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.

Gonzalo -The Final Furlong

 

Above, Blue Moon Spanish Heavy Cavalry, some are fully equipped Gendarmes barded horses and all. Others have lesser armours. This is my take on the Spanish noble cavalry. 

A lot of the lesser nobility were in financial difficulties and it showed in their armament. Distressed Gentry supplied much of the military momentum across Europe. Assets and wealth were flowing relentlessly upwards. Centralising as we might say today.  

Those with good titles but empty purses sought military success to restore the family fortune.  It was worse for the poor of course. They joined the Army too but were unlikely to enjoy the tangible benefits of Royal attention.

I will note that the Caballeros were quite prepared to stick a lance into a French destrier if they thought it would defeat its rider. The French hated this. Good horses were very expensive. Also, Spanish Heavy Cavalry could and did fight as Genitors if circumstances required it.  I cannot say where the first flag above came from. The second is from David at Not By Appointment.  

Blue Moon Genitors above and below.  Good figures with a fine variation of pose and equipment. Note the feathered darts also found in Ireland.

Blue Moon Stradiots next.

Again fine variety of pose and equipment. The resulting units look the part.

I intend two units of these Stradiots. They could after all be found on all sides.

Venexia arquebusiers and crossbows. Mostly I have kept the Blue Moon and Venexia cavalry in separate units. I will make an exception for the Gendarmes. They work well together.

I thought I might usefully add a few flags. Imperial imagery for the Spanish and their Allies.

Pretty good Stradiots from Blue Moon.

A Venetian influence for these Blue Moon Stradiots. Another stronger unit below. I actually have Stradiots from Venexia and Mirliton too. All are good figures. I guess I just like Stradiots.

With that the project is nearly done. A base or two of gendarmes.  Another Colunella and more German Pikes for France are in the works. A unit of Italian swords and halberds and a couple more of crossbow skirmishers. We are near done. Parades will then ensue for each army. 

Gonzalo Rides Again

 

Last year I noted that my Italian Wars Game "Gonzalo" was completed two years previous. That's 3 years in all, and counting. Gross neglect, and tardy of me to be sure.

Now my Italian Wars interest is back and so is Gonzalo.

David at Not By Appointment made me some flags for the famous Captains of the day. We are going to see them below, and one from Stuart at Army Royal. The command stands each comprise of two Venexia Gendarmes (Big 15s) and a Blue Moon trumpeter. Let me introduce them to you.

Pierre Terrail, Seigneur de Bayard. Universally acknowledged to be without peer or reproach. Incredibly he paid the peasantry for provisions rather than plundering them. A true paladin and popular with everyone. 

As you can see Venexia and Blue Moon work well enough together.

Louis de Tremouille, top of the page and above. You can see the cross of St. Denis replacing impressa on the French Commanders surcoats.

John La Palais, as above, so below as the Occultists used to say. Stuart Mulligan made the flag.

The last of the French today.

Two pic's of Berault Stuart.

All French so far of course. Well Berault was a Franco-Scot. He was also one of those Stuarts and therefore if I recall right, of Breton descent. So going back far enough, a Dumnonian.

To catch up I have more Spanish Commanders to do.  

The first is Diego Mendoza. His impressa was Fortuna’s Wheel.  The Spanish heavy cavalry could not match the numbers of the French gendarmes. Interestingly they seem to have trained to fight as both impact lancers and skirmishing jinetes. Even de Cordoba might fight as a jinete if he thought it called for.

Note the two versions of Fortuna's Wheel below. Favoured by Louis de Tremouille and the Spanish Commander Diego Mendoza. 

Being a fighting noble was chancy. Capture by a fellow noble mostly meant ransom. No such surety pertained if the commonality got their hands on you. A nod to Fortuna must have seemed a prudent precaution. 

The Spanish Colonela combining targeteers, pikes and shot.

I intend 3 of these. Not all of the same size because that varied.

Note above front a Gladiator Arquebusier wearing a feathered beret matches nicely with the otherwise all Venexia formation.

Next, we have some Imperial Landsknects from Venexia. The flags are from Pete's Flags. In Gonzalo I differentiated the fighting style of these German pikemen from that of the Swiss.

There we go, back with a bang. While we are on the Italian Wars let me commend the Helion series to you. Refreshingly good.

The Pope's Army and the Red Shirts

I should be bringing you my first game of Gonzalo but events have intervened.  The Gonzalo game will appear when things return to a gentler post Christmas pace.   In the meantime I thought I should post something and this one has the virtue of being about Italy too.

A while ago (3 years) I thought I'd do something (else) different for Rebels and Patriots and spurred on by a QRF sale bought some lads for the Pope and Garibaldi.  

Here we see the Papal Chasseurs, lively and jolly figures.  Light cavalry.

Here are the Irish perhaps a tad more dapper than the reality.  They could fight though.

These little fellows are also from QRF, nice and lively with good detail.  They were all volunteers from Ireland and included some men with military experience.  Myles Keogh, who died at the Little Big Horn with Custer was one of them.  They fought aggressively through out the war and with great distinction despite being equipped with inferior rifles. I’m rating them Shock Infantry @ 6 points.

These Papal Zouaves are from Peter Pig's ACW range as the QRF ones don't look like the images I've seen of the unit.  To me the QRF'ers look like Ridgeway period Canadians, a good thing if further research confirms it.

The Zouaves had a fearsome reputation.

That's as far as I got.  This project is currently way down the painting list but I think it has potential.