I have found conflicting information about headgear of the elite company of the Westphalian Jager-Garde and the Jager Carabiniers. In WETG, Gill states that the elite company of the Jager Carabiniers wore bearskins (page 417). But in the Osprey book on Westphalia, Digby Smith indicates that the Jager-Garde elite company wore bearskins (Plate E2). I respect both authors, and am not sure what the 'real' story is. Can anyone shed some light?
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For Jäger Garde - 1st company, elite or Carabiniers, till 1811 - bearskin cap.
For Jäger Carabiniers - 1st company till 1811 elite status - bearskin cap as well, then after that the whole unit became elite status and the distinction between the first company and the others was abolished.
For more see above mentioned book, p 168 - 170 for headdress of Jäger Carabiniers - elite company.
According to Peter Bunde, Markus Gärtner und Thomas Hemmann - Die Westphälische Armee in der Napoleonzeit 1807 - 1813 (in my view the state of the art about this army, I think also available in English, numerous plates of original and modern origin, original surviving items) - usually a shako - but the so called Elite company - or also called Carabinier company (which was the first company of the battalion) wore till 1811 a bear skin cap with visor (see also manuscript de Hahlo.
So actually both your above cited authors agree, elite company and Carabinier company mean the same.
In 1808 the battalion was 4 companies strong, increased to 6 in 1810.