Tirailleurs Algériens or “Turcos” – 1870

En avant! Turcos charging with full backpack & camp equipment

Inspired by my visit to the French Army Museum at Les Invalides, I decided time had come to get cracking at a unit of French troops very iconic of the Franco-Prussian War – the Tirailleurs Algériens. 


Turco with the iconic huge French backpack

I wanted to build a unit portraying the Turcos wearing the abnormally huge backpacks often shown in the paintings of Detaille and Neuville. This meant a conversion involving three different manufactures - and some Green Stuff.

Step 1: Perry ACW Zouaves

These colonial troops from French Algeria first raised in 1841, saw initial action in the Crimean War, were they would also get the nickname, Turcos – or Turks – due to their resemblance with the Turkish allies also participating in the Crimean campaign along the Imperial French and British forces.

Step 2: Turco heads from Forgotten & Glorious.

I choose these due to the high Fez and the mix of African heads.

The Turcos fought in all the Second Empire’s mayor campaigns from the Crimean, to Magenta and Solferino in Italy, to the Mexican Adventure and on to the final battles of The Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71.

Step 3: backpacks from Secret Weapon Miniatures

In one of the early engagements of the Franco-Prussian War, at the battle of Woerth 6th August 1870, the 2nd Regiment of Turcos would play a key role in the French defences.  They would prove their quality and bravery beyond what is called for, as the massed infantry attacks of the Bavarian and Prussian columns hit the blue line like a tidal wave.

Step 4: Adding the big tin canteens made from Green Stuff

Before the battle the 2nd had set up camp on a wooden hilltop with a nice overview of the coming battlefield. Colonel Suzzoni mustered 2.216 men and 84 officers in the camp, ready to meet the awaited onslaught of the approaching enemy. 

Step 5: Painting! Backpacks including added tent poles
made from painted metal wire

The French high command, lead by veteran commander Marshal MacMahon, had scouted this area for a defensive fight. They wanted the Germans to attack them here, at these “positions magnifiques”, as the hills would offer some protection against the murderously effective German Krupp artillery and also give the French Chassepot rifles a clear field of fire into the slopes below. 

The colonial units were lead by French officers 

 The German coalition had divided their forces into three army corps. The 3rd army corps facing MacMahon was lead by the heir to the Prussian throne, Crown Prince Frederick.

The Germans enjoyed a significant advantage in number of troops and artillery at Woerth - roughly 3-1. They would make these odds count in a crushing pincer strategy leading to the defeat and retreat of MacMahon to Chalons.

Turcos on the prowl

When the Germans attacked, they massed their artillery into grand batteries biting away bit by bit of the center while pouring forward troops, enveloping the French defenses, and breaking MacMahon's flanks. The 2nd Tirailleurs Algériens, part of Lefebvre’s 2nd brigade, held their position at enormous costs (80% losses). Upon receiving orders for retreat, the now mortally wounded Colonel Suzzoni secured the regimental flag, and the surviving 8 officers and 441 men of the 2nd could start the long demoralizing retreat to Chalons. MacMahon had lost this very important battle, and the door was now open to Paris.

Thank you for reading.