French dress

[Guest]

just a basic question, in a battle (pre 1815) would the french both dress in campaign and great coats. if so would it be in different regiments or would it be varied through out the reg?.

[Guest]

hey South!

My understanding is that many frog units dressed and fought in their greatcoats most of the time.Whole regiments certainly used them ...I would guess, that it was the Colonels choice at most levels, though one could imagine whole companies being so equipped whilst others not so..

Mind, when the Colonel ordered full best bib and tucker dress for a battle, im sure the whole unit would have done its very best to comply and overawe its foes with splendid blancoed belts, shining eagle plates and glittering muskets with French blue coats..awesome....

So as ever, I think its what you tik looks best... no one will really pick you up on it i feel.

cheers john s

[Guest]

At Fuentes d'Onoro, the commander of a battalion of the Hanoverian Legion asked permission to have his men where their grey greatcoats to avoid confusion with the British - they had already been shot at by their own side at Bussaco. Gen. Loison refused saying they must follow the order given to the whole corps (Marbot [Leonaur, 2006] vol.2, p.277). Marbot blamed Massena for the fiasco (ibid 287) , so it seems the CinC picked the oder of dress for the day.

For myself, I very much prefer to be able to by greatcoated or battle-order troops as I choose, rather than mixed packs.

[uriah_heep]

hi john you l be suprised  iv been pulled up at shows about that iv gone for a mix lets be honest here your on campaign would it all survive the answer is no so i went down the line of a good mix  lets be honest its how each individual like them to look but you know what some peeps are like you have to have 23 million buttons even when you carnt see them

[Stratoq]

One way is to buy a box of Perry French Line Infantry then buy the greatcoat command from perry miniatures. Then your make two Battalion of 24 models with one fully in campaign dress and the other in greatcoats, although, one or two men in campaign dress will have to be used in the great battalion.