31st October 1805
From André Masséna, Marshal of the Empire, Commanding His Imperial Majesty’s Army of Italy.
To The Headquarters of His Imperial Majesty, hopefully somewhere near Vienna.
Greetings Sire! I bring news of a great victory won by your brave soldiers under my command at the village of Caldiero. You might remember the place from 1796, when you yourself won a great victory there… That’s what I remember as your ever-loyal servant anyway, Sire and I don’t care what Berthier says…
Following your brilliant example, the gallant soldiers under my command successfully held their ground against a determined attack by the Archduke Charles. The perfidy of the Kaiserlicks knows no bounds as they used the cover of thick fog to launch a cowardly attack on our men. Thankfully we prevailed and threw them back into their fortified position. At daybreak today, we discovered that the cowards had retreated toward Vicenza, leaving me master of the field!
I enclose this dispatch with a chest of gold and jewels looted discovered within an Austrian nobleman’s estate hereabouts and trust that it will be accepted by your Imperial Majesty as the true and accurate account of the battle, just as I accepted your version of events in 1796.
I also include with the chest, a very fine rifled hunting piece and hope that Your Majesty has the chance to enjoy it. Though be warned that it has a very light trigger, so be careful, or you could have someone’s eye out.
I remain Sire,
Your Obedient Servant,
André Masséna, Marshal of the Empire.
PS A detailed and true account of the day’s action follows:
The surviving readers of this blog might remember back in the summer of 2020, at the height of Lockdown boredom, I was anticipating all the lovely Napoleonic games I would play once the repeated Lockdowns were over! Of course that was all bolloxed by my sudden and rather unexpected Seven Years War Renaissance… However, I did write a scenario for the Second Battle of Caldiero that I fancied having a crack at. Well we finally played it at the Carmarthen Old Guard during our November Big Game Saturday. 🙂
As mentioned before, I do like Napoleon’s Battles ‘grand-tactical’ rules, but it is fairly ‘niche’, so I’ve rarely got a ready pool of players. My mate Andy had played it before but was very rusty on the finer points of the rules. My other player Trevor had never played Napoleon’s Battles before, so needed to learn the rules from scratch.
Rather than throw them straight in at the deep end with a scenario as large as Caldiero, I gave them a small tutorial game during our regular Thursday night meeting (pictured above). This game, titled ‘The Battle of Fünfstraßen 1805’ was the ‘Austrians at Bay 1809’ training scenario from Napoleon’s Battles 1st Edition, using 1805 troop-stats. I must have played ‘Austrians at Bay’ half a dozen times and the French got a hoofing in every game, so I was hopeful that the 1805 French superpowers might at last give them the edge… But no, they got hammered again…
Anyway, Trevor really enjoyed it (he was the Austrians, after all) and our rules knowledge was suitably refreshed, so I quickly reorganised and re-labelled the troops for the Saturday Main Event.
I should add at this point that we decided not to use the full fog-of-war rules as described in the scenario, as it would probably take too long to play. Nevertheless, the first four turns were fought in fog, which meant a maximum 2-inch visibility range for shooting and charging and the possibility of a ‘Blunder Combat’, as well as some other limitations. As the French had the harder task, I took them, while Andy and Trevor took the Austrians. To save time, I decided to simply go with the historical deployment for the French. The Austrians were already limited in their deployment.
Above: The view from behind the French army. Sadly, my supply of roads is somewhat limited and I really should get some more. I did however place the key roads on table (i.e. the main highway and the roads through the rough and swampy ground on the Austrian left). One other balls-up was that I left a box of buildings at home, so all I had with me was the four buildings used for the Battle of Fünfstraßen scenario! Aargh! Thankfully, that was sufficient to represent the four key frontline villages of Caldiero, Stra, Gambione and San Zeno.
Above: The view from the Austrian left flank. In the foreground is the swampy valley of the Adige River. The brown carpet on the right shows area of rough ground. In the distance is the fortified high ground of the Colognola Heights, surrounded by steep slopes, thick with olive groves and vineyards.
Above: This nice little set by Old Glory 15s, depicting a wounded Marshal Masséna, famously commanding from the comfort of his white phaeton at the Battle of Wagram in 1809, is anachronistic for 1805, but is too nice to leave in the box! 🙂
Above: On the Austrian left flank, Nordmann’s two Grenzer brigades squelch through the marsh, though the 9th ‘Erdödy’ Hussars take advantage of a road to work their way around what they assume to be the French right flank.
Above: However, just ahead of them, Colonel Petit’s 62e de Ligne have just landed on the banks of the Adige (in game terms, Petit’s detachment is place on the table after the Austrians have completed their deployment). This detachment is securing the bridgehead for the remainder of Verdier’s 2nd Division to also cross. The original plan had been for Verdier to land behind the Austrian flank, but the fog led them astray and they now find themselves in front of the Austrians! However, at present the fog prevents either side from engaging the other.
Above: On Nordmann’s right, Reuss-Plauen’s infantry (two infantry regiments and a brigade of grenadiers) are also squelching through the marsh, while the attached 3rd ‘Archduke Charles’ Uhlans keep their hooves dry on the road.
Above: The uhlans form the left flank of a large mass of Austrian cavalry, who fill the narrow plain between the hills and the marsh. In front is O’Reilly, with the 8th ‘Kienmeyer’ Hussars and 1st ‘Kaiser’ Chevauxlegers, while to the rear is Lothringen, with the 4th ‘Levenehr’ and 5th ‘Savoy’ Dragoons.
Above: The village of Caldiero itself has been fortified by Vogelsang’s Division; IR 62 holds the village itself, with IR 2, Hertzberg’s grenadier brigade and a 6pdr cavalry battery in support. To the rear of Caldiero, Lindenau’s Division has fortified a small hill and with two grenadier brigades (Duba’s and Hohenlöhe’s), IR 32 and a 12pdr position battery. General of Cavalry Bellegarde has established his headquarters near the battery and from there commands the central four divisions of Vogelsang, Lindenau, O’Reilly and Lothringen.
Above: On the right flank of the main French position, near the village of Gambione, stands Duhesme’s 4th Division, consisting of Le Camus’ Brigade nearest the camera and Goullus’ Brigade. To their rear is Mermet’s Reserve Cavalry Division, comprising Lacour’s dragoon brigade and Offenstein’s cuirassier brigade.
God these were painted a long time ago… I’m ashamed to admit that back then I believed THAT Osprey book regarding the shade of blue of Légère uniforms… 🙁 I was young, naïve, needed the money… And yes, I know they should be wearing hats, not shakos in 1805…
Above: Masséna’s centre is spearheaded by Gardanne’s 1st Division, consisting of Lanchatin’s and Compère’s brigades and the 23rd Chasseurs à Cheval. To their rear is Partouneaux’s Reserve Division, consisting of Solignac’s and Valentin’s massed grenadier brigades and the attached Italian 2nd Infantry Regiment. Behind them come Debelle’s and Maurin’s chasseur à cheval brigades of d’Espagne’s Light Cavalry Division.
Above: On the fortified Colognola Heights, Archduke Charles has set up his headquarters among the olive trees, from where he’d hoped to observe Simbschen’s right-flanking attack. Nearby, a couple of cavalry batteries from Simbschen’s division, guarded by the 6th ‘Warasdiner St Georg’ Grenzer, sit behind their earthworks and wait for the fog to lift.
Above: Further north along the ridge, two more of Simbschen’s regiments and another cavalry battery for a reserve for Simbschen’s attack down in the foggy valley below.
Above: Down in the valley and clear of the olive trees, Simbschen has formed up with three infantry regiments and the 3rd ‘Archduke Ferdinand’ Hussars, ready to attack the French left flank. However, the sound of French drums can be heard approaching through the fog…
Above: In front of Simbschen, Molitor’s French 3rd Division is advancing through the fog. Molitor has three infantry brigades; Launay’s (the largest), Herbin’s and Valory’s, plus the 29th Dragoons. Molitor plans to boldly advance up to the Austrians through the fog and then use his superior firepower to blow them out of the way, before advancing up the slope…
Above: “Christ à vélo!” As Molitor’s troops advance, the thunder of hooves is heard as the Austrian 3rd Hussars suddenly burst out of the fog in front of Valory’s brigade! Valory’s panicked infantrymen fail to form square and are ridden down without mercy! Crazed with bloodlust, the hussars then launch a ragged charge on Herbin’s brigade. Again, Herbin’s troops fail to form square, but their musketry manages to empty a few saddles before they too are swept away, taking the supporting horse battery with them.
Above: The battle has only just begun, yet half of Molitor’s division is already fleeing toward Verona.
Above: An overview of the French centre. Like Molitor, Gardanne has advanced to close range through the fog, hoping to overwhelm the defenders of Caldiero with firepower prior to an assault.
Above: On the right, Mermet’s Reserve Cavalry Division moves to the right, to counter the threat posed by Nordmann’s hussars.
Above: At Caldiero, Compère’s brigade has deployed into brigade skirmish order, in order to increase their firepower and reduce the effectiveness of the Austrian battery to their front (in game terms, skirmish-stands are inserted as ‘spacers’ between the troop-stands and they gain a +1 fire modifier, while Austrian fire suffers a -2 cover modifier. However, this formation is unwieldy to manoeuvre and suffers a -3 combat modifier). Vogelsang meanwhile. moves his two reserve brigades forward on the flanks and effectively prevents the massing of French force against Caldiero.
Above: On the French left flank, the Austrian 3rd Hussars have been left disordered following their rout of Molitor’s brigades, leaving them wide open to a counter-strike by the 29th Dragoons. The French dragoons soon take sweet revenge for the infantry, destroying the hussars and sweeping them from the field! However, Molitor has to make a decision; stay to fight with what he has left in the front line, or go back to rally the routing brigades and return in strength… He takes the fateful decision to go back to rally the routing troops…
Above: Over on the Austrian left flank, Nordmann has manoeuvred the 9th Hussars past Petit’s detachment (which remains immobile on the bank of the Adige) and into position to threaten the French right and support the advance of his Grenzer and Reuss-Plauen’s infantry through the marsh. However, Lacour’s dragoon brigade from Mermet’s Reserve Cavalry Division is approaching, followed by Offenstein’s cuirassiers.
Above: Duhesme is feeling confident as he advances his infantry to meet the Austrians. D’Espagne meanwhile, moves his chasseurs and horse artillery forward to support Duhesme’s left.
Above: The rest of the French light cavalry and horse artillery are being sucked into what is likely to be a large cavalry battle in the centre. However, at present the fog is still sitting on the battlefield and both sides are being cautious. That will end once the fog lifts and the artillery opens fire in earnest.
Above: Molitor’s attempt to rally his routing troops is not going well! Only Herbin’s brigade has rallied, while Valory’s brigade and the gunners refuse to obey orders! (in game terms, this repeated failure to rally was remarkable as with Molitor being rated ‘Excellent’, they only had to roll 1-8 on a D10!)
Above: In the meantime, the rest of Molitor’s division is milling about without orders and the infantry of Launay’s brigade are being steadily whittled down by the fire of three Austrian regiments.
Above: At Caldiero, things are not going well for Compère’s light infantry brigade, which is losing the firefight against the Caldiero garrison, a cavalry battery and Hertzberg’s grenadier brigade. However, on their right, Lanchatin’s brigade has charged the Hungarian 2nd Infantry Regiment! Following a hard, evenly-matched fight, the Hungarians are routed.
Above: In the marshes, Reuss-Plauen’s advance has been extremely hesitant; partly due to the terrain, partly due to his remoteness from Archduke Charles and partly due to uncertainty as to French intentions on this flank.
Above: In the centre, the great mass of Austrian cavalry waits for the fog to lift.
[If you’re wondering about the individual cavalry figures mounted on yellow-edged coins, those are ‘Cavalry React’ markers. Instead of moving a cavalry brigade, the player may instead place one of these markers. This then allows the unit to move in reaction to the effects of combat or in reaction to the enemy’s subsequent move. I usually try to match the regiment or at least the nationality, but for some reason, a Russian dragoon has sneaked on to the table here!]
Above: At last, the fog begins to lift and the emplaced Austrian batteries open up on long-range targets.
Above: The two batteries near Archduke Charles’ headquarters are firing at extreme range, but manage to inflict a steady trickle of casualties on the French infantry between Stra and Caldiero.
Above: At last, the Austrian cavalry, their confidence boosted by their numerical superiority, charge the French lines! The 3rd Uhlans and 4th Dragoons aim for Goullus’ brigade of Duhesme’s 4th Division, but they form square and beat the Austrian horsemen off with ease. D’Espagne’s cavalry meanwhile are deployed and ready; the horse artillery empties some saddles among the 1st Chevauxlegers, who are then beaten off by Debelle’s Chasseurs, along with the 5th Dragoons.
Above: Near Caldiero, the Austrian 8th Hussars charge Lanchatin’s infantry, who are unable to form square, due to the proximity of Austrian infantry. However, the hussars suffer losses from French fire during their charge and are beaten off.
Above: The Austrian cavalry assault is a failure, but they’ve suffered only light losses and fall back to lick their wounds while considering their next move. D’Espagne meanwhile, still has Maurin’s chasseurs fresh and spies an opportunity…
Above: At Caldiero, Compère’s light infantry are suffering catastrophic losses to Austrian fire and are now almost down to 50% of their original strength! Gardanne decides to cut his losses and orders them to close up on their left flank and allow Solignac’s grenadiers to pass through.
Above: Over on the Austrian right flank, Lacour’s dragoons launch a bold attack across the stream, against Nordmann’s 9th Hussars. The gamble pays off, as the hussars are caught while still deployed in column formation. Although not a knockout blow, the hussars are disordered and are forced back to the bank of the Adige River.
Above: Petit meanwhile, is in trouble as skirmishing Grenzer begin to pick off his men one by one. He prays that Verdier will cross the river and reinforce him soon.
Above: In the centre, with all the Austrian cavalry disordered following their massive charge, Maurin’s fresh chasseur brigade charges the nearest rallying unit (the 8th Hussars), hoping to destroy at least one unit and perhaps start a general rout. However, while the charge is marginally successful, only minor damage is caused to the Austrian hussars and Maurin falls back to reform. However, one significant result of this engagement is that FML O’Reilly, having been ridden over by Maurin’s chasseurs, only narrow avoids death! His division is therefore without leadership for a time while he has his wounds dressed.
Above: Reuss-Plauen continues his cautious advance through the marsh, though is starting to suffer losses from French fire.
Above: At the foot of the Colognola Heights, Simbschen continues his mugging of Launay’s brigade. The 29th Dragoons in the meantime, have been broken up in very short order by accurate long-range artillery fire from the heights.
Above: Molitor meanwhile, is STILL trying to rally the rest of his division!
Above: With the Austrian 9th Hussars already pushed back by Lacour’s dragoons, Offenstein’s cuirassiers launch their assault across the stream, again throwing back the hussars. However, with their backs to the river they have nowhere to run and are captured.
Above: On the riverbank, Verdier finally arrives with Digonet’s strong light infantry brigade. Petit stands relieved, but his regiment is still being whittled down by fire from the Grenzer in the marsh.
Above: On the opposite flank, Molitor suffers another disaster as Launay’s brigade is finally broken by Austrian fire.
Above: Things aren’t looking much better at Caldiero, as Compère’s brigade continues to be whittled down, despite falling back from the stiff fire coming from the village. Lanchatin’s brigade meanwhile, despite their earlier success, have been routed by a combination of 12pdr fire from the redoubt behind Caldiero and musketry from the village garrison. Partouneaux now takes over the mission of assaulting Caldiero, but simply doesn’t have the strength for the task.
Above: With losses escalating rapidly due to fire from Duhesme’s division, Reuss-Plauen is forced to fall back into the marsh.
Above: However, Duhesme isn’t going to let the Austrian infantry off the hook that easily and steadily advances to maintain the perssure.
Above: With the threat to the right flank eliminated, Mermet recalls Offenstein’s cuirassiers and moves to reinforce the centre.
Above: In the meantime, another indecisive cavalry clash has occurred in the centre. D’Espagne’s light cavalry rally again at Gambione, having suffered only light losses.
Above: The Austrian cavalry meanwhile, have already suffered around 25% casualties and daren’t risk another major assault.
Above: At Caldiero the Austrians have reset their defence. The depleted IR 2 takes over garrison duties in the village itself, while IR 62 move out onto the flank.
Above: Partouneaux meanwhile, still can’t see a way of taking the village. His veteran grenadiers are full of fighting spirit, but the village fortifications and the sheer number of Austrian defenders negate any advantage.
Above: The French situation looks even worse from the Austrian side! The French now have absolutely nothing in reserve, while the Austrian position is massively strong, arrayed in depth and overlooked by fortified batteries and redoubts filled with grenadiers!
Above: At long last, the remnants of Molitor’s division gets back into the fight!
Above: Simbschen meanwhile, has ridden up to the redoubts to redirect the fire of his batteries.
Above: On the French right flank, Verdier finally goes on the attack, but not before the Grenzer finally finish off Petit’s 62e de Ligne.
Above: Digonet’s light infantry exact swift revenge for Petit as they rout the Grenzer. Nordmann still has one Grenzer brigade left intact, but the Austrian left flank is looking increasingly vulnerable. However, it’s the Austrian RIGHT flank that the French need to be rolling up!
Above: Back in the centre, the Austrian IR 62 came under intense French fire as soon as it left the cover of Caldiero. The regiment was then charged by Maurin’s cavalry brigade and has now fled back behind the village. Maurin charged on into the Austrian cavalry, but was forced to fall back following another indecisive clash and is now in the unfortunate position of having to rally under the muzzles of the Austrian 12pdrs!
Above: As Duhesme keeps the pressure on Reuss-Plauen’s retiring Austrian infantry in the marsh, Mermet’s Reserve Cavalry move to reinforce the centre and perhaps remove the Austrian cavalry threat once and for all.
Above: In front of the Colognola Heights, Molitor’s renewed attack is stalled yet again; this time by Austrian artillery fire from the redoubts. However, he’s now close enough to deploy his artillery and take some revenge on Simbschen’s infantry.
Above: The balance of Brun’s brigade (to whom Petit’s 52e de Ligne belonged) has finally crossed the river to reinforce Verdier. Ormancey’s cavalry brigade and a horse battery are still waiting to cross, but the horses are proving difficult to load on the barges.
Above: Duhesme’s infantry advance into the marsh, keeping the pressure on Reuss-Plauen and inflicting heavy casualties on the whitecoats.
Above: Nordmann has managed to rally the remnants of Siegenfeld’s Grenzer brigade, but his other Grenzer brigade is now outflanked, disordered and taking casualties from Verdier’s advancing infantry.
Above: “Dis bonjour à mon petit ami!”
Above: Seeing the Austrian 1st Chevauxlegers milling about in some disorder, d’Espagne seizes the opportunity and orders Debelle’s Chasseurs to strike! The 1st Chevauxlegers are destroyed and Debelle’s charge carries them into the freshly-disordered 4th Dragoons , who are thrown back through the 5th Dragoons. Debelle’s charge sadly runs out of steam at this point, but the Austrian cavalry are left disordered and unable to respond to the French attack.
Above: Mermet’s reserve cavalry move forward to exploit Debelle’s success in the centre.
Above: The 4th Dragoons lick their wounds well to the rear.
Above: At long last (over an hour late), Argentau’s Austrian Reserve Division arrives to stabilise the situation on the Austrian left.
Above: The cavalry battle may as well be on the Moon, as far as the French infantry are concerned… Compère’s brigade has finally been destroyed by the combined weight of fire of three Austrian cavalry batteries and Hertzberg’s grenadier brigade. The 2nd Italian Regiment moves to occupy their position on the left of Partouneaux’s line. Partouneaux’s grenadiers meanwhile, are still struggling to make headway against the village and Solignac’s brigade on the left has already suffered 25% losses.
With an eye on his place in history, Masséna rides up in his carriage and congratulates his divisional commanders on their defeat of the Austrian attack. “But Sir, I thought we were…”
“I was just about to write up your citation for the Légion d’Honneur…”
“Ah, yes… A great victory, Sir!”
Above: Meanwhile, Lindenau’s grenadiers sit in their trenches, get a brew on and wonder what all the noise is…
Above: “Adjutant, take down this dispatch to the Emperor: ‘Greetings Sire! I bring news of a great victory won by your brave soldiers under my command at the village of Caldiero…'”
Sadly, we had run out of club-time (again), so had to call it a day. It would have been interesting to see how the French attack on the Austrian left developed, but there was no way in Hell that the French could ever have achieved their objective of clearing Caldiero and the entrenchments!
All in all, this was a really enjoyable game, despite the attritional nature of the combat! It’s very easy to see why the Austrians defended this position and why historically it was something of a bloodbath, as in our game!
It would be fun to play this scenario again in the future, though this time binning the historical French deployment and instead concentrating all the French infantry on the left, leaving the cavalry to screen the right. Then take the Colognola Heights and attack downhill from there. I’d also abandon Verdier’s river-crossing and instead use Verdier’s division as part of the main assault. There’s also the option to recall Seras’ division from Verona.
My thanks to Trevor and Andy for their excellent company!
Models & Painting
The figures are almost all AB Figures 15mm from my own collection; the exception being Masséna’s carriage group, by Old Glory 15s. Most were painted by me, though a few infantry regiments on both sides (and Masséna) were painted by Gareth Beamish and the Italians were painted by Jase Evans.
My thanks to Phil Portway for the loan of his swamp!
It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas…
So to Christmas… I’ve sadly had to postpone the planned Kolin game until the New Year, though in a couple of weeks we will be refighting Cornwallis’ flank-attack at the Battle of the Brandywine in 1777, using British Grenadier! rules. This is always a fun scenario to play and I’ve already posted one such refight from 2008. I also played a mega-refight of the whole battle with Eclaireur, Brendan Morrissey, Giles Allison, the Perry Twins and others at one of our National Army Museum mega-games in 2005 or thereabouts. However, my last refight of the scenario was exactly ten years ago (Christmas 2012), when I played it with my Minions… 🙂
Although Zieten had pushed Nádasty’s hussars back as planned, Hülsen’s attack started to unravel almost immediately. Kutlire, Krzeczor and the ‘Swedish Works’ proved to be strongly held by the 2nd Banalisten Grenz Regiment, who inflicted heavy losses on the approaching Prussians, particularly in the vicinity of the strongly-held church. Daun, watching from the heights, is said to have exclaimed “My God! I think the King is going to lose today!”
In the meantime, Frederick had halted his army once again, to await the outcome of the flank-assault. For an hour, the Prussian infantry stood in column along the Kaisertstrasse, plagued by long-range sniping from swarms of grenzer hiding among the tall crops, as well as by desultory long-range artillery fire from the heights. At last, orders came from the King for Tresckow’s infantry to join the assault; they were to attack up the northern slope of Krzeczor Hill, thus supporting Hülsen’s right flank. The rest of the army was for the time being, to be refused, though the intention was still to march them to the left and exploit the hoped-for success of Hülsen’s attack.
Daun’s army had almost been destroyed by just three regiments of Prussian cavalry, but with no reserves coming up in support, Seydlitz was forced to break off the attack. Serbelloni once again plugged the gap with his cavalry, who again became magnets for the Prussian artillery. Safe from pursuit, Wied’s battalions began to rally. Daun in the meantime, ordered Puebla to bring his uncommitted infantry over to form a continuous line on Andlau’s left and ordered Stampach to launch an attack with his cavalry on the right flank of the Prussian assault.
With the Prussian infantry now fully engaged, Stampach began his advance against the Prussian right flank. However, Schönaich’s Prussian cavalry were in a good blocking position and were able to frustrate Stampach’s manoeuvre, though the Austrian ‘Hessen-Darmstädt’ Dragoons (DR 19) managed to slip through. The dragoons fell upon a single, isolated battalion which happened to be none other than Frederick’s personal bodyguard, the I. (Leibgarde) Battalion of the Garde-Regiment (IR 15). Finding themselves surrounded by enemy cavalry, the Guardsmen managed to turn their rear rank about to defend the rear, but were very badly cut up and even lost their pair of battalion guns to the dragoons.
At that moment, Serbelloni struck! Pennavaire’s cuirassiers, already blown and reeling from infantry volleys, were now charged from the front and on both flanks by an overwhelming number of Austrian and Saxon cavalry and were utterly routed, being pursued as far as the Kaiserstrasse! The ‘Prinz von Preussen’ Cuirassiers (CR 2) from Seydlitz’s command attempted to save the situation but were broken by fire from Starhemberg’s infantry and artillery and also joined the rout. These fleeing cuirassiers disrupted Tresckow’s infantry as they fled, leaving them in no state to withstand being attacked from the rear by the Austrian and Saxon cavalry, who were now returning from their pursuit of Pennavaire. Three battalions were completely destroyed and Tresckow himself was captured.
As evening started to fall, Frederick made a last roll of the dice. Assembling a force of seventeen battalions and the ‘Driesen’ Cuirassiers (CR 7) from the right flank and Normann’s pair of uncommitted dragoon regiments from the left, he launched yet another assault on the Krzeczor Hill. This new assault actually achieved some success against the exhausted Austrians, but once again the superb ‘Botta’ Infantry Regiment and the ‘Soro’ Grenadiers held firm. Andlau’s division now advanced from Przerovsky Hill and the Prussian infantry were forced to wheel to their right to meet them. This gave Serbelloni the perfect opportunity to charge the open Prussian left flank with as many cavalry as he could muster.
Frederick meanwhile, as at Mollwitz in 1740, had already exited stage-left, escorted by the squadron of the Garde du Corps Cuirassiers. What was left of the army was ordered to retreat to northern Bohemia and the corps besieging Prague was ordered to break off the siege and rejoin the King.
Order of Battle of the Prussian Army
Prussian Notes
Austrian Notes
Evidence for the uniforms worn by the two Mainz regiments is extremely scant, being limited to just two 19th Century German cigarette cards painted by Richard Knötel (shown above); one showing a musketeer of the ‘Lamberg’ Regiment in blue facings and the other showing a grenadier of the ‘Kurmainz’ Regiment in green facings. There is also a Richard Knötel print showing various uniforms of the Reichsarmee, again showing a grenadier of the ‘Kurmainz’ Regiment. However, we simply don’t know what Knōtel’s sources were. 
According to the cigarette card painting, the regiment’s coats were white, with lapels, cuffs and linings and in dark blue with white metal buttons and without lace. The buttons were grouped in pairs on the lapels and the Swedish cuffs each had three buttons. Waistcoats were dark blue and breeches were straw. Neck-stocks and gaiters were black. Belts were white. Hats had white lace edging with blue-over-white pompoms.
It’s anyone’s guess what the dress was for officers and drummers, but I’ve given the officers metallic hat-lace and Austrian-style yellow sashes, while the drummers have white coats with blue lace. The drummers could just as easily have worn reversed colours, the personal livery of General Lamberg or the Archbishop, or something else entirely.
Above: The 
Above: The Gens d’Armes wore the typical pale straw-coloured Prussian cuirassier uniform, with collar, cuffs and cummerbund in red. Tail-turnbacks and shoulder-straps were pale straw. The cuffs, front-seam and tail-turnbacks were edged with regimental lace, which was red with a central yellow stripe. Buttons were yellow metal. Crossbelts and cartridge-boxes were white, edged with regimental lace. A black-enamelled cuirass was worn over the coat; this was edged in red and was held in place with white straps. Hats did not have lace edging, but did have black cockades and white corner-rosettes.
Above: Sabretaches were red, edged with regimental lace and decorated with the crowned ‘FR’ cypher in yellow.
Above: Horse-furniture was blue, edged with red lace, with three narrow yellow stripes, which as usual is impossible to paint at this scale! As always, you have the choice to either do a simplified version of the lace (as here), or an ‘average’ colour to represent how it looks at a distance (i.e. orange). Having decided to go for the simplified option with a single stripe, I unfortunately misread a colour plate; it looked like red stripes on yellow, so that’s what I did.
Above: As with all Prussian dragoon regiments of the period, the ‘Blanckensee’ Dragoons wore a distinctive cobalt blue coat. When I last painted Prussian dragoons (1995 or thereabouts), I was for some reason, using a lurid acrylic ‘electric’ blue, as shown in 
Above: The collar, cuffs, lapels and tail-turnbacks of the ‘Blanckensee’ Dragoons were white, the shoulder-strap was blue, buttons were yellow metal and a yellow aiguilette was worn behind the right shoulder. Officers had gold Brandenburg-style buttonhole lace and drummers’ lace was white with yellow stripes. Smallclothes were straw. The hat was unlaced, but had a black cockade and red corner-rosettes.
Above: The ‘Blanckensee’ Dragoons’ horse furniture was white, edged with three narrow stripes in cobalt blue. The ‘FR’ cypher, coloured cobalt blue, was displayed at the rear corners of the shabraque and on the holster covers.
However, on 12th November 1757, Warnery along with half of his regiment, fell into Austrian hands when the fortress of Schweidnitz surrendered. Warnery was exchanged the following year, but had to endure a court-martial, at which he was cleared of any culpability for the surrender of the fortress. However, other officers were not so lucky and Warnery appealed to the court for his brother officers to also be cleared. In this he was unsuccessful and, considering this to be a stain upon his honour, Warnery resigned from Prussian service and retired to his wife’s Polish estates. There he became a celebrated military writer (his books included the excellent 
Above: At the start of the Seven Years War, each Prussian hussar regiment had ten squadrons, each of 115-116 men. This strength increased fairly randomly during the war from regiment to regiment, with most regiments having around 140-150 men per squadron (141 men being recorded for the ‘Möhring’ Hussars in 1759), which was significantly weaker than the average squadron strength of the cuirassiers and dragoons. In game terms, each hussar regiment usually operates as two five-squadron ‘battalions’ of 12 figures, as shown here, though an understrength regiment might operate as a single Large 16-figure unit, depending on the scenario.
Above: The ‘Wartenberg’ Hussars wore a white dolman with yellow cuffs and collar and a blue pelisse with white fur edging (NCOs had brown fox-fur). Braid was yellow and buttons were yellow metal. Officers had gold braid, with a gold lace ‘frame’ around the braiding on the breast. Breeches were straw and the schalavary leggings were blue with yellow lace edging. Some sources show white edging and tassels to the boots, but there is some suggestion that these were a later addition, so I’ve left the boots plain. The barrel-sash was white and yellow (some sources show white and blue), with white ‘whips’, though officers had silver barrel-sashes.
Above: The ‘Wartenberg’ Hussars wore dark brown busbies with plain white bags and white cords and flounders. Officers had gold cords and flounders. However, I noticed after painting these that Bleckwenn shows the trumpeters as wearing black mirlitons with short yellow plumes. It also shows the trumpeters’ lace and braid as mixed red & yellow (I did plain yellow – bah!).
Above: Shabraques were blue with white vandycking, piped yellow. Officers’ shabraques had gold piping and were decorated at the front and rear corners with a white shield, edged and crowned with gold, bearing a black eagle.
Above: Sabretaches were yellow, edged with white lace and decorated with the ‘FR’ cypher in white. They seem to have had a vandycked edge during the 1740s, but changed to a straight lace edge by the time of the Seven Years War. Officers’ sabretaches were edged with gold and were decorated with the same crowned eagle-on-shield design used to decorate their shabraques.
In 
Note also that Mark didn’t make any comment regarding the deployment of Stark’s two artillery batteries, so I just placed them on the flanks of his line. Feel free to stick them wherever you want within Stark’s deployment area.
Above: The Calm Before the Storm. This was the best I could do with the fortifications very kindly loaned by Phil Portway. The fort itself looks fine, though the gateway should be mid-way along the parapet, according to the Page Map. However, we didn’t have suitable terrain-pieces to make the flêches, so had to make do with a straight length of parapet.
Above: The view from behind rebel tax-evader lines. The forces of monarchy, order and stability mass in the distance. The green patches on the left are areas of soggy ground, where clay was extracted for making bricks (the brick kilns themselves being in the middle of the British start-line, though I don’t have any suitable models).
Above: Stark’s brigade masses along the ‘rail fence’. According to Mark Hayes’ research, this was actually a stone wall, topped with rails and with another fence immediately in front, with the gap between the two stuffed with hay, so it was a significant obstacle.
Above: The British have decided to ignore Stark’s fence-line position and instead decide to throw everything against the redoubt, supported by the artillery firing from the high ground to their rear. On the right, Howe has ordered the Light Infantry Battalion to disperse into skirmish order, to screen the advance of the Grenadier Battalion and a battalion formed by the combined 5th & 52nd Regiments of Foot.
Above: On the left is Pigot’s brigade, consisting of the 38th Foot (yellow regimental colour), 43rd Foot (firing at the redoubt), the 1st Battalion of Marines (in the left-foreground) and a detachment of Light Infantry (skirmishers). They also have a battery of 6pdrs, but the guns presently lack ammunition.
Above: As the British approach the redoubt, Gridley’s Battery and Frye’s Regiment open fire.
Above: On the British left and as 12pdr rounds whistle overhead, the 43rd disregard the paltry rebel artillery to open a lively fire upon the defenders.
Above: On the right, the swarm of British Light Infantry causes considerable disruption among Frye’s men defending the projecting ‘wing’ of the redoubt. Concerned that Frye might be wavering, both Prescott and Putnam ride over to steady the troops.
Above: Howe urges the 5th/52nd and Grenadiers onward to glory!
Above: Observing the distant British movements, Stark remains unengaged. He sends a request for orders, but with Putnam embroiled in the firefight for the redoubt, there is no reply.
Above: In the flêches, the Massachusetts Militia stand ready to counter any British move around the flank, but as the firefight intensifies in Frye’s sector, that looks to be increasingly unlikely. These lads carry the famous ‘Bunker Hill Flag’ that was known to be carried by the Massachusetts Militia on the day.
Above: In British Grenadier! rules, hits from fire initially become ‘Disruption Points’ (DPs), with three DPs being the maximum. DPs can also be accrued from movement, passing through rough terrain, crossing breastworks, etc. Any hits on a unit that already has three DPs then become permanent hits. Frye’s Regiment defending the breastwork, here has two DPs, as indicated by the two dots on the marker.
Above: Putnam and Prescott ride forward to steady Frye’s beleaguered regiment. In British Grenadier! a unit can rally off DPs at the end of the turn, provided it has remained stationary and not in mêlée. Units of Line class may then rally off 1 DP, while Elite class units may rally off 2 DPs. Units of 2nd Line class may rally off 1 DP, provided they are not in a position that could be charged next turn. Attached Brigadiers and/or C-in-Cs will also rally off 1 DP each. Militia Class units therefore absolutely require an attached general in order to remove DPs, hence the personal intervention of both Putnam and Prescott. This of course, carries with it some personal risk for those generals.
Above: Within the main redoubt, Prescott’s Regiment (here depicted by a red-coated unit) and Bridge’s Regiment (in the foreground) remain largely unengaged, except for some desultory long-range musketry. However, that is all about to change…
Above: On Morton’s Hill, the British artillery has been hammering away at Frye’s Regiment. However, as the Light Infantry climb Breed’s Hill the guns are forced to switch their fire to Prescott’s Regiment on the left.
Above: The Grenadier Battalion, resplendent in bearskin caps, follows in the wake of the skirmish screen.
Above: Risking life and limb, Putnam personally inspires Frye’s Regiment to stand their ground. Putnam is actually my George Washington, complete with headquarters flags. I really do need to paint an alternative American army commander base!
Above: Pigot’s brigade is struggling to push forward in the face of stiffening American fire. The 43rd in particular, are starting to suffer significant losses and Pigot rides forward to steady them. On the left, the Light Infantry detachment is pinned down by effective fire from Robinson’s Detachment of American skirmishers. Unwilling to wait any longer for the Light Infantry to make headway, the 1st Marines move forward, intending to push on through the skirmish screen.
Above: Over on the right, the 5th/52nd Foot have already passed through their skirmish-screen and soon become engaged in a vicious, short-range firefight with Frye’s Regiment.
Above: Almost the whole British line is now poised to launch its assault on the redoubt, though stiff fire from the defenders is making it difficult for the British to coordinate their attacks.
Above: Urged on by the senior commanders, Frye’s Regiment pours a withering hail of fire into the 5th/52nd Foot, cutting down around 20% of their number!
Above: However, the Americans aren’t getting it all their own way, as the 12pdrs fire at Prescott’s Regiment, smashing whole sections of the parapet and bowling down files of men…
Above: The 38th and 43rd follow up with a pair of devastating volleys (three double-sixes in a row!).
Above: The astonishing weight of fire suddenly poured into Prescott’s Regiment cuts down scores of men, leaving half of them dead or wounded! The surviving officers attempt in vain to hold the shocked survivors, but to no avail. The survivors flee from the fort, the officers among them!
Above: The departure of Prescott’s Regiment leaves a yawning gap on the parapet between Sam Gridley’s tiny battery and Frye’s Regiment. Bridge’s Regiment is unengaged on the flank, but will take a little time to shift across to the threatened parapet. In the meantime, Sam Gridley’s gunners will have to hold as best they can.
Above: Frye’s Regiment, already heavily engaged, is in no place to plug the gap! Prescott orders one of the unengaged regiments from the flêches to enter the redoubt, but that too will take time to achieve.
Above: However, Fortune is fickle and she now smiles on the defenders, as the 5th/52nd Foor break and run!
Above: The Grenadiers , who should have been closely supporting the assault, have been delayed by a combination of bad terrain, bad luck and long-range harassing fire from Stark’s light artillery, which causes a steady trickle of casualties.
Above: Stark, seeing the British attack starting to waver, decides that he can’t wait any longer for orders to come from Putnam and instead orders his brigade to attack the weakened British right flank.
Above: Astonishingly, the 38th and 43rd Regiments completely fail to take advantage of the open goal before them and instead continue their cautious advance up the slope to the glacis. The 1st Marines meanwhile, push through the rallying Light Infantry to join the assault.
Above: Frye’s Regiment once again becomes the focus for large numbers of British skirmishers and loses a few men, though fires yet another devastating volley, cutting down a number of their tormentors!
Above: To the rear of the parapet, Doolittle and Brewer move their militia into the redoubt.
Above: Bridge meanwhile, has managed to form his regiment into a new line, facing the empty parapet.
Above: Robinson’s Detachment meanwhile, continues to be a major thorn in the side of the British left flank. However, help is at hand for the British, as Clinton’s brigade (63rd Foot & 2nd Marines) has arrived and is marching to join the assault. The 6pdr Battery has also finally received its ammunition and is marching to support the British right flank against the new threat posed by Stark’s advance.
Above: However, Stark’s advance has been slowed somewhat by having to climb over their fortification while under long-range heavy artillery fire from Morton’s Hill.
Above: Stark brings his left-flanking battalion in to form a brigade reserve.
Above: Although the 5th/52nd Foot are in retreat, the rest of the British line is finally poised to launch a single massive attack on the redoubt. Howe meanwhile, rides over to steady the Grenadiers. What happens next will decide the day!
Above: With Howe’s attention fixed on getting the Grenadiers to move forward, the 5th/52nd Foot rout!
Above: The 43rd Foot, having already suffered heavy losses from Gridey’s artillery and now seeing friendly troops routing, decide that have also had enough and join the rout!
Above: With the 38th Foot pinned down by fire, the 1st Marines launch a desperate charge on Gridley’s artillery.
Above: However, the Marines have already suffered considerable disruption thanks to Robinson’s skirmishers and as they reach the parapet, a whiff of grapeshot from Gridley’s 3pdrs cuts great swathes through their ranks!
Above: With a third of the Marines cut down during their charge, they too join the rout, fleeing past the startled 2nd Marines! With two-thirds of his formed units now fleeing for their lives, Brigadier Pigot loses his nerve! The survivors of the 43rd Foot and 1st Marines disperse and flee in panic to the boats that will carry them back to safety! The 38th Foot and the left-flank Light Infantry detachment meanwhile, fall back from Breed’s Hill, leaving Howe’s right-flanking brigade alone on the slope of the hill.
Above: As Doolittle’s Regiment fills the redoubt to their rear, Bridge’s Regiment finally regains possession of the parapet and the redoubt is safe!
Well after two postponements, we finally got to play our 
* The Battle of Bunker Hill was actually fought on Breed’s Hill. The battle was mis-named partly because Colonel William Prescott, having been ordered to fortify Bunker Hill (which stands a short distance to the north), decided instead to fortify Breed’s Hill, but the historical record still showed that he had been sent to Bunker Hill. To compound this, a British map of the battle drawn by one Lieutenant Page (shown below) mistakenly reversed the names of the hills and so the name ‘Bunker Hill’ stuck!
We based the shape of the redoubt in our scenario map on Lieutenant Page’s well-known map above. However, Page doesn’t show the well-documented flanking ‘flêches’, instead showing a straight breastwork. To add further confusion, another diagram of the redoubt (shown below) looks absolutely nothing whatsoever like the one shown on Page’s map!
Suffice to say, there is considerable disagreement in the sources, so feel free to make it up…
As recently mentioned, I was getting a bit bored with all those tricorn hats and mitre caps of the Seven Years War, so decided to dig out my old 28mm AWI collection with its TOTALLY different tricorn hats and mitre caps…
There were four Hessian combined grenadier battalions in North America. Three (initially titled ‘von Block’, ‘von Minnigerode’ and ‘von Linsing’) were formed from the detached grenadier companies of line infantry (musketeer & fusilier) regiments and the fourth (initially titled ‘von Köhler’) was formed from the grenadiers of three garrison infantry regiments and the ‘flank’ grenadier company of the Grenadier Regiment ‘Rall’.
Having fought under Cornwallis’ command for the remainder of the New York Campaign, Donop’s brigade continued to serve under Cornwallis for the remainder of 1776 and the invasion of New Jersey. During this time they were reinforced by the Grenadier Battalion ‘von Köhler’ and 42nd Highlanders.
Above: When I was first building my Hessian force, neither 
Above: The Grenadier Battalion ‘von Block’, commanded by Oberstleutnant Justus Heinrich von Block, was formed from the Grenadier Companies of the Musketeer Regiments ‘von Wutginau’, ‘von Donop’, ‘von Trumbach’ and ‘Prinz Carl’. Command of the battalion changed in 1777 to Oberstleutnant Georg Emanuel von Lengerke and the battalion was thereafter known as ‘von Lengerke’.
Above: The grenadiers of the ‘von Wutginau’ Regiment (here on the right of the photo or the left flank of the line) had red cuffs, but no lapels. On each side of the breast were four pairs of white lace buttonholes and a pair above each cuff. Smallclothes were pale straw.
Above: On the right of the line is the grenadier company of the ‘von Trumbach’ Regiment (who became the ‘von Bose’ Regiment in 1778). They had white facings and smallclothes. They also had a pair of white lace buttonholes below each lapel and above each cuff.
Above: A rear view of the ‘von Block’ Grenadiers, showing the colours of the mitre-caps. The front-plate and band of the cap always matched the regimental ‘metal’ colour, which here was yellow for all four regiments. The cap of the ‘von Wutginau’ Regiment (here on the left) had a red bag, piped yellow and a white pompom with a yellow centre. The ‘Prinz Carl’ Regiment had the same colourings, though with a light blue pompom. The ‘von Donop’ Regiment had a straw bag with yellow piping and pompom. Lastly, the ‘von Trumbach’ Regiment had a white bag with red piping and pompom.
Above: The Grenadier Battalion ‘von Minnigerode’ was initially commanded by Oberst Friedrich Ludwig von Minnigerode and consisted of the Grenadier Companies of the Fusilier Regiments ‘Erbprinz’, ‘von Ditfurth’, ‘von Lossberg’ and ‘von Knyphausen’. In 1780 command of the battalion passed to Oberst Wilhelm von Löwenstein and was thereafter known as Grenadier Battalion ‘von Löwenstein’.
Above: The ‘Erbprinz’ Regiment had crimson facings decorated with white buttonhole lace, white ‘metal’ and white smallclothes. The officers’ uniform should be decorated with silver buttonhole lace, but Hessian officers, like their British comrades, tended to remove their coat-lace while on campaign in America. It’s often said that this was done to avoid marking them out as officers to enemy marksmen, but the retention of their gorget and silver & red striped officers’ sash would tend to make that rather pointless! Silver and gold lace buttonholes were expensive items, so they were probably removed merely to save them from being lost or tarnished on campaign.
Above: The grenadiers of the ‘von Ditfurth’ Regiment had yellow facings, with white lace edging to the lapels and cuffs. ‘Metal’ was white and smallclothes were white.
Above: On the opposite flank of the line stand the grenadiers of the ‘von Lossberg’ Regiment. This regiment had orange facings without lace decoration, yellow ‘metal’ and white smallclothes. The NCO on the flank has gold lace edging to cuffs and lapels as a mark of his rank.
Above: For some reason I didn’t do a close-up of the ‘von Knyphausen’ Regiment’s grenadiers. They had black facings without lace, yellow ‘metal’ and pale straw smallclothes. They’re the second base from the left, including the gauntleted officer firing his musketoon.
Above: A rear view of the ‘von Minnigerode’ Grenadiers, showing the colourings of grenadier caps and tail-turnbacks. The caps of the ‘Erbprinz’, ‘von Ditfurth’ and ‘von Lossberg’ Regiments each had a bag in the regimental facing colour, with a facing-coloured pompom and white piping. The caps of the ‘von Knyphausen’ Regiment had a pale straw bag and pompom, with red piping.
Above: The Grenadier Battalion ‘von Linsing’ (also referred to as ‘Linsingen’) was commanded by Oberstleutnant Johann Wilhem von Linsing (or possibly ‘Linsingen’) and consisted of the Grenadier Companies of the 2nd & 3rd Battalions of the Guard and the Musketeer Regiments ‘Leib’ and ‘von Mirbach’.
Above: Another view of the Grenadier Battalion ‘von Linsing’. I do love these goose-stepping Hessians… 🙂
Above: The grenadiers of the 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the Guard Regiment wore near-identical uniforms, namely red facings with broad white buttonhole lace, white ‘metal’ and lemon yellow smallclothes. Most unusually, the red & white-striped ‘lion rampant’ of Hesse was enameled in full colour on the front-plate of their caps (for all other regiments the badges were merely embossed). Both units had red bags to their caps, piped white with a white pompom.
Above: The grenadiers of the ‘Leib’ Regiment had lemon yellow facings, white buttonhole lace, white ‘metal’ and lemon yellow smallclothes.
Above: The grenadiers of the ‘von Mirbach’ Regiment had poppy red facings with white lace edging, white ‘metal’ and white smallclothes. In 1780 the ‘von Mirbach’ Regiment became the ‘von Jung-Lossberg’ Regiment.
Above: A rear view of the Grenadier Battalion ‘von Linsing’. All four constituent regiments had poppy red tail-turnbacks and white ‘metal’. The ‘Leib’ Regiment had a yellow bag to its grenadier cap, which was piped white with a white pompom. The other three regiments all had a poppy red bag with white piping. The 2nd & 3rd Guards had a white pompom, while the ‘von Mirbach’ Regiment had a light blue pompom.
Prior to 
Above: Grenadier Battalion ‘Wedell’ (1/23) was formed from the combined grenadier companies of the 
Above: Both constituent regiments had red, Brandenburg-style cuffs, linings and neck-stocks, with white small-clothes, white ‘metal’ and a blue shoulder-strap. The men of IR 1 also had red lapels and collar. Both regiments had simple white lace buttonholes, with three pairs on each side of the breast/lapels and one pair below, with another pair above each cuff. IR 1 also had a pair of lace buttonholes on each tail-pocket. The officers of IR 1 had silver lace edging to the lapels and cuffs, while the officers of IR 23 had silver lace buttonholes.
Above: Both regiments had silver-fronted caps with a blue back and white band. Those of IR 1 had white piping with a white pompom. Those of IR 23 had red piping and a white pompom with a speckled red top (appearing pink at a distance).
Above: My Garde Regiment has a complicated history… I initially painted the I. Leibgarde Battalion in 1996 or thereabouts (using the ‘corn-fed’ Lancashire Games Mk 2 figures) for a big club demo-game of the Battle of Kolin. I then added the III. Battalion at some point using Old Glory 15s figures, but never got around to painting the II. Battalion. Then this year in a fit of enthusiasm, I decided to 
Above: In full dress, the 
Above: The 
Above: The 
Above: The grenadier cap of the III. Battalion of the Garde had a silver front, an ornate silver band, a yellow cloth back, piped silver and a white pompom with yellow centre. The detached flank-grenadier company wore the same cap as the other battalions (having a red back with white pompom and red centre).
In 
The artillery held a very high status in the Hanoverian army, but was consequently very conservative and resisted efforts at modernisation. For example, 3pdr guns were retained as battalion guns throughout the Seven Years War, whereas the British and Prussian armies were moving toward 6pdr pieces in that role (Hanoverian 6pdrs were heavy pieces, being only used for position battery work). They also resisted a proposed move to the excellent and much lighter/shorter Schaumburg-Lippe-Bückeburg 12pdr for their heavy position batteries. Hanoverian guns and carriages were therefore generally heavier and more old-fashioned than their peers. Nevertheless, the Hanoverian artillery remained numerous and effective throughout the Seven Years War.
As with the rest of the Hanoverian army, artillery uniforms were very British in cut, though colourings were markedly different (the figure on the left in the painting above is a Hanoverian artilleryman and the other two figures are Hanoverian Foot Guards). The coat was a distinctive light blue colour, with lapels, cuffs and linings in red (no collar, shoulder-straps or lace). Sources are split on button-colour; Kronoskaf says white metal, but all the pictorial evidence suggests yellow metal, which also matches the gold-yellow hat-lace. I’ve gone with yellow metal.
Waistcoats were red. Breeches and belts were buff. Gaiters were white, secured below the knee with a buff leather strap. They also wore a belly-box in either buff or whitened leather, decorated with a yellow metal badge (shown variously as either a crowned circular Badge of Hanover or as a flaming grenade).
Guns were polished brass, while gun-carriages and equipment were painted red, with black ironwork. These are a mixture of 
Anyway, that’s it for now! There’s more SYW to come (isn’t there always…?), including freshly-painted Hanoverian cavalry, a load of Prussians, and some more Reichsarmee. I’ll also be photographing my old 28mm AWI collection over the next few weeks and we’ll be refighting the Battle of Bunker/Breed’s Hill later in the month.