Kellerman's Heavy Cavalry Corps

Kellerman's III Reserve Cavalry Corp. 

General de Division Francois Kellerman commanded the III Reserve Calvary Corp during the 1815 campaign. He lead a brigade of Cuirassiers on a successful charge at Quatre Bras, capturing the Colours of the 69th Foot before making it to the crossroads. He narrowly escaped after his horse was shot from beneath him by hanging on the bits of of two trooper's horses. His Cavalry were involved in the massed charges against the Allied square at Waterloo.

He was called "the Younger" as his father had served as a General in the French Army.

The III Corp numbered some 3600 sabres - made up of the 11th Division containing the 2nd and 7th Dragoons  and the 8th and 11th Cuirassiers, and the 12th Division with the 1st and 2nd Carabiniers and 2nd and 3rd Cuirassiers along with supporting horse artillery.  The 11th Division was engaged at Quatre Bras, as the 12th had been delayed crossing the Sambre River.

Kellerman the younger

Most of the figures I had painted earlier, just needing to finish off the 3rd Cuirassiers and create some leaders. To make the leaders I used a Old Glory packet of Cuirassiers as a base. I cut of the square portmanteau at the back of the saddle and used some green stuff to model some coat tails. I also covered up the sheepskin shabraque at the front of the saddle and made cloth pistol covers out of green stuff. One had a comb replacing the horse hair on the helmet to become a Carabinier General. They were based individually on a 15 x 15mm for the General de Brigades, and with another rider on a 20 x 20mm for the General de Division. Standard bearers or trumpeters were used as the second figure.

Kellerman was from the French Leaders pack with two Cuirassier escorts. They came out pretty well.

The back square portmanteau was cut off

Green stuff was used for the tails, pistol covers and helmet comb

Remodelled Carabiner General leading his brigade

The whole Corps just fits into one of the storage draws

van Merlen's Brigade

Rushing to support the units at Quatre Bras

Major General Baron Jean-Baptiste van Merlen commanded the 2nd Netherlands Light Cavalry Brigade made up of the Belgian 5th Light Dragoons and Dutch 6th Hussars. He had earlier fought against the British in Spain on the French side. Made a French General in 1814, he returned to his homelade in the Netherlands after the first abdication to take a command in the new Netherlands army.

The 5th Light Dragoons suffered heavy casualties in clashes with the French at Quatre Bras. On engaging with the 6th Chasseurs for Pire's Division, the French recognised the unit and called on their old comrades to defect. Merlen refused and ordered a charge. As it pulled back unsuccessful, their green uniforms were mistaken for the French Chasseurs by some British troops and they suffered further casualties form friendly fire.

Van Merlen and the Dutch 6th Hussars 

The 6th Dutch Hussars also took heavy casualties during Quatre Bras. At waterloo they helped repulse the French Cavalry attacks. Over the two battles they lost 45% of their strength in casualties.

Mark Adkin reports in "The Waterloo Companion"  - During a melee at Waterloo he defeated a French General he knew well, but released him saying "General, this is my side of the battle, yours is over there. Take care of yourself; farewell!" Shortly after Merlen was wounded and died a few hours later.

Belgian 5th Light Dragoons

French Guard Cavalry

Grenadiers a Cheval

Finally finished the French Guard Cavalry of the 1815 campaign.

The light Cavalry Brigade under General Desounettes had a large regiment of Chasseurs a Cheval (48 figures) and a Lancer Regiment comprising of the 1st and 2nd Guard Lancers. The majority of the lancers were the Red "Dutch" Lancers with a squadron of the Polish. I have only depicted the Red Lancers, might have to do a squadron of the Polish later.

 

Imperial Guard cavalry brigades

The heavy cavalry comprised the Grenadiers a Cheval and the Empress Dragoons under General Guyot. Guyot took over command after General Letort was wounded by a stray musketball, at Charleroi after the Dragoons broke two Prussian Squares. The Dragoons angered by their beloved commander charged and destroyed the remaining Prussians. He died a few nights later on the eve of Waterloo.

One of my favourite stories of the Battle of Waterloo was during the French retreat where the Allied Cavalry confronted the Grenadiers a Cheval who ignored them and walked off. The Allies were so intimidated they didn't attack, even with overwhelming numbers on their side.

Both Brigades played a part in the charges at Waterloo.

The Empress Dragoon and Red lancers were painted by Fernando Enterprises. I painted the Grenadiers and Chassuers a Cheval.

Now onto the Guard Horse Artillery ...

Heavy Brigade

Light Brigade

British Heavy Cavalry 1st and 2nd Brigades

On to Paris!

There were two British heavy cavalry Brigades at Waterloo - Somerset's Household Brigade and Ponsonby's Union Brigade. Both served with distinction on the day, repulsing the French attack in the centre.

While mounted on exceptional horses, most of these units hadn't see a battle since 1794. The 1st Dragoons had fought in Fuentes D'Onor in 1811, and the Household had been in the Peninsular (but not in any battles). They were keen for a fight.

Somerset's 1st British Cavalry Brigade

• Household Cavalry
• 1st Life Guards - "the Cheeses"
• 2nd Life Guards - "the Cheesemongers"
• Royal Horse Guards - "the Blues"
• 1st Dragoon Guards

Ponsonby's 2nd British Cavalry Brigade

• 1st Dragoons - "Royals"
• 2nd Dragoons - "Scots Grey"



1st and 2nd British Cavalry Brigades 

• 6th Dragoons - Inskilling

Lead by Lord Uxbridge, Somerset's brigade destroyed Delort's Cuirassiers on d'Erlon's left flank. Posonby scattered some of d'Erlon's infantry divisions before crashing onto the French Grand Battery. Two lancer regiments from Jacquinot's Division hit both heavy brigades after they were spent from the charge and caused heavy casualties. Both brigades lost almost have its men and horses. Many of their commanding officers were killed - one the Colonel of the 1st Dragoon Guards died after yelling "On to Paris!" before being shot by a skirmisher. Ponsonby also lost his life to a French Lancer in the muddy field of Mont St Jean.

The figures are all Redline 10mm. Fenando Enterprises painting services did the 1st Brigade and the Royal Dragoons. I did the Scot's Grey and Inskillings. This is the majority of the Allied heavy cavalry of the campaign. There is another division of Dutch Belgian heavy cavalry I am waiting for Si at Bend Sinister to release the figures for.

Scots Greys and Royal Dragoons

The Blues, followed by the Cheese and the Cheese mongers

1st Dragoon Guards

1st Brigade

The last we saw of them.

Reille's II Corp

Reille's II Corps

Comte Honore Charles Reille commanded the II Army Corps of the Armee De Nord. The Corps numbered some 20,000 men in three Divisions of infantry (5th, 6th and 7th) and one Division of Light Cavalry (2nd) and a small reserve of artillery. They were the main force at Quatre Bras under Marshall Ney, and took the West flank at Waterloo. There they were sucked into the unsuccessful assault on Hougoumont for most of the day.

Prince Jerome Bonaparte's 6th Division was the largest with 7900 men, just under 400 figures. I have 12 x 36 figure battalions which make it over strength.

The effort by David Young in painting close to 500 French Line and Light made it possible to finish off this Corps. The whole of the 6th Division's infantry are David's work. In total there is more than 1000 infantry, 96 Cavalry, 20 guns with limbers etc.

Looking at the pictures, I have missed out one Foot Artillery battery from Bachelu's Division, which I have in the drawer. I also am short on leaders for the Corps, some ADC's have graciously stepped in while the leaders are found. Aside from these small omissions it is done.

I just need to finish off some Guard Chasseurs a Cheval and Lancers and the French OOB for Quatre Bras is complete. Oh and a Ney figure.

Pire's 2nd Cavalry Division

Bachelu's 5th Infantry Division

Prince Jerome's 6th Infantry Division

Foy's 9th Infantry Division

The Emperor briefing Reille on taking Quatre Bras

Last unit for the year

I thought I would do something special for my last painting day of the year - Grenadiers a Cheval - "The Gods". These were the most elite unit of the Imperial Guard Cavalry, big men on big black horses.

They were selected from the bravest men from the Heavy Cavalry with at least 10 years service and 4 campaigns. Napoleon was reluctant to commit this regiment to battle.

They were a bit of an indulgence for me to paint, not being in the plan for Quatre Bras, but were involved in Waterloo. They join the Emperor's "beautiful daughters" - 12lb Old Guard Foot Artillery as my only Imperial Guard regiments so far.

Great castings from the Redline range, very quick to paint with a black undercoat (horses, horse tack, boots and bearskin done already), dark grey dry brush, then blue, white, red, silver and lots of gold.

Happy New Year.

Pire's 2nd Light Cavalry Division

I finished the 5th Lancers which were the last part of Pire's Light Cavalry Divison at Quatre Bras and Waterloo. They played an crucial role in fighting the British 1st Guards Division in the Bossu Woods. At Waterloo they guarded the French left flank and supported attacks on Hougoumont.

Count Pire's Division is made up of  -

1st Brigade General de Brigade Baron Hubert
    1st Chasseurs a Cheval Regiment
    6th Chasseurs a Cheval Regiment

2nd Brigade General de Brigade Wathier
    5th Lancer Regiment
    6th Lancer Regiment

Again Redline figures - the Lancers are a little bigger in proportion the the Chasseurs. They come in a number of poses to give variety to the line. The 6th Lancers were first Redline figures I painted at the beginning of the year, and the 5th almost the last figures I painted for the year. It's been an interesting journey in between - lots of figures painted, a lot of things learnt.

2nd Cavalry Division with the 11th Cavalry Division in the back