Chassuer watering horses

 Completed a 15th regiment chassuer watering horses for my French Revolution entry for August #OPC29 and build year #opcarmychallenge. Miniatures are from the Eureka miniatures range. 

Cheers

Matt

Chouan Vendee artillery

 Vendee -Chouan Artillery 

Revolutionary armies - now Skytrex /Warlord 28mm artillery crew, guns Front Rank. 

These will join my Royal Catholic, Vendee and Chouan army for French Revolutionary wargames. In 1793 the Vendee Armee captured 50 pieces of artillery from the Saumur caserne, much though was very old some dating back to the mid 16th century. The remainder entered the army (22-28 pieces) After the defeat of the army at Cholet and the escape of the Vendean army across the Loire all of the captured guns were spiked and dumped into the Loire. 

Then during the move north west known as the great Galerne (gallop) into Maine (Mayenne) a number of 4 pounder and 8 pounders were captured at the battle of Entrammes from the Republican army. Upon arrival at Laval the cannon foundry was also raided where two seige mortars and a large 16lb 18th century gun from the chateau at Laval entered the armies arsenal. These guns were then used for the siege at Granville and at Dol de Bretagne, all of the guns were lost at the battle Le Mans and the retreat back to Mayenne.

I have elected to paint the pieces in the Vallèrie pattern blue colour and brass guns. 

Cheers

Matt

Vendee Project - part 4 Royal Catholic Armee Chouan Chevalier Cavalry

 Royal Catholic Armee Chouan Chevalier Cavalry

As parts of Maine were liberated by the Vendee army during 1793 a cavalry squadron was formed around North Maine and lower Normandy predominantly nobles. The unit was small around 180 mounted men and around 40 dismounted owing to a horse shortage. They carried a holy banner with Mary from the monastery church at Avesnières. This banner was captured at Le Mans in December 1793.

 

Many of the men who survived the disaster at Le Mans fled to Normandy and Mayenne and then onto England via Jersey, those who did not joined General la Frotte and his Chouan army in lower Normandy and North Maine, some fighting until 1815. 

Some members also seemed to have served in the Les chevaliers de la couronne, as Jean-François -Simon de Hercé former deputy to the estates general, and company commander, a Hercé family member of the house we live in today attests to having fought in the battles in Flanders in 1792 then returned to Maine during the uprising, then fled to Bath in England, where he died in 1796.

The miniatures are 28mm from the Revolutionary Armies Range now sold by Skytrex and the horses are from foundry and crusader. The banner is from LBM Byzantine transfer cut down to size. I gave based them on single bases so they can be used for skirmish gaming. 

I have another squadron to complete for my Royal Catholic Armee but it will be in mixed uniforms of the Grenadiers and Bretons from the lower Vendee. 

Cheers

Matt   

Vendee / Chouannerie - French Revolution Project

 Vendee/Chouannerie Project 

This year as one of my major projects I want to complete my French Revolution Project and associated Royal Catholic Armee and French Revolution army. I have also been working on a ruleset at 1/10 figure scale over the last 5 years and hopefully will get it published later this year. 

I really want to fight five of  the battles from the great Galerne that are within 20 to 80klm of my French house and involved a number of our neighbors families and the Hercé family that lived in our house. Both the French and the Royal Catholic armies are quite small so it suits to reduce the representation factor of units and makes leaders for troop inspiration more important. 

Eventually by the end of the year I want to have a big enough army to replay a few of the local smaller battles and within two years the larger ones like Le Mans, Entrammes, Chateau Gontier,  and Dole Bretagne.  

My first units will be a few Revolution French and some of the royalist additions to Chouan collection.

Cheers

Matt

VICTOIRES et CONQUÊTES des ARMÈES FRANCAISES 1792 - 1801 book review

A fabulous pick up at a second hand book shop yesterday VICTOIRES et CONQUÊTES des ARMÈES FRANCAISES 1792 - 1801.


96 fabulous Revolutionary French army plates from various artists, some I have never seen before. Particularly some of the Ardennes and Italian campaign. Published in 1898 I think my copy is 1901. 

Cheers

Matt

Marianne of the revolution

La guérison de Marianne

Another entry in the Analogue Painting  Challenge a foundry miniature of the Revolutionary Republican Marianne! 

Cheers

Matt

Terrain Tuesday - markers and mini Diorama

 First one for the year some table additions buildings and mini dioramas for scatter 

a foundry lady with a Mirliton donkey, love this!

Tankard turn marker, a gift from Philippe for Christmas, a nice resin piece made by a member of our club. 

Foundry medieval casualty markers

cheers

Matt

2nd Regiment of Dragoons 1800-1812

 2e Régiment Dragons 

One of the oldest French Cavalry regiments in service formed in 1556. In January 1792 the ancien regime former Conde regiment was renumbered the 2e Régiment Dragons. The regiment fought a large number of engagements from the Revolution to empire. I have used Elite 28mm miniatures which make up a majority of my French Napoleonic cavalry 1800-1812 army, although Elite are getting long in the tooth, They do look good in big units. 

Yet to be presented their Eagle by the Emperor! 

Battles and engagements 

French Revolution cockades

 For the new year I am planning a continuation of my French Revolution project (along with many others) including a set of rules that works for a mid sized skirmish game (60-100 figs).

With that in mind I ordered for Christmas some more books on the subject, three in French and two in English, plusI put aside some cash to spend on some militaria from the period.

 I looked at a number of auctions in England and here in France, set my budget then watched live. One of the items that got away that I was interested in was a number of revolutionary cockades ....they become a little too rich for me very quickly, so I now present the images at least.

Hopefully somebody will find them useful like I will as a reference when painting their miniatures. Note a number of variations including green and double rings.

"walk the battlefield in the morning, wargame in the afternoon"™ 

From Caesar to World War Two

cheers

Matt

28mm French Revolution mob

Hot off the desk today some French Revolution miniatures from Revolutionary wars miniatures. A pleasure and really easy paintjob with good detail. I am looking forward to receiving more to add to my rabble mob!

Cheers

Matt