Sadly I don’t have anything that would constitute a Halloween display, so I thought I’d share a snap shot of some more of Doug Mason’s work.
Bessieres and his aide de camp, in this case a senior Dragoon officer.
This small vignette shows the French Imperial Marshal Bessieres, charging at full tilt toward the enemy at the head of the Heavy cavalry serving under the Emperor Napoleon. In this case the Zastrow Cuirassier.
As yo may note these figures have been completely converted or tweaked.
The figures used here are originally Connoisseur Miniatures, the Dragoon is a French Line Dragoon officer, while the model for Bessieres was a Grenadier a Cheval figure.
More of a close up here, the level of detail is superb.
This weekend I am hosting Leipzig, which lasts for three days. So the Pic of the day will be resumed on Monday with an update on the recent GdB weekend with Borodino.
In the meantime I have a few teasers from the British Heavy Cavalry converted by Bill Gaskin.
These are in the collection of Philip Marshall, I believe they were Elite miniatures originally.
I will bring you more on this regiment in the near future.
The full regiment.
The conversion level with these figures and the finish are indeed superb!
See you all again on Monday.
Wagram, the conclusion.
Neapolitan Cuirassier from the French reserve, they weren't at Wagram, but they do look nice, so why not. Figures are from Elite Miniatures
Over on the French right, the arrival of Marmont and the Guard cavalry emboldened the Armee of Italie and a general advance ensued. The retiring Austrian line troops broke under the pressure and ended up pinning the Reserve cavalry hastening to the scene. While this all remained pinned for a while it eventually came good and saw off the Guard cavalry Lights and some of the Line cavalry, thus saving the Austrians allowing them to retire in something of a good order.
Austrian Uhlans from the Reserve Corps.pinned in position by the retreating Line infantry.
On the Austrian right, the two Line Corps were under more pressure from the Saxons, the cavalry melee had seen off most of the Saxon heavies, while the remaining French reserve cavalry pushed on into the Austrian lines. The Austrian Right was teetering!
French Guard Horse move out to engage the Austrians on the French right.
In the Centre the village of Aderklaa was the climactic point of the game, a regiment of Neapolitan Chasseurs formed up and charged the 6 pdr battery supporting the village while the columns of the Young Guard and the Old Guard marched resolutely into the volleys coming from the village. The Guard fired a huge volley at effective range and with a cry of “Vive Le Empereur!!” charged headlong into the village.
This regiment of light cavalry sccessfully charged home into the 6 pounder battery.
The defending Austrian battalion held it’s fire until the French were within effective range then let them have it! The volley took out over 100 men (8 figures) across four young guard battalions, still the French came on! The first round of melee saw the Austrians win, the French morale held, the second round saw two battalions of Old Guard and one more young guard supporting, while the Austrians threw in four more fresh 48’s…the luck of the dice saw the Austrians lose this round and their morale held! Te final round saw the Austrians throw in a final 48 man battalion, after this final round the French had still won by 2 figures and the Austrians broke…..the French had taken the village, but at what cost? Over the six battalions of Guard involved, nearly half were lost, but the battle was a win for the French, the Austrian Emperor would surely sue for peace now!
French line approaching the Russbach.
French infantry across the Russbach, figures by Elite Miniatures.
French cavalry from their Cavalry Reserve.
More of the Guard heavies moving into the attack.
The French centre approaches the environs of Aderklaa, the columns of the Guard can just be made out in the distance.
A great game with some fantastic players, lot of new players as well with some really refreshing tactical choices which really threw the older hands! The Austrian left, attacking with the Reserve corps was a masterpiece which very nearly came off, the Austrians held the opposing bank for a few hours before deciding that discretions was the better part of valour.
The Imperial Guard advance!
The French Guard advances, all the figures here are from Bicorne Miniatures .
The Reserve artillery in the shape of one of the 12pdr Batteries had already exacted a heavy toll on Massena’s corps, it now steeled itself to stop the advance of the Guard.
The Austrian reserve 12pdrs prepare to stop the Guard.
Bernadotte’s Corps of Saxons were pushing harder on to Klenau and Kollowrath on the Austrian far right, the cavalry melee was still ongoing.
The Saxon Guard Grenadiers advance within the Corps of Bernadotte.
Irish Legion in the centre here, painted many years ago for the WHC.
The casualties in Aderklaa mounted as the French brought their batteries to bear, the garrison took enormous punishment before it was decided to step back in good order and allow a replacement in to meet the Guard.
As seen looking toward Aderklaa, the Austrians are about to receive the assault from Bernadotte.
The battle on the Austrian left saw the French begin to push them back across the Russbach, this time the casualties would mount on Marmont’s Corps and what was left of the Armee d’Italie.
A moment of hilarity on the French right!
In the centre the Austrian’s were moving their Cavalry to help stop the advance of the Guard, it was still going to be a tight guess as to who would win this battle.
Austrian Light Dragoons, from the Elite Miniatures range.
The culmination will be brought to you tomorrow.
Wagram continued.
The Austrian reserve corps had failed in driving in the French right, the timely arrival of Marmont and the Guard cavalry helped facilitate this, so now was the time to press the attack from the French point of view and Aderklaa seemed the best option.
The Austrians begin to reform on the second line behind the Russbach
On the French left, Bernadotte, supported by regiments from the Cavalry reserve were pressing Kollowrath and Klenau. The huge swirling melee’s of cavalry surging to and fro across the entire flank!
The Austrian Dragoons take on the French Cuirassier, led by Bessieres.
Another view of the Austrian Dragoons take on the French Cuirassier backed up by some Neapolitan Dragoons.
The Austrians saw the inevitable mass of the Guard and manoeuvred their reserves to block the path, any spare troops were brought to the Aderklaa area, could they stop them?
Guardsmen led by the Imperial French band, miniatures by Bicorne, painted and based by One man and his brushes.
The Austrians on their far right began to fall back and form a second line, making the village of Aderklaa an even greater breaking point!
Hungarian Fusiliers, painted by Reinforcements by Post, all figures are from the superb Elite Miniatures range.
Without pause the forces of Bernadotte forged ahead, the battle began to take on more casualties, whole battalions being cut down during the melee on the Austrian right.
A close up of the Hungarians, a lovely paint job. Elite miniatures really add to the painters ability. There is a lot of relief on the figure allowing ease of painting.
The Austrian infantry here are of later uniforms, mainly the shako. Elite Miniatures painted by Reinforcements by post.
In the centre of the battle the duel across the Russbach intensified a little when a regiment of Hussars moved across the bridge hoping to draw the French away from their retiring infantry.
The Austrian Hussars move across the Russbach to offer the retiring infantry time..
The Hungarian infantry look to block the bridge, more fine figures from Elite and painted by reinforcements by post.
I’ll bring you the culmination tomorrow.
The Austrian line remained fairly static, the only onslaught was on the left, the Reserve and an Austrian Line corps pushing across the Russbach.
Austrian infantry from the Connoisseur range
The Grenadiers and Cuirassier got across the stream, with the Uhlans in support.
The cuirassier got across unscathed, the same cannot be said for the Grenadiers.
The villages of Gunzendorf and Leopoldsdorf came under direct assault, the Grenadiers took around 20-30% casualties crossing the stream but still they pressed on!
Grenadiers approach Leopoldsdorf.
The Austrians tried to press the apex of the river, lending support to the Reserve.
The Line corps to the right of the Reserve Corps pressed the attack across toward Gunzendorf and Grosshofen, to no avail, casualties and disorder saw them disintegrate gradually, allowing the French to slip some of their light troops across the stream and harass the advancing Austrian line.
Austrian Line Corps presses an attack on Gunzendorf!
After some fierce fighting the Grenadiers secured a foothold on the southern bank of the stream in Leopoldsdorf.
Austrian Uhlans from the Reserve.
Troops were hurried forward to support the success. The troops on the southern bank began to feel the pressure though, Marmonts corps had arrived and was marching to support the beleagured Army of Italy! The numbers were mounting and to cap it all, Napoleon had sent the Guard cavalry to help smash the Austrians.
The Austrians certainly were not going to take any of this lying down though!
