Antoine-Louis Decrest de Saint-Germain

Of noble decent, Antoine-Louis Decrest de Saint-Germain was born in Paris on 8 December 1761. In 1778, he joined the gendarmerie de Lunéville, but was expelled in 1784 for indiscipline – at which point he transferred to the Légion étrangère de Waldemer.

By 1190, he had joined the garde nationale parisienne and gained a captaincy in the cavalry the same year. At the outbreak war, he served in the Army of the North (1792) and commanded the legion des Ardennes as a lieutenant colonel in the Army of the Ardennes in 1793. However, in April 1794, his family background probably led to his arrest, but he was to escape the Guillotine and rejoined the army a year later – as colonel of 23^e régiment de chasseurs à cheval.

Saint-Germain led his regiment in campaign on the Rhine and received his first recorded battle wound when a cannonball broke his right foot on 20 September 1796. Following his recuperation, he was wounded again at the battle of Wiesbaden on 22 Apr 1797, suffering a couple of fractured ribs and a broken left arm whilst leading a cavalry charge. However, he was well enough to serve under Michel Ney at the battle of Hohenlinden on 3 Dec 1800, where he had four horses killed under him over the course of two days.

In April 1805, Saint-Germain was named general of brigade and given a command in Nansouty’s 1^st Heavy Cavalry Division with whom he served in he wars of the Third and Fourth Coalition. Joining the Légion d’honneur in May 1807 and made baron in January 1809, Saint-Germain led a cuirassier brigade at the battle of Aspern-Essling. He was promoted to general of division in July the same year and given command of 2^e division de cuirassiers.

Here we see him represented here in 28mm as commander of 1^re division de cuirassiers de la Grande Armée, a position he had gained in 1811. To his flanks are an Imperial Orderly and a senior officer of the Horse Artillery.

Saint-Germaine was wounded again leading a charge at the battle of Borodino in 1812, but recovered to participate in the battle of Hanau in 1813 as a count of the Empire and commander of 2^e corps de cavalerie de la Grande Armée. 

His final field command was in 1814 during which year was part of Grouchy action that caught Blucher’s rearguard at Vauchamp. He then moved to MacDonald’s command, under whom he distinguished himself at an action at the bridges of Barse against Prince Schwarzenberg.

At the restoration in 1814, Saint-Germain was made chevalier de Saint-Louis and inspecteur-général de cavalerie and then inspecteur-général de cavalerie of 15^e et 16^e divisions militaires in 1818. He retired in 1826 and survived until 4 Oct 1835. The name, Saint-Germaine, is inscribed on the Arc de Triomphe.

For Mother Russia II

I managed to squeeze the other half of the elite company I started in May for next year's big project - Russian 3rd Division c.1812:

They are painted to represent the elite company of 1st battalion, Reval (Tallinn) regiment. The other companies will all be on eight figure bases, but as the two halves of the elite company deploy at either ends of a line, I chose to split them into two, four figure bases. 

28mm figures by Foundry Miniatures, which although expensive when purchased in small numbers, become very competitive when the bulk discounts are factored in.

Next up for this unit will be the 1st company, which is the command stand.

Big Brother IX - End of Phase 2

The completion of 3^e régiment de cuirassiers brings phase 2 to a close. So here are a couple of group shots of the full regiment with the brigade commander:

Divisional commander and photos of the two brigades done to date are not far off.

Big Brother VIII

Apologies for the month lull, but fresh back from my hols, I finished off the last touches to the fourth and final squadron of 3rd Cuirassiers.

Again, I've gone for colouring to suggest a younger mount for the trumpeter of the second line squadron - inspired by my week in Lipica Stud Farm.

Here is the second half of 3rd Cuirassiers ranked up:

I'll pop up some photos of the full regiment in the week and, once the Divisional commander is painted, the first two brigades.

Big Brothers VII

With the lead squadron of the second half of 3^e régiment de cuirassiers complete, there leaves only four miniatures left to paint before I have two full regiments ready for action or four medium sized units in Black Powder terms.

I’m in UK next week with only a few days left before heading to Istanbul for a conference and thence to Slovenia on holiday. So those last four are unlikely to be finished until I’m back in mid-July. Still, I've made a start, so we'll see how far I get. Then it’s on with the second horse artillery battery and limbers for both batteries, as well as the divisional commander.

Russian Test Paint

Here's my first stab at pinning down paints for my next big project - a Russian Infantry Division c.1812. These figures will eventually form the Grenadier platoon of the 1st battalion of the Reval Regiment (i.e. they were predominantly ethnic Estonian and blond)

The matt black undercoat was sprayed on with any gaps picked up with the paint brush afterwards. Then they all received a generous dry brushing with Citadel Rhinox Hide. This helps my aging eyes pick out the detail, as well as provide a natural shade for most tones. Brass work was dealt with using Army Painter Weapon Bronze and Citadel Ironbreaker was used for the musket barrel, bayonet, and canteen.

All the metals received a wash of Citadel's Agrax Earthshade and Nuln Oil, and base colours were then applied: Foundry Russian Green Shade (69A) for the uniform, Citadel's Codex Grey for shako cords, sword knot, greatcoat, and webbing, XV-88 for the breeches, shoulder straps, and blond hair, Dark Flesh for skin, Skrag Brown on the musket furniture, and Army Painter Chaotic Red for the pompom, collar, turnbacks, and cuffs

After applying Foundry Russian Green (69B) to the jacket and waistcoat, the breeches and great coat enjoyed a coat of Citadel Baneblade Brown, and the pompom, sword knot company distinction, turnbacks, and facings Khorne Red. The mid skin tone was Cadian Fleshtone, to which a hint of red was added for the lips. Some white was added to the Codex Grey to provide a mid tone for the shako cords, webbing, and sword knot. Finally, the shoulder strap received a layer of Averand Sunset.

The original metal paints were used to highlight the canteen, barrel and brass work, and some black used to add some shade/definition to the shako, pack, cartridge case, and gaiters. The jacket and waistcoat were highlighted in Foundry Russian Green Light (69C). However, the breeches actually received several coats at this last stage, Karak stone (which was also applied to the great coat) and Ushbati Bone. I then added a little white to the Ushbati to do a final highlight. Pure white was used to highlight the shako cords, webbing, and sword knot. Army Painter Dragon Red was the highlight for the facings, sword knot company distinction, turnbacks, and pompom, and Citadel Yriel Yellow for the shoulder strap. The skin also enjoyed two layers, Citadel Ungor Flesh with Elf Flesh highlights. The hair was a mix of Averand Sunset XV-88 with white added for the final highlight.

I finished off my using the Rhinox Hide to provide a 'suggestion' of eyes over the flesh shade. That's it - any suggestions or criticisms will be gratefully received - better now than 60 odd figures into it!

Big Brothers VI

The delay was to allow me to finish off two squadrons this month and bring you the first half of:

3^e Régiment de Cuirassiers

In May 1635, Timoléon de Sercourt d’Esclainvilliers' company of light horse was integrated into Cardinal Duc régiment, fighting as part of that unit at the Battle of Rocroi (1643). 

Around the same time the unit was retitled régiment d'Esclainvilliers and then, c.1656, régiment Commissaire général cavalerie. After nearly half a century of service – mostly in Flanders – the regiment became 3^e régiment de cavalerie in 179, fighting at Valmy and Marengo, before becoming 3^e régiment de cuirassiers c.1802.

The 3^e régiment de cuirassiers fought at Austerlitz, Jena, Eylau, Friedland, Eckmühl, Essling, Wagram, as well as sending a detachment to Spain. Along side 1^r and 2^e cuirassiers this detachment formed the1^r regiment provisoire de grosse cavalerie, which eventually became the 13^e régiment de cuirassiers.

For the invasion of Russia, Col Charles Eugène Lalaing d’Audenarde commanded the regiment under Général de brigade Bertrand Bessieres as part of 1^r divsione de grosse cavalerie.

Serving France through the Franco-Prussian, First and Second World Wars, as well as in Algeria, the regiment was finally disbanded in 1998 as part of the general reorganization of the French Army that followed the end of conscription.

In 1812, they were dressed in traditional Cuirassier garb, with red collars pipped blue, blue cuffs pipped red, red cuff flaps, and red turnbacks.

So, aside from collar colour, the easy way to distinguish these boys from 2^e régiment de cuirassiers is in the colour of the musicians' sheepskins, which are the more traditional black.

Wot no cuirassiers

So May is nearly over and still no sign of a cuirassier squadron...

Well, there's still the weekend to go :-)

2016 - For Mother Russia!

As I reached the half way point on my 2015 project, thoughts naturally turned to next year. The Twins have not yet got to Württemberg, so I decided to focus on doing the mainstay of the opposition to Ney's Corps at the Battle of Valutina-Gora (more on which another day), Konovnitsyn's  3^rd Division.

3^rd Div – Generalmajor Pyotr Konovnitsyn

1^st Brigade – Tuchkov III

·      Muromsk Infantry Regt

·      Revel Infantry Regt

2^nd Brigade - Voeikov

·      Tchernigov Infantry Regt

·      Selenginsk Infantry Regt (having swapped with Kaporisk)

3^rd Brigade – Prince Chakoffski

·      20^th Jæger Regt

·      21^st Jæger Regt

Grenadier Brigade

·      2 combined grenadier battalions; 1 company each from the four Line and two Jæger regiments in the Division

Artillery Brigade – Tornov

·      III Heavy Battery (three 12pdrs and a licorne)

·      V Light Battery (three 6 pdrs and a licorne)

·      VI Light Battery (three 6 pdrs and a licorne)

Cossack Brigade – Generalmajor Karpov

·      Guard Cossack Regiment (two units of twelve horsemen)

Each regiment will consist of two 32-figure battalions drawn from Wargames Foundry (see above) with staff, mounted troops, and artillery coming from the Perry Twins, and flags from GMB. There are also some extra skirmishing stands in the pile for the Jægers.

Steve Hall has agreed to paint some of the line companies, whilst I crack on with the command and elite companies. So there’s a good chance we can crack this one in a year – less the Guard Cossacks as they remain on the Perry wish list J