French Revolutionary Wargames 1789-1802: February 2018

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 26 February 2018

The Legion de Bruges Chasseurs are formed, 1792

Just as I began to think the Allied cavalry were finally going to make an appearance, the French Revolutionaries recruit another cavalry unit. These are the Mounted Chasseurs of the Legion de Bruges. Reports are also coming in that the 16th Chasseurs a Cheval have also been recruiting, and now number 12 figures. Repeated petitions to the Dutch government to muster something more towards their own defence has had some impact as two heavy cavalry regiments are being kitted out in addition to a second hussar regiment.
MGB

Thursday 15 February 2018

Admiral Warren's Hussars of 1795

A colourful little unit of cavalry, Admiral Warren's Hussars were raised for the Quiberon expedition of 1795, and named after the commander of the fleet. It mustered no more than a single company, and only nine are recorded as surviving that disaster for the emigres. There are two sources for their adopted uniform, I naturally went for the colourful mirliton hat and sheepskin shabraque. Well I don't think they are going to correct my severe shortage of allied cavalry to oppose the French republicans, but it is a start.
MGB

Wednesday 7 February 2018

Italian Grenadiers 1798

A small but colourful post. Recently completed a company of Italian grenadiers, allies of the French Republicans. I think these home-casts look rather dashing painted up with white gaiters, and colourful mirliton hats.
MGB

Saturday 3 February 2018

French Mounted Corps of Guides c.1792

No army can safely march without some guides to assist the commanding officer. I decided to cast some of my own, and paint them up in the early war uniform of grey coats with green facings. Here are a few of them assessing the terrain. There is some controversy as to whether the Corps of Guides actually ever wore the grey regulation coat, or whether they always embraced the later green uniform, so I decided to have a few of these too. They aren't really battlefield units, so I will have to devise a kind of tactical value, or just plant them on the table as vignettes.
MGB