 4th Cuirassier  | 02 Oct 2023 7:08 a.m. PST |
Were there any, does anyone know? I've seen pictures of them but it's not clear that they're 1815. |
 ColCampbell | 02 Oct 2023 11:34 a.m. PST |
The Cent-Jours Mont St Jean site doesn't list any pioneers or sappers for the Brunswick contingent. link But that doesn't mean that there weren't any present in the ranks. James Cowan (TMPer Captain Siborne) who is working of the massive diorama of Waterloo TMP link may have more information. Jim |
| Captain Siborne | 02 Oct 2023 2:43 p.m. PST |
It stands to reason that all infantry units on both sides needed pioneers to ease movements through obstacles such as hedges, but I've never seen a contemporary image of a Brunswick pioneer. I've seen a modern image wearing a colpack and a black uniform concoction but this looks like some creative licence has been taken. I'm happy to be corrected though if someone knows better! |
| Prince of Essling | 03 Oct 2023 2:55 a.m. PST |
Looking at page 77 of Nafziger's "Armies of Hannover, Brunswick, Hesse-Cassel & Hanseatic Cities 1792-1815 – Napoleon's German Enemies" there are no pioneers listed in the organisation of the battalions but……. He gives the organisation as follows:
1 Major
2 Captains
8 Lieutenants & 2nd Lieutenants
4 Fahnrichs
1 Adjutants
1 Zahlmeister (Paymaster)
1 Battalion physician
2 Company Surgeons
1 Sergeant major
1 Quartermaster Sergeant
1 Drummer Major
1 Gunsmiths
4 Feldwebel
24 Sergeants
24 Corporals
16 Drummers/Fifers
600 Soldiers
690 personnel in total |
| Prince of Essling | 03 Oct 2023 4:22 a.m. PST |
I believe this is the image you were referring to (I think the text suggests 1809):
|
| NapStein | 03 Oct 2023 6:48 a.m. PST |
@Prince: the Beyer-Pegau plate shows a Sappeur-Korporal of the "Leib-Bataillon" in 1822. That's the year the Brunswick infantry first got their sappers according to the reform act of 25th march 1822. So, for 1815 no sappers. Greetings from Berlin
Markus Stein |
| Prince of Essling | 03 Oct 2023 12:04 p.m. PST |
Many thanks Markus,
Most grateful for your clarification. The picture is wrongly tagged on a Spanish site
All the best Ian |
| 4th Cuirassier | 04 Oct 2023 12:38 a.m. PST |
Thanks all, Ian and Markus especially – solid gold. I had seen that picture of a pioneer in colpack too, but the black backpack looked incorrect so I wasn't convinced it was right. Re the 4 Fähnrichen – does these mean all battalions had flags? In many armies, the light troops (for example) did not. |
| NapStein | 04 Oct 2023 4:04 a.m. PST |
Ian, yes the background looks a bit alike Spanish environment :-) All the best
Markus Stein |
| Prince of Essling | 05 Oct 2023 1:59 a.m. PST |
@ 4th Cuirassier, As far as I am aware the light battalions did not carry flags. I understand you should think of the "Fähnrichen" as similar to "Officer Cadets" and not the British equivalent of "Ensigns". Ian |
| 4th Cuirassier | 06 Oct 2023 7:46 a.m. PST |
@ PoE many thanks, suspected as much… |
| Baron von Wreckedoften II | 26 Aug 2024 8:29 a.m. PST |
All the information I have seen also gives the date as 1822 for the figure illustrated above. However, if you really, really want to have one for your Napoleonic Brunswick force, you need to take the sapper from the Perry Nassau Command pack NN05, carve off the bearskin cord and bag, but leave the two shoulder rolls, then "Greenstuff" a busby bag on the opposite side (ie the figure's left hand side – which is where it should be anyway for the Nassau guy), and you're pretty much there. I decided not to bother with the slightly grotesque "headsman's" axe. |
