Pavlovski Grenadiers - 1812 Borodino

The Pavlovski Grenadiers advancing

This visually appealing unit of Kutuzov’s Russian army at Borodino stood out by the usage of their old fashioned grenadier mitre caps. 

After an honourable conduct at the Battle of Friedland in 1807, Tsar Alexander ordered that the Pavlovski Grenadiers would be allowed, as the only unit in the whole army, to keep the old miters " in the state in which they left the battlefield as visible mark of the unit's bravery and Our grace." 

Close quarters

With the mitres as a visible field sign, they soon induced fear when spotted on the battlefield by the enemy. After yet more gallant display the unit was admitted into the Imperial Guard in 1813.

Figures by Victrix (now Brigade Games). Flag by GMB.

Amazingly the unit remained in service, still using mitre up till the very end of the First World War and the fall of Tsarist Russia in 1917.

Royal Swedish Cavalry Guards (Livregementet till häst) - Lund 1676

Bielke leads his Cavalry Guard forward across the frozen ground

Hereby the first unit of my Scanian War battles project. This being the main project for 2014, I’m aiming at fielding both the Danish and Swedish army of the battle of Lund 1676. A total of 20 units will be painted up, using the excellent sources for Swedish uniforms and regiments of Lars-Eric Höglund (Acedia Press) and a compendium on Danish uniforms of the Scanian War, made - among others - by the talented illustrator Søren Henriksen. 

(More on the source material later)

For the entire project I’ll be using the excellent Warfare Miniatures and flags.

I’ve prioritized sleek anatomical sculpting and great variety – I feel Warfare Minis offer just that.

Now, the first unit in the collection had to be one of significance.

So I choose the one which, in hind sight, has been pointed out as mayor shareholder in the Swedish victory. The Royal Cavalry Guard, led by the charismatic young Swedish nobleman, Nils Bielke. Officially formed  in 1667 by raising the Uppland Cavalry Regiment to part of the Cavalry Guard, this regiment played a crucial role in the Swedish victory at Lund 1676.

A yellow hay tuft in the hat - the field sign for a Swedish unit

They are painted as they would have looked like at Lund 1676, an early frosty December morning. The unit is wearing collets under their breastplates offering protection for both shots and sabre cuts. As uniforms were very similar between the Danish and Swedish army, an interesting detail is the yellow tuft of hay worn in the hat band by the Swedes, as their field sign. The Danes wore a white armband, or white card in the hat.

Together with the Drabant Guard (The kings body guard), the Royal Cavalry Guard formed the punch of the Swedish right wing at Lund. A right wing consisting only of cavalry.

The right wing was under personal command of the Swedish king Charles XI, eager to finally get at the Danes, and prove his army’s ability. As an interesting detail, the opposing Danish left wing was also led in person by the Danish king, Christian V. It was in other words a duel-like encounter.

A scene from Lund 1676

A short account of the battle: The flank containing the two kings had initially been pushed away from the main battle, as the Swedish king led fierce cavalry charges “a la francaise” (Pressing a direct charge in massed formation with swords drawn, as opposing to the more conservative Caracole model of shooting, and falling back) again and again. The Danish right broke into flight king and all, with the eager Swedish king and his house hold cavalry on their heel.

In the centre and opposing flank, things were edging towards a Danish Victory. Both kings and their units had at this time been away from the battle for some hours – continuing their personal battle. At the very moment the Danes had formed up to deal out the final blow to the wavering Swedish line, King Charles XI appeared out of the blue on the Danish flank.

A frenetic charge was initiated, it was all or nothing. 

Charles XI was only 21 at Lund. 

A charismatic troop leader not afraid to lead from the front line, 

his life guard had their job cut out for them

At the head of the charge was the Royal Cavalry Guard lead by Nils Bielke. 

In hind sight it was said to Bielke's credit, that “The fate of the Swedish kingdom was hanging on the tip of Bielke’s sword at the battle of Lund”

Nils Bielke (1644 - 1716)

Caught in a pincer, the Danes didn’t know what way to face.  King Charles XI and his Guard Cavalry broke the enemy lines by diversion at a crucial time, and this completely broke the Danish centre. What was suppose to be the final attack, turned into slaughter. Of the 25.000 men participating in the battle, a total of 50% losses were recorded. The highest in any Scandinavian battle in history.

Up next will be the Danish Horse Guards. 

Thanks for reading.

Christianus Quintus & the Battle of Køge Bay 1677

The Christianus Quintus in 1:1200

Wargaming the Scanian War is rich in history and opportunities. In addition to a series interesting field battles, the Scanian War also saw some of the biggest naval clashes in Scandinavian history, with the very visually appealing and glamorous ships of the baroque period. 

The Christianus Quintus

The Scanian War also spawned Denmark’s biggest naval hero – Niels Juel.
So - naturally my Scanian War naval collection would have to start with in his flagship, the Christianus Quintus. After a good cup of coffee and a few hrs spend online, I decided to go with Langton Miniatures anglo-dutch range of ships in 1/1200 scale.  Their products really lived up to the reputation. The sculpting is crisp and very impressive.

Langton Miniatures "AD1"

The Battle of Køge Bay: On July 1st 1677, a Danish fleet of 34 ships under Admiral Niels Juel attacked a larger Swedish naval force of 47 ships on the prowl to defeat the Danes, before their Dutch allies lead by Admiral Tromp could arrive and swing the odd the other way.

Using his refined seamanship and adapting to modern Dutch naval tactics, Juel cut through the middle of the Swedish battle line, isolating and decimating the enemy force in piece meal actions.

The Battle of Køge Bay, by Anton Melbye

Admiral Juel had to change flagship three times during the battle, as the fighting intensified and crippled the ships riggings.

Generally considered the largest naval victory in Danish history, the Battle of Køge Bay resulted in Swedish losses of 8 ships and 3.000 dead compared to the Danish losses of but a few hundred dead and wounded.

Actual size of the model - impressive sculpting

The victory was of great strategic importance, isolating Sweden from her German possessions, and securing a supply line that would help maintain the Danish military operations on Swedish soil across the waters of Öresund, thus prolonging a war that in July 1677 was looking increasingly harder to win for Christian V.

Scanian War Danes

Dronningens Livregiment (Queen's Guard)

Using a batch of Warefare Miniatures I've put together this Danish unit for our Scanian War skirmish game "Snapphanar".

The Scanian War 1675-79 was fought mainly due to Denmark contesting the recent Swedish conquest of the eastern Danish provinces, what is today southern Sweden.

After a Danish invasion force of some 15.000 troops of all weapons landed on the Swedish coast 1676, the main battles were fought in the region of Skåne or "Scania - hence the name of the conflict".

Jyske Nationale Rytterregiment (Jutland Cavalry Reg.)  

Battles like Lund, Halmstad and Landskrona were fought out with both the Danish and Swedish kings present on the battlefields. The stakes were high, and the young Swedish king would win his fame (and consolidate his crown and heritage land) by time and again leading from the very front, taking his guard cavalry units into the midst of the fighting.

The Queen's Guard - uniforms then and more recent.

Uniformation was still in it's infancy, leading to confusion as many Swedish and Danish units would look alike. However, many units got more conformed as the conflict went on.

Cobb’s Legion – Battle of Fredericksburg

The Georgians on Mary's Heights

Christmas is nearing, and so is the 151st anniversary of the Battle of Fredericksburg. Fought mainly on the 13th December 1862, this battle was one of the mayor victories achieved by the Army of Northern Virginia.  The ponderous Lee was afforded the chance of a defensive style battle, which he so relished. 

The Rebs securely entrenched on Mary's Heights - picking their targets

With both Longstreet and the charismatic Stonewall Jackson at his disposal, it is perhaps fair to say that the South was at an advantage when it comes to competent leaders at this particular battle. I’ve chosen to paint one of Longstreet's units from Lafayette McLaw’s Brigade of Cobb’s Georgian Legion. They were at the receiving end of a series of futile but heroic Union attacks on the Rebel position atop Mary’s Heights.  

Time and again the Union charged uphill in the open

At the cost of tremendous casualties the Union troops showed both defiance and valour, as they were bid to charge again and again, marching into the hail storm of fire served by the Rebs securely entrenched behind a stone wall. 

For those with further interest in the Battle of Fredericksburg, I can recommend the movie "Gods and Generals", were the battle and the valor of the Union troops is well captured.
God & Generals

The Civil War Podcast

http://civilwarpodcast.blogspot.com/

Here is a recommendation for all of you, who like me, enjoy listening to either historic Podcasts or audiobooks while painting miniatures.

I’ve been painting a lot of ACW this last year. When mapping out the project, I also scouted Itunes for a good Civil War Podcast, to accompany me through the many hours of work, and kind of set the background with a nice 1860’ies atmosphere.

The Civil War Podcast, by Colorado based Rich & Tracy, quickly became my favorite.
This Podcast is delivered in weekly slices of about 45 min, a very suitable bite in terms of processing and thinking about the information received.

The show runs with historical chronology of the war (We are about to touch on First Manassas!) and is presented in a very humble and respectful ambiance, with a clear feeling of well prepared story telling spiced up with anecdotes and quotes from actual soldiers and battles.

Each show deals with a particular subject, and is always wrapped up with a book recommendation for the particular subject of that week. So I also find it very giving in the sense of getting inspired to great books on the period.

Give them a listen, they have been the back drop to a lot of my recent painting.

Blog
http://civilwarpodcast.blogspot.com/

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Civil-War-1861-1865-A-History-Podcast/346347708797430

Gettysburg - Pickett’s Charge

The Virginians press forward under heavy fire

In the wake of almost unbroken success against the yanks, Lee endeavored to risk it all in a gamble to finally beat the Union Army on it’s own ground, and a chance at gaining the recognition of foreign powers, that could lead to Southern independence.

His idea was, after the previous days focus on Little Round Top, Devil’s den on the right flank, to break what now was presumed to be the weakened Union line in the center, and roll up their formations as he did with Jackson at Chancellorsville.

Many regiments would suffer unrepairable casualties of +50%

This fatal charge would be carried out over open ground, affording the Union guns and units under General Hancock excellent aim at the approaching rebels.
The ”honor” was given some of the South’s most valiant warriors – the Virginians of Pettigrew, Trimble, and Pickett.

From their position on Cemetery Ridge, the 12.500 Virginians rose up, and to the words ”Forward, you free men of old Virginia”, they started this suicidal march over open ground straight at loaded guns and prepared positions. 

"Lo" Armistead with the iconic hat on the point of his saber

Suffering more than 50% casualties, the Virginians almost took the position on what was to be remembered as “The Angle”. The Union line wavered for a few minutes, but reinforcements was pouring in, and casualties on the rebel side was too high to sustain momentum. Terrible casualties were suffered. Among the dead or dying was the brigadier general Lewis Armistead, who lead the final closing charge at the head of the 57th Virginia. Armistead has been depicted many times over (personal favorite is the paintings of Don Troiani), and even portrayed on film, gallantly carrying out this charge with his hat on his saber. 

After the failed charge, Lee is said to have asked Pickett's to gather his division in case of a Union counter attack - to which Pickett, allegedly all teary eyed, replied: "Sir, I have no division".

 For those interested in the battle of Gettysburg I can really recommend the visually impressive “Gettysburg”, starring among others Tom Berenger as Longstreet and Martin Sheen as R.E. Lee. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107007/