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 X_X
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 :-B
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 :)
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)
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)
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?
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?
Hello Paul
I saw this page on Ansbach-Bayreuth http://fg-zinnfiguren.blogspot.com.au/2017/06/1st-regiment-ansbach-bayreuth.html?m=1 (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
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 :-\ :-\
Quote from: paulr on 01 November 2017, 06:51:52 PM
...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 HussarsSYF21 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 correctSYW1 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 :)
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 :!!
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 :-B
You're a hero, I'm daunted by the hundred-odd 28s I'll have to paint ~X(
It's only just over 1,200 figures ;D
Only a few more than my original order ;D
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 :)
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
Quote from: paulr on 07 November 2017, 08:40:51 AM
It's only just over 1,200 figures ;D
Only a few more than my original order ;D
Mad, stone freakin' mad 8-}
Quote from: paulr on 06 November 2017, 08:14:28 PM
Leon has responded :)
I've placed a slightly tweaked order :) :)
All received, I'll get a reply sent through tomorrow or Thursday as I'm out on errands at the moment.
Thanks Leon, I've tweaked the tweaked order :-[
I've now finalised my uniform research so I won't have to juggle the mix of Fusilier/Grenadier caps and hats any more :) #:-S
8)
Order placed :) :) :)
I'll start a painting thread to cover this project
Plenty to do while the figures are cast and sent half way round the world
I need to sort out the uniform details of Lafayette's Light Infantry, 24 converged companies from different regiments all potentially with slightly different uniforms. Most of the regiments had 2-3 different uniforms in the previous couple of years ~X(
I should also get a head start on preparing the bases :!!
Now the order has been placed I've started a 'Painting Diary' for this project here, http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,16785.0.html (http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,16785.0.html)