Elite Napoleonic Voltigeur & Dying Brits From Warlord Games
September 18, 2014 by brennon
Warlord Games are adding some more elite infantry to the French army to aid Napoleon in your games of Black Powder. See what you think of the Elite Voltigeur and some British Casualties that have no doubt been shot by them!
These chaps were some of the elite members of Napoleons army. They would mount up on horseback and relocate to different places across the battlefield before dismounting and skirmishing with the enemy using their mobility to their advantage. Unlike the rank and file infantry who would march forward relentlessly these Voltigeur would use cover, exploit enemy weakness and blind spots and were deadly sharpshooters.
These are no doubt some of their casualties; unfortunate soldiers who ended up being on the wrong end of the sights when the Voltigeur were in action. There are two sets for both the Waterloo campaign and the Peninsular one so you can be historically accurate with the dead as well as the living.
What do you make of the Voltigeur?
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Warlord and the Perry’s have this period admirably covered. I’m sure one day my wallet will become a casualty, as I’ve been debating whether or not to get into Napoleonics.
Me too. I’ve always thought of it as a project for my retirement but it’s getting harder to resist.
Don’t say that! I’m already retired. Now you’ve gone and done it. Forced me to spend hundreds on Napoleonic armies.
I’ll quite happily take the blame for that
Voltigeurs were created as mounted infantry but by the time these chaps came along the idea had long been dropped and all that remained was the name.
Voltiguer were the light companies of French Regiments of the line. They were made up of the best shots in the Regiment and were used for skirmishing.
mid 18th century I think wasn’t it? infantry sharpshooters that could hitch a ride on the backs of cavalrymen who’d drop them off in an advantageous position
don’t think it ever really took off…
Mind you, damn good shots considering the Emperor was so against the use of rifles…
Looking good!
I don’t know much about this period. You would think that infantry that could move as fast as cavalry in terms of deploying would be a real boon. If the cav were simply dropping them off, they would be totally independent, and wouldn’t even require horse tenders. Why didn’t this idea take off? Is there something obvious I’m missing? Did such a deployment leave the Voltigeur’s bags hanging out, so to speak? Were they more vulnerable because they couldn’t rapidly withdraw?
If you have infantry hitch a ride with cavalry it ties down your cavalry. Cav was always critical as a reserve force and for guarding the flanks and scouting. I don’t think a general would be willing to weaken one of these area to make light infantry more mobile.
I wish these guys would do 15mm – much better scale for this kind of battle where you can put up some really impressive armies.