The Régiment de Soissonnais has a long history in the French armed forces. They fought at the Battle of Fontenoy 1745 and the Battle of Yorktown (1781) during the American Revolution. The Soissonnais Regiment left France in April, 1780 as part of the Comte de Rochambeau's army. Prior to leaving for America, the regiment was issued with the new regulation uniform decreed in 1779, which was white with various colored facings and button colors. Skirt ornaments were the fleur-de-lis for fusiliers, flaming grenades for grenadiers and the bugle horn for classeurs. The facing colors for the Soissonnais Regiment was light green. It was initially created in 1597 and called régiment de Graville, from soldiers from the Perche region of France. Previous to the American Revolution in 1763 it was renamed Régiment de Soissonnais and after in 1791 it was renamed 40e Régiment d’infanterie de ligne. During the Expédition Particulière it commanded by Comte de Saint Maisme. Second in command was Vicomte de Noailles, brother-in-law to Lafayette. The regimental uniform was white with red trim.