French Revolutionary Wargames 1789-1802: April 2016

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.

Monday, 18 April 2016

Dutch Artillery Crews, 1793, Painted and Ready

Have now completed two Dutch artillery crews for my British/Dutch/Emigre army for the early years of the French Revolutionary Wars. Still don't know what make they are but the repaint job has certainly tidied them up. I drilled metal rods into two figures to secure miliput plumes, but decided to leave the epaulettes as I now believe the foot artillery also adopted such. Still to decide whether to permanently base these figures to two 12pdrs cannon on wheeled carriages, or keep them as they are for occasional service with fortress guns. MGB

Wednesday, 13 April 2016

Dutch Artillery for the 1790s

On another forum a reference was made to a Dutch artillery piece up on an auction. What I found interesting was the carriage paintwork. But is this genuine, and appropriate for the 1793-5 campaign? With growing ties to Prussia, I am assuming the Dutch used Prussian artillery pieces, moving over to Gribeauval with the Batavian Republic.

I also have several French gunners, that were given to me by a friend, which a fair number of us have been unable to ascribe to a manufacturer. As they are somewhat tall, and distinctively thin, I did not wish to integrate them into my Dixon/Foundry French army but, rather, have decided to convert them into Dutch.

The Dutch foot artillery 'may' have had shoulder straps, while the horse artillery had epaulettes. Cecil C.P. Lawson mentions a unit which was formed in 1793 by Captain Nacquard and comprised Dutch and French emigres. Not only did it give excellent service, later transferring to the British Army, but he reports that they had red epaulettes with white edge and fringe.

Mark Allen also directed me to a period drawing which shows what was probably their campaign dress, with distinctive hats and half-gaiters. The other paintings came from that excellent resource http://www.aldegarde.nl/napoleonicwars-5.html

MGB