possible expansion to my AWI forces

[paulr]

After some gentle prodding from a couple of members of my regular group I'm looking at possibly expanding my AWI forces beyond Guildford Courthouse

The thought is to include some French

The sieges at Savannah and Yorktown do not appeal
I'm open to other suggestions

One thought that has occurred is a variation on Lafayette's campaign in Virginia in March - April 1781  

If Washington allowed the Duc de Lauzun to volunteer his legion to serve with Lafayette and if Destouches had landed Baron de Vioménil's troops somewhere in Virginia after the 'First Battle of the Virginia Capes you have an interesting American - French force.

The British opposition would be Benedict Arnold with about 1,600-2,200 British, Hessians and Loyalists reinforced by Major General William Phillips 2,000 Britsh (who then takes command)

I'm looking for good online sources of information on these forces, all suggestions welcome

[paulr]

After a couple of fun days digging in obscure parts of the Internet I have found much interesting and sometimes conflicting information including among many others; letters between the various commanders and a surprisingly useful "Yorktown Campaign and the Surrender of Cornwallis", Henry P. Johnston, 1881

My take on the American forces in Virginia in March-April 1781:

Major General Marquis de Lafayette
  Vose's Battalion (19/41/2/247)
  Gimat's Battalion (15/42/2/241)
  Barber's Battalion (19/36/2/300)
  2 sections of 2 6-pdr guns
  1 section of 2 3-pdr guns

The three battalions are composite battalions of light infantry companies, Barber's battalion also having three New Jersey line companies
The numbers are from a Nafziger list for Yorktown as of 26 September (Officers/NCOs/Staff Officers/rank & file)

Lafayette collected a larger number of guns than this in Philadelphia on his march south but transporting and manning that number of guns seems unlikely

There were also various units of Militia including 1,000 in 5 Regiments with 2 guns at the Battle of Blandford (Petersburg). I will reuse my Guildford Courthouse Militia for these.

I'm looking at using the following figures
AWA3   Continental, coats and caps, marching (when in line)
AWA7   Continental firing line (when in skirmish order)
AWA8   Continental command, coats, marching
AWA12   6pdr battalion gun, ammo boxes and crew (3)
AWA14   3pdr gun with crew (3)
AWA19   Mounted Officers (6)

[paulr]

While no French forces operated in Virginia until September 1781 the following French forces could have operated with Lafayette's Americans in Virginia in March-April 1781.

In February 1781 the Duc de Lauzun volunteered to serve with Lafayette but was ordered to remain in Newport by Washington.

Lauzun's Legion (595)      
   BG Duke de Lauzun   
   Colonel Count Dillon   
   1st Squadron/Lauzun's Legion Hussars (@120)   
   2nd Squadron/Lauzun's Legion Hussars (@120)   
   Grenadier Company (@120)   
   Chasseur Company (@120)   
   Artillery Company (@120 w/ 2 x 4-pdr OR 2 x 1-pdr)

On 8th March 1781 the French Admiral Destouches, with 1,100 grenadiers and chasseurs under Baron de Vioménil, Rochambeau's second in command, departed Newport, RI, for Virginia waters. The 'First Battle of the Virginia Capes' on 16 March prevented French entering the Chesapeake and the French squadron returned to Newport on 26 March.

I'm assuming these troops were the brigade that Baron de Vioménil commanded at Yorktown, even though ther are more than 1,100 troops and they include Fusiliers

Bourbonnois Brigade          
   Major General Baron de Viomenil       
   Bourbonnois Regiment (@850)       
      Colonel Marquis de Leval     
      1st Battalion/Bourbonnois Regiment (4 companies = @340)     
      2nd Battalion/Bourbonnois Regiment (4 companies = @340)   
      Grenadier Company (@85)   
      Chasseur Company (@85)   
      Artillery (4 x 4-pdr Gribeauval)   
   Royal Deux-Ponts Regiment (@900)       
      Colonel Comte de Deux-Ponts   
      1st Battalion/Royal Deux Ponts Regt. (4 companies = @360)   
      2nd Battalion/Royal Deux Ponts Regt. (4 companies = @360)   
      Grenadier Company (@90)   
      Chasseur Company (@90)   
      Artillery (4 x 4-pdr Gribeauval) 

I assume that the Seven Years War range is appropriate to fill in the gaps in the French AWI range. I'm looking at using the following figures

AWF1   Fusiliers, marching
AWF2   Grenadiers in bearskins, marching
AWF3   Line command, marching (20)
AWF4   Grenadier command, marching (10)
SYF11   3pdr gun with crew (3) (Are these on Gribeauval carriages?)
SYF15   Hussars
SYF21   Field officers (5)
SYF24   Tricorn foot, firing, turnbacks (for Chasseurs)
SYW1   General and ADC (2)
SYW14   Generic kneeling/firing (30) (for Chasseurs)

[paulr]

And finally the British, initially Brig. Gen. Benedict Arnold was sent into Virginia with 1,100-2,000 men. He was later reinforced and came under the command of Major General William Phillips with an additional 2,000 men and they were finally reinforced with approximately 2,000 more just prior to Phillips' death and the arrival of Cornwallis

My take on the final force is:

Major General William Phillips
Brig. Gen. Benedict Arnold

Royal Artillery – 2 3lb light guns, 2 6lb field guns   
   
Light Infantry Brigade   
   Lt. Col. Robert Abercrombie
   1st Light Infantry Battalion (both battalions total 671)
   2nd Light Infantry Battalion
   Hessian Jägers: Cpt. J. Ewald (74)
   
Dundas's Brigade   
   Lt. Col. Thomas Dundas     
   76th Foot Regiment: Major F. Needham (715)     
   80th Foot Regiment: Lt. Col. T. Dundas (689)
   17th Foot Regiment: Lt. Col. H.Johnson (205)
   43rd Foot Regiment: Maj. G. Hewitt (307)
   
von Voigt's Brigade   
   Col. August von Voigt
   1st Battalion, Ansbach-Bayreuth Regiment - Col. FAV Voit von Salzburg (432)
   2nd Battalion, Ansbach-Bayreuth Regiment - Col. FJHC von Seybothen (412)
   Artillery company, Ansbach-Bayreuth Regiment - Capt NF Hoffman (2 6-pdr)
   Erb Prinz (Prince Hereditaire) Fusilier Regiment LtCol Matthew Fuchs (404)
   
Loyalists   
   Lt. Col. John Graves Simcoe
   Queen's Rangers (320 horse & foot)
   Loyal American Regiment - Col. Robinson (170)
   American Legion - Captain Nathan Frink (35)

I'm looking at using the following figures
AWB1   British line 1768 warrant, march attack
AWB3   British line 1768 warrant, firing line
AWB10   Brit. line 1768 warrant, command, march attack
AWB11   Brit. line 1768 warrant, command, standing
AWB19   Roundabouts, round hats, marching (Loyalists)
AWB20   Roundabouts, round hats, blanket roll, marching (Loyalists)
AWB22   Brit. light inf., crested helm, skirmish (18)
AWB26   Light infantry command (15)
AWB27   Queens rangers grenadiers (18)
AWB28   Queens rangers centre company (18)
AWB29   6pdr battalion gun, ammo boxes and crew (3)
AWB31   3pdr gun with crew (3)
AWB33   16th Light dragoons in helmet
AWB37   Mounted Officers (6)
   
AWG2   Brunswick musketeers, marching (Ansbach-Bayreuth)
AWG4   Brunswick musketeer command (15) (Ansbach-Bayreuth)
AWG5   Brunswick Grenadiers, marching, inc comm (Ansbach-Bayreuth)
AWG6   Jagers including command
AWG8   Hessian fusilier, firing line (Prince Hereditaire)
AWG10   Hessian fusilier command (16) (Prince Hereditaire)

What figures are suitable for command for the Queen's Rangers and for the mounted Queen's Rangers?

What is the difference in the Brunswick and Hessian uniforms? Would Brunswick or Hessian be best for the Ansbach-Bayreuth troops?

[paulr]

I'm interested in any feedback on the above

There are a few key questions:

French
Is the Seven Years War range is appropriate to fill in the gaps in the French AWI range (Hussars, guns, Field Officers)?
Are SYF24 Tricorn foot, firing, turnbacks and SYW14 Generic kneeling/firing suitable for Chasseurs?

British
What figures are suitable for command for the Queen's Rangers and for the mounted Queen's Rangers?
What is the difference in the Brunswick and Hessian uniforms? Would Brunswick or Hessian be best for the Ansbach-Bayreuth troops?

[GrumpyOldMan]

Hello Paul
I saw this page on Ansbach-Bayreuth http://fg-zinnfiguren.blogspot.com.au/2017/06/1st-regiment-ansbach-bayreuth.html?m=1. Don't know if that's any help but does have a graphic of the flag to print out 😀.

Cheers

GrumpyOldMan

[paulr]

Thanks Grumpy

I note he used 'Hessian Infantry Regiment' figures but I have already used 'AWG3 Hessian musketeer, standing' for my Regiment von Bose
It would be nice to add some variety with 'AWG2 Brunswick musketeers, marching' if the figures are appropriate

I have saved the flag for later use

The other option might be to use Prussian SYW figures and use a wider mix of poses, e.g. firing and port fire or march attack and advancing 

[paulr]

...I assume that the Seven Years War range is appropriate to fill in the gaps in the French AWI range. I'm looking at using the following figures
...
SYF11   3pdr gun with crew (3) (Are these on Gribeauval carriages?)
SYF15   Hussars
SYF21   Field officers (5)
SYF24   Tricorn foot, firing, turnbacks (for Chasseurs)
SYW1   General and ADC (2)
SYW14   Generic kneeling/firing (30) (for Chasseurs)

I've been doing a bit more research on the French in North America in 1781 and made a few changes to the above list

SYF11   3pdr gun with crew (3) (Are these on Gribeauval carriages?) - No, so I will use AWA14 3pdr gun with crew (3)
SYF15   Hussars - use as I don't see any better Hussars for Lauzun's Legion Hussars
SYF21   Field officers (5) - use American AWA19 Mounted Officers (6), not the one in Hunting shirt
SYF24   Tricorn foot, firing, turnbacks (for Chasseurs) - use AWF1 Fusiliers, marching, not a firing pose but uniform is more correct
SYW1   General and ADC (2) - use American AWA19 Mounted Officers (6), not the one in Hunting shirt
SYW14   Generic kneeling/firing (30) (for Chasseurs) - use AWF1 Fusiliers, marching, not a firing pose but uniform is more correct and FSN will be pleased

[paulr]

After a discussion with our regular group I've decided this will be my next project

I'll finalise the order and get it off to Leon

[paulr]

Leon has responded 

I've placed a slightly tweaked order

For some reason the Erbprinz (Prince Hereditaire) Fusilier Regiment changed from Fusilier caps to hats in 1780. The Hesse-Kassel Erbprinz regiment, not the Hesse-Hanu one

[SV52]

You're a hero, I'm daunted by the hundred-odd 28s I'll have to paint

[paulr]

It's only just over 1,200 figures

Only a few more than my original order

[paulr]

I've just been reading about the Battle of the Hook, near Gloucester Virginia on 3 October 1781

Hussars of Lauzun's Legion supported by some Militia against a foraging expedition covered by Tarleton's British Legion Dragoons and some British infantry

It involves troops from my initial project and the new project 

[Terry37]

For what it is worth, my research shows that the French involved were really composite battalions of troops taken from the various Caribbean Islands. If you are interested, let me know and I'll share the make up of these composite battalions. Make for some really colorful units because they all wore their parent regimental uniform.

Terry

[SV52]

It's only just over 1,200 figures

Only a few more than my original order

Mad, stone freakin' mad