Major Bloodnok | 26 Mar 2017 4:11 p.m. PST |
I can remember reading, eons ago, about how some French units would carry the eagle but without a flag on the staff, just the bird on a stick. Is this an old myth based on a single occurrence or was this a somewhat common practice? |
deadhead | 26 Mar 2017 11:23 p.m. PST |
Of course it would always look that way on a campaign march. An oilsking cover around the furled flag with the eagle poking out the top. But on the field, the flag did serve a purpose. |
acatcalledelvis | 27 Mar 2017 2:02 a.m. PST |
I'm fairly sure I read a long time ago that flags were not carried in Spain – consequently for years I never had a flag for my entire Army of Portugal. |
Brechtel198 | 27 Mar 2017 2:29 a.m. PST |
The eagle was the standard, not the flag that usually went with it. |
Footslogger | 27 Mar 2017 4:52 a.m. PST |
I know it was done, but if I'm painting a unit of French infantry in greatcoat, the flag would be just about the only splash of colour. So no flags in oilskin for me. |
marshalGreg | 27 Mar 2017 8:10 a.m. PST |
Why woulkd you consider doing that? @ acatcalledelvis- what sources give this indication- this the first I have heard of such. MG |
acatcalledelvis | 27 Mar 2017 8:20 a.m. PST |
@MarshalGreg I wish I could remember….I was a real Peninsular nerd back in the day. I think it was a memoir – and a note on the page which led me to check more and be pretty convinced. Something about Nap not wanting his flags falling into Spanish hands in the Guerilla war Sadly I cant put my hands on the data now :( |
Major Bloodnok | 27 Mar 2017 9:48 a.m. PST |
One source is "Flags and Standards of the Napoleonic Wars". by Keith Over. He states that some regiment just carried the Eagle with a bare staff, the flag being unimportant. Some regiments carried the bare staff with tricolour cravat. I was wondering whether this still holds true especially since i'm about to paint some Frence line. |
Lambert | 27 Mar 2017 10:29 a.m. PST |
I put flags on the infantry units but not necessarily the cavalry. I must have read somewhere that cavalry squadrons might just carry the pole and eagle. |
Timmo uk | 28 Mar 2017 3:50 p.m. PST |
I think they stopped carrying the flag about 1808/09. I'm fairly sure the cavalry units didn't carry eagles in Spain. I don't have any eagles with my cavalry and the infantry carry them on bare poles. |
mysteron | 29 Mar 2017 3:14 a.m. PST |
I think individual tastes can come into it as well. In some ways I compare it to parade uniform v campaign uniform. With some brilliant miniature flags available these days mine will be carrying flags. I just think its the icing on the cake for a painted unit. |
Murvihill | 29 Mar 2017 10:06 a.m. PST |
No flags on the staves? What fun is that? |