A Foray into Napoleonic Wargaming

They took a little while to finish, but I finally got two battalions of light infantry completed for my Peninsula French. These battalions are part of the 6eme Regiment de Léger.

The 6eme received a fair few distinctions for their actions in the Peninsula. They formed part of the Army of Portugal, first under Massena, and then Marmont, brigaded with the 39eme Line Regiment. Volunteers from the 6eme were the first through the breeches in the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo in 1810. They also fought at Almeida, Busaco and Fuentes-de-Onoro, and formed part of the rear guard after Salamanca. The regiment was redeployed from Spain to Germany after Napoleon’s disastrous expedition into Russia.

Like the line infantry, the structure of light infantry battalions was re-organised in 1808, each being composed of six companies. There were four centre companies, with the basic soldier being a chasseur, and two elite companies, one of Voltigeurs, and one of Carabiniers. The main differences in uniform between line and light infantry to capture for the Peninsula Campaign are the blue trousers as opposed to the white of the line, and the Hungarian style gaiters with coloured knots.

There are some inaccuracies with how I’ve portrayed these units, starting with the Eagles carried by both battalions, when in fact neither should have them. Light infantry regiments were only issued with a single Eagle, and in 1807 all light infantry regiments were instructed to leave their Eagles at their home depot. I also very much made up the uniform of drummer, having found it very hard to find any solid information on what the colours and patterns should be. My carabiner companies have bearskins; according to uniform regulations of the time, carabiners were not issued bearskins, but there’s plenty of depictions of them wearing them, so I decided to include them.

All models are by Xan, and flags from GMB Designs.