"French XVII Corp at Borodino.. pfft" Topic

Do most of you build your corps/divisions based on historical corps/divisions, or do you build generic corps for gaming purposes?

I'm facing a situation where i've built the III and IX French Corps from the Russian campaign. Well needless to say, I'm in the mood to do some more French, and the only French Corp left is pretty much I (Davout). I look at that and say, thats too good to build (too large, and too elite).

The rest of the order of battle for the Grande Armee is a smattering of miscellaneous allied states. Well this doesn't quite interest me either.

I'm contemplating rebuilding abother French III Corp, just name it something else.. like XVII Corp, and change the unit numbers. Something in me.. just says.. NOO Don't do it!..

Oh well.. it's off my chest, rant over.. :)

Of course if you Build I Coprs, you have enough troops for 2-3 other Corps.

Me, I would look at a corps from an earlier period and base it on that, or do a confederation corps and substitue in french units so it has the sem makeup, just in blue.

GlacierMI,

Are you only interested in doing formations from the main army group? Oudinot's II Corps is mostly French with some Swiss. Augerau's XI Corps is a mix of French, Italians, Neapolitans, and some Germans. There are also the Cavalry Corps to consider. Nansouty's I Cavalry Corps is primarily French with two Polish and one Prussian lancer(s) regiments. The II and III Cavalry Corps are also primarily France with a handful of foreign regiments in them.

Frankly, I know where you are coming from. My current project is the Grand Army of 1806-1807 and I am struggling with what to start painting next as I near completion of the Imperial Guard, Davout's III Corps, Ney's VI Corps, and the Cavalry Reserve. Now I am pondering do I paint a smaller corps like Lannes' V Corps or a larger one like Soult's IV Corps?

If I were you, I'd either suck it up and paint I Corps (or the Guard) or I'd paint the II Corps and a cavalry corps.

The second choice may be more what you are looking for.

After someone has amassed 1-2 army corps having some support formations such as cavalry corps or the Guard makes a little more sense. In 1812, one might want to have 3 corps before the Guard just because there were few small yet notable actions in comparison to the 1806-1807 campaigns.

Cheers,

The Bandit

You could go with IV Corps as well under Eugene. That's two French and one Italian divisions plus the smattering of Italian Guard – get to do guard figs and can justify in a small battle. :)
Phil

Do the whole army, including Poles, Saxons, the Prussian and Austrian auxiliary armies, and then the Russians as well