Prussian III Korps Artillery Completed

Today I completed the final artillery company for the Napoleonic Prussian III Korps.

Foot Company #19 of Historifigs (ex-Scruby) gunners and guns.
The rammers are hand-made from wire and glue soaked paper.

Foot Company #19 (of the Prussian Artillery Brigade) is equipped with 6-lb guns and 7-lb howitzers.  It joins its other three companies in the corps artillery -- two heavy 12-lb equipped companies and one horse artillery company.  The corps artillery was used to reinforce the combat power of the brigades (division-equivalents) assigned to III Korps.  Each brigade only had one company of light foot artillery like the 19th Company.

Prussian 3rd Brigade and Corps Cavalry Completed!

I've been slightly delinquent in posting here about my miniature wargaming activities since our large Franco-German War game back in January.  But I'm hoping to make up for it now.

As the title states, I've finally completed the last detachments for the 3rd Prussian Brigade and regiments for the III Korps cavalry.  My previous post back in July 2019 recorded the completion of the 4th Brigade.  As I wrote there, the Prussian brigades in 1813 were really division equivalent all-arms commands and were called such to get around the onerous French restrictions after the Treaty of Tilsit.

The 3rd Brigade, commanded by Generalmajor Prinz von Hessen-Homburg, consisted of:
     Infantry Regiment #4, 3rd East Prussian of three battalions (two musketeer and one fusilier)
     Reserve Infantry Regiment #4 of three musketeer battalions
     2nd East Prussian Grenadier Battalion (with companies from both the 3rd and 4th East Prussian Regiments
     3rd East Prussian Landwehr Infantry Regiment of three musketeer battalions
     Hussar Regiment #1, 1st Leib Husaren
     Foot Artillery Company #5 with 6-lbr guns

The 3rd East Prussian Regiment, 2nd East Prussian Grenadier Battalion, and 1st Leib Husaren Regiment all had freiwilligen (volunteer) jager detachments.  These were composed of young men fron well-to-do families who provided their own items of clothing and equipment that had to generally meet army requirements.  The foot jagers were normally armed with the family's hunting rifle while the mounted jagers could have that or a short carbine.

Here are the foot jager detachments that I recently painted, completing the 3rd Brigade.  They are vintage Scruby true 25mm castings.

Volunteer Jager Detachment, 2nd East Prussian Grenadier Battalion

Two Volunteer Jager Detachments, 3rd East Prussian Infantry Regiment

I also completed the III Korps cavalry contingent.  The corps cavalry was where almost all the cavalry in the corps could be found, although some regiments could be attached to the brigades for various operations.  The III Korps Cavalry was commanded by Generalmajor von Oppen and  consisted of eight regiments:
     1st Brigade (Oberst [Colonel] von Teskow)
          Dragoon Regiment #1, Koningen (Queen's)
          Dragoon Regiment #4, 2nd West Prussian
          Dragoon Regiment #5, Brandenburg
     2nd Brigade (Oberst von Hobe)
          Hussar Regiment #6, 2nd Silesian
          Uhlan Regiment #1, West Prussian
     3rd Brigade (Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel) von Sydow)
          2nd Pomeranian Landwehr Cavalry Regiment
          2nd Kurmark Landwehr Cavalry Regiment
          4th Neumark Landwehr Cavalry Regiment

All three dragoon regiments and the uhlan regiment had mounted volunteer jager detachments.  The ones from the 2nd West Prussian Dragoons and West Prussian Uhlans were finally painted as well as the Kurmark and Neumark Landwehr Cavalry and the 3rd Brigade commander.

Volunteer Jager Detachments of the 2nd West Prussian Dragoons (left) and the West Prussian Uhlans (right).
The figures are MiniFigs Prussian riders on Prinz August (I think) horses.

Complete 2nd West Prussian Dragoon Regiment with volunteer jagers.
The dragoons are Prussian MiniFigs.
You can see that the jagers' horses are bigger so I may try to get MiniFigs horses to replace them.

Complete West Prussian Uhlan Regiment with volunteer jagers.
The uhlans are Hinchliffe figures.

2nd Kurmark Landwehr Cavalry Regiment (Hinchliffe figures).

4th Neumark Landwehr Cavalry Regiment (Hinchliffe figures)

Oberstleutnant con Sydow, 3rd Cavalry Brigade Commander.
A Hinchliffe figure wearing the uniform of the Pomeranian Landwehr Cavalry (from where he was assigned).

I now have two brigades (division equivalents) and the Corps cavalry completed from the Prussian III Korps, commanded by Generalleutnant von Bülow.  The corps was assigned to the allied Army of the North, commanded by the Prince Regent of Sweden (former French Marshall Bernadotte).  I'm also almost finished with the corps artillery, having only one 6-lbr foot company left to paint.  They should be done shortly as I have more time now-a-days.  Once I get that done, I plan of a major review of all my Prussian forces.  Stay tuned!

4th Prussian Brigade Completed!

Finally I've completed all of the units for the 4th Prussian Brigade, III Korps (August 1813) commanded by Generalleutnant von Bulow.  This "brigade" is actually a division sized unit as were all of the Prussian "brigades."  They did this to get around part of the onerous French terms after the 1807 capitulation of Prussia.

The 4th Brigade was commanded by Generalmajor von Thumen and was composed of:
      Infantry Regiment # 5, 4th East Prussian (of three battalions and a volunteer jager detachment)
      5th Reserve Infantry Regiment (of three battalions and a volunteer jager detachment)
      half battalion, East Prussian Jager Battalion, #2
      Elbe Infantry Regiment (of two battalions and a volunteer jager detachment) [Should have three and will if I ever run across the requisite number of Hinchliffe figures.]
      Pomeranian Light National Cavalry Regiment
      Foot Artillery Company # 6 (equipped with four 6-lb cannon and two 7-lb howitzers) [Should have six cannon and will if I can get the requisite gunners and cannon.]

As you can see this is a formidable fighting force although light on artillery and cavalry, additional assets of which were provided by the corps.

Pomeranian Light National Cavalry Regiment, composed of eight vintage 25mm Der Kriegspieler one-piece cavalry figures.

Slightly different view of the four 2-figure stands that compose the regiment.

The Pomeranian Light Cavalry Regiment was one of four national cavalry regiments formed in 1813 by the resurgent Prussian Army.  It was dressed in an uhlan style uniform with a dark green kollet and grey overalls.  The regiment was armed as a light cavalry regiment with sabers and carbines.  In 1815, this formation was divided between the Guard Dragoon and 4th Uhlan Regiments. [Information courtesy of David Nash's The Prussian Army: 1808-1815 (Almark Publications, 1972), my "bible for the Prussian Army.]

In addition to the 4th Brigade, my III Korps Prussian forces include the complete 3rd Brigade (three 3-battalion infantry regiments, one grenadier battalion, one hussar regiment, and one foot artillery company, plus four volunteer jager detachments), the still forming 5th Brigade (one 3-battalion infantry regiment and one hussar regiment) and 6th Brigade (one Landwehr cavalry regiment), almost all of the corps cavalry (three dragoon regiments, one hussar regiment, one uhlan regiment, and one Landwehr [of three] cavalry regiment), and most of the corps artillery (two 12-lb foot companies and one 6-lb horse company).  The Prussian III Korps was part of the Alllied Army of the North, commanded by Crown Prince Bernadotte of Sweden (a former Napoleonic French marshal).

Plus I have scattered units from the I Korps, commanded by Generalleutnant von Yorck (five grenadier battalions and five cavalry regiments), which was assigned to the Army of Silesia, commanded by General der Kavallerie von Blucher.




   

Additional Napoleonic Prussian Battalion

I just finished painting and basing an additional Napoleonic Prussian battalion to add to my III Korps troops.  This battalion is the next to last unit needed to complete the 4th Brigade (division equivalent).  They are carrying a "landwehr" flag as there is no indication that they had colors until after 1815.  But all my battalions have flags so I used this one.

1st Battalion, Elbe-Infantrie-Regiment using Hinchliffe figures

This regiment was originally organized by Oberstleutnant (lieutenant colonel) von Reuss in the spring of 1813 as the Auslander Bataillion von Reuss.  But with subsequent recruiting it was expanded into a full three-battalion regiment by July 1813, incorporating Hessian guardsmen, dismounted Westphalian cheveauleger and the Westphalian Legion. In 1815 it was retitled Infantrie-Regiment Nummer 26, Erste Magdeburgisches.  [The Prussian Army: 1808-1815 by David Nash, page 86]

I only have two battalions, the first of Hinchliffe figures and the second of Prinz August castings.  If I ever get any more of either, I'll raise the third battalion.

From ACW to FPW

Although I haven't made any posts lately, I have been painting away on my Franco-German War (as I call it) figures as well as mounting some ACW pictures painted by my friend, Larry the Marine.

After hosting a FPW game in late July, I got on a painting kick to finish some French and Prussian figures.  I already had one battalion of the French Republican Volontaires de l'Ouest painted.  I bought enough figures at Historicon to complete the other two battalions of the regiment.  Here is the 1st battalion, minus its flag which has since been prepared and mounted.

The Volontaires de l'Ouest were formed from the old Pontifical Zouaves and were probably one of the better regiments in the Republican armies to the south of Paris.  In my army, they form part of the XV Corps, Army of the Loire.  The figures are actually Union zouaves from Sash & Saber's ACW line since I couldn't find any appropriate zouaves wearing kepis.

Continuing with the FPW theme is the headquarters of IX Korps, 2nd Prussian Army which in my army is deployed south of Paris to keep the Loire rabble from interrupting the siege of Paris.

This HQ group utilizes a mix of Foundry, Castaway Arts, and Irregular (I think) figures to depict General der Infanterie Albrecht Gustav von Mannstein and his battle staff.  His uhlan aide is handing him a dispatch from a subordinate commander while his artillery staff officer keeps track of the battle through his binoculars.

Turning to the American Civil War, my gaming friend Larry the Marine recently painted a division of Union troops for me.  I'm organizing Union and Confederate forces for the Middle Tennessee campaigns of 1863 using the On to Richmond rules where each brigade is composed of 3 to 8 stands of figures.  Here is Beatty's 1st Brigade, Negley's 2nd Division, Thomas' XIV Corps, Army of the Cumberland.

Beatty's battleline ready to give fire into the attacking Confederates.

Right flank of the line.

These are Old Glory 15s Union figures from which I have trimmed the bayonets as they are in firing poses.  I use 8 figures on all the bases of each brigade except for one upon which I place a mounted officer (the brigade commander) and 6 figures.

I've made previous posts showing some of my first Union and Confederate units which you can see by clicking on the "American Civil War" label in the list below.

August Painting - Highlanders and Prussians

August was a particularly busy month for wargaming as I spent most of it getting forces organized for our monster Franco-Prussian War game on Labor Day.  We had to meld the troops of four different gamers (one of whom is deceased) into coherent organizations and plan the terrain for three separate battlefields.  But everything came out mostly OK in the end as 10 players enjoyed themselves (I hope) pushing "little lead soldiers" around.  You can see pictures of the game at our club's blog - Jackson Gamers.

Please click on the photographs for a larger image.

In partial preparation for that game I completed three different Prussian units.  The first was an almost complete repaint of a battalion of 24 old Frontier Prussian infantry.  These became the 1st Battalion of the Schleswig Infantry Regiment, nr. 84, of the 18th Division, IX Corps.  The other two battalions are in the painting queue now to complete before we do this game again at the Colonial Barracks convention in November.

The 1st Battalion, Schleswig Infantry Regiment, nr. 84, led by the regimental commander

The second unit was part of my portion of an old 1" Scruby Franco-Prussian War collection that Lord Sterling, my gaming buddy, and I purchased.  These are real "old school" figures cast by one of the dean's of American wargaming back on the day.  Their sculpting is rather rudimentary by today's standard but once massed into a battalion, they hold their own.  I didn't do any repainting of these, just removed them from their old bases and glued them to Litko bases.  They are, right now, the 1st Battalion, 2nd Silesian Grenadier Regiment, nr. 11, of the 18th Division, IX Corps.  The flag is conjectural based on some internet research and the flag the Napoleonic Silesian regiments carried.  It may not be accurate but it is good enough for my purposes.

1st Battalion, 2nd Silesian Grenadier Regiment, nr. 11

The final Prussian unit is two of the three sections of a battery of Prussian heavy field artillery equipped with the 6-lb Krup breechloading, rifled cannon.  The gunners are old 1" Scruby figures.  But I have no idea who manufactured the guns.  They may not even be FPW era Krupps.  If anyone knows who manufactured these gun models, please leave a comment.  These were also part of my portion of the Scruby purchase.  I repainted the guns to give them more of an 1870s Prussian look.  We use Larry Brom's Chassepot and Needlegun rules for our FPW gaming.  In these rules a battery is presented by three gun models and six gunners portraying the six guns in the battery.

Two sections of a Prussian heavy artillery battery.

The final unit I prepared in August was a rescue from the "melting pot" bag maintained by Lord Sterling for one of our members who home casts 40mm Prince August SYW era figures.  We collect trimmings and old broken figures for him.  Lord Sterling had replaced one of his American Revolution Highland regiments with newer figures and had consigned the old, but still perfectly serviceable, figures to the "melting pot" bag.  I rescued them and combined them with a RalPartha FIW Highland officer and a MiniFig ECW bagpiper to make the 2nd Battalion, 71st Highland Regiment for my AMR forces.  They'll join the 1st Battalion, 84th Highlanders (Royal Highalnd Emigrants) in my British army.  Since Lord Sterling originally had them as the 42nd Black Watch, I had to repaint the lapels, collars, and cuffs from blue to white.  I also printed and mounted a "white-facings" regimental flag for them.  I think the figures are old Musket Miniatures, now no longer produced (only at present, I hope).

2nd Battalion, 71st Highland Regiment

Well, that's all for now.  I hope that you enjoyed looking at these recent additions to my toy soldier collection.

Prussian Brandeburg Uhlans

As part of the preparation for my Plancenoit Waterloo game earlier this month, I completed one last Prussian unit, the Brandenburg Uhlans (Uhlan Regiment Nr. 3), which was in 1813 assigned to the cavalry reserve of I Korps in the Army of Silesia.

The figures are Miniature Figurines (Mini Figs) with a mix of kollet and litewka uniforms.  The bases are from Litko and are 2" x 2" x 8mm.

 

According to the various references I consulted, the officers carried a white varnished lance.  Sometime in 1813 that distinction was eliminated but I think it makes the "command" stand more apparent so I kept it.  I still have to do the lance pennants.



Brandenburg Dragoons Join Prussian 6th Division

Finally, after what seemed to be weeks of on and off painting, I completed the 1st Brandenburg Dragooner Regiment Nr. 2 for my 1870s Prussian forces.  This regiment will be part of the multi-owner German and French forces that will slug it out in the battle of Beaune-La-Rolande on Saturday morning at the Colonial Barracks convention in New Orleans.

Composed of sixteen Castaway Arts Prussian dragoons, the 1st Brandenburg Dragoons were part of the 6th Infantry Division during the invasion of France in 1870.

July 2008 Painting, Part 2

Well, here are the pictures of some of the figures I painted during the month of July.

First, we have the royal family of the Margraviate of Carpania. The Markgraf, Friedrich Hapnich, is seated in the center. It seems his gout is acting up and he can't stand for long periods. His faithful wife, the Margravine Ruth, and her African body servant stand to the Markgraf's left. To the Markgraf's right is his African body servant ready with a goblet of medicinal brandy for the Markgraf's gout. While on the far left of the picture is General Kuhster, the Markgraf's Minister for War. They stand in front of the Royal Pavillion ready to review the troops of the Margraviate. These figures are from the Old Glory pack - "Fat Governor and Creepy Assistants" in their Pirate range.

Then there is the ruling family of the Duchy of Courland. The Duke, Yakov Alexandrovitch Pavlov, stands in the middle, flanked by his wife, Duchess Jamie and her pet spaniel, and his Minister of War, General Count Pavel Ivanovitch Alexandrovski. The Duke and the General are Old Glory figures from the Governor pack while the Duchess is one of the Old Glory Army pirate figures.

Joining the Carpanian army is the first of two companies of the Jager Corps Staffeldünkel. These valiant hunters were recruited from the forest preserves of the Markgraf and will be excellent fighters in the kleine krieg portions of the Markgraf's battles. They are also Old Glory figures - Hessian jagers from the American Revolution line.

And finally, I applied the terrain effects to the bases of all the artillery pieces and gunners I currently have painted and mounted. Seven Carpanian guns with 31 crewmen and six Courland guns with 11 crewmen (more are needed) were prepared.

This example is the Carpanian 12-lbr with Crusader Prussian gunners.

The Courland artillery is also represented by a 12-lbr but with Front Rank artillery figures, including their gunnery officer wearing his cloak and two of their excellent artillery fusiliers.

Coming later will be a picture of the Courland Pandur Regiment Tamnii Narod.

February Painting Totals

No pictures yet, but I completed the following figures in February:

26 Carpanian (AKA Prussian) musketeers of the Battalion Teutonica (Old Glory)
2 Carpanian mounted officers - one will be Baron Trask of Eisenmuhlen and the other is an aide-de-camp to GL von Stuppe (both RSM).
24 Courland (AKA Russian) grenadiers of the Battalion Severinski (Foundry)
4 gunners, 4 bombardiers, and 3 artillery fusiliers (Foundry) for Courland
1 Licorne howitzer (Newline) for Courland

For a total of 61 foot, 2 mounted, and 1 gun.

These were fewer than I had hoped to paint, but after all February is a shorter month.