Thursday, 30 July 2026

15mm Napoleonic Austrian cavalry

 Hi guys

Some 15mm AB Napoleonic Austrian cavalry completed on commission.































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2 comments:

  1. LECHEVALIER31 July 2026 at 01:56

    Dismounted Dragoons:

    While browsing your website, I came across your article from October 15, 2016. In it, you showcased your dismounted dragoons, created through various conversions, and asked whether dismounted dragoons had actually fought in Spain.
    Since no one replied in the comments section, I am sharing information with you from an 18-page article in issue No. 6 of the magazine “Soldats Napoléoniens”, published in June 2005.

    https://www.soldaademohler.fr/boutique/revues/soldats-napoleoniens-revue-n6-1er-empire/

    There were four formations of dismounted dragoons during the Consulate and the Empire.

    - The first was in 1803, as part of the preparations for the planned invasion of England. Two divisions were formed using the 1st and 2nd squadrons from twenty (later twenty-four) regiments. They were commanded by Generals Klein and Baraguay d'Hilliers and were intended to be remounted using captured English horses.
    - In 1805, the Emperor turned his attention to Austria and assembled one division of dismounted dragoons in Strasbourg, consisting of four composite regiments under the command of general Baraguay d'Hilliers. During the march, the veteran soldiers reclaimed their mounts and were replaced by young conscripts who lacked the same stamina. The outcome was disastrous and could have been catastrophic were it not for the magnificent defense put up by General Dupont de l'Étang; left alone by marechal Ney with his division at Haslach, on the left bank of the Danube, he faced the entire Austrian army. One of the two dismounted dragoon brigades was remounted after the capitulation of Ulm, while the second had to wait until the capture of Vienna to be remounted horses.

    - In September 1805, Marshal Masséna formed a small battalion of 333 dismounted dragoons in Italy. The unit was disbanded as early as January 1806.
    - One final time, in September 1806, the Emperor formed a brigade of dismounted dragoons using men from cavalry depots. The two regiments assigned to the Imperial Guard witnessed the Battle of Jena from a distance without taking part in the fighting. In late October, they were remounted using horses captured from Prussian and Saxon cavalry forces.

    It is possible ,and indeed probable, that dragoon units fought on foot in Spain, but these were instances of dismounted dragoons, such as the men of the 12th Regiment who defended the bridge at Peralvillo on March 26, 1809.

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/501963090381862/posts/1737067693538056/

    Apart from a single provisional cuirassier regiment, French heavy cavalry in Spain consisted entirely of dragoon regiments, and the marshals were unwilling to squander this cavalry force by dismounting them.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous1 August 2026 at 07:13

      Thanks for the info, I have had trouble replying to messages on my blog, hence the anonymous reply, yes, that info is roughly my understanding of their use,.

      Delete

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