League of Augsburg- Great Danes

 

My Danish collection began life as a contingent for the Williamite Army in Ireland.  Since then it has grown into its own.  I now have enough Danes to take the Swedes on in The Great Northern War. Above and below the first battalion of the Garden til Fods.

Below we see the second battalion Garden til Fods.  All flags by David at Not by Appointment. Figures mostly from Essex and Irregular.

Next, Regiment Fynske/Funen, figures from Irregular and Flag from David at Not by Appointment. 

One battalion of Fynske served with William in his Irish Campaign. These are they attired for that theatre according to Mr McNally in his Boyne book. The regiment appears to have had a range of attractive uniforms in our period. White on green seems best for Ireland.

Once more figures from Irregular and the flag is from David.  A winning combination I find. These boys have been hard at it. Only one Grenadier survives and the officers have lost their red coats.  Regiment Fynske had more than one battalion and as it happens I have another too.

This one carries the Colonel's and the regimental Colours and will be good for Continental engagements. The Flags are from Barry Hilton 28mm and shrunk to size.

Here are two often found in English or Dutch Service.  First the Sjællandske Infantry Regiment.  I have used light blue facings, others prefer a mid blue.

The Prinz George Infantry in grey and red.

Flags from Mr Hilton, scanned and reduced.  The Danes had given up the pike in favour of added fire power. Consider that the Swedish Army often fielded forces with a plurality or even a majority of hard charging horsemen.

The Danes didn't take any artillery to Ireland.  They do need some if they are going to fight the Swedes.  

Two pieces here from Irregular. The violet and green uniform was hard to resist.  Below the Danish Grenadier Regiment created in the early 1700s.

All from Dixon who seemed the best match for the cap and with a flag from David.  A striking colour combination.

Below we have the 1st Squadron of the 3rd Jyske Cavalry. I'm not sure who made that flag.

Here you see the 1st and second squadrons of 2nd Sjællandske Cavalry. 

David of Not By Appointment blog provided the flags.  

Just the ticket, thank you David. 

I recently came across a definitive answer to the Danish cuirass question.  Not in Ireland and no buff coats when in Foreign Service. Yes to both when at home.  My source, a post from the late, and much missed, Dan Schorr on the League of Augsburg's Fighting Talk.

Permit a GNW diversion if you will. It happens that most of my GNW Collection is from Dixon. Consequently they are slighter than most of the Danes you see here.  Not that that will stop me using them together.

My GNW Swedes are all in turnback coats and tricorn. I'm happy with them. That said were I to be starting such a collection I would go with Irregular.  

The reason being that the Swedes could be better represented with a mixture of Irregular Marlburians and League of Augsburg figures. If that's of interest check out Khurasan's Swedish offering. Irregular's Marlburians would make fine GNW Russians. 

For our next League of Augsburg foray we are going to look at the French.  We will start with the Guard infantry.

Before that we may see some plastic Ancients in 15mm. Late Romans and Huns.

League of Augsburg – Colonel Edward Butler’s Regiment

 

Edward Butler of Ballyragget, County Kilkenny was the only son of Piers Butler, Lord Galmoy.  Galmoy was a famed and feared Jacobite cavalry commander. Well respected by his peers and hated by his foes. We should consider Galmoy influential in the Jacobite Army.

The Butlers, there was no shortage of them, raised troops for King James.   Edward had previous European Military Service. He was a natural choice to lead a regiment.

Edward’s  troops came from North Kilkenny and Kilkenny City. Like all of the newly raised Jacobite regiments they struggled to equip themselves. The regiment had 268 broken muskets, and was short 86 muskets. It had 390 swords, 84 pikes and virtually its full complement of belts and bandoliers. Initially uniforms were out of the question. The occasional veteran or wealthier officer might have a red military coat otherwise it was come as you are.

As the bandoliers were out of stocks I have assumed that they would be painted. Water proofing was important. I have shown the "Apostles" in blue which helps theme the regiment.

When French aid arrived  Edward’s connections likely ensured his regiment was uniformed in French grey coats. I have chosen to show them lined blue. Blue was a Butler colour and blue lining was hardly unknown in the French Army. All the same the soldiers uniformity rests heavily upon their French coats. 

By this time Edward’s men were properly equipped. Note the drummer is in Butler colours.  All the figures in the unit are from Irregular, save the Drummer an Essex figure. 

The flags the regiment carries were made for me by David of Not by Appointment and very fine they are. They are conjectural, but informed conjecture.  The King’s Colour shows St. Patrick’s Cross in Butler Colours bearing the initials JR and the Crown. The Company Colour is discussed below.

Given their original intended ratio of pikes to shot I have deemed the regiment to be “Regulation” in Beneath the Lily Banners terms. I could have equally chosen to model them as Pike and Shot without much fear of contradiction.

 In the picture below you can get a better look at the regiment's pike men.  These would be brought forward when repelling cavalry or for close assaults.

The Company Colour is that of the 3^rd Company led by Captain John Brennan.  The three swords designating the Company are drawn from O’Brennan clan heraldry.  Clan Brennan like most of Gaelic Ireland were looking to get their lands back.

The regiment fought throughout the Williamite War. After the bloody fight of Aughrim it was reduced to 21 officers and 277 men.  In the final defence of Limerick its men were combined with those of other reduced regiments.  

Post the Treaty of Limerick many went into exile in France. The Irish Brigade beckoned. Colonel Edward Butler died in battle at Malplaquet. Captain John Brennan lies buried in Castlecomer, then and now, the heartland of his clan.

I intend a series of League of Augsburg posts between now and Christmas.

League of Augsburg - A Book and 3 Armies

 

My latest acquisition above.  Barry Hilton and Clarence Harrison’s  "For Ireland and King James-The Jacobite Infantry at the Battle of Aughrim".

This is a full colour hard back.  It details the regiments of the Jacobite Army that Barry has sufficient detail on and is certain fought at Aughrim.  For each one Clarence provides uniform and flag plates.  All very nicely done. I might have gone for a few figures in trews. Mike McNally did so.   No matter really ,as no one makes them. 

It is a self proclaimed book for wargamers by wargamers. All the same it is more than that.  Barry modestly says he is not an historian. Not by trade perhaps. Yet the description independent scholar would do him no injustice. He knows his subject very well.  I'm pleased with this book.

Apparently the boys are considering a Williamite Aughrim volume. I'll be on the list for that one too.

While waiting for the book I ordered more toys. All from Irregular. I thought I'd add a few new Jacobite regiments. The idea being that I'd use the book as a painting guide. Then inspiration struck, and instead of ordering 1 new Army Pack I ordered 3.  This qualified me for an additional discount!

Anyhow, I thought you would like to see what I got respectively for the English, French and Dutch Army packs. 

Before we do that here is an English regiment comprised of Irregular Miniatures figures-save the drummer. He is Essex.

Pretty nice I think. I have moved the pike men to the side so you can get a better look at them. If you want League of Augsburg 15mm, Irregular are a good choice. Buy an Army Pack and they are a good and very affordable choice.  

I like 6 figures to a base and any League of Augsburg Army Pack will give me at least 3 units like the one above, plus a squadron or two of cavalry, a gun and a General. A supported Brigade I suppose.  Enough for a side using Beneath the Lily Banners certainly.

Here is a French cavalry squadron from Irregular.

A gun and crew below.  Four gunners are provided you see 3 of them here.

Let's start with the English.

I can get 3 regiments of infantry, 2 squadron's of cavalry, a brigadier and a gun and crew from this pack. With a few left over too. One cavalry squadron is in Lobster helmets.

Variants abound in both Horse and Foot. I should add wire pikes are supplied for the pike men.

Now onto the Dutch.

Pretty much the same possibilities in this pack.  Note though, Eppinger's Dragoons and a squadron of cavalry.  Of course Eppinger's would do for mounted Grenadiers in other armies too.

Last but certainly not least in this period the French. 

Once again we get 1 dragoon squadron and 1 of cavalry instead of 2 cavalry squadrons. I have also grouped the musket and pike variants together.  The command figures are also separated out. As we might expect it provides for 3 regiments of infantry at 6 per base.

A closer look.  As you can see I have not cleaned up any of the figures. It is actually very easy to do. That said I wanted you to see what to expect.

There are other figures in Irregular's League of Augsburg range not shown here.  I like them although I prefer Essex or Dixon drummers for my units.

Of course the figures we see here could be used for pretty much any army of the period. At £32.50 a pack including postage Irregular's offer is a bargain.

If you were considering the League of Augsburg in 15mm I hope this post has been of use to you.  

For me I have the pleasant task of choosing which 7 battalions of foot to do next. Imperials are a strong possibility. Followed by which 4 squadrons of cavalry to do.  One of the 2 squadrons of Dragoons will be English I think. 

Lurkio Highlanders 15mm-A Review

 

I have Highlanders galore.  Khurasan, Minifigs, Essex and God knows what else. Lurkio offered something slightly different.  Their Highlanders will pretty much suit the Williamite Wars. No apostles or Matchlocks. The Highlanders who had guns favoured Firelocks. The figures above are marketed as Lochiel's Skirmishers. 

My March on Alnwick Campaign requires Highlanders for both sides.  You may know that in 1688 many of the Lords of Clan Campbell withheld support from Argyle’s Rebellion.  All the same Argyle had some Campbell support. I thought I’d do a representative unit.  That has yet to be done. I intend using Lurkio figures for the unit.

This is a rare Highland unit, everyone has a firearm. Barry Hilton believes there was one such at Killiecrankie. Further, it adopted standard tactics. Accordingly the figures you see are 6 to a base rather than 5.  

The flag is by David at Not by Appointment. It is that of Gordon of Glenbuchet. David has some fine Clan flags.  Check the link in the side bar.

As you can see there is a lot of figure variety. Some might quibble about the armour on some figures.  In fact it is well attested.

Currently I'm working my way through the poems and songs of Ian Lom McDonald. There is a mine of information on Highland armament therein.  I will be reporting back in due course.  Ian Lom was an eye witness to many a fight and battle. 

How do they scale with other manufacturers?  Good with Essex, Matchlock and Irregular offerings for the period.

I was sufficiently impressed to order a whole clan unit from Lurkio. I'll show them here soon.

 

Beneath the Lily Banners- Final Units

 

I may paint the odd new unit for the period but the heavy lifting is finally done.  Here you see my latest units for Beneath the Lily Banners.  Above and below Hasting's Regiment.  Figures from Dixon, Essex and, mostly, Irregular.

 

Heeding Mr Hilton in his "Every Bullet Has A Billet" I drilled out the bases of the pike men and colour bearers to accomodate pike butts and standard poles.  The result is splendid, solid.  There for good.  Would that I had done it for the rest of my units.  Too late.

 

Here we have the second battalion of the Garde Francaise.  Once again, there are pike men with drilled bases.  About 5 minutes work drilling. The green stuff ribbon bunches took longer.  Crack troops.  Note the Lily Banners from David at Not By Appointment.

 A very light gun with civilian crew.  Useful pretty much anywhere.  It will appear shortly in the March on Alnwick.  The gun is from QRF.

A squadron of Sarsfield's Irish Horse.  Veteran Blade Horse in Beneath the Lily Banners speak.

 

Here we have the Edinburgh Militia in their blue bonnets and coats.  An All Musket formation.

 

Amazingly that is job done for my League of Augsbourg Armies.  At least for the moment.

I shall showcase the completed armies over the coming months.

 

Beneath the Lily Banners - Bits and Pieces

 

I'm just about finished painting my League of Augsburg Armies.  A few battalions here, a squadron or two there and a couple of guns and we are done.  Above, the second battalion of the Prince of Orange's Foot Guards. Excellent troops.  Figures are my usual Essex and Irregular 15mm mix.

The French Maison du Roi.  Three squadrons, two above. Death on hooves.  All from Essex.

Gendarmes de la Garde above.

1ère Compagnie Française above and below the 1ère Compagnie Écossaise.  By the time Beneath the Lily Banners period the Company was not longer comprised of Scots-no heather for them then.

 

Scots Frame Guns below, with some gunners are in undress uniforms. QRF provided the Frames.

Hasting's Regiment of Foot is next in the painting queue.  The LOA lead pile is much dimished.  

With what is left I'd like to do a second battalion for the Garde Francaise and more Dragoons mounted and dismounted.  Also, here is a command stand for George Fitzroy, Duke of Northumberland.  I'll likely do the Duke of Berwick too, having secured his flag.

For the moment I'm considering a small campaign post Killiekrankie.  

A what if.  Dundee survived, Mackay didnt. The balance of power is precarious.  Everyone wants to make the right move but what that might be is uncertain. 

What of John Churchill?  Killed in the mysterious Magazine explosion at Chatham.  The only survivor of note Piercey Kirke.

In the south King James is battling to contain the Dutch.

Our protagonist will likely be George Fitz Roy Duke of Northumberland above.  The campaign might be recorded through his letters.  George wants to be a Palatinate Prince who ever the King turns out to be.  

In his wilder moments he has considered offering himself as King of Scots as his father was. The complexity of Scots politics discouraged him.  Yet, if England falls to the Dutch perhaps Scotland might beckon.

I'll dice for who supports whom.  Weighting scores on the basis of probability. For example many of our protagonists are related or otherwise know each other. Most of them can be bought if the price is right. 

Anyhow, we will see.  For fun I intend to make Piercey Kirke Governor of Newcastle.  He then controls the coal trade and intends getting richer. How will George deal with him?  How will the merchants of Newcastle respond to his Moorish ways?

The first action will be the Dutch march on Alnwick.