| The voltigeurs were a new branch of infantry and were introduced by Napoleon in 1803. The Decree issued in March 1803 ordered raising a 10th Company in the regiments of light infantry. These were voltigeurs and were formed by taking the 6 smallest men from every chasseur company in the battalion. In December was decided that the voltigeurs won't be taller than 4'11' (French) and their officers not exceed 5'. In regiments of line infantry the 3rd Fusilier Company became Voltigeur Company. In 1805-1806 was introduced requirement of 2 years of excellent service for being admitted into voltigeurs. In 1808 the voltigeurs were officially assigned to the left of battalion line (on the right flank stood the robust grenadiers). In 1809-1810 the voltigeurs were granted a higher pay. The voltigeurs were the best suited troopers for skirmishing, ladder climbing, urban combat, and for scouting. The voltigeurs were trained in firing rapidly and accurately and were expected to be able to march at the trot. Napoleon also wanted them to vault up behind cavalrymen on horses but in real combat this happened only very few times. Sometimes the voltigeur companies were detached from their parent battalions and formed in large formations for specific tasks. Chlapowski writes: "... the Emperor himself arrived there and sent Talhouet with 200 voltigeurs across the Danube River on boats to the crossroads of Pratern. From there, Pourtales, who was Berthier's ADC, then swam with a dozen or so voltigeurs across the stretch of the Danube separating Pratern from Vienna. This all happened as night was falling." (Chlapowski, - p 65) On May 18th 1809 groups of voltigeurs rowed across the Danube River carrying a cable that would support the bridge to the Island of Lobau (this bridge would lead to the Austrian-held shore). These voltigeurs cleared the island and construction of the bridge began. To protect the pontonniers, Major Sainte-Croix (ADC to Massena) took 200 voltigeurs across Danube River to the right bank. Meanwhile the pontonniers were able to complete the bridge. According to Austrian historian Rothenberg in Wagram Col. Sainte-Croix with 2,500 voltigeurs (!) and 10 guns were ordered to cross the Danube River and establish a small bridgehead. The voltigeurs were carried in specially constructed barges also with bulletproof shielding. The surprised Austrians offered little opposition with only their jagers operating in small clumps in the woods had fought well. (Rothenberg - "The Emperor's Last Victory" pp 158-159) In 1812 before the three bridges were thrown over the Niemen River, 3 companies of voltigeurs of 13th Light Regiment crossed silently in skiffs and landed on the Russian bank. They took cover behind a little escarpment formed by the river and looked for the enemy's scouts and light artillery. | (https://www.fsegames.eu/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1152.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fp492%2FRonan6793%2FHERPDERP_zps72d36a6a.png&hash=2fdb1a760514d52e57a0b0f5ed495a40115cf009) |
| (https://www.fsegames.eu/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1152.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fp492%2FRonan6793%2FHERPDERP3_zpsc9eb3327.png&hash=cc44cc44e0702d3981d8a6680c35df13faa8fb94) | Theoreteically voltigeurs were armed with 141.7 cm long dragoon muskets (it was a shorter version of musket, easier to load and carry for the short man). But it was rare and voltigeurs were armed as the rest of infantry, with long muskets. They also carried a bayonet and short saber. The voltigeurs distinguished themselves by wearing yellow collars, and yellow-red or yellow-green epaulettes. Wearing epaulettes by voltigeurs was never oficially allowed - actually it was prohibited. The Ministry of War even complained that voltigeurs were "entitled to no other dress distinctions than yellow collar." Order issued in September 1808 prohibited the use of regimental funds for the purchase of epaulettes for voltigeurs. Between 1804 and 1809 some voltigeurs wore the unofficial colpacks, sort of fur cap replaced by 1809 with shakos. Battle Honours
Average height of infantryman: LIGHT carabinier - 168.25 cm chasseur - 162.98 cm voltigeur - 158.1 cm (Average height taken from 900 recruits) |
| Just as modern company commander relies on his radio operator, his Napoleonic counterpart depended on his drummers and cornets. During a battle it was very noisy and not everyone could hear a officer's voice. For this reason every company had drummers and cornets. They also performed a service that went beyond supplying a rhythmic musical accompaniment to the marching infantry. The musicians carried wounded officers out of danger zone and after battle stacking their drums, they would await the grim task of carrying their stricken comrades to field hospitals. The musiacians occupied a central place in the life of the troop during peacetime for they signalled the routine of the day, the posts, reveille, reviews etc. Drummers Each company had 2-3 drummers. But the drum was an unhandy, heavy instrument and for this reason the "brave little drummer boy" of tradition was not much use on napoleonic battlefield. Training of drummers was largely oral, mouth-to-ear. Occasionally, with a slow learner, the technique could be hand-to-ear ;=) The drummers had to master an often bewildering litany of commands and especially the beginners had difficulties with holding the drumstick properly without hitting the rim of the drum as often as the drum-head, which would bring down upon them a reprimand from the instructor, or in some cases a rap across the knuckles for some persistently awkward boy. Generally the drummers were not necessarily boys. For example at Waterloo the average age of the drummers in the British II/73rd Foot was 23, and had an average of 8 years service each. When 13-year-old Parisian street urchin, by name Victor, wanted to join the 5th Regiment of Tirailleurs (Young Guard) as a drummer-boy, he was turned down because of his tender age and puny physique. Cornets According to Colonel John Elting (USA) during 1804-5 first the light infantry regiments and then the voltigeur companies of the line regiments had them replaced by cornets. Those were "hunting horns" with circular tubing and a flaring bell. The cornets were "immediately and immensely unpopular" ; their tone squeaky and "far more productive of laughter than martial fury." Nothing seems to have been done officially, but all light regiments gradually recovered their drums. The cornets remained, at least for show. Musicians (Regimental Band) Officially there were also 8 musicians per infantry regiment but colonels often increased their numbers to 20-30. During a bigger battle the regimental bands were often grouped to form massed big bands. The infantry sang the songs refrain. The band played when troops waited for action or marched behind the advancing battalions. In 1812 the bands were playing and marching in front of their parent regiments. The army was crossing the Niemen River and border of Russia and it was a very important moment. In 1813 at the city of Dresden the sounds of regimental bands came out of the suburbs. It was the Imperial Guard advancing out of the city and against the Russians and Prussians. In 1815 at Ligny the band of 23rd Line Regiment played when battalions marched in columns proceded by skirmishers. But most often the band was left behind the attacking troops once they got into the fire zone. The musicians didn't participate in all the actions. At Borodino the bands played before battle. "Before dawn on 7 Sept the bands on the right flank began playing the reveillle to wake up the infantry, and it was gradually picked up all along the line. They pleyed the most rousing pieces. Music does a great deal to prepare the spirit for battle. ..." (Chlapowski, - p 116) | (https://www.fsegames.eu/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.napolun.com%2Fmirror%2Fweb2.airmail.net%2Fnapoleon%2Fdrummer.jpg&hash=9ec47407f7222548a9a897f0d27de493b067a376) (https://www.fsegames.eu/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1152.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fp492%2FRonan6793%2FHERPDERP2_zpsaece1858.png&hash=399d0a0361bfda546d1733e78c4641fe3c1f16ff) |
| (https://www.fsegames.eu/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1152.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fp492%2FRonan6793%2FHERPDERP5_zps23fc604a.png&hash=211e0cfbd88f9e77ff93cee438a107451ddb4438) | Musket and Bayonet. These smoothbore muskets were named after the armory in Charleville, France. It was also distributed to the Americans, and later became the basis for the pattern of the Springfield Musket of 1795. Some of the unique elements of the 1777 Charleville model are the finger ridges on the trigger guard, the brass frizzen, and the cheek piece carved in the stock's butt with a straighten frizzen cover and slightly different front band. The 1777 Charleville was considered by most Europeans as the best musket in the world. Ammunition was carried in cartridge box. It was called giberne and was carried by all infantry and cavalry. For campaign the cartridge box (or rather the large outside flap) was covered by 'white' fabric covers made of undyed linen. On the cover was painted regimental and battalion number. Short Saber. Officiallty the short sabersbriquetes were issued only to the elite companies of battalions and the Imperial Guard. Unoficially also the voltigeurs and chasseurs carried them. The sabers were of very little value in combat and a burden during skirmishing but the soldiers liked them. Maybe it was a question of status, the 'noble' cavalryman carried sabers so why not we infantrymen, right ? These sabers were mostly used in the camp although they were kept during combat. Sometimes the troops left their sabers in depots before marched into the field. (For example before Fuentes de Onoro the French infantrymen left their sabers in depots. The 2nd Conscript Regiment of Young Guard in Spain left them behind while being on campaign of pursuing the Spanish guerillas across rough terrain.) The Decree of 27th October 1807 forbade the voltigeurs to be armed with the sabers. Of course none of the guys took it very seriously and they kept their mini-weapons until 1815. Also the center companies (chasseurs) of light infantry regiments had to give up their sabers in 1807. But in some regiments it brought little result so the order was repeated in 1815. Only NCOs, grenadiers (carabiniers) and musicians were officially allowed to be armed with short sabers. |
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[li]Can you atleast attend one event a week?[/li][/list]| Officers (https://www.fsegames.eu/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1152.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fp492%2FRonan6793%2FOfficer_zps0da23cbd.png&hash=4f21757d13fe88b5cb768c7fa2730512c39135b2) Capitaine Pruski | (https://www.fsegames.eu/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1152.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fp492%2FRonan6793%2FHERPDERP3_zpsc9eb33273_zps0115f4e8.png&hash=b637bd76187ef7b7297844c333368130aefd1428) | NCO's (https://www.fsegames.eu/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1152.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fp492%2FRonan6793%2FMike_zps00d8ce68.png&hash=2e0feb0f4005868c1b8aea7fd279a69fd5721ef7) Sergeant Mike (https://www.fsegames.eu/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1152.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fp492%2FRonan6793%2FMike_zps00d8ce68.png&hash=2e0feb0f4005868c1b8aea7fd279a69fd5721ef7) Caporal Ronan | (https://www.fsegames.eu/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1152.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fp492%2FRonan6793%2FHERPDERP3_zpsc9eb33272_zps5154ddfb.png&hash=ee184abed12ab968fd676ce4c670d9b175338b76) | Enlisted (https://www.fsegames.eu/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1152.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fp492%2FRonan6793%2FUs_zps0206a8c2.png&hash=7d4ec81983a6bfc5731b1533b7453b952180700d) Fusilier de Veteran Gavin (https://www.fsegames.eu/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1152.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fp492%2FRonan6793%2FUs_zps0206a8c2.png&hash=7d4ec81983a6bfc5731b1533b7453b952180700d) Fusilier de Veteran Raven (https://www.fsegames.eu/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1152.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fp492%2FRonan6793%2FUs_zps0206a8c2.png&hash=7d4ec81983a6bfc5731b1533b7453b952180700d) Fusilier de Tirailleur Santix (https://www.fsegames.eu/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1152.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fp492%2FRonan6793%2FUs_zps0206a8c2.png&hash=7d4ec81983a6bfc5731b1533b7453b952180700d) Fusilier Krytinim (https://www.fsegames.eu/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1152.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fp492%2FRonan6793%2FUs_zps0206a8c2.png&hash=7d4ec81983a6bfc5731b1533b7453b952180700d) Fusilier Fred (https://www.fsegames.eu/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1152.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fp492%2FRonan6793%2FUs_zps0206a8c2.png&hash=7d4ec81983a6bfc5731b1533b7453b952180700d) Fusilier Arc (https://www.fsegames.eu/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1152.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fp492%2FRonan6793%2FUs_zps0206a8c2.png&hash=7d4ec81983a6bfc5731b1533b7453b952180700d) Fusilier Owen (https://www.fsegames.eu/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1152.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fp492%2FRonan6793%2FUs_zps0206a8c2.png&hash=7d4ec81983a6bfc5731b1533b7453b952180700d) Fusilier Fox (https://www.fsegames.eu/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1152.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fp492%2FRonan6793%2FUs_zps0206a8c2.png&hash=7d4ec81983a6bfc5731b1533b7453b952180700d) Fusilier PicketingOne (https://www.fsegames.eu/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1152.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fp492%2FRonan6793%2FUs_zps0206a8c2.png&hash=7d4ec81983a6bfc5731b1533b7453b952180700d) Cadet Userkiller (https://www.fsegames.eu/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1152.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fp492%2FRonan6793%2FUs_zps0206a8c2.png&hash=7d4ec81983a6bfc5731b1533b7453b952180700d) Cadet ThijsRGF | (https://www.fsegames.eu/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1152.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fp492%2FRonan6793%2FHERPDERP3_zpsc9eb3327-1_zps3cb7b34e.png&hash=a97f6146314080cc3d839b934ca205c0d672fd81) | Musician (https://www.fsegames.eu/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1152.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fp492%2FRonan6793%2FGunzo_zps86513468.png&hash=2ff4a6ee3641dc18a6b68c364aa0142b1d0e478e) Hornist | (https://www.fsegames.eu/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1152.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fp492%2FRonan6793%2FHERPDERP3_zpsc9eb33272_zps2289198e.png&hash=7bc1f230fee255ef821a0474e1a20b16056f993f) |
Best of luck, again, Ronan.
Nice thread shame two trolls are leading itAlso Tom no need for that. I know you don't like them but don't say it here.