My British Army - Part 1 Infantry

Logical consequence of my decision to paint a Napoleonic French Army is to prepare a British Army. Also in this case my Army is composed by around 250 miniatures. The English are painted with uniforms and shakos   typically of 1814-15 period.

The British infantry during Napoleonic wars was formed by Guard, Foot, Light, Highland and Rifle regiments.  A regiment was generally composed by two or three  battalions. A battalion was ten companies with, at least, one company of grenadiers and another one of light.

I started with two large highlander battalions because to reproduce kilt colors schemes was as a kind of defiance for me.

My highlanders are: 42nd  the Black Watch and 92nd the Gordon

The 42nd was enlisted in 1743 and fought in many English campaigns: Ireland (battle of Culloden); French Indian wars (second battle of Ticonderoga), Egypt (battle of Alexandria), peninsular and 100 days.

As part of 9th Brigade commanded by General Pack they were involved in the chaotic struggles as Quatre Bras and Waterloo.

Another famous highland regiment was the Gordon. On June, 16 1815 they defended the disputed crossroads of Quatre Bras and two days later the 92nd charged French columns in Waterloo battle.

Thanks to Cornwell’s books,  I became to keen on Green Jacket history and I discovered that their creation and their tactics were  … specials. They was formed by an idea of Colonel Manningham in 1800 and named “Experimental Corps”. They were the first British unit with a kind of mimetic uniform … obviously green … and armed with Baker rifle that included a 21 inch sword bayonet. Their combat tactics were not very orthodox for the time as well as their training.  The riflemen were trained to work in open order and to operate in pairs ahead of the main infantry, which were bunched in close formations. They were taught to make best use of natural cover and to harass the enemy with aimed shots.

I painted the 95th and the 60th.

The  95^th  is organized in eight bases but I prepared both 95^th and 60^th as single miniatures too. Some miniatures are Perry other-ones Victrix gunner conversions.

The soldier in the center is Albion Triumphant vol 2 special miniatures … an Ezio’s gift … I hope I painted it well

Some 95^th battalions went onto fight at the Quatre Bras and Waterloo battle. Unfortunately in June 1815 the 60^th was already come back to America for garrison duties.

Other regiments I prepared are: the 33rd, the 67th and the 29th Foot. All these military units fought at Waterloo. 

A special mention for the 33rd Foot: it was formed in 1702 and was the first regiments that a young Arthur Wesley commanded in 1794.

Using Victrix artillery boxes I painted a two gun batteries. 

My French Army - Part 1 Infantry

An year ago I started to paint Napoleonic miniatures. 
For me it was a very challenging task. Before I painted medieval and late roman period but 19^th period is a different song. Napoleonic uniforms have  a lot of details and changed in few years:  revolutionary French uniforms were very different respect  the same-one of Empire period. It is necessary to read up more specialist books and, differently from other period, it is not possible to chance colors uniforms or other details if you want to do a good work.

Actually I have about a 250 miniatures French army and I’m sure they are sufficient for a little struggle. 

Miniatures I painted are generally Victrix, Warlords and Perry. Mixing heads, arms and other parts it is possible to create good results.

My first brigades was a grenadier guard unit ... but I think that it is usually the first step for the majority of wargamers 

I painted them as 1st and 2nd Old Guard Grenadiers. In the history Old Guard were elite soldiers, generally they were at least 1.85 metres tall and high trained. They fought in many Napoleonic battles (Ligny, Dresden and in Waterloo too) and they were known as "le Grognards". Nickname due to their privilege to express their discontent freely.

During 100 days campaign they were recalled by the Emperor and while, the 2nd Old Guard Grenadier was involved into the defense of Placenoit town against Prussians,  the 1st regiment protected Napoleon position.

Another unit I prepared was a brigade of Polish Vistula legion. Miniatures are Warlord.

Vistula were formed in Feb 1807. I projected my French army for 1815 campaign but these pieces are fine detailed miniatures and I cannot resist to buy a box. 
Unfortunately, after Napoleon's abdication  in 1814, the survivors of the Legion returned to their home but they participated in 1808 Spain invasion  and in other Napoleon campaigns (ie Russia). 

That unit includes two drummers and more Grenadier than in the reality but they are intentional mistakes. I designed the unit to be "large" (six bases) with two Grenadier bases, so I can separate the Grenadier and joint them to other two bases obtaining two brigades (1 regular Vistula unit and 1 combined Grenadier).


Using some Warlord and Vitrix miniatures I painted another Allies French unit: the Swiss. These troops in French service wore the traditional red uniforms which differentiated them from the rest of Napoleon's army.

They fought during Peninsular and Russian campaign and their moment of glory was the cross of Berenzina. 

After Napoleon abdication, Louis XVII hired some Swiss troops for his Royal Guard that were a symbol during Ancient Regime. With Napoleon return, the Swiss Diet cancelled the contract and asked his troops to abandon France but, around 600 men, decided to form the 2nd Foreign Swiss Regiment and, attached to Grouchy Corps, fought in the battle of Wavre.

French army recruited whole regiments of light infantry. Their uniforms were completely blue (including slacks)

Light infantries were elite units. They required great initiative and skill. Their duty on the filed  was to engage the enemy in small group ahead of the other regular units  but they were trained to fight in formation too. Many light brigades were present in Waterloo campaign: 9th, 13th, 15th and other.

Albuera battle report

ALBUERA
[June, 1 2013]

Introduction

On May 16, 1811 a mixed Spanish, British and Portuguese force engaged the French Army of the South at 20 kilometers of the Spanish frontier. The battle was fought close to a small village: Albuera.

The idea was not to refight exactly Albuera battle but only a part of this struggle …

Game system: Black Powder

House rules:

1) The French infantry will be reliable only when it is in attack column formation. No other bonus are applied in the order phase

2) The interpenetrated troops from retreating units, as a result of a losing hand to hand combat, must make a morale check: if they fail they suffer 1 hit.

3) To interpenetrate a friendly unit movement costs half move.

4) You can fire only if the unit moves once.

5) The Brigades are to be considered shaken when more than half of the units are shaken  or eliminated (ie: 2 or 3 units >> 2 units shaken/eliminated, 4 or 5 units >>> 3 units shaken/eliminated and so on)

6) Similarly both armies fall back when more than half of the formations (Divisions and Brigades) become shaken;

Battle set up

Turns limit: 8

Deployment

Allies troops deploy for first as reported into the map.

Initially French troops deploy as reported into the map. The French player will move for first

Armies objectives:

French army:                       

to occupy the central hill (zone C) with at least one unit not shaken or to break Allies army

               

Anglo-Spanish army:         

to avoid the occupation of the central hill (zone C) with at least one unit not shaken or to break French army

Draw if both conditions are met

Miniatures scale: 15 mm

Battle report

Initial deployment

French commanders move their units directly against the objective: the hill. But their advance is slow because a unit of combined grenadiers that failed for twice his activation. 

On the left the outflank movement is slow. English batteries keep French cavalry far from the hill.

On the final phases Soult force Anglo-Spanish troop to fall back on the right but  Ballesteros reinforcements permit English forces to keep the line. 

End: draw

Entry order

Hour	Turn	Anglo-Spanish forces	Zone	French forces	Zone
prima delle 08.00	-	Blake & Army Artillery 3rd Division Ballesteros 4th Division Zayas Castanos & Army Artillery Infantry Brigade, de Espana	See map	Soult & Army Heavy Artillery 5th Corps / 1st Division, Girad	See map
08.00	1°	2nd Div., Colborne's (British) Brig.	C
09.00	2°	Cavalry Division, Penne Villemur	D	5th Corps / 2nd Division, Gazan	B
				5th Corps / Cavalry Division Latour-M.	A
09.30	3°
10.00	4°	2nd Div., Houghton's (British) Brig. & Lefebvres D/Troop/RHA	C	4th Corps / Brigade Werle Converged Grenadiers	E
10.30	5°	2nd Div., Abercrombie's (British) Brig. & Hawker's 4° Bn/RFA	C
11.00	6°	4th Div., Myer's (British) Brig. & Cleeves' 2nd Co/KGL FA	D
11.30	7°	4th Div., Harvey's (Portuguese) Brig. & Sympher's 4th Co/KGL FA	D
12.00	8°

Allies army list

Rif.	Unit	Num miniatures	Type	Armament	HtH	Shoot	Morale	Stamina	Special rules
ALL	Armata Alleata                            5/3	Beresford					Comando		9
2	2nd British Division                    4/3	Stewart					Comando		8
2a	Colborne's (British) Brigade 1°/3° Rgt & 2°/31° Rgt, 2 bts	1 x 12 Standard	Regular Infantry	Smoothbore musket	6	3	4+	3	Steady line First Fire
2b	Colborne's (British) Brigade 2°/48° Rgt & 2°/66° Rgt, 2 bts	1 x 12 Standard	Regular Infantry	Smoothbore musket	6	3	4+	3	Steady line First Fire
2c	Houghton's (British) Brigade 29°Rgt,1°/48°Rgt & 1°/57°Rgt, 3 bts	1 x 18 Large	Regular Infantry	Smoothbore musket	8	4	4+	4	Steady line First Fire
2d	Abercrombie's (British) Brigade 2°/28°R, 2°/31°R & 2°/39°R, 3 bts	1 x 18 Large	Regular Infantry	Smoothbore musket	8	4	4+	4	Steady line First Fire
2e	5° Bn/60° Rifles, 3 cmp.s	1 x 5 Tiny	Regular Infantry	Rifled musket	2	2	4+	1	Skirmish,Élite4+ Sharpshooters
2f	Hawker's (British) 4° Bn/RFA	1 cannone	Artillery	Smoothbore artillery	1	3-2-1	4+	2	Reliable
2g	Lefebvres (British) D/Troop/RHA	1 cannone	Horse Artillery	Smoothbore artillery	1	3-2-1	4+	1	Reliable, Marauders
4	4th British Division                     4/3	Cole					Comando		8
4a	Myer's (British) Brigade 1°/7°R, 2°/7°R & 1°/23° R, 3 bts	1 x 18 Large	Regular Infantry	Smoothbore musket	8	4	4+	4	Steady line First Fire
4b	Harvey's (10th Portuguese) Brigade 11° Line, 2 bts	1 x 12 Standard	Regular Infantry	Smoothbore musket	6	3	4+	3	Steady line
4c	Harvey's (10th Portuguese) Brigade 23° Line, 2 bts	1 x 12 Standard	Regular Infantry	Smoothbore musket	6	3	4+	3	Steady line
4d	Harvey's (10th Portuguese) Brigade Loyal Lusitanian Legion, 1 Light btg	1 x 9 Small	Regular Infantry	Smoothbore musket	4	2	4+	2	Steady line Skirmish,Sharps.
4e	2°/27° R, 1°/40° R & 97° R 3 Light cmp.s	1 x 5 Tiny	Regular Infantry	Smoothbore musket	1	1	4+	1	Skirmish Sharpshooters
4f	Cleeves' 2nd Co/KGL FA	1 cannone	Artillery	Smoothbore artillery	1	3-2-1	4+	2	Reliable
4g	Sympher's 4th Co/KGL FA	1 cannone	Artillery	Smoothbore artillery	1	3-2-1	4+	2	Reliable
BL	Blake’s Spanish Army	Blake					Comando		8
BLa	Artillery Battery 8 pdr	1 cannone	Artillery	Smoothbore artillery	1	3-2-1	4+	2	A la Muerte
2	3rd Division                                 3/2	Ballesteros					Comando		8
2a	1st Catalonian Light Infantry Bn.,  Barbastro Light Infantry Bn.	1 x 12 Standard	Regular Infantry	Smoothbore musket	6	2	5+	3	Unreliable Skirmish,Sharps.
2b	Pravia Regt. 1 btg, Lena Regt. 1 btg., Castropol Regt. 1 btg.	1 x 18 Large	Regular Infantry	Smoothbore musket	8	3	5+	4	Unreliable
2c	Cangas de Tineo Regt. 1 btg, Infiesto Regt. 1 btg.	1 x 12 Standard	Regular Infantry	Smoothbore musket	6	2	5+	3	Unreliable
4	4th Division                                  5/3	Zayas					Comando		8
4a	2° & 4° Bns/Spanish Guards, 2 bts	1 x 12 Standard	Regular Infantry	Smoothbore musket	6	3	4+	3	Elite 5+
4b	4th Bn Walloon Guards 1 btg., Patria Inf. Regt. 1 btg.	1 x 12 Standard	Regular Infantry	Smoothbore musket	6	2	5+	3	Unreliable
4c	Irlanda Infantry Regt. 2 btg.s	1 x 12 Standard	Regular Infantry	Smoothbore musket	6	3	4+	3	-
4d	Toledo Infantry Regt, 2 btg.s	1 x 12 Standard	Regular Infantry	Smoothbore musket	6	2	5+	3	Unreliable
4e	Legion Extranjera Inf. Regt. 1 btg., Ciudad Real. Inf. Regt. 1 btg.	1 x 12 Standard	Regular Infantry	Smoothbore musket	6	2	5+	3	Unreliable
CA	Castanos’ Spanish Army	Castanos					Comando		8
CAa	Artillery Battery 8 pdr	1 cannone	Artillery	Smoothbore artillery	1	3-2-1	4+	2	A la Muerte
CAb	Cavalry Division, Penne Villemur (sqd.s from 6 Rgt.s)	1 x 12 Standard	Regular Cavalry	Sabre	7	-	4+	3	HC/D1, Maraud. Unreliable
E	Infantry Brigade, de Espana      3/2	de Espana					Comando		8
Ea	Rey Infantry Regt. 2 btg.s	1 x 12 Standard	Regular Infantry	Smoothbore musket	6	2	5+	3	Unreliable
Eb	Zamora Infantry Regt. 2 btg.s	1 x 12 Standard	Regular Infantry	Smoothbore musket	6	2	5+	3	Unreliable
Ec	Voluntarios de Navarra Light Inf. Bn	1 x 9 Small	Regular Infantry	Smoothbore musket	4	1	5+	2	Unreliable Skirmish,Sharps.

French Army list

Rif.	Unit	Num miniatures	Type	Armament	HtH	Shoot	Morale	Stamina	Special rules
V	5th Corps / Army                   4/3	Soult					Comando		9
Va	Converged Grenadiers, 11 cmp.s from 1st Corps 45°, 63°, 95° Line	1 x 12 Standard	Regular Infantry	Smoothbore musket	7	3	4+	3	Elite 5+ Pas de Charge
Vb	Army Heavy Artillery	1cannone	Artillery	Smoothbore heavy artillery	1	3-2-1	4+	2	-
5	5th Corps / 1st Division          4/3	Girard					Comando		8
5a	34th Line, 2 btg.s	1 x 12 Standard	Regular Infantry	Smoothbore musket	6	3	4+	3	Pas de Charge
5b	40th Line, 2 btg.s	1 x 12 Standard	Regular Infantry	Smoothbore musket	6	3	4+	3	Pas de Charge
5c	64th Line, 3 btg.s	1 x 18 Large	Regular Infantry	Smoothbore musket	8	4	4+	4	Pas de Charge
5d	88th Line, 2 btg.s	1 x 12 Standard	Regular Infantry	Smoothbore musket	6	3	4+	3	Pas de Charge
5e	Division Artillery	1cannone	Artillery	Smoothbore artillery	1	3-2-1	4+	2	-
2	5th Corps / 2nd Division         4/3	Gazan					Comando		8
2a	21st Leger, 2 btg.s	1 x 12 Standard	Regular Infantry	Smoothbore musket	6	3	4+	3	Pas de Charge Skirmish
2b	28th Leger, 3 btg.s	1 x 18 Large	Regular Infantry	Smoothbore musket	8	4	4+	4	Pas de Charge Skirmish
2c	100th Line, 2 btg.s	1 x 12 Standard	Regular Infantry	Smoothbore musket	6	3	4+	3	Pas de Charge
2d	103rd Line, 3 btg.s	1 x 18 Large	Regular Infantry	Smoothbore musket	8	4	4+	4	Pas de Charge
2e	Division Artillery	1cannone	Artillery	Smoothbore artillery	1	3-2-1	4+	2	-
5C	5th Corps / Cavalry Division  2/2	Latour-Maubourgc					Comando		8
5Ca	2nd Hus	1 x 8 Small	Regular Cavalry	Sabre	4	-	4+	2	Marauder
5Cb	1st Polish Vistula Lancers	1 x 12 Standard	Regular Cavalry	Lance	8	-	4+	3	Reliable, Lancer Marauder
W	4th Corps / Brigade Werle     3/2	Werle					Comando		8
Wa	12th Leger, 3 btg.s	1 x 18 Large	Regular Infantry	Smoothbore musket	8	4	4+	4	Pas de Charge Skirmish
Wb	55th Line, 3 btg.s	1 x 18 Large	Regular Infantry	Smoothbore musket	8	4	4+	4	Pas de Charge
Wc	58th Line, 3 btg.s	1 x 18 Large	Regular Infantry	Smoothbore musket	8	4	4+	4	Pas de Charge
Wd	Division Artillery	1cannone	Artillery	Smoothbore artillery	1	3-2-1	4+	2	-