A sutler's wagon: 25mm metal Crann Tara Miniatures range, bought from Gaming Figures

(who provide an excellent service). Something extra for my baggage train.

I have been searching for pontoon train wagons for years. These are also Crann Tara Miniatures. The draught horses are 25mm metal figures from Essex Miniatures. They should be suitable for my 17th Century and 19th Century figures.

I have been working on units for my Petaudia fantasy/medieval campaign, tidying them up (most of them were painted decades ago!) and rebasing them for Dragon Rampant rules.

A unit of retainer longbowmen. These are from the Celerian Marches, a small country of three baronies in the centre of the continent. The figures are 25mm metal Essex Miniatures from their Wars of the Roses range.

Now these are very old! A friend gave them to me in the 1990s. I think they are 25mm metal Hinchliffe Arab Camelry. In my campaign they are mercenaries from Larigot, an archipelago of arid islands far to the south-east of Petaudia.

Men-at-arms from the Celerian Marches. These are 25mm metal Essex Miniatures figures.

A command base. The standard bearer is a 25mm metal Essex Miniatures figure; the knight is a Perry Miniatures 28mm hard plastic figure.

This is a 25mm metal figure from Lucid Eye's Savage Core: Age of Ice range, Vahira the Herd Witch. I intend to use her as a shamaness with armies of the Sorceress of Harpagia's forces. I have to admit that female figures these days are far more realistic and in proportion than thirty or forty years ago!

 

I have decided to rebase my 1670s Sun King infantry units; the frontages seemed too wide to me, so I have reduced them, but I have retained the 24 figures per unit, with a musket to pike ratio of 2:1. In addition, I have incorporated the unit's standard bearers into the bases, rather than having them on a separate base. I have started with the French and here are a few pictures.

Gardes françaises, 1st battalion.

Guiche.

La Fère.

I have started a new campaign for my Fescennia Napoleonic "imagi-nations" (in the style of one of those C.S. Grant V.F.S./Lorraine campaigns). The first battle has been fought, a rear guard action with the Arcadians trying to get away safely with their supply wagons and the Nemeans trying to prevent them doing so. Victory went to the Arcadians, for getting their supply wagons away just in time, although most of their troops were scattered in various directions, leaving the road open for the Nemeans to advance further. Figures are a mixture of Hinchliffe 25mm metal and Perry Miniatures hard plastic 28mm, except the supply wagons are Warfare Miniatures 25mm metal.

An aerial view of the battlefield, the Arcadians will be deploying around Daim,

the Nemeans enter from the left.

The Arcadians deployed around the village of Daim.

The Arcadian 6th Line Regiment.

The Arcadian 7th Line. The Arcadian commander, General Menées and his ADC,

are at the lower right of the picture.

A squadron of the Arcadian 3rd Cavalry Regiment.

Another squadron of the Arcadian 3rd Cavalry Regiment.

The Nemean 1st Brigade arrives on the table.

The Nemean No.1 Reserve Musketier Infanterie Regiment zu Fuss, with the Nordstadt Musketier Infanterie Regiment zu Fuss in the background.

The Nemean Nordstadt Dragoner Regiment zu Pferde.

The Nemean Ostenprovinz No.1 Fusilier Infanterie Regiment zu Fuss advancing in open order. These are the Nemean light infantry unit.

The Nemean 1st Brigade commander, General of Infantry Graf von Herumtreiber with his ADC.

The cavalry engaged in a brisk and short fight which ended with both sides

leaving the table, except for the Drosselheim Ulanen Regiment zu Pferde.

The Drosselheim Ulanen Regiment zu Pferde.

The infantry battle begins, with the Nemean 1st Brigade deploying for action,

the 2nd Brigade arriving soon after with more infantry and cavalry.

This picture shows the 2nd Brigade's infantry units moving forward.

As promised, the details for the Marsaglia 1693 scenario, plus a few extras:

Historical Notes:

The scenario is based on the Battle of Marsaglia on October 4^th 1693. The Duke of Savoy, Vittorio Amadeo II, with an army of Savoyard, Spanish, Imperial, Swiss and German troops had been besieging Pinerolo. The French under Marshal Catinat, having received reinforcements from France, marched towards Turin, threatening the Duke’s lines of communication with his capital. As a result, Vittorio Amadeo II abandoned the siege of Pinerolo and headed for Turin. The Duke, in spite of the advice of his senior officers, resolved to fight. He had about 30,000 troops and 30 guns, while Catinat had about 35,000 men and 30 guns. The two sides moved towards each other between the River Cisola and the River Sangone. Catinat, recognising the importance of the Piossasco Heights, secured them with infantry and dragoons before the Duke could do so. The opposing armies deployed in the traditional fashion, with the cavalry on the wings and the infantry and artillery in the centre. The French then advanced and attacked all along the line; their cavalry defeated the Allied horse and the Allied centre then collapsed in rout. The Duke lost at least 8,000-10,000 men and all his cannons, the French lost perhaps 2,000-3,000 men. However, Catinat was unable to prevent the remnants of the Duke’s army making their way to Turin.

Terrain:

See accompanying map. The rivers Cisola and Sangone are both impassable and can only be crossed at the bridges. The Piossasco Heights at A1-A2 is passable on its lower slope without reduction, but the wooded plateau is “out of bounds” to all troops. The fence (running from A4 to C3 along the road) can be crossed by foot units, but they will count as unformed; no other units can cross the fence. The single buildings at F2 and A4 represent Orbassan and Marsaglia respectively. Finally, the Wood of Volvera is represented by the trees in F4; the wood is passable only to foot units at reduced speed and they will count as unformed. A bonus to movement applies on the road.

Map:

Orders:

The Allied army must keep control of the bridge at Marsaglia and gain control of the bridge at Orbassan in order to secure its lines of communication, while at the same time defeating the French army.

The French army must gain control of the bridges at Orbassan and Marsaglia in order to cut the Allied lines of communication, while at the same time defeating the Allied army.

Allied Army Deployment:

Left Wing:     A3        1 x Horse Regiment (Trained)

                         1 x Horse Regiment (Trained)

                         1 x Horse Squadron (Veteran)

                         1 x General

Centre:        B4-D4     1^st Line   3 x Foot Regiments (Trained)

                                   1 x General

                         2^nd Line   3 x Foot Regiments (Trained)

                                   1 x General

               C3        1 x Medium Gun Battery

               D4        1 x General

Right Wing:    E4        1 x Horse Regiment (Trained)

                         1 x Horse Regiment (Trained)

                         1 x Horse Squadron (Trained)

Allied Army Notes:

1) The Allied cavalry units deploy one behind the other.

2) The Allied infantry units deploy in two lines across the indicated squares.

3) The Allied artillery unit must deploy in the lower half of C3, below the road, unlimbered and ready to fire.

4) The general in D4 is the army commander.

French Army Deployment:

Left Wing:     F1        1 x Horse Regiment (Trained)

                         1 x Horse Regiment  (Trained)

                         1 x Horse Squadron  (Elite)

                         1 x Foot Regiment   (Trained)

                         1 x General

Centre:        C1-E1     1^st Line   3 x Foot Regiments

                                   1 x General

               C1-E1     2^nd Line   3 x Foot Regiment

                                   1 x General

               C1        1 x Light Gun Battery

               E1        1 x Light Gun Battery

Right Wing:    B1        1 x Horse Regiment (Trained)

                         1 x Horse Regiment (Trained)

                         1 x Horse Squadron (Trained)

                         1 x General

Reserve:       D1        1 x Horse Squadron (Trained)

                         1 x General

French Army Notes:

1) The French cavalry units deploy one behind the other. The infantry unit in F1 must deploy behind the cavalry.

2) The French infantry units deploy in two lines across the indicated squares.

3) The French artillery must deploy in front of the infantry units, limbered and ready to move.

4) The French cavalry unit in D1 must deploy behind the infantry; the general in D1 is the army commander.

Victory Points:

Allied Army:  

          Hold the Cisola Bridge (A4)             5 VP

          Capture the Sangone Bridge (F3)         20 VP

          Capture Orbassan Village (F2)           10 VP

          Per enemy unit destroyed                5 VP

          Per enemy unit in rout                  2½ VP

French Army:  

          Capture Orbassan Village (F2)           5 VP

          Capture the Sangone Bridge (F3)         5 VP

          Capture the Cisola Bridge (A4)          20 VP

          Per enemy unit destroyed                5 VP

          Per enemy unit in rout                  2½ VP

Designer’s Notes:

The battle of Marsaglia is a head-on clash between two reasonably matched forces, with little room for finesse. The French have a slight advantage of numbers, but the Allied force already controls one of the two crossings. The French do seem to have had better quality troops than the Allies, but to weight this too much in favour of the French player makes it hard for the Allied player to feel he has much of a chance. In the end, I decided to make all but one unit on each side of the same quality, with the French having an elite cavalry unit to represent their Gendarmerie squadrons and the Allies a veteran cavalry unit to represent their Guard regiments. Although the number of artillery pieces was roughly the same, I gave the French light and mobile batteries to represent the fact that their artillery, unusually for that time, kept up with their advancing infantry and provided close support, while giving the Allies only one medium battery. Prior to the battle, sources indicate that the French left was led by infantry as it had to pass through rough terrain; their cavalry then moved forward through them to take up position in front of the foot troops, ready for action. This is why I placed the infantry unit on that flank behind the cavalry units in the initial deployment.

As for the terrain, I simplified the battlefield to that only the key features remained – Orbassan, Marsaglia, the bridges and the rivers, the Piossasco Heights and the Wood of Volvera. It also had to be able to fit onto a 6 feet by 4 feet table. The end result can be seen in the map and the photographs of the re-fight. In the actual battle the villages were not actually fought over, so a single building seemed more than adequate. The fence represents a reference in one contemporary source to “a high fence with a ditch on one side” behind which Allied infantry took up position opposite the French right. The Wood of Volvera was not fought over either, but as it was described as “thin” I did not think it should be a significant obstacle to movement. As for the Piossasco Heights, these were a steep ridge with vineyards on the lower slopes, so quite serious obstacles to the movement of troops, but in fact were not important once the actual battle began. Some maps suggest the French right wing was on the heights, but in fact Catinat had already withdrawn his infantry and dragoons from them by the time they advanced (except for a detachment left to watch for an enemy movement in that direction). Moreover, the French right wing was formed entirely of cavalry and they could not have deployed and operated from the heights, as these were entirely impractical for mounted troops! So the Piossasco Heights could be left off the battlefield entirely, but I chose to represent them for “aesthetic” reasons, using trees to cover them as I do not possess any vineyard models!

Obviously, the figures I used for my re-fight were rather different from those that would have fought at Marsaglia. Although the mounted units in 1693 would have been very similar in uniform and tactics, dragoons by that date operated like regular cavalry, while the infantry would have been equipped with a combination of flintlock and matchlock muskets, with some pikes and bayonets for self-defence. Also, the formations were shallower. However, artillery had gained something in mobility, with more light pieces available, but otherwise its effect was very similar to earlier weapons.

The scenario assumes infantry regiments of 24 figures and cavalry regiments of 12 figures, all in 28mm, using a 6 feet by 4 feet table. I tried to work out a rough ratio between the opposing sides, and then between infantry and cavalry on each side, converting this into figures and then seeing what would actually fit on the table within the terrain. Having played the scenario once, I would perhaps add a few extra generals, although in part this reflects an astonishingly high casualty rate (50%!) amongst the senior officers in my game. The victory conditions are just to add a little extra to motivate the opposing forces, but in reality the opposing commanders in the real battle were merely intent on beating their enemy’s army and little else!

Opposing forces:

French:

35,000-40,000.

25,000 infantry in 43-54 battalions.

12,000 cavalry in 78-82 squadrons.

20-30 guns.

Allies:

30,000-36,000.

20,000 infantry in 37-44 battalions.

10,000 cavalry in 59-81 squadrons.

24-30 guns.

One source suggests that the force sent by Marshal Catinat to seize the Piossasco Heights was comprised of ten infantry battalions and eight dragoon squadrons. These were apparently drawn from the infantry brigades of Perche, Grancey and Vendôme and the dragoon regiments of Paysac and Fontbeausard. The cavalry regiments La Reine, Villepion and St. Mauris may have been in support. Almost all of these troops were then withdrawn to rejoin the main army for the battle itself. The Duke of Savoy may have sent a force of five battalions to capture the ridge, but obviously the French acted quicker. Perhaps a small scenario could be made of this, although looking at photographs of the Piossasco Heights (I have never been there, I was viewing internet pictures) they seem very steep and rugged and covered in difficult terrain! The French infantry in the undergrowth which screened the left wing cavalry before the battle were apparently formed from seven battalions drawn from the regiments Robecque, Gâtinais, Quercy, Clérembault and Vaubecourt. The regiments Feuquières and Fürstemberg may have been in the vineyards on the lower slopes of the Piossasco Heights as well.

Extra Stuff:

Since completing the game, I have made further investigations and, from a range of sources (books, articles, online sites), here are my conclusions on the orders of battle of the opposing sides. They should not be considered definitive by any means! Any additional and more accurate information would be welcome! I think now I would give cuirassier units to the Allies on their right flank, which would be tougher for the French to beat.

French Army: GOC Catinat

Left Wing:

First Line: 20 squadrons; GOC Vendôme

Grammont Dragoon Regiment                         (4 squadrons)

Catinat Dragoon Regiment                          (4 squadrons)

Geoffreville Cavalry Regiment                     (4 squadrons)

Gendarmerie                                       (8 squadrons)

Second Line: 14 squadrons & 4 battalions; GOC Le Grand Prieur.

St. Livière Cavalry Regiment                      (2 squadrons)

Esseville Cavalry Regiment                        (4 squadrons)

Courlandon Cavalry Regiment                       (4 squadrons)

Valençay Dragoon Regiment                         (4 squadrons)

Bretagne Regiment                                 (1 battalion)

Robecque Regiment (Walloon)                       (1 battalion)

Poitiers Regiment (Walloon)                       (1 battalion)

Gâtinais Regiment                                 (1 battalion)

NB The Gendarmerie was not a single regiment but individual squadrons, each one of which was formed from two companies, one being of gendarmes, the other of chevau-légèrs.

Centre:

First Line: GOC De la Hoguette

Feuquières Regiment                               (2 battalions)

Famechon Regiment                                 (1 battalion)

Nivernois Regiment                                (1 battalion)

Vaubecourt Regiment                               (2 battalions)

Fürstemberg Regiment (Cologne)                    (3 battalions)

Quercy Regiment                                   (1 battalion)

Flandre Regiment                                  (1 battalion)

Clérembault Regiment                              (1 battalion)

Tourraine Regiment                                (1 battalion)

Bigorre Regiment                                  (1 battalion)

Médoc Regiment                                    (1 battalion)

Sault Regiment                                    (2 battalions)

Catinat Regiment                                  (1 battalion)

Condé Regiment                                    (1 battalion)

La Marine Regiment                                (3 battalions)

Roi d’Angleterre Dragoon Regiment (English émigres) (1 squadron)

La Reine Dragoon Regiment                         (1 squadron)

NB The dragoon units were dismounted between Fürstemberg and Quercy. The Sauvaire Regiment of 1 battalion is also listed in the sources, but it does not appear in the French infantry lists and its identity seems to be a mystery, so I have omitted it from the order of battle.

Second Line: 13-15 battalions; GOC D’Usson

Vendôme Regiment                                  (1 battalion)

Île de France Regiment                            (1 battalion)

Beauce Regiment                                   (1 battalion)

Labour Regiment                                   (1 battalion)

Reine d’Angleterre Regiment (English émigres)     (2 battalions)

Limerick Regiment (Irish)                         (1 battalion)

Barrois Regiment                                  (1 battalion)

Thierach Regiment                                 (1 battalion)

Dauphine Regiment                                 (1 battalion)

Perche Regiment                                   (1 battalion)

Clare Regiment (Irish)                            (1 or 3 battalions)

Grancey Regiment                                  (1 battalion)

Reserve: 8 squadrons & 1-2 battalions

Vaugrenant Regiment                               (1 or 2 battalions)

Montbas Cavalry Regiment                          (4 squadrons)

Gévaudan Dragoon Regiment                         (4 squadrons)

Right Wing:

First Line: 20 squadrons; GOC De Vins

Carabinier Cavalry Regiment                       (2 squadrons)

La Reine Cavalry Regiment                         (4 squadrons)

Robecque Cavalry Regiment (Walloon)               (2 squadrons)

St. Mauris Cavalry Regiment                       (4 squadrons)

Senectèrre Dragoon Regiment                       (4 squadrons)

Bretagne Dragoon Regiment                         (4 squadrons)

Second Line: 16 squadrons; GOC Larré

Fontbeausard Dragoon Regiment                     (4 squadrons)

Paysac Dragoon Regiment                           (4 squadrons)

Cathulan Cavalry Regiment                         (4 squadrons)

Villepion Cavalry Regiment                        (4 squadrons)

NB The Carabinier cavalry Regiment seems to have been a unit formed of all the carabiniers drawn from the individual cavalry regiments; the actual Royal Carabinier Cavalry Regiment was not formed until later in 1693. I think the Robecque Cavalry Regiment is a Walloon unit in French service because it does not appear in any French cavalry lists, but the Robecque Infantry Regiment (which was a Walloon unit raised in 1688) was present at Marsaglia.

Allied Army: GOC Vittorio Amadeo II

Left Wing:

First Line: 17-22 squadrons; GOC Louvigny

Governor’s Gardes du Corps (Spanish/Milan)        (2 squadrons)

Bayreuth Cuirassier Regiment (Imperial)           (3 squadrons)

German Cavalry Regiment (Spanish/Milan)           (3 squadrons)

Commercy-Lothringen Cuirassier (Austrian)         (2 or 3 squadrons)

Württemberg Cavalry Regiment (Imperial)           (2 or 3 squadrons)

Milan Cavalry Regiment (Spanish/Milan)            (3 or 10 squadrons)

Second Line: 12 squadrons; GOC Prinz Eugen

Württemberg Cavalry Regiment (Imperial)           (4 squadrons)

Balthazar Dragoons (Savoy/French Huguenots)       (2 squadrons)

Prinz Eugen Dragoons (Austrian)                   (6 squadrons)

Centre:

First Line: 15-20 battalions & 5 squadrons; GOC Pálffy

Lombardia Tercio (Spanish)                        (2 battalions)

Saboya Tercio (Spanish)                           (1 battalion)

Napoles Tercio (Spanish)                          (1 battalion)

Duque de San Pedro Tercio (Spanish)               (1 battalion)

Bonesana Tercio (Spanish/Milan)                   (1 battalion)

Melzi Regiment (Spanish/German)                   (1 battalion)

Cabrera Regiment (Spanish/German)                 (1 battalion)

Corneaud Regiment (Savoy/German)                  (1 battalion)

De Loche (Savoy/French Huguenot)                  (1 battalion)

Schomberg (Savoy/French Huguenot)                 (1 battalion)

Stadel Regiment (Austrian)                        (1 battalion)

Neuberg Regiment (Austrian)                       (1 or 3 battalions)

Lothringen Regiment (Austrian)                    (1 or 2 battalions)

Württemberg Regiment (Austrian)                   (1 or 3 battalions)

Bayreuth Cuirassier Regiment (Imperial)           (2 squadrons)

Caraffa Cuirassier Regiment (Austrian)            (2 squadrons)

Taafe Cuirassier Regiment (Austrian)              (1 squadron)

NB Individual cavalry squadrons were positioned between the central infantry battalions – Cabrera to Neuberg.

Second Line: 18 battalions; GOC Rabutin

Bayerisch Leibgarde Regiment (Savoy/German)       (2 battalions)

Steinau Regiment (German)                         (2 battalions)

Alis Regiment (Spanish/Milan)                     (2 battalions)

Meyer Regiment (Spanish/Swiss)                    (1 battalion)

Bessler Regiment (Spanish/Swiss)                  (1 battalion)

Aosta Regiment (Savoy)                            (1 battalion)

Naples Regiment (Neapolitan)                      (1 battalion)

Mondovi Regiment (Savoy)                          (1 battalion)

Croce Bianca Regiment (Savoy)                     (1 battalion)

Chablais Regiment (Savoy)                         (1 battalion)

Monferrato Regiment (Savoy)                       (1 battalion)

Saluzzo Regiment (Savoy)                          (1 battalion)

Savoia Regiment (Savoy)                           (1 battalion)

Savoia Gardie Regiment (Savoy)                    (2 battalions)

Right Wing:

First Line: 22 squadrons; GOC Caprara

Commercy-Lothringen Cuirassier Regiment (Austrian)(4 squadrons)

Pálffy Cuirassier Regiment (Austrian)             (4 squadrons)

Montecuccoli Cuirassier Regiment (Austrian)       (4 squadrons)

Taafe Cuirassier Regiment (Austrian)              (4 squadrons)

Caraffa Cuirassier Regiment (Austrian)            (2 squadrons)

Savoia Gardie del Corpo Regiment (Savoy)          (2 squadrons)

Second Line: 15 squadrons; GOC Macello

Genevois Dragoon Regiment (Savoy)                 (3 squadrons)

Savoia Cavalry Regiment (Savoy)                   (3 squadrons)

Macello Dragoon Regiment (Savoy)                  (3 squadrons)

Piemonte Reale Cavalry Regiment (Savoy)           (3 squadrons)

Sua Altesse Reale Dragoon Regiment (Savoy)        (3 squadrons)