"Polish January Uprising 1863 - Conversion Advice" Topic

Has anyone wargame this interesting conflict? I think I can put together a Russian force with Crimean Russia infantry in greatcoat and forage cap, but am struggling with the Poles. 28mm is preferred. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

The 2 figures on the right remind me of Garibaldini. Austrian Uhlans from the 1860s had similar headgear to the 2 on the middle left. Maybe try Northstar 1866 line. In 1862 the Russian infantry switched to a French style uniform with kepi. You should use Russo-Turkish War figures. If you would consider doing the period in 1/72 plastics, everything you need is available, with a few head swaps for the Poles.

Many thanks for your advice Nick. I'll have a look at those ranges. I've read that the Russians introduced kepis, but in most of the paintings from the period, they are generally depicted wearing peakless forage caps. Perhaps even by 1863 many hadn't been issued them yet.

I can feel myself being drawn into another period. I have tons of Crimean War Russians. Can you recommend any military histories in English?

I don't think there is one. There's only what you can find online. I have this book. It's in Polish (which I can read, albeit slowly). Its large and is packed with colour images, photos, prints etc:

link

I've done quite a bit of digging into 1860's Russians for a project of my own recently.

The Osprey book of the 1877 Russo-Turkish wars goes into some details of Russian uniform changes since Crimea, oddly enough Union Infantry and cavalry make quite good proxy models for the kepi they used. Also, the beloved forage cap is A Thing from 1811-1900's and (despite the heroic paintings of parade dress soldiers) was often worn in action.

There are quite a lot of changes in late 1850's/1860's uniforms around the world, and as with everything military the elites got it early and the grunt units got it when their old stuff wore out. I'd also suspect Polish uniform were some combination of Russian and Prussian uniforms.

There was also apparently a fashion of "slavification" in the Russian army with units being given some leeway in how they dressed, I wouldn't be surprised if that was happening in Poland.

The New York Public Libraries Vinkhuijzen collection (link below) is quite good for Russian and Prussian uniforms, sadly none of Polish of the era.

link