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Jan 24 07 8:37 PM

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Team,
an excess of certain figures has lead me to an act of frivolity. And now I'm hoping someone can pull back the hood on his anorak and provide me with some advice on a uniform question.

In the orbat I am using for 1813 French, there are regimental cannon companies listed for both the 13e and 23e Ligne. These regiments were I believe stationed in Italy and came north for the 1813 campaign in Germany.

Osprey contradicts itself in the same paragraph, or I have misunderstood the explanation. So my question is: Did regimental artillery gunners wear infantry uniform, or artillery uniform?

I'm punting on the former, but would like some confirmation.

If they did wear infantry uniform, what distinctions (if any) did they wear? I'm inclined to give them red cords and shako bands a la grenadier company, but this is just guessing. A black over scarlet pom pom is a possibility, I suppose, given later regulations.

I look forward to your responses. And no, I could not find this anywhere discussed earlier.

Cheers,

Beresford

Cheers,
Beresford

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#1 [url]

Jan 25 07 9:46 AM

I await a reply to this with baited breath. I painted mine as infantry with red plumes, so I could be landed with aconsiderable touch up job here.

I have wondered ever since if I did the right thing as I keep finding infantry gunners that have 'deserted' to the line artillery and visa versa.

Chris G

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#2 [url]

Jan 25 07 7:44 PM

They wore a uniform very similar to the line artillery but never had full fringed epaulettes and generally had infantry type legwear, white instead of the artillery blue. Alan

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#3 [url]

Jan 25 07 10:48 PM

Regimental Artillery Uniforms

Alan,
thanks for your reply (Is that a gnashing of teeth that I hear, Chris?). Can you share your sources with us?

I chose to paint them in infantry uniform because Osprey gave me an each way bet. And as I recall, the cut of the gunner's jacket is the same as the infantry habite. The difference being in the colour of lapels, collar, and cuffs. Which to me seemed an extravagance to issue to 80 men in a regiment of over a thousand. And the usual vagaries of regulations applied to units in far-flung outposts...

Do your sources prvide any detail on distinctions? Particularly of head-dress.

Cheers,

Beresford

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#4 [url]

Jan 26 07 10:53 AM

An article by Charles Grant in a very old Battle (ok I admit it I bought it new) June 1977 is the issue. Also Plate 18 in the Line Infantry section of Vol 1 of Napoleonic Uniforms to name but two. Alan

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#5 [url]

Jan 26 07 10:56 AM

Grrrr.......Grrrr. It sounds like I am at least going to have to repaint the Turnbacks and lapels from white to Blue with red piping. What about Legere? With blue trousers they are going to be almost indistinguishable from Artillery proper except possibly no red piping on the trousers.

Chris G

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#6 [url]

Jan 26 07 10:45 PM

Regimental artillery uniforms

Alan,

Thanks for the assistance. Bugger. Turnbacks will be easy enough, lapels more challenging to repaint. Chris, I feel your pain.

I do not have the text you refer to, what does it depict for headdress?

And were guns as per ususal, or painted another colour (or left in original owner's livery?)

Thanks again,

Beresford

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#7 [url]

Jan 27 07 6:17 PM

I can't lay hands on the Battle right now but the plate in Nap Uniforms has the carrot shaped pompom on the shako which has a red top band and an infantry style eagle and cresent plate. Plate 10 in the section on Light Infantry is also on the regtl arty and as you guessed he looks just like a line artillery man but with white metal buttons etc. Alan

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#8 [url]

Jan 29 07 9:20 PM

Regimental Artillery uniforms

Thanks Alan.

At least I did the shako and trousers correctly. Upon re-reading my Osprey, it seems that there was the usual disparity between regulations, and the wide variety of reality as mainfested in the various regiments with cannon companies. Perhaps I could get away with a little license. I hear the path of least resistance calling me.... Chris, what are your plans? Re-painting?

Thanks again Alan. I'll bet you never thought those 1977 Battles would come in handy again, or did you?

Cheers,

Beresford

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#9 [url]

Jan 30 07 11:40 AM

I rarely use the Regimental Gun Co's now as they were for the 1812 campaign which my French were origionaly based for. I tend to use 1813 or 1814 armies now with lots of conscripts and Guard Cavalry.

They will probably get repainted eventualy or when I upgrade the bases.

Chris G

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