"French Horse Artillery Caissons 1815" Topic

Now I will start with an apology. I have searched through so many great posts here and then anything via Google, but am still baffled.

French Horse Artillery, at that skirmish south of Brussels in 1815, must have needed caissons. I always assumed the classical pitched roof long box (but never quite sure whether the top was one piece or two, hinged in the middle). But then I find a round top, that is too good to be true, as I do have many a spare Austrian caisson from HaT. Or is it this version from Franznap that looks post 1815 to me?

I do get confused between Year this and Gribeauval that….and I am a simple soul. Any help, really appreciated

No French figures in thousands but that is exceptional

True, but this is why I am asking. A Belgian "battery" for the Waterloo Remodelled Project

I am pretty far from my sources but if I may …?

There were many different types of caissons for artillery and others (there was one for the engineers for example). Looking from top to bottom in the original post; the top one is a supply wagon (you can see the rack for forage at the back), the next is an engineer caisson (I think) for tools etc, then a horse artillery caisson from the early years and then two 'standard' ammunition caissons.

By 1815, the latter two would have been in the most widespread use and you cannot go wrong if you use them for French and French-equipped forces (e.g. the United Netherlands of 1815). This would apply to both foot and horse units.

Of course, in the scrabble to equip the Armee du Nord, as with so many things, there may have been older equipments brought back into service and you could get away with them. But, as I said, use the classic long thin ones and you cannot go wrong.

By the way, as far as I know, the lids opened in one piece hinged on the righthand side as you look from the back.

Hello Mr D.

I would agree with artilleryman.

Your battery is most impressive as always.

Best wishes,

Chris

Great help. Thanks to both of you.

Just a thought.

James has an excellent set of pictures/ plates he sent me for my Quatre Bras project of Dutch Belgian horse, foot and train artillery.

I tried to post the link for you but it will not work due to the format.

You might like to see if he can send it to you.

Incidentally, I found the Art Miniturian Prussian drivers with head swaps made excellent train drivers.

Best wishes,

Chris

Thanks for the reminder. I went back through his website and eventually found it. The process did remind me what a wealth of background detail there is therein regarding the battlefield itself.

link

Art Min would have been great, but their catalogue changes constantly, with many a deletion. Right now the only Prussians are flogging some very lively horses. I did use their better ones for a Prussian battery. Austrian train drivers from HaT are working out well.

Hi,

These are the chaps.

link

Head/ shako swaps and you are in business.

link

These are my fellows in action, towards the bottom of the link.

Best wishes,

Chris