Napoleonic Basics: French Infantry

Important Note: ****I make an absolute boob of myself in the video. It's 2 Brigades make up a Division, not the other way round as I state in the video!**** Sorry, I did say it was confusing! Thanks to the commenters that pointed this out, I missed it in my listen back. I hope you can overlook this and find good content in the rest of the episode.
It's here at last, and it's a monster! Carrying on the Napoleonic Basics series, this is the French Infantry. Dealing with the make up of both ligne and legere (line and light) regiments and their formations this video is an introduction into French infantry units. I've concentrated on the make up of unit to allow people to understand who goes where and why some of the troops have fancy epaulets. I'm going to be concentrating on France for the next few videos, but I won't be skipping battle reports or other topics that catch my fancy!
If you like the video, please think about subscribing and liking the video, and please share it with your friends and gaming enemies!
See you on the next one!
Tim

[@hobbywargamer8195]

"Give me British Soldiers and French Officers and I'll rule the world!"

[@samb2052]

Hobby Wargamer . Did he really think British soldiers would follow French officers?

[@hobbywargamer8195]

@@samb2052 I think the average British soldier would have followed anyone who could pay them more than the king's schilling, you have to remember that the average soldier was not driven by loyalty to the crown or country but to their wage and many deserted when the opportunity presented itself. You need to realize that many of the men in the British armed forces at the time was made up of people that went to the pub one night and woke up the next morning either in a barracks or at sea.

[@jadawin10]

@Hobby Wargamer This is an apocryphal quote...

[@TheLoxapac]

@@jadawin10 yes and it is quite false, as french line infantry at that time was considerably better than its british counterpart. Both in spirit and experience. Just as the royal navy was superior to french navy.

[@jadawin10]

​@@TheLoxapac Napoleon's Grande Armée included battalions from many origins in Europe. Despite this, Napoleon's generals fought among themselves before the battles to have only French troops. They would never have accepted English soldiers ...

[@MrCheese4cake]

This makes the scene from Sharpe all the more important when they lose the king's colours, not only is it embarrassing from being defeated, it is losing the flag which is supposed to be at its most protected amongst the most senior of officers.

[@michaelwhite8031]

Napoleon's army certainly was a meat grinder.

[@ale-ii7jh]

I had two questions that have not been very clear to me, the first is how many regiments make up a brigade and how many regiments make up a division. And the second is whether a whole regiment can be sent into battle or whether one battalion goes one way and another battalion goes the other. Cool video

[@adamfox1669]

I’ve been wargaming a while and napoleonic games & history for almost as long. Never academically, but I’ve done lots of research over that time. You sir have done a superb job on this series. Honestly I’m impressed. Thanks for doing all of these as armies I’ve never collected seem interesting again. I love to listen while I paint (Chassuer a cheval of the guard & Horus heresy vehicles) my present workbench projects. Thank you.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

You're welcome! Thank you for watching (Well, listening!) My Justaerian's Spartan has been giving me the sad eyes for months now, I just haven't got round to painting it!

[@adamfox1669]

Hahahaha it’s a nice break from pretty & fancy uniforms to weathering up tanks ! Keeps me on my toes. Great channel, thank you

[@Rusty_Gold85]

The early French advantage was that they promoted from the ranks, not privileged Family History . But their later loss for Esprit De Corps was loss of commanders to lead their staff .An example I just READ OF the attack at Hougomount was repulsed ,due to the Nassau Skirmishers shooting out the command staff and the conscripts was mostly uneducated poor troops . So the waves fsiled their advances . Especially at Company level . The promotion of best soldier to the Guard also stripped away confident sturdy Infantry man over the whole period .

[@samb2052]

Rusty Gold and many of the best men were left under the Russian snow in 1812.

[@bigmoniesponge]

@D Anemon except a few lucky men

[@TorianTammas]

1815 was a shadow of Napoleon's army. The rag tag troop under Wellington's leadership could hold until the Prussians saved them.

[@Asienieboje]

Lovely video, but you are wrong about divisions and brigades. It is 2 brigades makes a division, not other way. It is going that way: Squad, Platoon, Company, Battalion, Regiment, Brigade, Division, Corps, Army. I am waiting for lancers/uhlans video.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

You're absolutely right! I think I must have had a brain fart! I'll put it in the show notes. Thanks!

[@comegetsome7724]

@@NapoleonicWargaming i was stationed with the 4th Inf Division US Army. it went squad/platoon/company/battalion/brigade/division. i dont recall regiment being part of the deal. i was in the headquarters company/2nd brigade. there were 3 battalions: 1/61st mechanized; 1/12th mechanized; 1/70th armor (tanks). just a fyi. :-)

[@stevenhombrados1530]

Dennis I never heard of tank regiments.

[@grimbyrne195]

Dennis, the US Army stopped using regiments as a sub-unit of a division in 1957. However, the battalions still have a regimental affiliation and the Army still has a regimental system. Armored cavalry and the rangers also continue to be organized as regiments. So 1/12 infantry battalion is actually the 1st battalion of the 12th Infantry Regiment. 2/12 is the 2nd battalion of the same regiment and both battalions use the same regimental crest.

[@WGRevival]

Great summary. I'm not a Napoleonic gamer but it was fascinating nonetheless.

[@gerardvandermeulen62]

Really, I was so annoyed by your brigade/division mistake that I painted all my.... but seriously. Nice video, concise and to the point. Good quality sound and lighting (professional), excelent editing and top of the bill content. Thought I might give the general and often overlooked issues a bit of praise. Keep up your exellent work! Greetings from Holland.😀

[@remittanceman4685]

My suspicion is that the classic French "style" of war came about almost by accident. A colonel, having been given orders to attack some objective, looks at his men. Some, the second battalion have a basic idea of how to soldier, the rest are basically a rabble. Full of revolutionary fervour, maybe, but otherwise a rabble. He looks at his officers and tells the best of them to take the most competent men in the regiment and go forward. "Keep the enemy occupied while we try to get this lot moving in the right direction." After time this act of expediency became more formalised. Drills would be worked out, training would become more scientific and the kinks ironed out. Desperate measures become a very successful style of war.

[@jesper1968]

Great video ! But I always thought that the light companies within the line infantry regiments were just called voltigeurs and that their light infantry counterpart were called voltigeurs of the light. Antoher difference between the light and line infantry that is not really mentioned is that the the equivalent of the fuseliers were called chasseurs (on foot ofcourse) in the light infantry regiments. Anyway, I found your channel recently and I am really enjoying the content that you make.

[@OW...]

Just catching up with your channel. Fantastic piece of work, great to listen to whilst painting my french line infantry.... :)

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Great to hear. Vive Le Empreur!

[@vicentedominic2753]

instaBlaster.

[@johnwayneeverett6263]

WELL THIS IS GREAT I PAINT AND LISTEN ...GREAT STUFF ME TOO I GET THE 2 BS MAKE A DIV......OK I MIGHT REMEMBER LOL....

[@terrylee3372]

Great set of videos ,you have explained the complicated basics in a brilliant format ,first time I ever felt the need to post a comment on utube

[@philliphealey3634]

thank you enjoyed that.

[@dericknorton9379]

These video's have helped me a lot the clear way you explain the organisation of the French regiments up to brigade is brilliant. Please keep doing it as for years I have struggled with this part of the hobby.

[@kmorton54]

Your videos are always top notch..

[@-Thunder-Warrior-]

Awesome video! How about a little more info on the Sappers? Beards, axes and aprons, very cool miniatures as you said!

[@JimHopper]

Great video series. More please!

[@NSYresearch]

Odd how those foreign troops impressed into the French army which may have contributed to the loss of esprit de corps, were later formed into a corp with the most famous espri de corps ..... The French Foreign Legion

[@alejandrotabilo1988]

Great video, Can I suggest to divide the video in parts? , That way you could include the rest of the information. Also would you consider doing a Black Powder tutorial or a tutorial demo game? I think you would be very good at it. Thank you for you effort. Cheers

[@ianwood4662]

I think you have mixed up your divisions and brigades. That is a brigade is two regiments and a division is two brigades. Not as you say a division is two regiments and a brigade is two divisions. Also more emphasis could be placed on the importance of skirmishers during an attack.

[@grahambeyrout1767]

I suggest everyone checks out the definition of a division. The confusion arises because "division" meant two different things, a) two companies or b) a grouping of 2 or more brigades. A French column of divisions meant a column two companies (ie one divison wide). Do not take my word for it, look it up

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

I've added the change to the video description. Thanks!

[@unaccomplishedwargamer8716]

Wow!!!! What a great video with outstanding information. As a new napoleonic player your videos are really useful and enjoyable to watch. I appreciate the eye candy and it’s certainly a motivator to get me painting!!! Thanks for sharing and have a great week!!!

[@carlossoltero20]

What about the role of the Old Guard and their quality in the battle field?

[@charleschapman6810]

The French army jokeofthetimewasthastthe Guard "fought well...but guarded poorly!"

[@williamballangarry2995]

@@charleschapman6810 that is actually brilliant 😂

[@lucar.5045]

I have a question on voltiguers/carabiniers. When they were in front of their battalion, performing skirmish duty, and progressively the enemy lines closed by, did they rejoined the parent unit among the ranks, on the far left, or do they simply took cover behind the frienly lines to reorganize? Thanks, nice video by the way.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Thanks dude! They would skirmish in front of battalion, then let the column pass through them, joining the back of it as it passed them, almost like its absorbing them. If they had to dash back due to say cavalry, I think they'd have just legged it to the battalion asap!

[@afetbinttuzani]

Really great content. It would be great, though, if the images corresponded to what you are talking about, rather than a seemingly random slide-show. For example, when you´re talking about sappers and how you place your sapper figures, why not show images of sappers and in particular your figures. Simple organizational diagrams would be particularly useful with this one.

[@jamesnave1249]

Really love all your videos! So informative for both history and gaming. Would love you to do a video specifically about the training a soldier or cavalryman of the time would have gone through.

[@barrycarter9289]

I love the channel ... Thank you for the work you do for Napoleonic fans ... Please do not take this as a slight ,but Bologna (bolonya) is in Italy, Boulogne (Booloyn) is in France , on the Channel coast

[@OW...]

Excellent talk while i'm painting my 28mm perry cuirassiers...now going onto your cavalry talk :)

[@bonysminiatures3123]

cool presentation , a question i have the perrys french eltie box with 2 eagle guards could i base them up left and right of the eagle bearer with the officer , drummer and sapper in the front row of a base of six?

[@stewybaby4]

I disagree; i think the line Battalions were there as Cannon fodder. I think if you really look closely at Napoleons greatest Victories? Hes won on the strength of Guns and Masterful speed of his light Cavalry taking advantage of the gaps blasted into Enemy lines. Austerlitz and Eylau (if i remember correctly) made great use of guns; then exploited with Cavalry. But as you say you cant have an Army without the line regiments,

[@SemperSometimesProductions]

7:23 the term your looking for is combined arms.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

ha thanks!

[@kingofmadness6834]

I do love the cavalry but infantry is definitely the most dominant part of any army

[@reddsaxxmike2865]

It is Regiments, Brigades, then Divisions

[@bigmoniesponge]

Company, battalion, regiment, brigade, division, corps.

[@brushmans-guild]

I'm a little late to the game, but massive thanks for this, dude. I'm an absolute beginner to the Napoleonic period but am quickly finding that all the different uniforms/reforms/regiments/armaments etc are enough to make your head spin! I think using the 'rule of cool' will be the way I go in my collecting (as I'll most likely not be playing any games with them) but it's so fun to learn about, and you make it sound easy to understand.

[@andrewglines9561]

Hey can someone answer these questions for me please. 1.Did the old guard grenadiers wear wigs under their bearskins or powder their hair? 2. Did all Old Guard Grenadiers have ponytails or long hair? 3. Did Old Guard Grenadier officers have to be clean shaven?

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

1. I don't think they wore wigs as standard (like in the 18th century for instance). I'm sure some soldiers did though! 2. They would 'queue' their hair with is like a ponytail, but turned back on itself. 3. I think so. Certainly mini manufacturers don't have them with facial hair, but I'm happy for someone to prove me wrong! I'll be doing a video on the Guard. It'll probably be a mini series tbh

[@RagnarQuirin]

Realy Realy nice Video. Is there a video an the prussians in you plans? Would love that. Keep up the great work!!!

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

There will be! I'm hoping to get a guest in to help. There'll be a video to get your Prussia on soon!

[@RagnarQuirin]

@@NapoleonicWargaming That is very good to hear. I hope to see it soon.

[@SemperSometimesProductions]

And the Austrians

[@Darthvegeta8000]

Loving the series. Keep up the awesome work!!!

[@thekameleon9785]

Nice video. I base my French the same but how does it work vs bigger allied stands

[@tonk8395]

i love this

[@Mittens_Gaming]

The second corps at Wagram had a bunch of regiments made up of the depot battalions of a bunch of regiments who had their other battalions in Spain or in other divisions at Wagram.

[@basicminiaturepainting]

Sounds good enjoyed this

[@b1laxson]

Thanks. I like to do some what-ifs, alternate worlds or "my guys" though drawing on real world examples. This was a good overview.

[@tigertank3024]

What are you using to base your guys?

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

They are on (the sadly discontinued) GW 60mm by 40mm bases. On top is just sand painted and dry grass static grass from 4ground

[@b1laxson]

On "column of attack" having the grenadiers and voultgiers (sp?) in the rear: this means that the strongest and most agile soldiers, put in those "specialist" companies are most likely to survive to contact. The line companies forward being the ones to recieve the "devil's share" of musketry and grape while closing on the enemy. This can also be called "fodder to front".

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Excellent point!

[@samb2052]

I’d argue that the French ‘X factor’ was their Corps system of manoeuvre, which enabled their generals to mass force. The French soldier was no more stoic or dependable than a Russian or Austrian. The difference was in the generalship, which came from the top. Great video even if you don’t play BP.

[@TheLoxapac]

The french infantryman WAS more stoic . But the divisional, then corps echelons were strategics huge implemetations of that times as it allowed french armies to move quicker and decieve ennemies, but once the battle had begun, it was one army against another, and the valor of soldiers and officers was the important point. And The "grande armée" almost always fought outnumbered , while winning battle after battle...the napoleonic french soldier was superior to his allied counterparts, no doubt about that .

[@davidpaull7612]

I'm more interested in how you setup a battalion in 15mm, 20mm and 28mm. You have the command group in the line of 36 men in total for your 28mm figures, perhaps representing a scaled battalion frontage. This is why I prefer 20mm, I use 48 men battalions (2 fusilier, two elite companies) and a separate command stand out of line as they don't really have guns. Is this an accurate battalion representation ?

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

I didnt really go in for battalion frontage tbh, I based individually, so the frontage was just what it was. I find people generally obsess unnecessarily over frontage, for instance if you see my battles we often put 20mm against 15mn frontage and it's never caused an issue. Another plus for BP! I've seen people have command groups out front, my dad bases his minis like that and I think it looks cool, but I prefer to incorporate them into the unit. Companies should really be 6, four centre and 2 flank with the command somewhat separate from them all, but hey, it doesnt really matter that much in the game

[@davidpaull7612]

@@NapoleonicWargaming In BP, do you have sperate throws for leader casualties?

[@northwessexyeoman137]

Hi Tim - great video as always and really lovely to see historical knowledge transferred so neatly to the gaming table. Could you please confirm that your British infantry are based 4 to a base, versus your French at 6 to a base (i.e. differently) . Also, assuming 6 bases to both British and French battalions, this results in a typically understrength British Battalion (@20 to 1 = c480 men) versus a fuller strength French battalion (c720 men), which I guess may be realistic to theatres such as the Peninsular? I guess the frontages per figure are roughly the same (hence square bases for British and more oblong to French), but does the different number of figures per base produce any inequalities (i.e. I note that the British units might fit between terrain easier in column of march) that are significant? Also, apart from formations, does basing the figures differently create any other difficulties? Many thanks!

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

They are based differently as you say, 4s for Brits and 6s for French. I've not found it too much of an issue tbh, although I find the guards can be very unwieldy (being a 30 man unit)! I haven't played a game yet where the French have been large and the brits medium, but might have to try it!

[@mihaiionita5648]

The right was the position of honour also because of how medieval and older armies used to march, with the vanguard taking up the right flank and the rest of the host assembling to their left, with the rearguard taking the left flank. The troops of the vanguard were usually hardier and more experienced troops, the first to make contact with the enemy.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Ah, good to know! Thanks!

[@jimmehjiimmeehh9748]

As far as I know it goes all the way back to ancient greek warfare, due to the way the phalanx worked (you were partially covered by the shield of the man to your right) they had a tendency to drift right on the march due to people trying to hide as much as they could behind the other man's shield and so commanders would make sure the best and bravest men formed the right flank of the phalanx so that they provided a hard stop for the rest of the formation.

[@SemperSometimesProductions]

You have to do the Prussian infantry

[@327thbastognebulldog]

Really enjoying this series. I readily awaiting a Prussian video. Keep it up!

[@johnstableford2553]

Regarding your comments concerning the placement of the Grenadiers and Skirmishers at the rear of the column of attack, I believe that the most obvious answer is that the head of the column took the bulk of the casualties and therefore consisted of the inexperienced troops. Why waste your trained, veteran troops at the head of the column?

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Fair point! 😀

[@johnstableford2553]

Thank you, just saying. :)

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

It's a great point!

[@reddsaxxmike2865]

Also I believe that some miss the amount of prepare that occur before an assault, by attack columns. In the early days, it was a cloud of skirmishers, later by mass guns. Explains the failure of the French against the English (sheltered) from the usually french napoleonic tactical game plan. My opinion. MRL.

[@TorianTammas]

The answer is 1815, as this is only a shadow of Napoleon's army. In Napoleon's high time this rag tag army of Wellington would be smashed.

[@DJSbros]

Do you play NTW on PC?

[@philRminiatures]

Wow, handsome French (and Austrian) units, excellent job!

[@gkspain1]

Lovely work, figures look great, thank you for sharing, all the best Garry

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

thanks bud

[@thekameleon9785]

They look so awesome

[@stompie51]

Love your channel.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Thanks man!

[@BearGrisham]

Where did the grenadiers and voltiguers form up in a French column of attack?

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Usually at the back. The grenadier on the right (the senior position) and light on the left. Remember they were only voltigeur in light battalions, otherwise they were just called legere

[@ВолодимирКурченко-п9ц]

thanks a lot for a video! nice one

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Thank you for watching!

[@tabletoptemplar2486]

Very nice! I love the models of French infantry

[@carlossoltero20]

I have been waiting for this one!

[@richardburnett2961]

So someone has read Elting's Swords Around a Throne!! Then you must have read the chapter Dressed to Kill in which Elting noted the three kinds of uniforms worn, the one by the regulations, the one by the artists and the one the soldiers actually wore!! Where are you?! Besides this, why do you spend so much effort in painting the figures well, only to use them in the games where they suffer damage from breakage of the flags and bayonets and swords not to mention the damage from touching them. Greasy fingers. Oh they look good, ought to be entered in a contest or placed under glass but not to be used like money or coin. And what is worse, the uniforms will be soiled by the gun powder residue and the ground, muck and mire. I knew a warmer s designer, who painted figures representing the casualties. Miniature war gaming is so meat and orderly. Not the way I game! See Paddy Griffith and his Forward into Battle, or even his Napoleonic wargaming for Fun. His objection to the hobby as to do with history was the miniature figure

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

I have, many years ago! I remember that it's a good book, though a little dry for me. I'm in the north of England. I'm all about the gaming. For me the breakages etc are just part of playing. I'd rather have the veterans of a thousand games with broken bayonets, flags and heads missing than a pristine unit that's never tasted the tabletop!

[@andrewrobinson3030]

Thanks for that very interesting. Great looking figures

[@pfcsantiago8852]

Tim loves his Frenchies

[@gerardvandermeulen62]

Excellent (yep, that's it)

[@marleyvonhoffstein3193]

Beautifully painted figures, real works of art!