Lowenstein Chasseurs c.1793

Another rifle-armed unit has joined my Allied army with the completion of the Lowenstein Chasseurs. This unit had originally served with the Dutch before transferring to the British Army. The recruits were Germans. Several descriptions to their dress show minor changes in the hat ornaments and the colour of their pantaloons. The jackets are variously described as grey-blue or light blue, which I have tried to represent here, slightly more greyish in shade than the Beon and Damas chasseurs I completed a few weeks ago. I may choose to increase their number with a detachment in horsehair-crested helmets, there is some evidence of their use while in Dutch service. This unit later served in the West Indies and ended up being drafted into the 5th Battalion, 60th Foot.

My photos show the Lowenstein Chasseurs providing a skirmish screen for the Salm Infantry, another German unit in the British Army. In any decent wargame rules these riflemen should have a fair chance of delaying the Paris Volunteers and National Guard chasseur companies long enough to allow the Salm Infantry to form up. MGB

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

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

Raising Light troops, Damas and Lowenstein Chasseurs

I've noticed a generation of wargamers, inspired by Featherstone, Gilder, Asquith, Grant and others, are looking back fondly on those 28mm manufacturers of the 1970s. I still remember using pocket money on visits to Harrow Model Shop in 1979 to purchase Hinchliffe and Garrison figures. Now, for my part, I have just ordered a batch of Hinchliffe NA10 Austrian Napoleonic Jaeger. With very little converting I think they will paint up nicely as Damas, and Lowenstein chasseurs, in their distinctive sky-blue jackets with respectively black and green facings. Armed with rifled-carbines they will add a new weapon to my Anglo-Dutch-Émigré army.

 

ps. Hope to post  more regularly now matters concerning a family loss are more settled MGB.

 

Tales From GHQ

Just found this site. It includes several battle reports with attractive photos of games played, many based in Ireland in 1798. The collections are drawn from several makes but its particularly nice to see large numbers of painted Trent Miniatures, including British redcoats of the early 1790s. Well worth a visit.  See links. MGB

Very Early Revolutionary Flag, 1789?

Came across some photos of an early French Revolutionary banner. For those raising sans culottes, it could be useful. Note the white reverse with DEU, which would indicate a very early usage.

SKG3 LIVING HISTORY DISPLAY