5th Hussar Regiment (France)

5th Hussar Regiment
The regimental standard, photographed in 1918
Active	1783-1992
Country	France
Branch	French Army
Type	Regiment of Hussars
Role	Light cavalry
Garrison/HQ	Laon 1980. Couvron 1984.
Nickname(s)	Légion de Lauzun (1780) de Lauzun (1783)
Motto(s)	Perit sed in armis (they die arms in hand)
March	Eugènie
Anniversaries	24 June 1859 (Solférino) Saint George
Engagements	American Revolutionary War, the French Revolutionary Wars, Napoleonic Wars, Mexico Expedition, First World War
Decorations	Croix de guerre 1914-1918 with palm Médaille d'or de la Ville de Milan
Battle honours	Valmy 1792 Iéna 1806 La Moskova 1812 Solferino 1859 Puebla 1863 Lorraine 1914 Champagne 1915 La Marne 1918
Commanders
Notable commanders	Duc de Lauzun

The 5th Hussar Regiment (5e régiment de hussards or 5e RH) was a French Hussar regiment.

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.

Lauzun's Legion was made up of infantry, cavalry and artillery components (one company of grenadiers, one company of infantry, two squadrons of Hussars, and one company of gunners) and were recruited largely from foreign mercenaries. After being posted to Senegal and the West Indies, Lauzun's Legion 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.

When the Legion arrived in America, they recruited from foreigners, mainly Hessian deserters; there were complaints about their conduct. 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, traveled by water to Alexandria, Virginia, and marched to Glouster Courthouse. They spent the winter in Lebanon, Connecticut.

The Légion de Lauzun became famous during the Siege of Yorktown, mainly before Gloucester on 3 October 1781, where they chased down the champion of the battle, a British cavalry led by Colonel Banastre Tarleton. The legion stayed in the United States of America, first in Hampton, Virginia, then in February 1782 in Charlotte Court House, Virginia, before they were moved in July 1782 to New York. The legion left the United States in May 1783.