Pour la Gloire de la France

The 19th century was full of small and large wars fought by the French Kingdom, Republic and Empire.

This Zouave commander and standard bearer stand fast in one of these many conflicts "Pour la Glorie de la France" (For the Glory of France).

Through shot and shell, vs European enemies or in colonial conflicts, the Tricolor was the symbol of the empire of the nation of France during the Victorian Age. Vive la France!

The Zouaves are 25mm metal pieces from Heritage that I painted in the 1980's for my colonial wars French Army. They were actually designed by Heritage as American War Between the States, Union or Confederate Zouave troops.
 

The Map Says This Way

 

With a line regiment at his command, this French general marks his progress on his map. The regiment is led by its light company and Grenadiers. 

Any mistake he makes can have dire consequences not only for his men but possible for the entire corps of which his force is a part.

The general and his regiment are part of my 15mm French corps. They are metal pieces that I painted in the 1970's.

Prussian Queen of Battles

A battery of Prussian 12 pounder artillery, the "queen of Battles," readies to battle the French.

A regiment of British line stands in reserve to give the support if needed.

Massed batteries of field artillery became a hallmark of the Napoleonic Wars 

and later 19th century conflicts.
 

These are 15mm metal pieces that I painted in the 1970's. They have held up fairly well for being almost half a century old.

Austrian Dragoons-Marching to the Sound of the Guns

In the war torn decades of turn of the 18th to 19th centuries, the cavalry of the Austrian Empire marches to the sounds of the battle. 

While famed for the number and quality of their cavalry, the Austrian leadership was rarely of a high enough quality to lead them to victory over the French.

These are 15mm metal castings from Hinchcliffe that I painted in the 1970's.
 

Wurttemburg Cavalry Corps

With the Leib-Chevaulegers in the lead the combined cavalry of Wurttemburg marches forward into the bloody Napoleonic Wars of the early 1800's.

Guards, Mounted Jagers, and Line Chevaulegers round out the small but proud forces of Wurttemburg.

These are all 15mm metal pieces that I painted in the late 1970's.

Massed Battery - July 3, 1863

As a prelude to the most famous attack of the War Between the States, "Pickets Charge," the massed artillery batteries (more than 140 cannon in all) of the Army of Northern Virginia bombarded the Union lines at Gettysburg.

Most of the cannon were 12 pounder smooth bore and a mixed bag of rifled artillery pieces.  The ensuing barrage was the greatest the Southern forces ever attempted.

Unfortunately the gunners largely overshot the main Union lines and the hail of shot was largely ineffective at weakening the forward infantry units.  The Rebel infantry attacked, the "High Watermark" of the Confederacy was reached as was the key turning point of the War.

The actions of the massed battery has been largely forgotten as it was over shadowed by the famous disaster of Pickets Charge.

These are 15mm metal pieces from Heritage Miniatures. I painted them in the late 1970's.

Horse Holders to the Front

Troopers of a US Volunteer Cavalry Regiment deploy as skirmishers as more troopers charges past.

From Cuba to the Philippines, volunteer cavalry fought to spread American power at the turn of the 19th and 20th Centuries.

Horse holders would control two to four horses thereby freeing up their riders as mobile infantry troopers.

These are more of my 15mm metal, colonialism American soldiers that I painted in the early '80's.

When You want the Best send for the 10th

Recognized as one of the best US Cavalry Regiments of the late 19th Century, The 10th was one of the famous "Buffalo Soldiers" units.

The 10th was a black unit with white officers. The most famous commander of the 10th was "Blackjack" Pershing. When offered command of the 1st US Cavalry Regiment (the lower the regimental number the higher the prestige the unit held) Pershing was said to have commented "why would I want to give up command of the best regiment in the army."

It is often forgotten that the 10th supported the dismounted charge of Teddy Roosevelt's 1st Volunteer Cavalry up San Juan Hill in the Spanish American War of 1898.

These are 15mm Heritage figures that I painted in the early 1980's, for my American colonialism army.

Light Infantry-Leader of the Infanty Assualt

The 1st and 2nd Light Infantry Battalions of Wurttemburg were the elite foot sloggers of the army.

These are 15mm Heritage figures. I painted these in the 1970's for my Grand Army, French Napoleonic Corps.

Rock of Chickamauga

General George H. Thomas won the title Rock Of Chickamauga after his leadership in saving the Union Army at this disastrous battle.

General Thomas is a metal 15mm Heritage figure that I painted in the early 1980's.

Column en Masse

As darkness falls the 1st and 2nd Wurttemburg Regiments advance to the attack in column in masse. An ally of France in 1812, these troops were part of the 3rd Army Corps of Napoleon's Grand Army. These are 15mm metal Heritage figures that I painted in the late 1970's.

The Lone Star Marches On

The remnants of the 6th, 10th and 15th Texas Regiments continue to march for the Southern cause in the dark days of 1864.

The artillery support is provided by a battery 12pdr Napoleons of the Helena Arkansas Artillery.

These are 15mm metal Heritage miniatures that I painted in the late 1970's.

The Supplies Must Get Through

Armies travel on their stomachs is a well known truism. It was as true for the Union Army in the 1860's as it was for Napoleon. By the midpoint of the War Between the States the Southern supply systems were unequal to the task of meeting the needs of the Confederate Armies. Capturing Union supplies was an excellent way to resupply Southern forces.

It was just as critical to keep supplies out of the hands of Southern troops as it was for the supplies to make it through to Mr. Lincoln's soldiers. Here the Union supply column is protected by three understrength regiments. (Union policies allowed regiments to fall well below the established strengh of 1100 men, some regiments went into battle with less than 200 soldiers).

First in line is the 2nd Bttn 18th US Infantry, followed by the 1st Bttn of the 18th US Infantry, both from the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division XIV Corps heading towards Chickamaugra.

The third regiment was the 78th Pennsylvania, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, XIV Corps.

Union regiments went into battle with two

standards, the National Stars and Stripes and the Regimental flag. These are 15mm miniatures from Heritage figures I painted in the 1980's.