SYW Kreis: Wurzburg artillery

There is very little information about the uniforms of the Wurzburg artillery so this is an educated guess. Here we have a large battery of 12pdrs (6 gun models so 12 guns), as well as 2 howitzer models, 2 6pdr models, 2 (very large) 4pdrs using French guns and lastly, a single battalion gun. Most of the Kreis artillery will be red so these are painted in a light red to provide some variety. The gun models are all from Minden/Crann Tara while the crews come from a number of manufacturers.

Next on this topic will be Franconian artillery.

SYW French: IR55 Waldner (Swiss)

Actually I have already painted this unit (see Monday, 16 November 2015) but this is for my 'new' French army. The plan is to paint about 8 battalions of French and a similar number of Spanish to entertain the Piedmontese WAS army. The same French force, which needs to be able to serve in 4 ranks for the earlier period and 3 for the SYW, will then be able to fight the Hessians I am doing and which you have seen recently.

These then completes 6 of the 8 planned. The last regiment will be done soon. It should be Swiss too and the Swiss liked to serve together but it will actually be Liégeois.

French cavalry of the WAS/SYW is a bit of a problem. There are Front Rank figures but I am exploring another option. Perry produce some new Spanish Dragoons for the Napoleonic period and I am considering using these with the removal of the bicorne and substitution of a tricorne. There are other problems with doing this (not least the musket, not carbine, is carried on the back) but it might work especially as Perry figures are so nice. The other possibility is to use Eureka Saxons but put them on Front Rank horses (Eureka horses are rather small). You will see results in due course.

Latest update from Black Hussar: French artillery pieces will be available soon.

SYW Kreis: Generals

These are a complicated bunch of individuals as some were Austrian officers (but not necessarily Austrian citizens) so wore Austrian uniforms, particularly the very senior ones. This accounts for the bewildering selection of uniforms. Others, though, wore the uniforms of their Kreis regiments which produces a further problem as to the colour of their cockades and sashes.

For many of the tiny states we don't have these details so the default option is to use black cockades and gold sashes, as per the Austrian style.

Modern notions of nationality did not exist in early to mid 18^th century, especially when it came to the nobility. A noble could serve as a young man in his own 'national' army, even if it was a tiny bishopric of 30,000, with a single regiment of foot, but once he had gained basic experience he could then serve almost anywhere in Europe. Promotion could see him serving for a period with the Russians, then with a promotion he might move to the Danish army. After a further stint there he might shuffle off to serve the Dutch, with another suitable promotion. His final career posting might see him serving as a Major-General with the Reichsarmee