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Feb 6 05 1:52 PM

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Hi All
Looking at some recent pictures of the wonderful Perry figures has inspired me to paint up a french line battalion in white uniform. I would prefer the unit to have served in the Peninsular, as this is the army I am constructing at the moment. However my library is not too extensive and the only really good idea I have of the 'white' look comes from the very little in Osprey and some hints off the histofig site.
Could the esteemed company help me out here?
Which regiments wore the white coat (not just the waistcoat worn as a jacket as this uniform will not fit in with the figures I have in mind).
Also for how long was this kept up, before the regulation blue came back in? One source suggests that it would be OK to mix blue and white uniforms in a single unit....would this be accurate in the Spanish campaign?
Also Osprey show a white uniform for the 15th Ligne but the Grenadier depicted is wearing an 1806 shako....when did the Grenadiers start/or stop wearing the cap with plate?
Many Thanks
Maturin
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DCRBrown

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#1 [url]

Feb 8 05 9:48 AM

M,

Apparently some units did wear the white uniform in the Peninsular, though can't help much with which regts beyond the standard "white issue" listing of: 3rd/13th/14th/15th/16th/17th/18th/21st/32nd/33rd/46th/53rd.

Considering the usual problems associated with uniform supply and the fact that the white was replaced with blue as it wore out, it was highly probable that there was a mixture of white and blue within the same regt or batt.

So if you wanted you could even paint a couple of companies in white and the rest in blue!

DB

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#2 [url]

Feb 11 05 3:24 PM

Thanks Dave
I think that I shall go for a whole unit in white, it will make an easy distinction between 2nd and 3rd Battalions. I think the facings of the 15th were Black which I reckon should be dapper ( or possibly just look like an advert for Guinness).
Does anyone know when French Line grenadiers started to regularly be issued with shako's?
Maturin

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#3 [url]

Feb 11 05 4:39 PM

Bueno shows a grenadier of the 15th in shako - I guess it is from the same source as the Osprey.The text says that the white coat was worn until the end of 1809 so apparently the shako was worn from before then!
As to when they were last worn, some had them til virtually the end of the war, despite regs.
IIRC There is thread on the subject of bearskin caps on Dom Goh's Nap Wars.

Swampster

Swampster

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#5 [url]

Feb 13 05 6:07 PM

Thanks to Swampster and particularly John for a really excellent site. I particularly like the grenadier with the espadrilles/sandals and stake thrust through his roll!

Maturin

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