French Napoleonic
The appearance of my French Napoleonic army reflects my main interest in the Autumn 1813 campaign which led to the decisive defeat of
Napoleon at Leipzig (16th-19th October) in that the bulk of my French infantry battalions are wearing greatcoats. It seems that many troops,
particularly the 'Marie-Louise' conscripts of 1813 were only issued, and fought mainly in, greatcoats and I wanted the army to look different from
most wargamers French armies of the 'Glory Period' of 1805-1809. Also I have a preference for painting irregular looking figures.
I reduced my French infantry forces by about a half just before Xmas 2010 to twenty five battalions of Ligne and Legere, six of French Allied
battalions and a dozen batteries of artillery. My French cavalry consists of one combined Carabinier regiment , four Cuirassier, four Dragoon,
two hussar, four Chasseur, two line Lancer, and one Westfalian Guard regiment. Furthermore, I added a Young Guard Division of fourteen
infantry battalions, six batteries of artillery and three regiments of horse in 2008. I'll be posting a separate page for my French Imperial Guard
units.
Considering I have Saxon, Bavarian and Polish allies my entire French Allied army is a sizeable one at well over 150 units for LFS, infact so much
so that I've never fielded the whole army...yet.
Still on the agenda for the next 12 months will finally be some Old Guard units, with the infantry probably in greatcoats again.
Originally most of the army was painted in 2004-2005 in a very basic style to allow me to get them on the table quick. I've since decided to add a
few highlights, particularly to the horses, and to add some Silflor MiniNatur grass tufts and flowers to bring them up more to the standard of my
ACW and AWI collections and have a bit of consistency in the style.
The appearance of my French Napoleonic army reflects my main interest in the Autumn 1813 campaign which led to the decisive defeat of
Napoleon at Leipzig (16th-19th October) in that the bulk of my French infantry battalions are wearing greatcoats. It seems that many troops,
particularly the 'Marie-Louise' conscripts of 1813 were only issued, and fought mainly in, greatcoats and I wanted the army to look different from
most wargamers French armies of the 'Glory Period' of 1805-1809. Also I have a preference for painting irregular looking figures.
I reduced my French infantry forces by about a half just before Xmas 2010 to twenty five battalions of Ligne and Legere, six of French Allied
battalions and a dozen batteries of artillery. My French cavalry consists of one combined Carabinier regiment , four Cuirassier, four Dragoon,
two hussar, four Chasseur, two line Lancer, and one Westfalian Guard regiment. Furthermore, I added a Young Guard Division of fourteen
infantry battalions, six batteries of artillery and three regiments of horse in 2008. I'll be posting a separate page for my French Imperial Guard
units.
Considering I have Saxon, Bavarian and Polish allies my entire French Allied army is a sizeable one at well over 150 units for LFS, infact so much
so that I've never fielded the whole army...yet.
Still on the agenda for the next 12 months will finally be some Old Guard units, with the infantry probably in greatcoats again.
Originally most of the army was painted in 2004-2005 in a very basic style to allow me to get them on the table quick. I've since decided to add a
few highlights, particularly to the horses, and to add some Silflor MiniNatur grass tufts and flowers to bring them up more to the standard of my
ACW and AWI collections and have a bit of consistency in the style.
| Generals Ligne Battalions Legere Battalions French Allies Wurzburg Infantery Regiment & Illyrian Regiment Foot Artillery Foot Artillery in Greatcoats Line Chasseurs a Cheval 5th Hussars Line Dragoons More Foot Artillery and Limbers Line Horse Artillery Westfalian Garde Chevaulegers (Lancers) French allies in 1813 they were brigaded with Bavarian and Hesse-Darmstadt Chevaulegers in XII Corps, 26th Light Cavalry brigade under Beaumont. I used a French line lancer figure and filed away the fur turban from the helmet. I also had to do a headswap as the trumpeters wore busbies. Legion Du Midi This unit is one of my favourite 'French' units albeit composed of Italians from Piedmont. The regiment served mostly in Spain and Portugal and was absorbed into the 11th and 33rd Legere in 1811. I love the idea of brown tunics and light blue facings though and as a result these chaps march now with my 1813 French. Apologies to purists. Legion Hanovrienne Another regiment which served exclusively in Spain and Portugal was the Legion Hanovrienne. Composed largely from Hanoverians again it was disbanded in 1811 with the men being absorbed into the 127th, 128th and 129th Ligne. Red tunics with blue facings. I am such a 'tart'. These two battalions are almost always included in any 'French' force that graces our tables. Again a huge apology to purists. Murat 'Cavalry' Generals 'Lasalle' Line Dragoons Line Lancers 8th Hussars Line Chasseurs Cuirassiers Carabiniers and Cuirassiers The 1st and 2nd Carabinier Regiments were so reduced in the Autumn 1813 campaign that under LFS they are best fielded as a combined unit of 8 figures. French Heavy Cavalry Commander 'Men of Iron' All figures Essex Miniatures owned and painted by yours truly. |
