Kepis and Bayonets -New Opportunities

A few years ago QRF produced a range of “big” 15mm figures for the Risorgimento. It sort of coincided with Rebels and Patriots. I thought why not? Not many figures needed.

Also I knew a bit about the Papal Zouaves who went on to fight for the French Republic in the Franco -Prussian War.  Myles Keogh who died with Custer. Myles was one of the Pope’s Irish soldiers- St. Patrick’s Battalion. Commanded by Myles O’Reilly.  They had an interesting time of it. 

The Irish boys got medals for stalwart service. Some Lakota lad ended up with Keogh’s medal. Small world. 

Also Garibaldi, QRF do the figure. Three variants I think? Very nice and we will soon be seeing all of them here.

I ploughed ahead and bought sufficient figures. Then I fell at the first fence. I didn’t like QRF’s Papal Zouaves. What to do? Peter Pig provided a nice ACW Zouave in kepi. But! The figures were a bit small by comparison with the QRF biggies.

Something to sort out later and somehow I didn’t. The project stalled. This happens now and then.  Progress cannot be forced.

Fast forward and I ordered Studio Tomahawks Kepis and Bayonets supplement for ACW and the FPW. Before completing this post Kepis and Bayonets arrived complete with cards. Two working days. I know people who could learn from that.

Anyhow, it happens I have some Battle Honours ACW that were too big for my true 15mm ACW collection. Also, I have a somewhat under developed Franco-Prussian collection.  True 15mm. Surely they both can have an outing now.

That’s not why I bought Kepis and Bayonets though. No, the prime motive was gaming the Risorgimento and The Fenian Invasion of Canada. For both I have small collections I had thought never destined for completion. 

Now I’m looking forward to all kinds of fun. Naturally I will report back. I should mention the Greek War of independence looks susceptible to the Studio Tomahawk treatment. I already have the figures.

Meantime I have resolved the Papal Zouave dilemma. Blue Moon Zouave in kepi is just the ticket. Lots of figure variation and a good fit with the QRF biggies. Of course with command that is 40 figures. Luckily there were 4 battalions of Papal Zouaves so that is fine. I will field 3 such once the figures arrive.

This led me to look at what else I might add. Old Glory have a 19th Century Europe range with an Italian sub set. I have just received some of their Lancers. For the moment here are some of Garibaldi's Red Shirts.

I'm intending 4 units of Red Shirts.

Above and below QRF Papal Heavy and light Dragoons. I'm not sure if QRF will sort itself out. I'd like to think so.

If you are thinking of Dunne's British contingent I wonder if the Blue Moon Mutiny British infantry sans visor might not do? They have a havelock and I'm not sure Dunne's lads did. Mind you unaccustomed Italian hot weather might account for them adopting havelocks. 

My version of Dunne's fellows above are from QRF. Alright I think. Lively even.

More as we go along. You see my progress so far on this page.

A French Demi-Brigade for Shakos and Bayonets

 

This is about the 70e Demi-Brigade but what follows could apply to others. A French Demi-Brigade had 3 battalions. In addition the Grenadiers and Voltigeurs could operate in detached units.

Regular infantry battalions in Shakos and Bayonets (S&B) are 12 figures strong plus an officer if used. The Austrians are an exception coming in at 16 figures.

The grenadiers in S&B are either 8 or 12 strong. For the 70e Demi-Brigade under Humbert at Castlebar I’d opt for 12 figures. Otherwise 8 might do. We see them at the top of the page. I have given them a flag as I had a Grenadier standard bearer.

 

The first battalion

 

The second battalion, note the variation of the 70e Flag.

  

The Grenadiers, also at the top of the page.

The third Battalion and the skirmishers are painted and yet to be based. As is the artillery-one gun only. The cavalry have arrived in the post and we will see all of these laggards shortly.

Very nice I think. Do note I have gone big on officers. Officers do a lot in this game. I should say the bulk of what you see here was painted decades ago.

At Castlebar Humbert had a small unit of cavalry. Drawn from the 3e Chasseurs a Cheval and the 12e Hussars in fact.  It is possible to upgrade these troopers and I might. Panache sounds useful.

So, nearly there. I think it will make a nice side for a game of S&B.

Shakos and Bayonets for Ireland 1798

The best way to adapt a game is to do as little damage as possible to the original. At least that’s my belief. What follows is my first take on troop types for Ireland 1798. Before we get into the nitty-gritty let us bag an easy win. British or French Regulars are rated as- British and French Regulars! Who knew? We will get to them a later post. Meantime here is a pic of the first battalion of the 70e Demi-Brigade.

Now for another easy one. Of the Yeomanry Cavalry British General Lake opined “ A danger to everyone but the enemy.”  They were on his side. Where can we find a Shakos and Bayonets equivalent? I’m opting for Russian Opolchenie Cavalry. Obviously they will have to lose their lances. Otherwise, not a bad fit. Here are the stat’s.

Type	Discipline	Shooting	Aggression	Defence
Militia	Conscript	7+	6+	6+

 

Equipment	Traits
Sabre and pistol	Cavalry, Cowardly

I’m not sure about the pistol. A bit more digging needed there. A good first pass all the same.

Now to the Irish Militia. The Militia were created to keep an eye on the Yeomanry. This they seem to have been happy to do. They were less keen on fighting the United Irishmen.  Sometimes they just ran away. Fortunately Shakos and Bayonets has lots of Militia examples. They are much of a muchness. I have opted for the Austrian Landwehr one. Here we go. The Light Company of the Monaghan Militia-a work in progress.

Type	Discipline	Shooting	Aggression	Defence
Militia	Recruit	6+	7+	6+

 

Equipment	Traits
Musket	Close order, Idle

 

As you might expect the negative traits of both of the above do reduce the cost of per unit. Should you want to improve their chances you can attach a Militia Officer at additional cost.

There’s more. The Militia had both Light and Grenadier Companies. The Grenadiers should at least have been the biggest men. I don’t know if the Light Companies were really trained adequately enough for separate stats. Another thing to find out. The Militia Grenadiers might have better Aggression.

It’s back to Russia for my first pass on the United Men. I’m going with the Musketeers (Line Infantry). Why so? As General Suvorov said “The Bayonet is  wise, the Bullet a fool”. A translation, and variants abound. The United Irishmen were mostly pike armed and highly motivated. If they closed they likely won. The trick was to shoot them down before they did. Here are the Stats.

Type	Discipline	Shooting	Aggression	Defence
Line Infantry	Trained	7+	6+	5+

 

Equipment	Traits
Mostly Pike	Close order, Swordsman trait.

 

If you know little of ’98 you may wonder at the Trained rating above. Here is Joseph Holt a United Irishmen Commander “My pikemen were the most difficult to manage. I had to teach them to step in time, to face about, counter march, wheel about, but particularly to disperse and form rapidly, and to march in quick or double quick time." You will note Holt did teach them.

What of Shooting? Here is Myles Byrne, another Commander, "For twenty pikemen that kept together, with two or three with fire-arms, was quite sufficient to keep the best of those (Yeomanry Cavalry) corps at a respectful distance."

We will explore all this subsequently. The Wild Fowlers of Shelmalier with their long barrelled guns also need our attention. I will add here, one unit of them only.

All the same a good start.

Less toys than usual and I'm sorry for it. I thought it best to clarify our categories. By way of compensation I intend a post on the available figures for '98.   Next time we will look at the Yeomanry Infantry and others who eluded the first cut.