Command & Control - Napoleonic Marshal's Uniforms - part 2

 I recently completed the next batch of French Napoleonic Marshals & ADC using Baccus 6mm figures.  See here for part 1.

The six figures are four based as subordinate Marshals for Northern Europe and two Army Commander Marshals for use in Spain.

Northern Europe

Here are the next four Marshals based as subordinate generals for use in North Europe and featured in Mark Smith's Napoleon's Bloody Big Battles scenario book.

Ney fought at several of the battles in the book.  He is usually pictured 1812 or later, when one of his ADCs wore an all red uniform.  I did find a picture of him at Friedland, so that's what I based this model on.  Yes, the next Ney WILL have a red ADC....

Massena fought through the Revolutionary wars, the Consulate and into the days of Empire.  As ADC he has his son, Jaques Prosper Massena, in a dazzling white uniform - this was an early instance of "take your child to work day".  Prosper is a NFR 12 French Elite Light Cavalry Figure with a plume from a repurposed bayonet.  

Soult - fought in major battles in Northern Europe and commanded armies in Spain (see below).  The Marshal figure is as normal and the ADC is the rearing horse ADC from the Baccus French Generals set (slightly flattened).  Soult dressed his ADCs in light blue and yellow with white Pelises. 

Guard Commander - various Marshals commanded the French Guard during its existence, helpfully for the 6mm modeller, it appears that dressing as a mounted Grenadier Officer was a favourite uniform.  

So, the model below represents whichever Marshal was in charge on the day!  The figure is a Horse Grenadier standard bearer (surplus to requirements) with a cord and flounders added to his bearskin and his flagpole fashioned as a sword.  ADC is fairly standard, except for sporting some colourful red trousers.

Spain

There are several BBB scenarios available on the io.group (join and look under "files") and I am looking forward to Mark Smith's next BBB scenario book that will cover the Peninsular battles.  So, some suitable French Marshal's are needed - here's the first two!

Massena  In Spain 1810 - 1811, Massena commanded the Army of Portugal against the Duke of Wellington at Bussaco, Almeida and Fuentes d'Onoro.  The model shows him accompanied by Prosper Massena and another ADC.

Massena is in the normal Marshal's uniform with plenty of bling, the ADC is in the standard uniform and Prosper is in his striking white uniform with red horse furniture.

Soult   In Spain 1808 to 1812, then back again for the retreat into France, Soult fought both Sir John Moore and the Duke of Wellington.  Soult wears the usual Marshal's uniform, one ADC (who started life as a French chasseur a cheval officer) wears a yellow dolman and blue trousers, with blue horse furniture.  The hussar figure is actually an Austrian Hussar - blue dolman and trousers, white pelise.

End notes

It has, once again, but great fun researching these figures (thank you Pinterest!) and working out which Baccus figures to use for my little Commanders.  I use Austrian and Russian Command figures, as well as French, to get a bit of variety in their poses.

I hopee that this inspires you to add more colour and bling to your next table top battle.

Bautzen - 20 & 21 May 1813 - replayed 20 Dec 2024 & 3 Jan 2025

 Mike and I decided to skip the battle of Lutzen (2 May 1813), as we've played it a couple of times before, moving swiftly to the battle of Bautzen.  The Russians and Prussians dig in behind the Spree river - Napoleon frontally assaults on day one whilst Ney attacks the right of the Allied line on day two.  

In this battle the French get bridging trains (one per Corps), so it's not just a charge across the bridge.  If only I had some suitable pontoon bridge models!  

Here is the map - Napoleon to the left, Ney at the top, Allies in the middle.  Having got used to playing with Veteran French in the last few battles, I now found that in taking the French I was mainly playing with trained troops - less likely to charge home if fired upon, they go spent on fewer casualties.  

The Set up

Here is the table ready for the start.  The on table troops in the foreground are Soult (left) & Marmont, who will advance to the Spree and cross it.

On the other flank McDonald, the Guard & Oudinot prepare to assault across the bridge and pin the centre.

Mike had troops in Bautzen, with his main defence line dug in further back.  I didn't expect to do well with the frontal assaults, I hoped that my flanking manoeuvres would do better.

Move 2

After two moves things are hotting up.  On the right Oudinot has pushed his troops in column to take on the defenders of Jenkwitz.  In the middle Mcdonald has taken Bautzen and is heading for the main line of resistance.  

On the left Soult and Marmont have crossed the river.  One of Napoleon's challenges in 1813 was a lack of cavalry.  Mike added to my troubles on the day by long range artillery sniping, which took out Soult's cavalry....

Move 3

By the end of move 3 the battle had split into 3 sectors.  On the right Oudinot squared off against Gortchakov.  Neither side had quite the numbers to kill anything, but steady Russian fire kept the French infantry from charging and the cannon from being deployed.

In the middle Macdonald & Marmont, supported by the Guard, attacked the defensive lines.

On the left Soult was left to his own devices.  The Russians lined up on the hill and brought up their guns.  The French assaults were disrupted and never developed, but the Russians were not willing to counter-attack and give up their defensive advantage.  They did try a sneaky flank attack (just above the six islands in the river) but were held off.

Move 4

On the French right we have Oudinot - he has formed "block" in preparation for another charge - to his right rear is his supporting artillery, driven off by the pesky Ruskis again!

In the middle the French throw in the Guard against the dug in Allies.

On the left the Russians hold the hill.  The French hang about at the bottom of the hill, whilst Soult diverts a division to avoid the outflanking Russians.  If only the cavalry were still around!

A close up of the central battle - The Guard to the right, Marmont & Mcdonald to the left.  The line in foreground are re-grouping after losing an earlier assault.

At the end of move 4 night fell, in the real world we had a cup of tea (Yorkshire, of course!) before resuming play at the start of day two.

Move 6

2 moves into day two, things have started to improve for the French.  

On their right flank Oudinot has broken through, aided by the Guard cavalry doing a flanking charge on the brave defenders of Jenkwitz.  In the centre the French assault the defences, throwing in masses of troops and the Guard.  

On the left flank Soult is joined by Ney.  A series of low movement rolls means the French advance slowly (or not at all, in some cases!) but Mike responds by building a defensive line and holds the hill.  Those 4 lakes act as some sort of "super moat" - breaking up the French attacks.

Move 8

On the right the French drive a massive wedge into the Allies and start taking VP (Victory Point) villages (red exploding markers).  

On the left the French take the big hill (worth a VP) but fail, so far, to get the last remaining VP village or the road exit.  If only I had not lost my cavalry!  I did manage to capture more non-VP villages...

Move 9

On the right the French broke the Allied line, but were too far away to get troops to the road exit.  It had been a long hard slog to get this far!

On the left the French failed to get the VP village across the stream but did hound the Russians away from the important VP hill.

At this point Mike and I called it a day.  The final French turn saw them masters of the battlefield and in possession of 3 VP, but with no further moves left to take further VPs and Mike too depleted to attempt to take any back, it was a draw.

Once again an exciting game with ups and downs, decisions to make and engaging to the end.  A couple of thoughts:

1. French troops are no longer veteran - and the enemy has skirmishers.  The French superiority margin is wearing down and thinner than earlier battles.

2. Cavalry - as French, you don't get much.  The Guard cavalry did a great job, but I lost 2/3 of my cavalry early on and that meant I could not exploit at the end of the game.

Once again, a well written and finely balanced scenario gave rise to an interesting and engaging game.

Photoshoot

French Chasseurs of the Guard

Guard artillery + line = Grand battery

Italians charging up the hill!

Guard Cavalry backing up an infantry charge

My Middle/Young Guard - in this case loads of Veteran stands lumped together.  Proper troops have been painted and await warmer weather for basing.