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Historical Discussion / Re: The Dutch at Waterloo
« on: November 17, 2012, 07:55:02 pm »
Sorta like a mix of Germans and Dutch, and there was no Germany at the time
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1352
Historical Discussion / Re: The Dutch at Waterloo
« on: November 17, 2012, 05:59:37 pm »
Oh I almost forgot, before the battle of Waterloo, Merlen's light cavalry brigade (6th Dutch Hussars and 5th Belgian light dragoons) captured several contingents of French cavalry in border skirmishes but since the British cabinet refused to declare war against France as opposed to war on Napoleon, Wellington ordered The Prince of Orange to send them back to France
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General Discussion / Re: Best NW Nation?
« on: November 16, 2012, 03:38:31 pm »
Out of the current choices I'd say France, diverse infantry, diverse cavalry, they did utterly trash most of Europe for several years after all. If France had Irishmen in kilts then it would be indisputable.
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Historical Discussion / Re: Best Dressed Regiment - of Civil War or Napoleonic Wars
« on: November 16, 2012, 03:36:53 pm »
Well I believe this should be divided into 2 categories and then 2 sub categories - infantry or cavalry and then fashion or practicality.
Infantry-
*Fashion:
*Practicality: 
Cavalry-
*Fashion:
*Practicality: 
Just thought this looked funny
Infantry-
*Fashion:
Imperial Dutch Grenadiers
[close]
Doesn't get better than Opolchenie :P
[close]
Cavalry-
*Fashion:
Anything French :P
[close]
Belgian 5th Light Dragoons, a perfect example of practicality
[close]
Just thought this looked funny
Spoiler
[close]
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Community / Re: Favorite moments in NW?
« on: November 15, 2012, 03:37:54 pm »
I remember one linebattle when I was commanding the 7de Belgische Bataljon Infanterie Van Linie where we charged a great British redoubt and took it by storm even though it was defended by around 2-3 regiments and we charged alone. And once we took the redoubt we held it against a massive British onslaught which we shot down and bayoneted every last one. We did this every round on that map until the final round when they finally came out of the redoubt and were formed up on a hill. They were engaged in a firefight with two French regiments but it was a stalemate thus far until we came charging out of the woods on their left flank and absolutely shattered them by ourselves, keep in mind we were outnumbered roughly 4-1, as there were two massive regiments, 1 of highlanders, the other of footguards. However we were eventually overpowered because none of the other regiments charged in with us despite the fact that we alone reduced them to less than a dozen men. We won the round however, mainly due to the damage our charge inflicted. It was a very proud moment for me as a commander to see my men perform so heroically.
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Historical Discussion / Re: Gobbets and Anecdotes
« on: November 15, 2012, 03:27:10 pm »
Oh I have a good little story for this thread
At the Battle of Raab, the French 112ème Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne made a valiant charge Austro-Hungarian center and became engaged in a close quarters shootout with them across the banks of the River Raab. One lieutenant took a few grenadiers and charged across the river and made it all the way to the Austrian colors before being surrounded and cut down. Seeing this, Captain Francois-Chretien Vandensande - who by the way had been best friends with the lieutenant who was just killed since childhood - charged alone across the river and threw himself into the Austrians in what his fellow officers described as "a most terrifying fit of rage" and cut his way to the dead lieutenant's body. Upon seeing how one man had broken the Austrian lines in such a manner, the rest of the 112ème Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne charged across the river and broke the Austrian lines. They became known as "The Victors of Raab" for their valiant charge and the regiment, as well as several of it's officers (including Vandensande) were awarded the Legion d'Honneur. Exactly how many men Vandensande couldn't really be reliably estimated, but Captain Charles Goethals of the 112ème Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne captured 20 prisoners single-handedly and it's possible to assume that these were men wounded in Vandensande's ramage.
At the Battle of Raab, the French 112ème Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne made a valiant charge Austro-Hungarian center and became engaged in a close quarters shootout with them across the banks of the River Raab. One lieutenant took a few grenadiers and charged across the river and made it all the way to the Austrian colors before being surrounded and cut down. Seeing this, Captain Francois-Chretien Vandensande - who by the way had been best friends with the lieutenant who was just killed since childhood - charged alone across the river and threw himself into the Austrians in what his fellow officers described as "a most terrifying fit of rage" and cut his way to the dead lieutenant's body. Upon seeing how one man had broken the Austrian lines in such a manner, the rest of the 112ème Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne charged across the river and broke the Austrian lines. They became known as "The Victors of Raab" for their valiant charge and the regiment, as well as several of it's officers (including Vandensande) were awarded the Legion d'Honneur. Exactly how many men Vandensande couldn't really be reliably estimated, but Captain Charles Goethals of the 112ème Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne captured 20 prisoners single-handedly and it's possible to assume that these were men wounded in Vandensande's ramage.
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Historical Discussion / Re: Favourite American Civil War Regiment?
« on: November 15, 2012, 03:15:37 pm »
I wouldn't call it my "favorite" persay but my ancestor, Henry Starcher, fought in the 3rd Regiment, Virginia State Line Company A. "The Moccasin Rangers" which was part of the Stonewall Brigade.
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Historical Discussion / Re: Writing a book
« on: November 15, 2012, 03:12:50 pm »
I will when I'm home 
hahah, I'm at school right now bollocking around in my programming class lol.
I might as well share my current idea. Well, my story is the life story of Francois-Chretien Vandensande, it's a true story with minor romantic details that I inserted for the sake of it being a story. The book will include his time as an officer in the French military. Starting when he was a lieutenant in the 112ème Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne and working his way up to chef de bataillon and tells of his experiences in that time, including dueling cocky hussars, flirting with the Italian women, fighting off grenzer ambushes, and the loss of his best friend at the Battle of Raab. And the story will go on with an older Vandensande, dark and depressed, becoming the Lieutenant-Colonel of the Bataljon Infanterie Van Linie Nr. 7 and finding a new sense of purpose and his experience at Quatre Bras and Waterloo.
hahah, I'm at school right now bollocking around in my programming class lol.I might as well share my current idea. Well, my story is the life story of Francois-Chretien Vandensande, it's a true story with minor romantic details that I inserted for the sake of it being a story. The book will include his time as an officer in the French military. Starting when he was a lieutenant in the 112ème Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne and working his way up to chef de bataillon and tells of his experiences in that time, including dueling cocky hussars, flirting with the Italian women, fighting off grenzer ambushes, and the loss of his best friend at the Battle of Raab. And the story will go on with an older Vandensande, dark and depressed, becoming the Lieutenant-Colonel of the Bataljon Infanterie Van Linie Nr. 7 and finding a new sense of purpose and his experience at Quatre Bras and Waterloo.
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Historical Discussion / Re: The Dutch at Waterloo
« on: November 15, 2012, 03:00:15 pm »
Yeah, afterall the Netherlands had been occupied by France for a while and French is the language of the Walloons so it is understandable that he said it in French, especially considering that he was addressing the 2nd Belgian Carabiniers and many of them had previously fought in French cuirassier regiments.
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Historical Discussion / Re: Writing a book
« on: November 15, 2012, 01:51:36 pm »
Thank you very much duuring! I think I should turn this thread into a thread for people to talk about any Napoleonic stories or books they're writing or share short stories they've written before
Thoughts?
Thoughts?
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Historical Discussion / Re: The Dutch at Waterloo
« on: November 15, 2012, 01:39:02 pm »
Yeah, I feel it might have sounded cooler in Dutch. What would be the translation for that in Dutch anyway? I'll try to find the French one, I saw it somewhere.
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Historical Discussion / Writing a book
« on: November 15, 2012, 06:14:38 am »
So I've started writing a book set in the Napoleonic Era but there are a few things I need help with. Basically I was wondering if anybody could point me to a book and/or website that would tell me everything I need to know about soldier life as far as things like training, barracks life, etc. so that I can make my book more accurate and believable. Also if anybody could help me figure out what exactly a French infantry uniform would have looked like in the year 1809, particularly that of a lieutenant and of a captain. This seemed like the most appropriate board for this thread so I apologize if it's in the wrong board. Thanks in advance everybody!
Now that I've got Duuring's help, feel free to share your current projects or short stories (or long ones) about the Napoleonic Wars that you've written or are planning to write.
Now that I've got Duuring's help, feel free to share your current projects or short stories (or long ones
) about the Napoleonic Wars that you've written or are planning to write.
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Historical Discussion / Re: Favourite Napoleonic Wars (and War of 1812) Regiment?
« on: November 15, 2012, 06:06:43 am »
Infantry
Bataljon Infanterie Van Linie Nr. 7 (Dutch-Belgian)
Cavalry
Regiment Karabiniers Nr. 2 (Dutch-Belgian)
Bataljon Infanterie Van Linie Nr. 7 (Dutch-Belgian)
Spoiler
[close]
Cavalry
Regiment Karabiniers Nr. 2 (Dutch-Belgian)
Spoiler
[close]
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Historical Discussion / Re: The Dutch at Waterloo
« on: November 15, 2012, 05:56:22 am »
Duuring managed to get here before I did hahah. Essentially everything he said is true. The Dutch-Belgian troops at Waterloo have been given a bad reputation because of years of British propaganda. But in truth were it not for them, Wellington would have been sent running to the English channel for his life. There was the stand of Bijlandt's Brigade which Duuring mentioned and there are several fascinating stories that come from that. I read of a Lieutenant in the 7th (Belgian) line battalion who was struck in the shoulder by a pistol shot from a French officer (the two sides were barely 25 meters apart might I add) and promptly marched across the field, slashed the officer in the face with his saber, and returned to his company without taking a single hit. The officer's nose was described as "hanging down over his mouth." British sources will tell you that the men of Bijlandt's Brigade fled in disarray without even seeing the French however Lieutenant Hope of the 92nd Highlanders reports "The Belgians were assailed with a terrible fury and returned the fire of them enemy for some time with great spirit." And eyewitness accounts (something Siborne seems to lack terribly) say that the firefight was "protracted and effective." And let's not forget that Bijlandt's Brigade has already suffered from heavy fighting at Quatre Bras and the French artillery cannonade.
I would also like to mention the Dutch-Belgian cavalry who performed outstandingly. When the British Union Brigade cavalry had been overextended and mauled by the French lancers, Major-General Ghigny's Light cavalry brigade (8th Belgian hussars, 4th Dutch Light Dragoons) counter charged the lancers and routed and pursued them until they took cover near a large infantry battalion formed in square. Eyewitnesses say that the 8th (Belgian) Hussars fought with "insane gallantry." Ghigny's brigade had also been fending off numerous cuirassier attacks all afternoon, exceeding even Wellington's expectations.
And also, after the British household brigade had suffered heavy casualties at the hands of the French cavalry, Major-General Tripp's Brigade of heavy cavalry (1st Dutch Carabiniers, 2nd Belgian Carabiniers, 3rd Dutch Carabiniers) was the largest remaining force of allied heavy cavalry on the field. As the French cuirassiers ascended the slope in pursuit of the broken Household Brigade, Tripp's brigade counter-charged them and threw them off the slope. They counterattacked the French several times during the battle and later on they participated in the pursuit of the French cavalry, unlike Uxbridge, one who criticized the Dutch-Belgian cavalry, calling them "cowards with no stomach to fight" yet British sources fail to mention how the 7th Queen's Own hussars refused to charge the French lancers or how the British 11th light dragoons refused to charge to the aid of another regiment being pushed back by French lancers. At one point during the battle, the Prince of Orange personally rallied the 2nd Belgian Carabiniers by waving his saber above his head and shouting "Come my comrades! Let us put our sabers to these Frenchmen! The victory is ours!" Quite inspiring eh?
If you want my opinion as to why the Dutch-Belgians did so well at the battle it's because many of them fought in the French army before and Dutch and Belgian troops distinguished themselves time and time again in Napoleon's army. The 7th Belgian line battalion for example had several officers - including its Lieutenant-Colonel (who I'm actually writing a book about) - who were decorated war heroes, many of whom won the Legion d'Honneur. Many of the Dutch-Belgians were experienced fighting men and their officers knew what they were doing and their tactics and sheer determination to win helped carry the day.
I would also like to mention the Dutch-Belgian cavalry who performed outstandingly. When the British Union Brigade cavalry had been overextended and mauled by the French lancers, Major-General Ghigny's Light cavalry brigade (8th Belgian hussars, 4th Dutch Light Dragoons) counter charged the lancers and routed and pursued them until they took cover near a large infantry battalion formed in square. Eyewitnesses say that the 8th (Belgian) Hussars fought with "insane gallantry." Ghigny's brigade had also been fending off numerous cuirassier attacks all afternoon, exceeding even Wellington's expectations.
And also, after the British household brigade had suffered heavy casualties at the hands of the French cavalry, Major-General Tripp's Brigade of heavy cavalry (1st Dutch Carabiniers, 2nd Belgian Carabiniers, 3rd Dutch Carabiniers) was the largest remaining force of allied heavy cavalry on the field. As the French cuirassiers ascended the slope in pursuit of the broken Household Brigade, Tripp's brigade counter-charged them and threw them off the slope. They counterattacked the French several times during the battle and later on they participated in the pursuit of the French cavalry, unlike Uxbridge, one who criticized the Dutch-Belgian cavalry, calling them "cowards with no stomach to fight" yet British sources fail to mention how the 7th Queen's Own hussars refused to charge the French lancers or how the British 11th light dragoons refused to charge to the aid of another regiment being pushed back by French lancers. At one point during the battle, the Prince of Orange personally rallied the 2nd Belgian Carabiniers by waving his saber above his head and shouting "Come my comrades! Let us put our sabers to these Frenchmen! The victory is ours!" Quite inspiring eh?
If you want my opinion as to why the Dutch-Belgians did so well at the battle it's because many of them fought in the French army before and Dutch and Belgian troops distinguished themselves time and time again in Napoleon's army. The 7th Belgian line battalion for example had several officers - including its Lieutenant-Colonel (who I'm actually writing a book about) - who were decorated war heroes, many of whom won the Legion d'Honneur. Many of the Dutch-Belgians were experienced fighting men and their officers knew what they were doing and their tactics and sheer determination to win helped carry the day.
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Skins & OSP Resources / Re: Beta's Shack [Dutch Militia Preview!]
« on: November 13, 2012, 11:10:28 pm »
Belgian hussars 