"French Marshal's Escorts, Scouts, Aide De Camps " Topic

Few Questions –

French Marshal's Escorts ? Did they have a body guard ?

Scouts – Uniforms ?

Aid De Camps ? Was there standard Dress or did Marshals have there choice to dress them as they pleased ?

Others will be more knowledgeable on the French and their allies, but I believe it was the norm for generals-de-division and above to be assigned one or two half-squadrons of cavalry (usually chasseurs-a-cheval) and possibly also a company or two of infantry, as etat escort/bodyguards.

Marshalls had the right to design their own uniforms for AdC. So you would indeed see a lot of different and extravagant uniforms.

Any Marshall in particular you're searching for?

Hi Archiduc

I did find in my Elting Books a statement that said Marshal's of Prince Status were allowed the Right to Design there Uniforms for ADC's but other did so when not in the Same theater of War as the Emperor .. ie in Spain.

But what about the Guides and Scouts, or Bodyguards for Generals? As I know the Emperor used the Chasseurs a Chevel of the Guard for Protection.

Ps thants Superciluis for your information also

Cheers All

My plan is making command bases for each of the 26 Marshals for my GdB Armies and would need 8 to 10 figs I would guess. Interesting little Bases

George,

If I were building such a project, I would not concern myself with "bodyguards." Just build some staff officers.

One bit of advice – Don't have dismounted figures hanging around. A lot of gamers do that, for economy I suppose. But it looks silly. Make sure all the figures are mounted.

If your Marshal figure needs to do some dangerous recon, assign him half a squadron or so from the available cavalry under his command. That's what they really did, after all.

I have seen a number of pictures of staff officers of the period looking at the "front end" with a cavalry escort, typically dragoons or chasseurs a cheval – I agree with Widowson, make 'em all mounted – I often wind up with an odd cavalry figure or two that I add to the general officer's stand

I do plan on keeping in Mounted Poses, but there is a few sets from Oldglory and Fantassing that have The Emperor at headquarters ect, where I can do some gound figs also.

The Marshal Princes seem too like the ADC in Hussar type uniforms.

I'm guessing the as far as the Escort its best to look at Cavalry Regt, under that persons command and pick a Dragoon or Chasseur to be the Escort ( a fig or two )

Please read Stendhal's "La Chartreuse de Parme."
(there are good English translations).

In it the "hero", masquerading as a French cavalryman, is included in Marshal Ney's cavalry escort which appears to be an entire troop of light cavalry.

The novel contains a great description of Waterloo from a common person's viewpoint. The retreat in particular is very graphic.

"One bit of advice – Don't have dismounted figures hanging around. A lot of gamers do that, for economy I suppose. But it looks silly. Make sure all the figures are mounted".

HARSH! ;o)
I actually have dismounted figures for some of my Command bases. Some have a Marshal riding and has "enthusiastic" or cheering infantry around.
My Napoleon is sitting with his foot on a drum, with mounted and dismounted aides nearby, a Drum Corps from the Old Guard and Berthier scribbling away at a desk!
My Wellington is sitting on his horse near a destroyed 9Pdr Cannon, and a wounded officer is being carried off by a Gunner and Infantryman. Nearby a dismounted Dragoon is presenting the Duke with a captured French Dragoon standard. A captured "Eagle" is resting agains the destroyed cannon.
Other bases consist of Marshals / generals with mounted ADC and / or a Trumpeter, Escort etc.
My advice; do what works for you.
Cheers

Exactly, Trailape. Command stands offer great opportunity for mini-dioramas.Well done.