The 5th Hussar Regiment (5e régiment de hussards or 5e RH) was a French Hussar regiment.
Formation under the Ancien Régime
The 5th Hussar Regiment was formed under the Ancien Régime. It was the last regiment created under the monarchy. It particularly distinguished itself during the American Revolutionary War. 1 September 1778: Creation of the Navy's foreign volunteer corps, mainly composed of eight mixed legions to participate in the war against Great Britain. It was created by the naval minister Gabriel de Sartine, and 'propriétaire' status had been granted to Armand Louis de Gontaut, duc de Lauzun. The corps comprised three legions, each consisting of four companies of grenadiers, chasseurs and fusiliers, plus artillery, cavalry and pioneer detachments. As with other 18th century "legions" the intention was to create a miniature army which could campaign as a single entity. As indicated by the title, the corps was recruited primarily from German, Polish and Irish mercenaries. As the Volontaires Etrangers de la Marine, the new corps saw active service in Senegal in December 1778 as well as in the West Indies. 5 March 1780: The 2e Légion des Volontaires Étrangers de la Marine changed its name to be the 2e Légion des Volontaires Étrangers de Lauzun, or the Légion de Lauzun. This unit was present in the United States of America from July 1780 to May 1783. When in early 1781 the Expédition Particulière was being organized, most of the 1778 organization had been deployed to overseas posts. What remained in France, under the duc de Lauzun, was reconstituted as the Volontaires-étrangers de Lauzun, and was part of Rochambeau's expedition. 14 September 1783: The unit became known as the Régiment de Hussards de Lauzun.
Lauzun's Legion
Lauzun's Legion was made up of infantry, cavalry, and artillery components and were recruited largely from foreign mercenaries. They were posted to Senegal and the West Indies, then served in the American War for Independence. The corps' principal engagements were at White Plains in 1781 and at the Siege of Yorktown in 1781.
The American War of Independence
The Legion arrived in America and Rochambeau sent Brigadier General Marquis de Choisy with Lauzun's Legion in July 1780, as they marched from Rhode Island to Head of Elk, Maryland. They traveled by water to Alexandria, Virginia and marched to Glouster Courthouse. They spent the winter in Lebanon, Connecticut.
The legion stayed in the United States in Hampton, Virginia, then in Charlotte Court House, Virginia; they were moved to New York in July 1782. They returned to France in May 1783.
In Connecticut
In December 1780, two dozen Hussar horsemen deserted and fled from their winter quarters in Lebanon into the woods to the south. The Legion itself may have wintered in Trumbull, Connecticut, according to Huldah Hawley, who said that she cooked for the French for fear that they would kill her because her husband was a known Tory. Lauzun's Legion encamped in Abraham Nichols Park in Trumbull from June 28 to June 30, 1781. An advance party was ordered to protect the exposed flank of the main army and stayed ahead of the main French army while encamped in Newtown. The army was marching in the Washington–Rochambeau Revolutionary Route south to reinforce American troops under the command of General George Washington at the Siege of Yorktown. French coins have been found near the site of their camp in Abraham Nichols Park.
At Yorktown
The legion was at Gloucester, Virginia during the Siege of Yorktown. On October 4, 1781, French and British cavalry skirmished at Gloucester. British cavalry commander Banastre Tarleton was unhorsed, and Lauzun's Legion drove the British within their lines before being ordered to withdraw by the Marquis de Choisy. The Legion suffered three Hussars killed and two officers and eleven Hussars wounded. Fifty British were killed or wounded, including Tarleton.
After the battle
In December 1782, the Legion moved to Wilmington, Delaware where their cash payroll was stolen but recovered. On May 9, 1783 the Legion embarked from Wilmington on la Goire, la Danaë, l"Astree, l'Active, and Le St. James, arriving at Brest, France around June 11. On October 5, 1783, the Legion's two artillery companies left Baltimore on the Duc de Lauzun and the Pintade; they arrived in Brest on November 10.