Neuchatel Battalion - Spain 1811

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On review I find I haven't done very much for the 28mm Napolenics for a while, and really I like to get a couple of units added each year to steadily build the game options.  The main detractor from such output is the obvious size of any such task, infantry units of 24 or cavalry units of 12, in this scale do not pop on and off the painting table in a week, especially with my more constrained output these days.

Still I wanted to get something done, and so just after Xmas I began a new unit, to bolster the somewhat lacking ranks of French infantry.  6 weeks later they were finally finished.

The Neuchatel Battalion came from the French speaking Canton, which had been allied to Prussia until it was ceded to the French in 1806, after that date and until 1814 it supplied a battalion of infantry to the French.  The Canaries as they were known wore a yellow uniform faced in red; though there are many descriptions of the uniform that make the precise colouration open to debate.  Some suggest bright yellow, others more of a buff colour, others at all points in-between.

A classic illustration of the unit 

The above is one of the browner renditions.  I decided to go for  more of a chamois-yellow colour in my version, my personal bet would be that the non-chemical dyes for the uniforms faded over time from a bold yellow to a more subdued brown, and so all authors could be right.  The fact that prior to the second half of the 19th century there was no such thing as permanent dyes is something that escapes many 'button-counters', and allows wriggle-room in uniform colours!

Using Perry 1812 Infantry means that the battalion has more of a campaign appearance.  The new French from the Perries were a long way off yet when I assembled this unit, some two years ago.  That's how far I work ahead/procrastinate!

The Battalion in column 

The flag is a placeholder too, I've yet to find any indication what the standard of the battalion - assuming it marched under one - looked like, so the safest bet for now is that one was bestowed on the unit by France.  In the images you can just make out a company Guidon, which is completely hypothetical but based again on French archetypes.

Close up on the front, Command and Voltigeurs 

I decided to go with white Pompoms for all the fusilier company's, including the command, which is again based on the illustrations, but could be very wrong.  The cut-off plumes for the Voltigeurs and Grenadiers may not sit with purists, but it seems plausible for campaign once again.

Some speculative details to the rear

The unit went on to serve in Austria Spain and Russia, fighting the British in Spain at Aldea de la Ponte, and in other actions against Spanish Geurillas.  After Napoleons' doomed Russia campaign only 8 men survived, and though reconstituted in 1813, a year later the force had ceased to exist.

They'll provide some great colour to my Napoleonic forces, and help even up the French deficit in numbers, they now have 12 regular formations of formed infantry, as compared to the Allies 14.

Still, could do with some more, hopefully not in another 18 months though.

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