Wargame Rules, Ratios, etc


RAISING MINIATURE ARMIES FOR THE LATE 18TH CENTURY

I am very keen to keep my wargame rules as simple as possible, yet capture the character of the 1790s. Morale dominates the games as the opposing sides are very different. Most of the French troops are 'levee' battalions, which I have chosen to base in column as their ability to change formation on a battlefield must have been limited, nor do I believe their volley fire had any great value. Of better quality, able to change formation, will be white-coated regular and blue-coated volunteer battalions, aided by a fair number of skirmishers. The British, Austrian, Dutch and German armies are often outnumbered, but they maintain the discipline and order of typical 18th century armed forces. Interestingly, French revolutionary cavalry have little in common with their later Napoleonic counterparts, the former are few in number, often poorly mounted, and no match for those in the service of the Allies. All figures are 28mm in scale, using a 1=25 ratio.

Followers

Saturday 20 December 2014

Beon Legion, and Damas Legion chasseurs 1792-5

The completion of chasseur companies belonging to the Beon and Damas Legions will allow me to field some rifle-armed troops for the Allies. Both of these corps were originally recruited in the service of the Dutch. With that country's collapse, these corps transferred to the British. Both had a fine reputation, with many French emigres serving in them. Both were effectively destroyed in the Quiberon Bay disaster. (NB.The French republic had a policy of executing any captured emigres.)

There are several descriptions, prints etc for the uniforms worn by Beon and Damas chasseurs, slight changes may have occurred when the British Army took charge. I have chosen to keep the orange facings for Beon, and orange sword knots for both units to confirm their earlier service.




I think these Hinchliffe Austrian Jaeger castings have painted up quite nicely as émigré chasseurs. And no army can move without a vanguard, and suitable troops for outpost duties. MGB

Friday 19 December 2014

Legion du Midi 1792

I finally got round to painting up another light battalion. This unit, not to be confused with another raised in the Napoleonic wars which took the same name, was formed in April 1792 from volunteers of Cette, Narbonne, Nimes and Perpignam. It appears to have had only a brief existence, serving in the Vendee war. The general view of historians is that the unit was issued a blue uniform in a lighter shade, and it makes an attractive unit on the wargame table. Its establishment was set at eighteen companies of light infantry and four more of horse but I'm unsure whether it ever achieved that strength so one small battalion will suffice for now.

          

  The flag is taken from a contemporary print of a guillotine execution, carried by bluecoats, without wording, I thought it could serve for this unit. MGB