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Thursday 9 October 2014

Westphalian & French Army Project, circa 1810-1812 by Thoran Longhurst

I stress this is just my version of the Westphalian Army.
It is not just from the corps of Russia in 1812 but units from the whole army.
When new photos are available this page will be update.

Updated 30 August 2023 

I have the 3 infantry brigades with a total of 12 battalions (2 battalions to finish painting) and from 6 cavalry regiments (3 regiment to paint/finish) with a update in the artillery as well. 
The French force has been started with a Guard Grenadier a pied battalion.

Updated 12 February 2021 

I have decided to scale back the size of the army from 3 infantry divisions with a total of 30 battalions to 3 infantry brigades with a total of 15 battalions and from 6 cavalry regiments, with a suitable reduction in the artillery as well. Which means I now only need 3 battalions, 3 regiments and no batteries.
Similar size French force to follow.
Of course now I am also looking to start a force for the Kingdom of Napals 1806-1815 (on hold).

When I was a young wargamer (are the good old days when men were men and their toys were made of lead) I painted a number of Westphalian units using Minifigs.  These I sold off in the early 80's and I missed them (the guy that purchased them has not been to the club for at least 20 years). Now I have started painting (among other projects, 16th C Italian Wars, ECW and ACW, plus the painting I do for two friends and hold down a full time job, plus entertain the grandchildren) a new Napoleonic Westphalian corps mostly in Perry 28mm plastics, Victrix 28mm hard plastics with some metals, (some Minifigs & Perry) the generals, guns and a couple of artillery crews (later to add Perry gun crews).

My plan is to have a corps of 3 infantry divisions (30 battalions) two small cavalry divisions (8 regiments) and about 3 horse and 4 foot batteries (25 guns & howitzers).  I have most of the figures.  I just need some gun crews, command figures and some generals.

I have now (27 May 2012) finished the 1st Division of this corps.  The units saw action at the May club meeting as a formation for the first time. The 2nd/1st Line was shot up and routed, the 1st/1st Line suffered a little loss from some Prussian Jaegers, the cavalry did well as did the horse battery.

Upgrading all line battalions from 20 to 24 figures @ 5x4 bases 40x40mm, x 2x2 bases 40x20mm (April 2014).
Decreasing the size of the cavalry from 18 to 12 figures @ 6x2 bases 50x50mm) - (June 2014)
I will also increase the Garde battalions from 16 to 24 @ 5x4-40x40mm, 2x2 40x20mm - (June 2014).
The skirmish units will change from 8 x 3 figures per base to 1x4-40x40mm command, 8x2-40x20mm, 4x1-20x20mm-(June 2014).

We (25/28mm Napoleonic playing club members) had decided (back in 2014-15) to rebase our armies, with BP type bases, Geoff K and myself did, I pushed this change because for decades we (WRG players) had complained about the WRG base system. However after I moved from Sydney to Melbourne @ the end of 2016 the SWC club members reversed the decision and went back to WRG basing (changing Geoff's Russian Army) although I did say to them that BP type basing is a little more practicable on the clubs table type style and if everyone had the same basing system you can play any rules, the upshot is everyone uses WRG basing and plays any rules with that, ha, ha., well I did say it.
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Purchased some Warlords Games, Blackpowder Late French Line Infantry. They are nice figures. I will probably use more of these guys as well as the other WlG BP French. (1 Sept 2014)

The 1er Line brigade and corps horse battery head on into Don's Prussian Dragoons & the 2nd Kuirassiers into the flank of the Prussian Dragoons.

I have decided to redo my old Minifgs French lancer regiment as the Westphalian Garde Lancers (eventually). No longer happening as I am using BP plastic lancers, they are alright. (August 2021)

Corps- Marshal ?
Corps Artillery-Général de division Allix de Vaux
1 Company Old Guard Foot Artillery (12pdr) French
1 Company Old Guard Horse Artillery (6pdr) French

2er Westphalian DivisionGénéral de division Elector of Hesse, Adam Ludwig Baron von Ochs (Painted)
4er Infantry Brigade-Garde: Général de brigade Graf Wellingerode (painted)
Grenadier Garde Battalion, (painted)
Jager/Chasseur-Garde Battalion, (painted)
Jager Carabinier-Garde Battalion (painted)
1st Fusilier-Garde Battalion (painted, in metal from Steve Barber Miniatures)
1 Heavy Foot Battery 
(12pdr)

5er Infantry Brigade: Général de brigade Legras (painted)
1e Ligne Regiment-1e Battalion (painted)
1e Ligne Regiment-2e Battalion (painted)
2e Ligne Regiment-1e Battalion (painted)
2e Ligne Regiment-2e Battalion (painted)
1 Medium Foot Battery 
(8pdr)


6er Infantry Brigade: Général de brigade von Borstel Damas
3e Ligne Regiment-1e Battalion (painted)
3e Ligne Regiment-1e Battalion (painted)
3e Ligne Regiment-1e Battalion (painted)
1e Jager Battalion (painted in early Light Blue uniform)
1 Foot Light Medium Battery 
(6pdr)


1er French Division: Général de division ?

1er Infantry Brigade-Guard: Général de brigade ?
1e Grenadier a pied Regiment-1e Battalion
1e Grenadier a pied Regiment-2e Battalion
1e Chasseur a Pied Regiment-1e Battalion
Chasseur-Tirailleurs/Voltigeurs Regiment-1e Battalion
1 Guard Heavy Foot Gun 
(12pdr)

2er Infantry Brigade: Général de brigade ?
20er Ligne Regiment-1e Battalion
20er 
Ligne Regiment-2e Battalion
1er Swiss Ligne Regiment-1e Battalion
1er Swiss Ligne Regiment-2e Battalion
1 Medium Foot Battery 
(8pdr)

3er Infantry Brigade: Général de brigade ?
15er Legere Regiment-1e Battalion
15er 
Legere 
Regiment-2e Battalion
65er Ligne Regiment-1e Battalion
65er 
Ligne Regiment-2e Battalion
1e Grenadier Reunie Battalion
1 Medium Foot Battery (8pdr)

Westphalian Cavalry Division: Général de division Théodore Chabert (painted)
Garde Cavalry Brigade: Général de brigade Wolff (painted)
Garde du Corps Kuirassiers (painted)
Garde Chevau Leger Lanciers (painting)
Garde Hussars (painted)
Ligne Cavalry Brigade: Général de brigade von Lepel (painted)
1er Kuirassiers (painted)
1er Hussar Regiment
1er Chevau-Leger Regiment
1 company Garde Horse artillery (6pdr)

1er French Cavalry Divisions: Général de division 
1er Light Cavalry Brigade: Général de brigade 
5er Chevau-Leger Lanciers (1st series Minifigs) painted.
7er La Mancha Lanciers (King Joseph's Spanish Army, 1st series Minifigs) painted.
2e Light Cavalry Brigade: Général de brigade 
?er Chasseur a Cheval (Perry plastic) unpainted
?er Chasseur a Cheval (WlG BP plastic) unpainted
3e Light Cavalry Brigade: Général de brigade 
?er Hussars (Perry plastic) repainting
?er Hussars (Perry plastic) unpainted
1 Company of Horse Artillery (4pdr) 

2er French Cavalry Divisions: Général de division 
1er Cuirassier Cavalry Brigade: Général de brigade 
1er Carabiners a cheval (Perry plastic) repainting
13er Cuirassiers (Perry plastic) unpainted
2er Dragoon Brigade: Général de brigade 
9er Dragoons (Perry plastic) repainting
22er Dragoons (Perry plastic) unpainted
1 Company of Horse Artillery (6pdr) 

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My 1st battalions of the line will be in a almost full dress style (called campaign dress) using Perry French and the 2nd will be Perry in greatcoats (which is also a campaign or Winter dress uniform).

I will take new photos as they appear now and as completed.


The Garde Grenadier Battalion

The Garde Grenadier Battalion

Uniform of Westphalian Grenadier Guard Battalion.
Head wear
Black bearskin - red  cords, red plume & red top patch (with a yellow grenade within a yellow circle)
Yellow plate with eagle (shako on campaign)
Coat
White, facing colour red on collar, cuffs, lapels & turnbacks with yellow button lace
Yellow buttons & red epaulettes
Breeches
White (or whatever can be obtained while on campaign) with knee high white gaiters with white buttons
Sword knot - red.
Belts
White with a black cartridge pouch (brass diamond plate with four grenades)

Garde Chasseurs Battalion

Garde Chasseurs Battalion

Garde Chasseurs Battalion

Uniform of Westphalian Garde Jager-Chasseur Battalion.
Head wear - Shako
Company colour pompon (light blue-white-yellow-green), white cords & green plume (carabiniers red cords & green over red plume, for lights green cords & green over yellow plume) with yellow tip,
White eagle plate.
Coat
Dark green, with yellow collar, cuffs, turnbacks & yellow piping to lapels with white button lace,
Yellow buttons, Green epaulettes (red fringe for carabiniers, yellow fringe for lights).
Breeches
Green with white Hungarian thigh knots & side strip, black short gaiters (white pipping to top & tasselwith black buttons, Sword knot - Green.
Belts
White with a black cartridge pouch & white bugle badge
Musket armed.


Garde Jager-Carabinier Battalion

Garde Jager-Carabinier Battalion

Uniform of Westphalian Garde Jager-Carabinier Battalion.
Head wear - Shako
Company colour pompon (light blue-white-yellow-green), red cords & red over green plume (white cords for carabiniers with green over red plume, lights green cords & red over yellow plume).
Yellow eagle plate
Coat
Dark green, with red pipping on green collar, cuffs, turnbacks lapels with white button lace
Yellow buttons, Green epaulettes with red half moon (carabiniers red fringe, lights yellow fringe)
Breeches
Green with red Hungarian thigh knots & side strip, black short gaiters (red pipping to topwith black buttons
Sword knot - Green.
Belts
Black with a black cartridge pouch & white bugle badge
Rifle armed


Fusilier Garde Regiment-2nd Battalion (this battalion being removed altogether and replaces with metals from Steve Barber Miniatures as the 1st Battalion only)

Fusilier Garde Regiment-2nd Battalion (this battalion being removed altogether and replaces with metals from Steve Barber Miniatures as the 1st Battalion only)

Fusilier Garde Regiment-2nd Battalion (this battalion being removed altogether and replaces with metals from Steve Barber Miniatures as the 1st Battalion only)

Fusilier Garde Regiment-2nd Battalion (this battalion being removed altogether and replaces with metals from Steve Barber Miniatures as the 1st Battalion only)

Uniform of Westphalian Fusilier-Garde Regiment.
Head wear - Shako
Company colour pompon (light blue-white-yellow-green), white cords (red for grenadiers & green for lights)
Yellow lozenge plate with eagle, Blue Plume.
Coat
White, facing colour dark blue on collar, cuffs, lapels & turnbacks with white button lace
White buttons, blue epaulette's with white half moon (red for grenadiers and green with yellow half moon for lights).
Breeches
White with knee high white gaiters with white buttons
Belts
White with a black cartridge pouch, Sword knot - white.

1st Line Regiment-1st Battalion

1st Line Regiment-1st Battalion

1st Line Regiment-1st Battalion

1st Line Regiment-2nd Battalion

1st Line Regiment-2nd Battalion

1st Line Regiment-1st & 2nd Battalions

1st Line Regiment-1st & 2nd Battalions


Uniform of Westphalian 1st Line Regiment.
(the second battalion in blue greatcoats)
Head wear - Shako
Grenadier - red pompon, red  cords, red plume
Voltigeur - green pompon, green cords, green with yellow tip plume
Fusilier - company colour pompon (light blue-white-yellow-green), white cords
Yellow lozenge plate with eagle over black regimental number.
Coat
White, facing colour dark blue on collar, cuffs, lapels & turnbacks. Yellow buttons.
Grenadier - red epaulettes
Voltigeur - green epaulettes (could have yellow half moon)
Fusiliers - white shoulder strap piped in dark blue (in 1812 dark blue epaulettes with white half moon)
Breeches
White with over the knee black gaiters with black buttons
Sword knot - Grenadiers red, Voltigeurs green.
Belts
White with a black cartridge pouch

2nd Line Regiment-1st Battalion

2nd Line Regiment-1st Battalion

2nd battalion-blue greatcoat, 2nd Regiment (the corps commander looking on)
2nd Line Regiment-3rd Battalion, grey greatcoat.

Uniform of Westphalian 2nd Line Regiment.
This regiment had 3 battalions.
(The second battalion in blue greatcoats and the third battalion in grey greatcoats)
Head wear - Shako
Grenadier - red pompon, red  cords, red plume
Voltigeur - green pompon, green cords, green with yellow tip plume
Fusilier - company colour pompon (light blue-white-yellow-green), white cords
Yellow lozenge plate with eagle over black regimental number.
Coat
White, facing colour dark blue on collar (white lapels piped blue), cuffs, lapels & turnbacks
Yellow buttons
Grenadier - red epaulettes
Voltigeur - green epaulettes
Fusiliers - white shoulder strap piped in dark blue (in 1812 dark blue epaulettes with white half moon)
Breeches
White with knee high black gaiters with black buttons
Sword knot - Grenadiers red, Voltigeurs green & Fusiliers white.
Belts
White with a black cartridge pouch

Garde du Corps

Garde du Corps

Garde du Corps
Uniform of Westphalian Garde du Corps.
Head wear - Helmet
French cuirassier pattern with black carabinier type crest and brown fur turban 
Coat
For full dress White with blue facings on campaign blue with red facings.
French pattern Steel kuirass (front & back plates) from 1810 with a sunburst on the front.
Trumpeters were blue coats with white facings, no kuirass.
Service dress: Coat Blue, facing colour orange on collar, cuffs, turnbacks & white pipping
White buttons, red epaulettes
Breeches
White with black high jacked boots
Sword knot - white.
Belts
White with a black cartridge pouch
Saddle cloth
Blue piped yellow.

Garde Hussars

Garde Hussars

Garde Hussars

Uniform of Westphalian Garde Hussars.
Shako
Red, white plumes, yellow plate, white cords.
Coat
Red dolman with yellow lace and buttons.
Facings red piped yellow.
Blue pelisse with yellow lace and buttons.
Trumpeters white coats with red facing yellow lace.
Breeches
Blue (light blue or mid-blue, uncertain) with yellow thigh knots and side stripes.
Yellow lace to top of boots.
Sword knot - white.
Belts
White with a black cartridge pouch
Saddle cloth
White sheepskin with red edging.

2nd Cuirassiers

2nd Cuirassiers

2nd Cuirassiers
Uniform of Westphalian 2nd Kuirassier Regiment.
Helmet
French cuirassier pattern with black carabinier type crest and brown fur turban Coat Blue, facing colour orange on collar, cuffs, turnbacks & white pipping
White buttons, red epaulettes
French pattern Steel kuirass (front & back plates) from 1810
Breeches
White with black high jacked boots
Sword knot - white.
Belts
White with a black cartridge pouch

Someone may look at these guys (kuirassiers above) and think the colour of the saddle furniture is the wrong colour that it should be blue not red.  For my second regiment I have painted the saddle furniture in the earlier red of the 1st Regt.  My story is that the 1st Kuirassiers have been issued with the new blue and the old red saddle furniture has been passed onto the 2nd Kuirassiers until they get the new blue (it will never happen).  This will help on the battlefield/tabletop to establish them as the 2nd Kuirassiers regiment and different from the 1st Kuirassiers (will have white coats) and the Garde du Corps Kuirassiers (campaign blue coats).

Guard Artillery (in the process of change with Minifigs series 2 French horse artillery crew).

Guard Artillery (in the process of change with Minifigs series 2 French horse artillery crew).



Westphalian Guards Artillery.

These are Perry crew and guns and a Minifigs howitzer
October 2014
A French uniform with Westphalian national cockade (in the process of change with Minifigs series 2 French horse artillery crew).