Saturday 9 August 2014

Picking up the brushes again - French Elite Dragoons 1812

The elite company of the 7th charging forward

Dear readers trust this update finds you all well. The Black Powder Games Blog have for some weeks now been resting quietly in the cool shade, while yours truly have been out and around getting either scorched or drenched by the rather extreme summer weather we’ve experienced in Europe. 

French Dragoons - Funcken plate.
The elite trooper is seen forward left.

This year’s summer holiday took us through some of France’s finest wine regions. Most notably we visited Alsace to get our hands on some good Riesling. While in the region I managed to persuade my fiancée to spend a day with me walking the historic grounds around Woerth, the site of a mayor Franco-Prussian battle in 1870. As it turns out, the Alsacians have not forgotten this part of their turbulent history – but more about that in a later post.

"Russia against Napoleon" by Dominic Lieven.
In my opinion the best book, not only on Borodino, but on the complete 1812-1814 
joust of giants between the two "eagles" the Tzar and the Emperor.

One of the books I enjoyed reading, as I was sweating it out in the poolside umbrella shade, was the excellent “Russia against Napoleon” by Dominic Lieven. 

Recently published (2009) I found it a very refreshing and detailed source, taking Russia’s perspective on the 1812 campaign, and subsequent defeat of Napoleon in 1814. The book covers the total spectre of this timeline, and I’d highly recommend it to anyone interested in this part of the Napoleonic Wars and the spectacular Russian army of 1812-1814.

The bugler - characterized by the different colors worn on 
Colback, Habite-veste and Chabraque.

But now it’s time to get back to the painting table and to the blog.
Freshly inspired by the Lieven book I threw myself at some Elite Dragoons constructed from the Perry French Dragoon box. 

Borodino or as the French call it "The Moskova"

As my collection is aimed mainly at Borodino and 1812, this unit is fielding the flag of the 7th Dragoons, which would put them in Thiry’s brigade, part of Grouchy’s 3rd Cavalry Corps. A veteran unit of Austerlitz, where their Colonel was awarded the Legion d'honneur for capturing the Austrian General de Wimpfen, the 7th was again in the thick of it at The Moskova. Grouchy’s Corps was one of many sucked into the fray at the Great Redoubt, where he made several charges at the Russian infantry squares formed behind it.

The regimental standard - the 7th made several charges at Borodino,
so I spiced up the ranks with a wounded hero.

The Elite Dragoons were men of certain merit, drawn from the ranks to form a crack elite company within the regiment. They were distinguished by the bearskin “Colback” and the red epaulettes, similar to those of the sapeurs. 

"The capturer of de Wimpfen"
The Colonel of the 7th was awarded the Legion d'Honneur 
for capturing the Austrian General at Austerlitz.

Their uniform had been almost unchanged since 1791, but in 1812 they were issued the new habite-veste, which was close to that of the infantry in cut and design. Weapons-wise they carried a sabre, a pistol and the model 1777 musket (1,41 m) to which they were able to attach a bayonet. This mix of cavalry and infantry weaponry was a testament to the tactical DNA of the Dragoons, meant to fight one moment as mobile light infantry and another as formed cavalry.

Another shot of the bugler. 
The Perrys know how to make them, a pleasure to paint these.

Their chabraque was made from sheepskin lined with tags carrying the regimental colour (Key colours were yellow, orange, red and purple). In order to have the bugler stand out, he would be saddled on a black sheepskin while wearing habite-veste and Colback in complementart colors to the rest of the unit.

Shot from above to reveal the Colback top detail of the white cross on red.

With 30 regiments raised in total, the French Dragoon force proved a vital component in Napoleon’s Spanish campaign, and would later win further glory at Nangis and Provins during the desperate fighting in France in 1814. 

Thank you very much for reading!

27 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Cheers Michael, it was nice to be back at the painting table after a few weeks away!

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  2. Superbly painted Napoleonic's Soren

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    1. Thanks Chris, Perry sculpting does make it easier!

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  3. Great looking unit-really nice Brushwork. Lievens book is excellent especially its take from the Russian side.May I make 2 suggestions 1-flagpole should be blue 2- the officers epaulettes metal ok. Peter
    ps I game with blackpowder using the napoleonic supplements Albion Triumphant 1&2 so far with the european powers to come in future supplements.

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    1. You're quite right Peter, and thanks for making these suggestions. Like I wrote to someone on TMP who made the same comment; You'd want them to be histrically right after spending so much effort on them. The epaulettes were a simple brain fade as I have that in all my sources, but the pole was news, and a welcome addition to my check listen when painting future units. Thanks!
      P.S: I didn't know that Warlord was planning more additional supplements, will keep my fingers crossed for 1812 and Russia then :0)

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  4. Very handsome dragoons! The trumpeter is stunning with his white bearskin. Had not seen the Lieven book before. May have too look into this.

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    1. You're very kind to say so Jonathan, thanks! And yes, do give that book a try, it has a really nice narrative way of taking one through the events of 1812, and you'll certainly be inspired to pick up some of your napoleonic lead pile afterwards!
      Also, there is a fantastic podcast "The Napoleon Bonaparte Podcast" with some 60 hrs of discussions on Napoleon's life, campaigns and achievements. Serves me great when painting!

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  5. Beautifully painted dragoons!

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    1. Thanks Dean, once again I'll have to give credit to the Foundry Painting System as my preferred weapon of choice!

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  6. Replies
    1. Cheers Christopher, already threw myself at their big brother - the cuirassiers, so more to come :0)

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  7. It's nice to have you back Søren, especially when you post such exquisitely painted miniatures as these. As someone already said, they are simply stunning!

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    1. It's good to be back Jonas, seems like ages since we played at the club. I'm not quite sure about Micke's coordinates (But glad to see that he seems unaffected by the regional fires), but let's all get together for that Italian Wars painting session as soon as possible!

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  8. Cracking work. A six figure company, are you running three squadrons of twelve figures then?

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    1. Thanks Stephen! Yes, I'm aiming at gaming Borodino complete with the central part (the push of Ney and Davout on the Great Redoubt) and all the way down to Pontiatowski's southern attack. Mainly to play with the idea of a right flanking move.
      To do this on a reasonable sized table (yet to be constructed;0)) I'd need to keep the units rather small. So regular sized cavalry is 3 bases, 6 figures total. Infantry is also 3 bases 12 figures total. I do plan to field cuirassiers as large units with 6 bases and 12 figures total, to give them the extra punch they're entitled to historically.

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  9. Great brushwork yet again! I might have to look into that Lieven book.
    /Mattias

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    1. Thank you very much Mattias! The Lieven book also covers Leipzig, which I know you're interested in :0)

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  10. Stunning paintwork, truly inspirational!
    Russia against Napoleon is the first book I read on the napoleonic wars ( it was one of the few books available on the subject in my local library), it has been a great stimulator for painting miniatures for both Borodino and the retreat from Moscow, certainly aided by the recent Perry releases ;)
    This unit is now also on my list to add to my French forces!

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    1. Thank you for the kind words Rens - for me the book was a present from my fiancée to commemorate our visit to Les Invalides in Paris last summer. One is lucky to have a girl so understanding of ones obsessions. And I quite agree, the Perrys have made the 1812 campaign available in a completely new way!

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  11. I love the pink you used; exactly the right tone

    I hope you are fine

    Cheers

    Franck

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    1. Cheers Franck, I'm good mon ami! How are you holding out in the Paris summer heat? Enjoyed your book with the Marne perspective very much! Managed to visit Woerth too this summer, will share some pics with you by mail.

      Take care

      Søren

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    2. I am very fine with a lot of projects thanks

      I will look forward for your photos

      cheers

      Franck

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  12. What can I say? Paintjob is fantastic (beautiful colors and amazing details!) and the historical background excellent...What can I say except "Excellent travail" and "Vive l'Empereur!"...
    Best,
    Phil.

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  13. Thank you for the kind words Phil! En Avant, et Vive L'Empereur!!!

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