News from the French Camp, cavalry guidons and standards have arrived

Decided to paint up a batch of French cavalry guidons for the 1792-6 period. Eight are now pretty well complete, and a flag was also issued to a light battalion. Surviving examples indicate a basic design for the various cavalry arms but these were then ornamented in a regimental or idiosyncratic manner.
MGB

14th Demi-Brigade Legere and French Line Grenadiers, 1790s

Have been working on my French Revolutionary army. Finally completed the first eight of my own castings portraying the 14th Demi-Brigade Legere, in their distinctive mirliton hats. And also topped up a line grenadier unit to sixteen figures. MGB

French Marines, Navy, and Privateers prepare for War!

Have been working on my French Marine battalion. Decided it was time to muster all my Revolutionary naval forces. Still lots of work to do repairing, improving, and augmenting. MGB

FRENCH REVOLUTIONARY RIOTERS & FLAG

I had several painted sans culottes in my spares box, and was keen to use them. Previous attempts to capture the 'mob', or violent rioters, had never quite looked right. I think it was the basing of my figures which had let them down. This larger round base seems to work a lot better. As for the flag, I have read an account of some 'political types' having presented a banner to the French Assembly with a brief description that it was a tricolour with the heads of black, white, and mixed-race persons. When I came across the modern reconstruction, I decided to reproduce it in miniature, with the red section to the pole, in keeping with most pre-1794 flags. I can see my collection including a few more of these round-based mobs as they add something peculiar to my French Revolutionary army. Have also completed a white-coated command base from some spares. MGB

FRENCH BATTALION FLAGS c.1792

I have always painted my own flags using sticky-back address labels, a system described by Stuart Asquith some thirty years ago. Modern wargamers are now spoilt with superbly printed renditions for sale, but I will stick with my familiar method. So here are my flags for six white-coated battalions, the soldiers in two of these battalions still needing some serious work before they can take the field. The flag designs are taken from the 1791 regulations, with 1792 tricolour patches placed over the fleur-de-lis (this actually happened). These designs still look very typical of the French army in the 18th century so I hope the collection will serve in several earlier conflicts, while still taking their place as centre battalions in 1794 demi-brigades. MGB

   

Legion des Allobroges, 1792

My number of light troops continues to increase with sixteen green coated skirmishers belonging to the Allobroges Legion. This unit is known to have changed its uniform on several occasions, brown and also blue in later years. I have decided to stick with their original colour. Its establishment was set at fourteen companies of light infantry, formed into two battalions, three companies of light? dragoons, a company of artillery, and a section of foot gendarmes. Raised at Grenoble in August 1792 from Alpine folk, the recruits actually came from the Alpes, the South of France, Toulon, and possibly also the Pyrenees. The corps formed part of the Army of the Alpes. In later years the legion was broken up with the foot joining the 4th Light Demi-Brigade, the cavalry serving in the 15th Dragoons. I couldn't find anything on their flag, except a claim that they had raised the tricolour on Mont-Blanc, which I assume is propaganda. So I have used a flag which appears on a engraving of the battle of Montenesimo, 1797. With their almost entirely green uniform they may look a little drab, but the French player will no doubt find them useful. MGB

French Privateers, the Corsairs of St.Malo Flag

As I'm about to upload some photos of my St.Malo Corsairs I thought the following might be of interest. It is thought to be the flag which was utilised by these privateers. The canton creature is a stoat, no doubt connected to the ermine which traditionally formed part of the heraldry of Brittany. MGB