2eme Regiment Suisse, 3eme bon.

The regiment was composed of three battalions that started the war scattered through the entire Peninsula. I’m going to explain each battalion in detail. 

1^st Bon.

1808

Was at Vitoria with 1174 men. Corps Dupont, 3^rd dv. Frere, 1^st brg. Godinot.

April: Moved to El Escorial.

June: Action at Valencia (28/06).

July/August: moves from Madrid to Burgos (831 men).

September: Fights at Osma (12/09) and Oña (21/09).

November: Fights at Gamonal or Battle of Burgos (10/11) in the 2^nd Corps of Soult, 2^nd dv. Merle, Lefebvre brg. Then moves from Reinosa to Santander (15/11).

December: At Leon with 644 men.

1809

January: Present at Corunna (16/11) but does not take an active role in the fight because the battalion has left several garrisons on the road. Fights at El Ferrol (24/01) losing two officers.

March: Enters at Portugal with the 2^nd Corps (Soult), 2^nd dv. Mermet, Jardon Brg. Fights at Chaves (25/03) and Oporto (29/03).

May: Battle of Oporto (12/05).

1810

January: After the withdrawal from Portugal the bon. garrisons the area Valladolid-Palencia.

November: Garrisons Zamora province were some skirmishes against Julian Sánchez guerrillas occurs at Puente Santo (21/11) and Fuente Sauco (24/11) in this last one only 50 men are involved.

1811-1813

Remains in the area Zamora – Salamanca. In 1813 returns to France. Only 127 men remain from the original 1174.

2^nd bon

1808

Was at Abrantes (Portugal) with 755men. Corps Junot, Thomieres brg.

April: Moves from Lisboa to the Alentejo

July/August: Garrisons the fortress of Elvas.

With the convention of Cintra the regiment is returned to France.

1809

January: Arrives at Quiberon (24/01) with 315 men.

3^rd bon.

Was at Catalonia with 580 men. Corps Duhesme, Chabran dv.

April: At Barcelona

June: Fights at the first battle of el Bruc (06/06) forming the vanguard of the brigade and taking several casualties.

July/August: a detachment of the 2^nd bon. and further 150 men form the 3^rd arrived at Catalonia as reinforcements in dv. Reille. The 3^rd bon. fights at La Roca del Vallès (05/07) and the detachment of the 2^nd at Roses (11/07). The 3^rd bon. fights at the siege of Girona

November: The 3^rd bon and the detachment of the 2^nd are amalgamated in Barcelona counting around 400 men.

December: fights at the Battle of Molins de Rei (21/12).

1809

Remains as garrison troops in Barcelona, 7 Corps Saint-Cyr, dv. Chabran (484 men).

1810

Remains garrisoning Barcelona and Vilafranca del Penedès.

1811

Fights near Barcelona (19/03) and at the siege of Figueres (april). By the end of the year only 156 men are fit for duty.

1812-1814

In Catalonia until 1814 that returns to France.

Credits

I have only painted one battalion (of course). As I'm painting mainly units that fought in Catalonia, this unit should be the 3rd battalion of the 2eme suisse.

28mm miniatures from French Line Infantry from Victrix. Painted with Vallejo. The shadows and varnish are from The Army Painter. Flags from Maverick Model Flags

References:

Base de datos de la Guerra de la Independencia. Instituto de Cultura e Historia Militar.

29th regiment Worcestershire

The unit was founded in 1694 and fought at Ramillies, Saratoga, The Glourious First of June acting as marines on the HMS Brunswick and were among the responsibles of the Boston “massacre” earning the nickname “Vein Openers” for causing the first deaths of a war. The regimental hymn during the Napoleonic wars was “The Royal Windsor” (1791).

During the Peninsula War:

1808

August: Fights at Roliça (17/08) within Nightingale Brigade with 806-863 men. Its lieutenant Coronel, Lake dies in the battle. Then at Vimeiro (21/08) with 616 men.
October: Arrives at Badajoz (27/10).

1809

March: Marches from Cadiz to Lisboa (11/03).
April-May: At the river Tagus (22/04); the light company fights at Grijó (11/05) and the whole battalion (622 men) fights at Oporto, Div. Paget, Bg. Stewart forming the right wing of the army.
July: Force present: 598 men. Fights at Cerro Medellín (Talavera) in 2n Div. Hill, Stewart Bg. and taking 187 casualties.

1810

September-November: Present at Bussaco (27/09) with 461 men where suffers no casualties (Hill Dv. Inglis Bg.) and at Torres Vedras (01/11) within Houghton Bg.

1811

May: Battle of Albuera (16/05) Stewart Dv. Houghton Bg. were it fights with 507 men taking 336 casualties (66%). The remnants of the regiment sent back to England (25/05).

1812

Garrison duties in North America

1813

Sent back to Spain. Disembarks at Cadiz (21/03) remaining there until 1814.

CREDITS

24 Perry miniatures painted with Acrílicos Vallejo. Flags by GMB Designs.

2nd Battalions of the 1st and 2nd regiments of the Garde de Paris

1808

The second battalion of both 1st and 2nd regiments of the Garde de Paris formed within Dupond’s Corps, Barbou Division. The II/1st with 707men and the II/2nd with 747 men. They depart to Cadiz in May 25. The first battalions fought in northern Spain

June: the two battalions fight at Alcolea (18/6) taking the bridge and suffering heavy casualties with 14 officers dead and wounded. The 21 of June at Andújar with 893 men.

July: Battle of Bailen (19/7) with 10 officers dead and wounded and both battalions as prisoners. They ended as prisoners in Cabrera Island in very bad condition with low supply of food and water committing in some cases cannibalism.

Note about the uniforms. There is some debate as if the uniforms where red and green (the old ones) or they had the new white uniforms (with green turnbacks for the 1st regiment and red turnbacks for the 2nd). As Francisco Vela points in his book “Bailen 1808” ed. Almena, We know for sure that they were dressed in white because Pedro Agustín Girón, Marques de las Amarillas, who fought them at Alcolea, tells in his memoirs “the French were dressed as my grenadiers” he was the coronel of the Provincial Grenadiers (whose uniform was white faced red)

CREDITS: 28mm Victrix miniatures painted with Vallejo paints and The Army Painter products. Flags from Maverick Model Flags.

Chasseurs de Montagne des Pyrénées Orientales

The whole battalion was in Catalonia between 1808 and 1811 fighting its detachments in countless small actions. It also fought as a complete unit in some important batles.

1808

The unit enters Catalonia with Reille’s corps.
August: A detachment of 40 men fights at Campmany near Girona (06/08).
October: As garrison at Figueres fortress.
November-December: Siege of Roses (7/11) and frontier action at La Junquera (3/12). Transferred to Gouvion Saint-Cyr’s 7th Corps, Dv. Chabot counting 564 men.

1809

The battalion spends the year garrisoning Barcelona and takes part in several small actions out of the city.
January-March: battle of Molins de Rey (20/1), action at Monistrol near Montserrat (16/2) at the end of March the unit has 313 men fit for service.
August –December: Under General Ordonneau fights in several actions around Barcelona: San Boi (12/08), Montealegre twice (9, 17/9), Badalona (17/10), Coll de Montcada (18/10) and the whole unit at Santa Coloma (6/11).

1810

The whole battalion fights at Vic (20/2) but by the end of June, it only has 267 men fit for service. It is post as garrison at Montjuich fortress in Barcelona.
August-December: Small actions around Barcelona: Viladecans (19/8), Montcada (4/9), Pallejà (18/11), Sant Andreu (21/11), Montgat (28/11). The unit finishes the year with 126 men.

1811

The unit is re-founded into the 1ere Bon Chasseurs de Montagne and fights at Sant Adrià (21/1), Montealegre (22/8) and Montgat (12/11). Finishes the year with only 50 men.

1812

No important notices

1813

Finally amalgamated into the 18eme légère.

CREDITS

5 Victrix miniatures painted with Vallejo paints and The Army Painter products.

II battalion, 2nd Italian Line Regiment

Italian 2nd Line Infantry Regiment

The unit entered Spain in Duhesme’s Corps (2n battalion) in 1808 and with Saint-Cyr’s corps (1st and 3rd) at the end of 1808.

1808

The battalion was composed of between 601 and 740 men and formed part of the Duhesme Corps, 2nd Division (Lecchi), 1st Bigade (Millossewitz).

June: First siege of Girona (20/06).
September: Small engagement in San Boi de Llobregat (02/09) where only 1 soldier was killed.
December: With the arrival of Saint Cyr’s corps, the full regiment is formed in Barcelona totaling 1497 men in three battalions. The regiments fights at Llinars-Cardedeu (16/12) and Molins de Rei (21/12).

1809

The whole regiment at the 7th Corps (Saint-Cyr), Lecchi Division. The battalion fought in the 3rd siege of Girona (2/05 – 11/12).

1810

Garrison duty in Barcelona 7th Corps (Augereau).
December: In anaction near Llinars against the Husares españoles regiment 217 Italian soldiers are made prisoners.

1811

The regiment is transferred from the army of Catalonia to the army of Aragon.
Between 1811 and the end of the war it doesn’t participate in major actions.

Credits
Perry plastic miniatures painted using Vallejo acrylics and The Army Painter products. Flag from GMB flags.

2eme Chasseurs á Cheval Napolitaines

1808

The unit that fought in Spain was composed the 1st and 2nd squadrons counting 380 men and 390 horses. It formed part of the Duhesme Corps, Schwartz cavalry brigade.
June: Action at Montgat (16/06) and action at the Llobregat (20/06) were 200 men were engaged.
July: Both squadrons at the 2nd siege of Girona (22/07).
November: The two squadrons, counting 224 men and 196 horses fought in the siege of Rosas within the 1st division Reille, 2nd brigade Guillot (07/11).
December: Engagement at Creu Coberta at the outskirts of Barcelona (5/12). During the battle of Molins de Rei was situated in the left wing guarding the artillery park (21/12).

1809

The regiment fought in the 3rd siege of Girona (2/05 – 11/12). In october the 3rd squadron arrived at Figueras.

1810

The regiment spends the year doing police duties near Girona, Besalú and Perelada.

1811

March-September: The regiment changes from the army of Catalonia to the army of Aragon. One squadron (91 men) stays in Zaragoza (Div. Compere) and the other (101 men) in Calatayud.
October: 66 men in Oropesa and Sagunto.

1812

January to August: 71 men guarding the road between Castellón and Tortosa. 200 men fight in the action of Utiel (25/08).

1813

Not clear if they fought at Castalla. It seems that in April passed to British service.

Credits

The miniatures are French Chasseurs á Cheval from Sash and Saber. They are not bad miniatures and are really cheap. They are closer to 25mm than to 28mm. My only complaint is the swords that are too thick looking like a club.
The paints are Vallejo and the shadows and varnish from The Army Painter.

Royal Velites of the Italian Guard

The unit which fought in Catalonia was the Velite Grenadier of the Guard. This unit and a detachment of the Italian Guard Artillery Train were the only Guard Units which entered Catalonia within Duhesme’s Corps.

1808

The battalion was composed of between 407 and 519 men and formed part of the Duhesme Corps, 2nd Division (Pino), 1st Bigade (Millossewitz).

June: First action of El Bruc (06/06). Formed part of the vanguard of the Schwartz brigade (with the 3rd bon of 2nd Swiss regiment) received a severe fusillade from the somatents. First siege of Girona (20/06).

September-November: Small engagement in San Boi de Llobregat (02/09) where 4 officers were killed, Battle of San Cugat (12/10) one officer wounded. A small detachment of 122 men fought in the siege of Rosas (Div. Pino).

December: Engagement at Creu Coberta at the outskirts of Barcelona (5/12). During the battle of Molins de Rei was situated in the left wing guarding the artillery park (21/12.

1809

The battalion fought in the 3rd siege of Girona (2/05 – 11/12). At the end of the year the unit quitted the peninsula to fight in other theaters.

Credits

The miniatures are Wargames Foundry french imperial guard grenadiers and chasseurs that I had in my lead pile from long ago the officer is one of my favourite miniatures. 12 miniatures that form a nice little unit painted with Vallejo paints and The Army Painter shades and varnish.
This unit didn't have a flag so after some research (follow this link for discussion on TMP) and the help of the TMP members Prince of Essling and XV Brigada(who sent me a scan) I decided to make a guidon for the unit.

Isabellino artillery First Carlist War

Following the French Foreign Legion the second post about the FCW is this stand of liberal (or isabelino) artillery. The miniatures are foot artillery painted in summer uniforms (white trousers).

There were not big arrays of artillery through all the war but a foot artillery stand is a "must have" for a lot of armies. This stand can represent a section of two guns in blackpowder or other rules.

Credits:

Perry miniatures painted with Vallejo, the army painter shades and varnish. Bases by warbases.

French gendarmes 1808-1814

A "must have" unit for any peninsular wargamer should be the french gendarmes. Giving the huge amount of guerrilla actions that took part in that period, it's almost sure that those chaps would see a lot of action.
Scorting comboys, guarding prisoners, or defending outpost and communication lines are examples of scenarios where can be involved.

In Catalonia, there was de 6eme Légion de la Gendarmerie with several foot companies an squadrons.

When I saw the gendarmes designed by Paul Hicks and sold by Brigade Games I decided I needed them. The six figures (now 10 as they also sell command) are full of action and are a nice addition to my miniature collection. A unit of 6 is a decent number for a Sharp Practice unit and in addition can act as a tiny unit or a skirmish unit for blackpowder or general de brigade. The pictures don't really make them justice but are great miniatures.

XLIII on foot

One of the best experiences in my life occurred while I was living in Pennsylvania. I met a gentleman who invited me to his reenactent group, The 43rd on foot and I took part in the Battle of Germantown 2010 refight. I'm not new in reenactment. I take the role of a roman soldier every year in Tarragona but being in a line formation with more people firing blackpowder volleys was amazing!. You can feel the adrenaline rush inside your body and start guessing how could be in a real battle. I felt biting the cartridge, reloading and firing at the NCO orders as an automat. Trully it was awesome.

I post some pictures of the event. By the way, the redcoat with Union Jack of 43rd regiment at his back its me.


As a bonus, I post the painted 1/72 regiment prepared to assault Bunker Hill. Miniatures from ACTA (one of the best sets ever), painting with Vallejo and army painter and based to play "British Grenadier". Flags from "Flags for the Lads".

WSS French Dragoons

Following with the Barcelona 1714 project, I've converted some miniatures to create an unit of french dragoons. It seems that there where a Dragoon regiment in the Bourbon Left wing under the command of De Cilly. It comprised 300 troopers and took part in the last assault to the city forming in the third wave.
Little is known about this unit. It was called dragoons de Rochefort but not the uniform nor the flag are known so following the help of my catalan wargame fellows: I painted them red and blue and gave them the flag that can be downloaded from this site.

http://desperta-ferro-ed.blogspot.com/

The conversion is an easy one using green stuff to model the hat. Nevertheless is may firts conversion and I'm quite happy with them. The original miniatures are GNW Russian Dragoons from Zvezda. Being a dragoon unit, it can fight both mounted or dismounted.