Andrew Belsey
Well-Known Member
My Waterloo Companion says that the 1st and 4th Cuirassiers we’re tasked to protect the flanks of d’Erlon’s infantry.
Andy
Andy
'Scotland the Brave' - Carl reid
- Thread starter Grod
- Start date
Help Support planetFigure:
Constantin67
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2012
- Messages
- 336
Thanks Andy
Barrie Harris
Well-Known Member
Another winner for you Gordon. Stunning work.
Barrie(Newbee)
Barrie(Newbee)
Fantastic group and very impressive dramatic scene.
@Constantin and Andy - according to the time relations of the French army the 2nd RNB Dragoons Scots Greys have been counter-charged by the IV Cavalry Reserve 14th Cavalry division 1st Brigade with Gal Farine du Creux 5th and 10th Cuirassiers, and further flanked-charged by 4th Chevaux-légers Lanciers with Colonel Bro
@Constantin and Andy - according to the time relations of the French army the 2nd RNB Dragoons Scots Greys have been counter-charged by the IV Cavalry Reserve 14th Cavalry division 1st Brigade with Gal Farine du Creux 5th and 10th Cuirassiers, and further flanked-charged by 4th Chevaux-légers Lanciers with Colonel Bro
Constantin67
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2012
- Messages
- 336
Thank you, in the above picture of Stanley Berkeley, I see the red collars at the cuirassier. It is right ? I am doing this job now and it is important for me to paint correctly. What regimental colors were at the 5th cuirassier in 1815?
Aurore - note 4th, 5th and 6th regiments all had aurore collars piped blue.
Distinctions were in cuffs and cuff flaps, buttons and the plate on front of the comb of the helmet. If the gauntlet gloves were worn the cuffs and cuff flaps weren’t visible.
Paul Dawson recently published an excellent book on the topic of Napoleon’s Waterloo army uniforms.
Cheers
Huw
Addendum: just at lunch and checked facing colour chart. 5th had aurore cuffs and blue cuff flaps piped aurore.
Hello again,
Just for the sake...
I would consider this painting for an artist view that might be different from the true events.
To my knowledge none of the comments by British officers who were on the field would mention actions of cuirassiers regiments against the heavy Union division's charges against d'Erlon's corps.
2nd RNB Dragoons' letters collected by Sitborne in the 1840's do mention French lancer's pursuit (and the death of Lord Ponsonby) but nothing about the French heavies.
Quite the same from the Inniskillings who remembered seeing lancers attacking the left wing but do not speak about other French cavalry units.
It then seems difficult to determine the true actions.
Just for the sake...
I would consider this painting for an artist view that might be different from the true events.
To my knowledge none of the comments by British officers who were on the field would mention actions of cuirassiers regiments against the heavy Union division's charges against d'Erlon's corps.
2nd RNB Dragoons' letters collected by Sitborne in the 1840's do mention French lancer's pursuit (and the death of Lord Ponsonby) but nothing about the French heavies.
Quite the same from the Inniskillings who remembered seeing lancers attacking the left wing but do not speak about other French cavalry units.
It then seems difficult to determine the true actions.
fogie
A Fixture
Juno you're probably right...up to a point. Victorian artists, like several model sculptors today, seldom let historical
details get in their way. The sculptor who bases his work on a painting can hide nicely behind the artist's mistakes - the
one who buys the figure is left to correct whatever he feels is necessary - thoroughly irksome to some of us, but not much
of an issue for others who see beyond what they think of as pedantry. I'm actually with you on this......so well said.
Mike
details get in their way. The sculptor who bases his work on a painting can hide nicely behind the artist's mistakes - the
one who buys the figure is left to correct whatever he feels is necessary - thoroughly irksome to some of us, but not much
of an issue for others who see beyond what they think of as pedantry. I'm actually with you on this......so well said.
Mike
Mike and Juno I fully agree with your views concerning the Victorian painting. My view are, to paraphrase the Duke Of Wellington, the history of a battle can be as futile as that of a history of a ball: the memoirs only relate to the personal experiences of the individual and they would have no idea what was going to a few feet away. I think that the notion of brave Scots infantry grabbing stirrups of the horses of their countrymen to be carried to fight the French is unlikely given the numbers of highlanders who were reported dead in square: had they done this charge they would have been slaughtered by the lancers. Moreover it's likely that anyone foolish enough to try it would lose their grip or fallen over pretty quickly. The recent dig around the location of the British field dressing station showed that heavy fighting took place in the vicinity, intense fighting not before reported despite hundreds of tomes on the subject.
As to the dress I always love the Rousselot comment which basically says that if we today saw the Napoleonic army we'd certainly have a few surprises. Paul Dawson is producing some fine research which does contradict some commonly held "facts" about dress and some great discussions go on with other contemporary uniformologists such as Yves Martin . I think I ought to make it clear that correspond with them both and at the moment am nagging Paul to publish all his research about French heavy cavalry dress and equipment but I have no vested interest other than wanting to read the results of his research. Of course without being there we don't fully know.
Enough of my waffle.
Cheers,
Huw
As to the dress I always love the Rousselot comment which basically says that if we today saw the Napoleonic army we'd certainly have a few surprises. Paul Dawson is producing some fine research which does contradict some commonly held "facts" about dress and some great discussions go on with other contemporary uniformologists such as Yves Martin . I think I ought to make it clear that correspond with them both and at the moment am nagging Paul to publish all his research about French heavy cavalry dress and equipment but I have no vested interest other than wanting to read the results of his research. Of course without being there we don't fully know.
Enough of my waffle.
Cheers,
Huw
