"FPW French: Imperial or Republican?" Topic

I an intending to raise FPW in 6mm, using Bloody Big Battles rules.

What were the differences between the French forces, particularly with regard to uniforms, between the two periods and how much cross-over was there, bearing in mind I will be gaming in 6mm?

At 6mm the main would be that regulars in the Imperial era would have epaulettes, while in the Republican era they would not.

Also republican armies would have 50-80% of their infantry units as Gard Mobile/Garde Nationales, while Imperials would not. The Mobiles/Nationales would not have red pantaloons.

Bigger differences in cavalry.

My guys are painted as mixture, so a portion don't have red trousers and don't have fancy flags.

But honestly, in 6mm at normal gaming distances, the only ones which actually look any different are the Zoaves so I use the Imperial and Republican units interchangeably. The drabber ones might get used to indicate lower quality units.

I commit even more heinous crimes when it comes to cavalry. But they are all out of their saddles after two volleys so it doesn't really matter.

I agree that at 6mm they are pretty interchangable with the exception of cavalry – and even then if you are a little forgiving!

Republicans can have the sailor battalions and the ex papal zouaves -oh and Garibaldini.
There aren't so many white gaiters as well.
Lots of battle in the snow so get yourself a white cloth and some bare trees!!

Whichever you do you will need at least half an army of regular infantry in red kepi and red trousers. In the republican phase they typically brigaded one regiment of regulars with one of garde mobile. Garde mobile are generally all blue – kepi, tunic, trousers – and no flags. So if you do an army's worth of regulars, and half an army of garde mobile, you'll be mostly covered. And actually I think your garde mobile would also serve as the marines at Sedan.

You need zouaves (and turcos?) for both phases.

A few Guard infantry for the Imperial phase, if you're bothered.

More fun stuff later like mashrewba says: Papal Zouaves, Foreign Legion, sailors.

Cavalry: negligible change, just subtract Guard cavalry and add spahis, I think?

Chris (a long way from my books just now)

Bloody Big BATTLES!
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For republicans:

Bigger units
More chaotic appearance.
Cut all eagles on flags!

Lots of possible leeway with garde mobile uniforms ( many acw in cap might do) as they were made locally…. In a hurry. ( think corps # 18+)

Better artillery, no more lousy savings on shell fuses.

Less and worse cavalry, though then you can mix uniforms in provisinal rgts, even and especially the older regulation, looking better.

Forget the guard though you can put some here and there as ncos.

It is easier when you lose to blame your troops.

You can use one to 3 bn of foreign legion. Green epaulettes.
Spahis.
Corps francs, though at the scale of this rule , not that much.

For games you can play some plausible what ifs, like not all imperial corps being out of the party.

I do 15mm Franco-Prussian. I've got about 100 French line infantry with eagles and epaulettes, 50 Gardes Mobiles, 50 Naval infantry, 12 guns (with the odd draft from the ACW when needed), 16 cuirassiers, 16 chasseurs a cheval and 4 Chasseurs d'Afrique. And way too many officers.

I've been playing the Imperial phase with Sedan up next. I intend to use the Imperial line during the Republican phase. They're close enough. It's not like I'm using Great War poilus or something.

Parrot rifles and so on and some gatling guns.
You can have very small numbers of Prussians with Chassepots and Prussian Landwehr which are just Jaeger figures in blue outfits.
More interesting scenarios such a potato gathering sortie from Paris.
Your French cavalry units can contain two or three different types.
I'm pretty sure the Mobiles weren't out with the Imperial armies -just not wanted -too disruptive!!
There was the African penal type regiment as well -the Zephyrs -it wasn't actually a penal unit -just extreme hard cases and trouble makers.
The Foreign Legion has already been mentioned -can't believe I forgot them although it's only the green epaulets that give them away -no Havelocks ( did they call them that?)
Increase in number of Chasseurs a pied units as well.

Many thanks

Never found more than one parrot rifle bty, only in Armée du Nord.
Gatlings?

Zephyr is one bn.

Actually if the empire had lasted longer the mobiles could have been in play though not in such great numbers.
First division went to camp de Châlons, was too undisciplined, untrained and in virtual mutiny ( Parisians) and went sent back.

In 6 mm you ccould use many WW1 types for variety. i did a bit in 10 before Pendraken redid its line.

My Old Glory 15 Naval Infantry:

Jcfrog: "Among the reinforcements and weapons supplied to Chanzy at Le Mans were new French 7-pdr Reffye breech-loading cannon and imported American Gatling machine-guns."

I wrote this in the BBB scenario for Le Mans. Not sure what source I got this from as it was a few years ago and I used a bunch of them. Possibly this one:

Frédéric Beauchef, 1871, Le Mans une bataille oubliée, éditions Libra Diffusio, Le Mans, 2010

link

Chris

Bloody Big BATTLES!
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My toys are right away, but now that I Think of, I have one battery of gatlings as found in oob. Yes.

And the missing in miniatures but right common 8lb rifled gun.
As we are often playing what ifs, they received a whole lot of stuff from the US second hand, many useless but that could have been used. Like Henry rifles.

Lots of realistic possiblities there.