Hi Guys,
I am looking at running a couple of early Napoleonic battles during the years of 1799-1800 (in Italy). Given the current stock of PENDRAKEN figures, can you suggest which ones would be best for French and Austrian cavalry for that time period?
Thanks in Advance,
Mitch
Oklahoma, USA
dont know what figures you could use but you can play the battle of Arcole and have Napoleon leading his troops over the bridge holding there colors
France: Hussars wore the mirliton, so you could probably get away with 7 Years War figures. Chasseurs a Cheval also wore the mirliton from the mid-1790s and a braided jacket very like that of the hussars - although they seem to have worn it, rather than carrying it "flung". The Horse (i.e. the cuirassiers) wore a bicorn "fore and aft", plus the standard Napoleonic uniform, whilst the dragoons' uniform was sustantially what it was in the later era. The Carabiniers wore the old dark blue uniform. However, the bearskin cap was shorter and more beehive shaped than later.
Austria: Dragoons/Chevaulegers - in theory the dragoons wore white and the chevaulegers wore green, otherwise the uniform was identical. However, the Austrians were for ever chopping and changing and the chevaulegers became dragoons for a while. Up to 1798 both seem to have worn a black leather cap with a high front plate. Thereafter they wore the crested helmet, although with a more modest crest. Up until 1798 cuirassiers wore a bicorn crossways. Otherwise the uniform was as later. The Jager zu Pferd wore a uniform pretty well identical to the dragoons, whilst the uhlans had a dress that was similar to that worn later, except that the czapska was lower and less elaborate. The hussars wore a cylindrical shako with no peak, which eventually acquired peaks front and back. No one seems to know exacly when, though.
Hope all this helps. Bear in mind that the Austrian cavalry went through a major revamp of headgear in 1798, so choose your battle well!