"Napoleonic French Foot Dragoons" Topic

"Dragoons had started life as mounted infantry, and had spent decades trying to become accepted as true cavalry, a more highly regarded branch of the army. On the whole they had succeeded by the Napoleonic Wars, but in the French Army their dismounted role remained important, so at any time they might have to fight on foot. However there was a major problem in supplying horses for the dragoons, since the other branches of the cavalry were ahead of them in the queue, and animals were often in very short supply. At various times during the Wars numbers of dragoons were made into 'foot dragoons', essentially taking away their horses and making them a form of infantry. This greatly displeased the men concerned, and they performed the role with ill grace by all accounts. Such foot dragoons were generally a temporary expedient, and would eventually be remounted using captured enemy stocks of horses.

The uniform of the dragoons did not change a great deal throughout the period, but these men all wear the habit coat, which remained almost the same until the habit-veste of 1812. More specifically, they have possibly genuine turnbacks on the long tails, with a triangular patch at the end that stopped manufacture in 1810, although like any uniform change could have been worn for years after. As foot dragoons the differences were that the men replaced their high boots with infantry gaiters reaching to above the knee, and were given knapsacks. Both these distinctions are shown on every figure here, so these are specifically foot dragoons, rather than simply dragoons momentarily on foot. Their helmets, with the horsehair mane, are well done here, as is all of the uniform, which is completely correct…"

Full review here
link

Amicalement
Armand

Yup

Saw those on PSR yesterday and they joined my "must have even though I don't have a use for them" pile

Look good

Marc

How often did dragoons fight on foot? From the number of foot offerings it would appear that they were as likely to fight on foot than mounted.

Those kneeling poses bracing a musket and pointing a pistol are pretty dramatic looking!

Foot Dragoons – French dragoons in 1805-7 who, for lack of horses, were deliberately reequipped as infantry pending new sources of horses. That's what's depicted in this set. They wear infantry gaiters and have knapsacks.

Dragoons on foot – dragoons who dismounted temporarily to deal with a tactical situation that required it.

Glad you like them my friend!. (smile)

Amicalement
Armand

I bet those helmets were tiresome on the march.

Bummer, 1/72nd scale.

Excellent. 1/72 scale

(smile)

Amicalement
Armand

But do I read this right? You get four eagle bearers with each set you buy……..

Yes. Supplied especially for those of us who need 1/72 eagles. Great conversion material

1/72 manufacturers spoil us true fans

Well said Marc!… (smile)

Amicalement
Armand