Project Waterloo: Dutch Line Infantry, 1815

 

The Treaty of Paris, signed May 30. 1814 determined that the House of Orange would return to the rule of Holland, and that the Kingdom would be enlarged by adding the originally Austrian territories more or less corresponding to modern day Belgium.  

Initially the Dutch (North Netherlands") and Belgian ("South Netherlands") armies were separate, but the army was reorganized several times, and and April 15, 1815, the two armies were combined into a single force... less than 2 months before the French would attack! 

These troops wear the (very idealized compared to probable reality!) uniform of the Dutch line infantry of the time; single breasted dark blue coats with brass buttons, white collars and cuffs, and red turnbacks. A "double billed shako" of Austrian style had red or green short plumes plumes for the flank companies reminiscent of French line infantry, but blue and white shoulder rolls in a more British style!; quite a hodge-podge of schemes!

Orange cockades were worn on the shako, and commissioned officers had orange sashes. The drums  had a pattern or red, blue, and white triangles on the rims. 

Figures are from Perry Miniatures. I see I forgot to trim down and guild the tops of the flagpoles; that has already been corrected. 

Flags themselves were printed from the Napflag site; he notes they may not have actually been issued until as late as 1820, however. 

Project Waterloo: 2nd Nassau (Nassau-Usingen) Light Infantry Regiment

 

The twin Duchies of Nassau (much reorganized after losing territory to France and the new Grand Duchy of Berg) joined the confederation of the Rhine in 1806. 

The Nassau troops were (less than happily)  stationed in Spain during most of the Peninsular War. 

Nassau left the Confederation of the Rhine in November 1813.

The regiment is equipped here as it was during the Hundred Days in 1815. These are Perry Miniatures. I see that I forgot to trim and paint the top of the flagstaff; that will be corrected momentarily!

Technically the Grenadiers should wear Colpacks, but I have given them shakos like the Flanker company. Note the colored shoulder rolls in red and green for the elite companies, replacing the epaulettes of the French allied years.  

Project Waterloo: Order of Battle

Using the previously referenced “English Waterloo” hex scenario for Blucher as a guide,

the following are needed:

French Army:

2 Legere:  7 hits

13 Ligne: 6 hits

2 Cuirassier: 7 hits, shock

5 other Line Cavalry (Hussar/Dragoon/Lancer/Chasseur):  6 hits

2 Guard Light Cavalry: 7 hits, shock

1 Guard Heavy Cavalry, 8 hits, Shock

2 Guard Infantry, 8 hits, shock

1 Guard Artillery

1 Line Heavy Artillery

The French troops are no problem; I have far more than these!

Leaders:  Napoleon, Ney, Reille, D’Erlon, Kellerman, Milhaud

As the game will have three players a side, these have to change, along with the command structure.

Thus Napoleon and Ney will share Army command; each turn the French player will have to decide

which one to use; each will come with their own characteristics. 

The three player commands will be Reille, D’Erlon, and Lobau. In the interest of the game, the troops

will be pretty evenly divided amongst the three commands, with La Garde in Reserve.

Napoleon, Army C-in-C

Ney, Alternate C-in-C

Reille

1 Light Infantry  7 hits

5 Line Infantry  6 hits

Heavy Artillery  6 hits

3 Light Cavalry 6 hits

Lobau

1 Light Infantry  7 hits

3 Line Infantry  6 hits

1 Guard Artillery  7 hits +1 die when shooting

2 Guard Infantry  8 hits

2 Guard Light Cavalry 7 hits; shock

Guard Heavy Cavalry  8 hits; shock

D'Erlon

1 Light Infantry  7 hits

6 Line Infantry  6 hits

2 Light Cavalry   6 hits

2 Heavy Cavalry  7 hits; shock

Anglo Allied Army:

3 Nassau Line:  5 hits

1 Dutch-Belgian Line:  5 hits  Conscript

3 Hanoverian Infantry:  5 hits  Conscript

2 Brunswick Infantry:  5 hits

5 British Line:  6 hits  Firepower, Steady

2 British Light:  7 hits  Firepower, Steady

2 British Guard:  7 hits, Firepower, Steady, Shock

1 Brunswick Cavalry:  6 hits

3 Dutch-Belgian Cavalry: 5 hits  Reluctant

4 British Light Cavalry:  6 hits, Shock, Impetuous

2 British Heavy Cavalry:  7 hits, Shock, Impetuous

Leaders:  Wellington, Picton, Orange, Buttlar, Collert, Uxbridge

Like the French, I have more than enough British for the game already. I also have more than

enough Brunswickers (MInifigs painted 3 decades ago). I have a single Nassau regiment, and

no Dutch-Belgians or Hanoverians. 

In contemplating the situation, I decided to get a second unit of Nassau troops (There were

2 Nassau regiments in the Confederation of the Rhine anyway, so they will be useful

elsewhere as well). Rather than get a 3rd Nassau infantry, I decided to get one each of Dutch

and Belgian infantry for variety. These troops are only of use for the 100 days campaign.

I didn’t want to get 3 units of very limited use cavalry, so British Light Dragoons in shako

will have to stand in for them. OK, that works, I have 4 such units and only need 3.

The Hanoverians posed the biggest problem; I didn’t want to paint up 3 more units of very

limited use troops! In considering the situation,. It occurred to me that I could use the

(very nicely painted)  Minifigs British Line infantry I purchased from Jamie W. at Historicon

about 25 years ago, and could even give them Hanoverian militia flags!  I have 66 such

figures plus 2 mounted officers; with adding a few spare Old Glory command figures that

would make 4 units, and I could even retain the original flags on their own command stands,

in case I want to use them as British again. OK, Hanoverian dilemma solved with zero added

expanse and perhaps some minimal added painting. 

As for Leaders, it will be Wellington as C-in-C, Picton, Hill, and Prince Wilhelm of Orange.

Once again there will be some special characteristics for them. All I will need to paint up

there will be Prince Wilhelm.

Wellington

Picton

2 Dutch-Belgian Infantry - 5 hits (Conscript)

1 Nassau Line Infantry - 5 hits

2 British Line Infantry - 6 hits

1 Hanoverian Line - 5 hits (Conscript)

3 Dutch-Belgian cavalry 5 hits; reluctant

Hill

1 British Guard Infantry 7 hits; shock

1 British Light Infantry 7 hits

3 British Line Infantry 7 hits

4 British Light Cavalry 6 hits; shock, impetuous

Prince of Orange-Nassau

1 British Guard - 7 hits; shock

1 British Light (Rifle) extended range 1 D6 at 3 boxes

1 British Line Infantry 6 hits

2 Hanoverian Line - 5 hits (Conscript)

2 Brunswick Line - 5 hits

2 British Heavy Cavalry; shock; impetuous

1 Brunswick Cavalry

An order was thus fired off to Perry Miniatures last month for the necessary troops (some of

the DB units I wanted were out of stock, but others were readily substituted, and they arrived

across the pond in record time. 

Painting information was needed for some of these new troops. Fortunately. I have pretty much

bought every Osprey Napoleonic uniform title I can find, so I already had these:

Let the painting begin!

Project Waterloo: The buildings

       As referenced in the first post of this series, 28  or even 15mm budlings would not work for this game, so I wound up using 10mm "Batlescale" models from Total Battle Miniatures in the U.K. Like my beloved 28 mm buildings by Hovels, these use a sort of forced perspective the preserves the overall look of the building while deceasing its footprint on the gaming table. 

As you can see, the models are very well sculpted and cast.

The price was reasonable, as was the shipping cost (a rarity now days!).  They arrived across the pond pretty quickly, and were very well packed to protect the resin. 

As you can see, it fits very nicely within a single 6" grid square. 

The model comes in 2 sections that fit together perfectly.  This one is Fichermont.

Here's the next complex. 

Once again, it fits well onto the 6" grid. 

The two sections again fit together perfectly. 

This is of course the key LaHaye Sainte farm complex. 

Here's the third model of the set (you can buy them all separately, but I figured I might as well get the whole range). 

This pone is all one piece. 

It is once again a great fit for the 6" grid. 

This model is La  Belle Alliance Inn.

Another two part model.

Great sculpting and casting once again. 

Once again, the size is well suited to the useage. 

This one is the Pappelotte Farm complex.

I trust most readers would recognize the last of the models as the Hougoumont Chateau.

This one is cast in three pieces. 

It could occupy 4 boxes... 

or just 2 - one for the Chateau and one for the walled gardens. 

Here's how I painted up Fichermont. 

I wanted each complex to have a somewhat distinct scheme, so I went with the non historical red tiled roof for this one. 

Much dry brushing over an initial coat of black spray paint. 

Here is La Bell Alliance. 

I used a very differenct scheme for this complex.

I may add another dry brushing to the foliage. 

All ready for the arrival of the Emperor!

Here is LaHaye Sainte. 

I went with light grey stone work and dark blue grey roofing.

Altogether a formidable structure to assault!

Next up is the Pappelotte Farm complex.

I went with a lighter grey for the stonework and the roof to make it readily distinguishable from LaHaye Sainte.

A formidable defensive position once again. 

Last but hardly least is Hougoumont. 

I went with the red brick version of the famous Chateau. 

The actual gardens were much larger in comparison to the buildings; that's and advantage in this circumstance, though!

Control of Hougoumont and La Haye Sainte will be among the victory conditions. 

Vive l'Empereur!

The buildings can be supplied pre-painted; here's La  Belle Alliance from the Total Battle Miniatures website.

La Haye Sainte

Pappelotte

Fichermont

Hougoumont

All very nice, but I am, quite content with my own versions!