League of Augsburg-Going Dutch

 

This is my League of Augsburg Dutch Army.  It forms the core of my Grand Alliance Army.  Its genesis was 24 years ago.  How time races by.  The Blue Guards, two battalions. Flags from Ian at Warflag.

Often thought to be the finest infantry in Europe. Whatever of that, they were elite soldiers in every respect.

Regiment Aylva first battalion above and below.  Figures from Irregular, Essex drummer, and two of David's flags.

Regiment Brandenburg currently with Warflag flags. 

They need a stand of pike men added.

Regiment Keppel also in need of pike men.

Regiment Pallandt, and would you believe it? They need a stand of pike men too. Luckily I have the figures.

A couple of guns, Essex and Irregular.

Guard cavalry, maybe a second squadron needed here.

Ginkel's Regiment, two squadrons. That was unusual like the English the Dutch often simply had one.

Rede Cavalry here.

Schomberg's, I think, in two squadron's.

First above, second below.

Eppinger's Dragoons, an elite unit mounted and dismounted.

Two squadrons as you see.

Dismounted and ready for action below. All of the Eppinger's flags are from Ray at Don't Throw A One.

Seldom seen on the table top, some Dutch Marines.

By my reckoning I need to do 15 pike men and six troopers and that is my League of Augsburg Dutch Army completed. Not bad and it has taken less than a quarter of a century.

League of Augsburg-New Units

 

I had a quick look at my League of Augsburg Dutch contingent.  Four battalions of infantry and ditto squadrons of cavalry if you count Eppinger’s dragoons.  A bit sparse I thought, though there is also battery of guns.  I have the English too of course.  All the same I felt I was a bit Grand Alliance light for Continental fights. I set to work.

 

The van Keppel infantry above.  Substitute the centre stand with the colours and they could be Clare’s or Hastings regiments.  Doubtless many others too.  It is part of the appeal of the period.  Figures from Irregular and Essex.

 

Nassau-Friesland here and I suspect I've made a flag mistake. Figures from Dixon, Irregular and Essex. Shortly to be joined by the van Marquette/van Pallandt infantry.  The latter are on their way from the ever- speedy Irregular Miniatures. 

I should say that some of these units will need their pike men added in a separate stand.  This is in hand for all of my period units so equipped.  Not as big a task as it may sound.  I have to buy and paint 2 additional figures to my existing pike men and rebase.

 

For cavalry I opted to do van Ginkel’s troopers with their distinctive straw-coloured coats.  Many Dutch cavalry units were smallish affairs. These fellows might be getting a second squadron because I like the uniform.

 

Next, we have two squadrons of van Ittersum’s Horse later known as Aughrim’s Horse.

I’ve added a Danish squadron too.  The Dutch liked to hire Danish troops.

As it stands all this will bring my Dutch contingent up to 7 battalions of Foot, 6 Squadrons of Horse, two of Dragoons and the artillery.

I continue to appreciate Irregular Miniature’s League of Augsburg range.  Most of the figures above are from them.  There are two of Ray's Nine Years War flags above.  The others are all from Kronoskaf.

Dutch Horse and Foot - League of Augsburg

 

I’m about half way through my Dutch Army rebasing.  I’ve also taken the opportunity to increase some formations.  Above, you can see the Blue Guards, at the time perhaps the best infantry in Europe. I wonder where their pike men have got too.

 Here above and below are Von Eppinger’s Dragoons.

Von Eppingers got a new second squadron. Eventually, they will get horse holders and dismounted soldiers too.  They were a Guard formation and highly rated.

Next, the Guard cavalry.  I think they will get a second squadron too, not least because I have Ray’s flags for them.  You can find them if you click the side bar for Don’t Throw a 1.  Then look for NYW flags.

Here we have Steinbeck’s cavalry nicely rigged out in blue on white.

The Brandenburg infantry also a blue on white unit. 

A couple of cannons here.

Shortly, they will be joined with another squadron of cavalry and three infantry battalions.

Grand Alliance 15mm -Second Contingent

 

My first two English battalions here Kirke’s and Trelawney’s.  Both fought at Sedgemoor for King James.  In terms of experience Kirke’s certainly had the edge having been involved in near continuous fighting in Tangier. 

 

To reflect this, I will be rating Kirke’s as veteran and Trelawney’s men as trained.  Both units are mainly equipped with matchlock muskets and pikes.

 

Then there is the lad himself, Piercy Kirke.  He ended up as a Lieutenant General.  With the exception of Marlborough, he was probably the most successful of the turncoats from the English Army.  William, Prince of Orange subsequently King William, never trusted any of them.  With good reason probably. Marlborough happily funded the Jacobite Cause post William’s accession.  He was, after all, brother-in-law to King James.  Should you ever feel exasperated with your relatives ponder on King James and his.  You will feel better for the comparison.

I don’t know if Kirke was similarly inclined.  Perhaps not, unlike Angus, Douglas, Lanier and Mackay he did not end up dead on the field of battle at Steenkirke. Fellow conspirators all. Maybe he was simply more careful.  Barry Hilton, steeped in the period, calls him “enigmatic”.  That will have to do.

We can say that Kirke was a colourful character.  Macauley said of him.

“a military adventurer whose vices had been developed by the worst of all schools, Tangier.... Within the ramparts of his fortress, he was a despotic prince. The only check on his tyranny was the fear of being called to account by a distant and a careless government. He might therefore safely proceed to the most audacious excesses of rapacity, licentiousness, and cruelty. He lived with boundless dissoluteness, and procured by extortion the means of indulgence."

Then again, Macauley happily purveyed multitudinous falsehoods whenever it suited him.  I’m making Piercy Kirke a Brigadier in my games and a capable one at that.

The Dutch Foot Guards next. Undoubtedly, one of the best foot units in Europe they saw a lot of fighting.  I’ve painted them in a paler shade of indigo blue than normally seen.  I wanted them to have a somewhat worn campaigning look.  The officer’s coats have stood up better to the elements.