment remained garrisoned in France until 1914.