French Artillery

Today I show you my french foot artillery battery.

I'm quite happy with the unit and they are ready to deliver some steel to any thin red line that would appear.

It's composed of two 8 pdrs and a 6 inch howitzer.
In addition to the artilleryment, there is a command base with and officer and a drummer.
The unit is a mix and match of four different manufacturers:

The artillerymen from Brigade Games. I love the style of this company.
The guns and the officer are from Front Rank. A classic
The drummer comes from a limited edition of miniatures from the here and were purchased back in 2013.
Finally, the muskets are some spare parts from Eureka miniatures.

All of them painted using Vallejo Acrylics and sepia wash.
I still need to figure how to take some good pictures.

Jean-de Dieu Soult and Brun de Villeret in Spain

Jean-de-Dieu Soult (1769 – 1851). 1st Duke of Dalmatia.

Soult was a son of a notary. Had a good education that ensured him the rank of sergeant in the army of the revolution. In 1799 was a General and in 1804 Marshal of the Empire.

In 1808, he was appointed commander of the II Corps and entered Spain. He won the battle of Gamonal (or Burgos) and was detailed by the Emperor to pursue the army of Sir John Moore. In 1809 fought at La Coruña (or Elviña).

He remained in Spain for the following 4 years invading Portugal in 1809 and retiring form it after the battle of Oporto, fighting at Talavera (1809) and achieving the great victory of Ocaña (1809).

In 1810, he invaded Andalusia, taking Sevilla but failing to conquer Cadiz. In Andalusia he tough 1,5 milions of francs worth of art including paintings of Murillo and Zurbarán.

In 1811 marched to Extremadura taking Badajoz but losing the bloody battle of Albuera.

In 1812, with Wellington’s victory at Salamanca, evacuated Andalusia and in the Burgos campaign sent Wellington back to Salamanca.

In 1813 was sent to Germany fighting at Lutzen and Bautzen but returning to Spain in the last offensive across the Pyrenees in the battles of Sorauren, San Marcial, Nivelle, Nive and Orthez. He was finally technically defeated at Tolouse.

With Napoleon at Elba he declared himself a Royalist but on the Emperor’s return he joined him fighting at Waterloo but with not the same commitment shown in previous campaigns.

Soult accompanied by Louis Bertrand Pierre Brun de Villeret (1773 – 1845), his ADC from 1805 to 1814 shared the campaigns of Soult and also had his own affairs. In 1812, he and 60 Baden soldiers fought 400 guerrillas in San Ildefonso, fighting during 3 hours losing 20 men and all the horses but conserving his dispatches.

CREDITS:

Soult is from Front Rank, the ADC on foot and Brun de Villeret are from Brigade Games not labelled as ADCs to Soult but the Uniform of Brun de Villeret is very obvious. All of them are really good miniatures that can be combined really well.

Miniatures painted with Vallejo and washed with Vallejo Sepia wash.

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.