Wednesday, July 12, 2023

Duchy of Warsaw Horse Artillery


The first unit of Horse Artillery in the army of the Duchy of Warsaw was raised in 1809, and paid for by a wealthy Polish nobleman; by 1810, there were 4 such companies. 

The earlier uniform had Czapskas for headgear, but by 1810, it was replaced by dark brown fur colpacks for all but the first company, who retained the Czapska until 1812. 

The original uniform also had black lapels piped red, but by 1810 it was being replaced by the habit Kinsky, which had none. 

Both uniforms had black collars, cuffs, and turnbacks, all piped in red. 

The pants were dark green with a wide black stripe, piped red. 

Red aigrettes were worn on the right shoulder.

Brass scale epaulettes with red fringes were worn on the shoulders. 

Several uniforms are known for trumpeters; the one depicted has a white fur colpack with a green bag piped yellow, a white jacket with black facings piped red, and red pants with gold stripes. 

Officers had black fur colpacks with a green bag, piped gold, and gold stripes on the seams of the pants. 

These figures and guns are by Murawski miniatures, sculpted by Paul Hicks.  Polish artillery used the same olive drab color for their gun carriages, equipment, caissons, limbers, etc.,  as the French. 

22 comments:

  1. Nice! Your trumpeter will certainly stand out in a crowd.

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    1. The Polish habit of having their trumpeters in white is certainly striking, especially here!

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  2. Nice battery Gonsalvo, the trumpeter certainly looks the part. I wonder how if the polish trumpeter and the Imperial Guard horse artillery trumpeter compared their uniforms. I have always had a soft spot for the guard trumpeter https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ebayimg.com%2Fimages%2Fg%2FcIUAAOSwFJBZPsqQ%2Fs-l640.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=894e4560c62822ceb5777e5a9254f58c6ba41eec42f8be952e395319a9c7d9a7&ipo=images

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    1. Thanks, Chris. The French Guard cavalry rule was pretty much sky blue coats with crimson facings for trumpeters. I love that Cjhasseurs a Cheval ubifiorm, it's burried with the other figures in the Wachau report. I also have the famous (and incorrect) white bearskin for the Grenadier a Cheval trumpeter. He stays. :-)

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  3. Superb colors on your gunners, cracking job!

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  4. I have been looking forward to these and they look great Peter. Murawski really are top notch figures and you have done them proud. That trumpeter does look like he could be selling ice creams in a cinema.

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  5. Excellent group with nice variety of headgear colourings

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    1. Thank you, Gary. I had been looking forwards to doing these guys for several years, but finally had a reason to get paint on them!

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  6. They look great Peter. As Lawrence notes, the Murawski figure range does look excellent.

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  7. Very pretty Poles. Good brushwork. 4 companies, eh?

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    1. Thanks, Joe. Yes, quite a lot of Horse Artillery, isn't it? I suppose considering there were ? 17+ cavalry regiments in the army of the Duchy of Warsaw, perhaps it made sense to have so many.

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  8. Great looking Polish horse artillery and the trumpeter is certainly memorable! I have to say in regards to Lawrence's comment when I sold ice cream in a theatre my uniform wasn't anyware near as good as the trumpeter!
    Best Iain

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    1. Thanks, Iain. I've worm scouting and band uniforms, only the later would even come close to the Trumpeter!

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  9. Nice! I hope you are going to expand your Duchy of Warsaw collection once the new Perry miniatures are released ;-)

    Best wishes,
    Jan

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    1. Thanks! I don’t plan on any additions to my poles, who are a mix of Minifigs. old Glory, and Murawski. As It is I have 4 line infantry, 4 Vistula Legion, 1 guard infantry, 3 uhlans, 1 hussar, 1 Chasseurs, 2 batteries plus command!

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  10. Beaut as ever Peter.
    They look really good in the busbies, but I prefer the look of the czapka and play the usual wargaming liberties with when the new uniform was adopted! :)
    Regards, James

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    1. Thanks, James!
      It seems the first company retained the czapska longer than the others, and of course uniform regulations and reality were hardly the same thing!

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