"French army 1848-49" Topic

Hello there,

I'm still thinking about my 1849 siege of Rome project. I have enough info on the Roman army, but I struggle to find what I need to know about the French.

First of all, I am probably going to play with battallions as the manouver element, formed by one base for each company. So, how many companies are in a French 1849 battallion?

Also, did they already wear the red kepi, or did they still have the blue one? or maybe the black shako?

Do you think that 1859 French figures would be acceptable? they seem to be much easier to find. I am still undecided between 15 and 10mm, and I am not TOO pricky about the appearence, even if I would like them to be no too much different from the proper ones. Any idea? Thanks!

Six companies per battalion, but they were not tactical units. The battalion formed in four divisions for combat.

I'm not sure about the kepi.

For figures, I'd use Crimean War French.

Dark Blue greatcoat, red trousers and white gaiters. Shako was the 1845 regulation wrapped in black oilskin with painted numbers. Double pompon for the Grenadiers (red) and Voltigeurs (Yellow). No képi. 1845 equipment was black leather. Ammunition pouch was carried on the waistbelt at the back. 1842 percussion musket.

You could use Crimean War French in greatcoats but in shakos.

Hope this helps.

The French army of the 1830s to 1860s is a real pain uniform wise – total fashionistas. Tall shako? – oh that's so last year darling

In 10mm Pendraken's 1859 Guard Voltigeurs would probably be ok pendraken.co.uk/FIW3-p6534 although I could be wrong

Thanks guys, very helpful. I was hoping they had the red kepi, as the roman line infrantry is also in red trousers, blue tunic and black shako. I will probably have to use a lot of italian legion and bersaglieri instead of line units.

However, I have seen a few period illustration depicting French troops in a weird red "short shako". Do you think its a complete fantasy or some units MAY had red shakos?

I think there is a gradual shortening of the shako over this period from tall to short to kepi

Please correct me if I'm wrong but the figure on the right is the tall shako and the chap next to him is the short shako

Hello again

I think the picture above is from the 1830s.

The 1843/1845 shako was broader at the base and tapered towards the top. It was not bell shaped but rather the opposite. The shako was covered in blue cloth with red piping around the top only and with red strips down the sides. The bottom band was black leather. I think it was as tall as the shako which preceded it and that the height of the shako did not get lower until the 1860s.

Hope this helps

hello

indeed these last uniforms are before the major "revolution" in the french uniformology of 1845
uniforms for the French Army 1848 ~ 64 color plates
link
here the plate with a Light Infantry officer and the campaign dress for Ligth Infantry soldiers

some others black and white showing the campaign dress
campaign dress 33rd Line Roma 1849

Artillerymen Roma 1849

Sappers Roma 1849

Guys, thank you very, very much. It appears that the Roman Repjblic line infantry uniforms were basically copied from those of the sister French republic… I am definitely going to field many more bersaglieri and garibaldini than line units. Thanks!

also colored plates from Boisselier about the French Army in Roma 1849, some regiments with the képi others with the skako
link

also Raffet's drawings given in the link, the 13rd light with the képi

Lilian, these links are excellent, thank you very much!

Great thread!

Valerie the line units of the Roman Republic such as the Unione Regt were basically those of the Papal Army which was very much influenced by French styles. If I recall correctly the Unione was involved in the attempt to take the Villa of the Four Winds but most of the other troops were the Lombard Bersaglieri, Roman Legion and possibly the Finanzieri. Please let us know how your project progresses.