"French infantry in forage hats" Topic

Does any one know of a 6mm company that produces French Infantry figures wearing forage hats? Also any British Highland figures wearing pants and tams? (93rd Regt. New Orleans) Thank you in advance for the help.

Baccus 6mm have a pack of "animated" French Infantry. some are in shako, and some have the "forage cap".

These are intended to be mixed in with codes of their other French infantry, as the occasional alternative to the synchronised marionette soldiers.

There are some, but I couldn't say how many, others appear to be in shako. I am responding with but the Baccus 6mm website catalogue as my source and its product photo of one base out of the several that the pack of 96 figs may produce.

May this message be of help to you, in your pursuits. Others may respond, later and with greater knowledge, even practical experience. I merely daydreamed whilst browsing army packs. It was not wise for me. At least I learned something, & it may be of initial use.

Would forage caps have been worn in battle? I often see units made up with some guys in forage caps but I cant bring myself to do that as I think the commanding officer would want all his men to be dressed at least similar.
Surely there would be enough from casualties etc. to replace lost or damaged ones ?

shakos I mean

Heeroics and Ros has infantry in forage caps under guard infantry in their Franco Prussian War range. Might work for Napoleonic with some painting.

Interesting question.
Do you mean the bonnet de police, worn by almost every unit whether cavalry, artillery or infantry (as in International Rescue puppetry)?……..and looks ridiculous nowadays.

Or do you mean what was surely the ugliest headgear ever invented…..the later Pokalem? Bottom below

(I will concede the Prussians came up with an even worse version of the latter)

Either Deadhead.I can't see why they would be worn in battle .Apologies for hijacking your thread green beanie

Well in 28mm you certainly see them, even in units as prestigious as Grenadiers a Cheval de la Garde Imperiale….the bonnet de police looks like nightwear for a Dickensian character. The Pokalem looks like a Pie you might get at a football (US soccer) ground, stuck on top of your head. (Barnsley or Wigan FC do the best football pies in the UK)

By 1815 shakos or bearskins were not the first priority.

(Indeed the earlier Marie Louises were not the best turned out)

See the Perry figures for example (I'll be honest and say I think they look awful, however accurate, and I avoided these three);

"Highland figures wearing pants and tams?"

My dear fellow, do you perhaps mean 'trews and ('unattractive') bonnets…'?

Those two reenactors in bright green, what unit do they represent?

Stephen

I have read somewhere that the French Guard battalions that attacked Wellington's line in the evening of Waterloo wore a variety of bearskins, shakos and forage caps. I don't recall where I read it or whether it was an eyewitness account. If I can find the reference I'll start another thread.

The folk I showed are Chasseurs Badois apparently…….

as here……….

link

Countless examples of Bonnet de Police if one Googles just that.

The Pokalem is an even worse look, but the "Forage cap" idea I associate with much later…like a kepi in ACW but slightly different crown.

Guard would surely have used the bonnet de police if no decent headgear…….

Deadhead- are you thinking of the cloth Casquette d'Afrique</1>- which was adopted for wear in Algeria in the 1830s. That led to the cloth casquette worn instead of a leather chaco by the Chasseurs de Vincennes/d'Orleans ca 1840, which in turn led to the 'bonnet de police à visiere' (aka 'kepi') being taken into general use circa 1845-50.

The American 1858 forage cap was inspired by the above- as was the 1851 uniform 'gig cap.'

Exactly what I meant. I had this vague idea that the kepi and the forage cap were both used in ACW and were subtly different. I somehow recall the kepi as potentially much taller, but actually squashed down and leaning forward over the peak…….

I think……

Other way round… }:^)

Oh yeah………..

OK, apart from that minor detail, ……..

Thanks for clearing up a long held misconception!

God is in the details….. >:^%