Napoleonic skirmishing light infantry

A (very) quick guide to skirmishing infantry in the Napoleonic Wars. We look at Jagers, Grenzer, Cacadores and even the mighty Bashi Bazouk amongst others!
Enjoy!

[@KroM234]

About the rifle taking more time to reload: that depends on the method you're using to load the gun. At the start of the Napoleonic Wars it seems that riflemen still used wadded separated bullets and powder charges, driven down using a mallet, according to the official drill. Quickly, accounts of the time show that riflemen switched largely to paper cartridges with no wadding at all most of the time, just ramming it down like any smoothbore. The rifling made it not that smooth compared to a musket, but no difference in time here. Basically they still carried loose patches and balls, probably for long range precise shots, and carried regular cartridges for quicksots as well.

[@mathieushifera135]

The French did have dedicated skirmishers, in the Voltigeurs. They were mostly decimated in the Russian campaign

[@Scott-qq9jd]

Calling Portuguese light infantry catadores instead of caçadores amused me. Catador literally means a collector, and usually it's a garbage collector, or in other words, the garbage man.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Ha! Oops! It's even worse because they were good too! 😂

[@kieransutton1706]

I guess im asking the wrong place but does anyone know of a way to log back into an instagram account..? I was dumb forgot the password. I would love any tricks you can give me!

[@marcelokairo9092]

@Kieran Sutton Instablaster ;)

[@kieransutton1706]

@Marcelo Kairo thanks for your reply. I found the site through google and im trying it out atm. Looks like it's gonna take quite some time so I will reply here later with my results.

[@kieransutton1706]

@Marcelo Kairo It worked and I actually got access to my account again. Im so happy:D Thank you so much you saved my ass!

[@model-man7802]

I'm learning in two ways.Historically and Gaming.I reenacted the American Civil War for 26 years but have always loved the Napolionic wars.I gamed in the early 80s and the only store we had closed.I had a game called "Empire".I just bought it but had no experience to speak of.Now I'm back.My paint is dry and I have no idea where to start but I love your Videos!👍

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Thanks for the kind words dude! I really like the Perry boxes for starting, they have a really cool little booklet that gives you a really quick guide! Other than that, I'd recommend the various FB pages, although people can overwhelm in their desire to help

[@TheSgruby]

Russian Jaegers mostly use a smoothbore musket, from year 1808 only NCOs and 12 marksmen in each jager company. But Brown Bess muskets were send to Russia, and thanks to better quality than local arms were consider as prize for soldiers who get them. Also russian line infantry have only light infantry platoon not company like many others nations.

[@SemperSometimesProductions]

Literally Napoleonic skirmishing tactics are the same thing as the tactics that line units use today we call it buddy rushing now

[@trevorwoolson3860]

Damn I love this series. The light infantry are the next but of men I need to pick up. Always loved how the French light infantry operated

[@daliborzeman1452]

Russians 1811+ has skirmish platoons as well as part of the elite company. They used them not that often as other armies, because of the higher amount of jegers (2:1 for Russia iso 3:1 for other armies). However they were used - see Zhmodikovs article abour Russian Line Skirmisher on Napoleon Series or in his book. I have read also that either strelki were sent as tirailleurs, or volunteers or flankers from centre companies. Or combination of strelki in skirmish chain and flankers or volunteers as reserve. Mostly in platoon size (96) in single chain.

[@Tupinamba77]

I for one would be interested in seeing the proposed rules experiment for light infrantry/skirmishers in Black Powder.

[@smoessmee]

Caçadores sounds a bit like an 's' for the 'ç' or a soft 'z' ;)

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Absolutely. I gave up on even attempting super accurate pronunciation at the start, otherwise I'd never have even started the channel! Hope you can see it as a quirk! :D

[@tmoney007confederation7]

You are actually incorrect sir! Napoleon's Armies did have Rifles but not as numerous as The Coalition Allies. The Model 1806 and 1807 Rifles was used in low numbers in the French Army. I have to correct you my friend.

[@sdporres]

Really like the disorder on one dice for the rifles!

[@andrewglines9561]

Would you mind doing the strengths amd weaknesses of the austrian army. For example were they amazing at cavalry or was their infantry known for their accurracy

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

It took 8 months but I got there! 🤣

[@thomasbaagaard]

Just because the british didn't organize rifle armed units until the Napoleonic wars do not meat they where something new. Rifle armed infantry had been around since the 7 year war or there about. The "Hessians" who where rented by the british to fight their rebellions subjects in america included rifled armed jägers. A Good source on this is the books by Johan Ewald who commanded such units and wrote handbooks about it. And later joined the danish army. Before the revolutionary wars had even started a number of "german" armies used rifles, so did the Danes. (including a few in every line battalion... all thanks to Ewald) The British and their "experimental rifle corp" was late to the party... Think this is a good case of "I only read the british version of history" (comparable to how Americans myth have made it into serious military history and tell us that the rifled musket was a new revolutionary weapon in 1861... when it had been around since the mid 1840ties... ) oh, and the use of extended order for line infantry was common during the fighting in north america by all four armies. (brits, "germans", french and the rebels) Small armies, and less developed terrain forced this.

[@rhysnichols8608]

History is always written with a victors spin, and depending on the severity of the conflict the deeper the propaganda, I’m English but I try and research objectively and there seems to be pretty bias views in Anglo history

[@bradwhitcomb6880]

Never mentioned was the height restrictions on Lt. Inf. These guys were really short.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Great point. Was there a maximum? I honestly dont know

[@JohnsonTheSecond]

@@NapoleonicWargaming I read that the French Voltigeurs at least did, but Carabiniers had a minimum like the Grenadiers and Chasseurs I guess just like the fusiliers

[@johnwayneeverett6263]

KEEP THEM COMING BUDDY I LEARNED SOMETHING EVERY VIDEO ...

[@grahamehale4411]

You forget about the Kings German legion who used the Baker rifle, their defense at Waterloo is legionary and were only defeated because they ran out of ammunition.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Yeah, that's the problem with covering such a massive topic in one video, you cant really get bogged down too much. I'm sure when I do the deep dive on the KGL you'll learn more than you ever wanted to know about them! 😀

[@boomtaylor8297]

@@NapoleonicWargaming that would be great to see a video on them

[@marschallblucher6197]

Question: Skirmishers that used muskets, how did they fire accurately? I know Removing the bayonet was one way. But what else? Where there guns different or the same as the line infantry?

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

They often had slightly shorter muskets which actually make them less accurate. I think, to be honest, they didnt really aim with an expectation to hit. Although rifles absolutely changed that!

[@marschallblucher6197]

@@NapoleonicWargaming By shorter muskets do you mean Carbines? I know that the Austrian jägers only used rifles for the 3 rank while the first and second used carbines. (From what I know) so how would musket skirmishers supposed to _Skirmish_ if they were less accurate?

[@projectilequestion]

The slightly dorky belief that muskets weren't accurate, is just something said to keep us happy. They were fairly accurate. British infantry, in firing exercises, could hit a very generous "man size" target at 100 yards about 25% of the time. But you've got to remember, that under combat conditions, when you are running, the enemy is firing on you, the wind and weather could be picking up. It is actually really quite difficult to get good accurate consistency in shooting, not to mention powder smoke building up and hiding the enemy and you.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

@@projectilequestion absolutely. When watching the Waterloo 200 event for about 10 minutes after the opening volleys we the audience couldn't see a thing!

[@projectilequestion]

@@NapoleonicWargaming Yeah, I know, even with half size cartridges and half size armies, the smoke becomes absurdly obscurant.

[@projectilequestion]

I can't remember the exact workings, but a battalion was ~800 men it was subdivided into 10 companies (this confusingly used to be the administrational part as well, when the company was called a sub division- the little 'd' is important). The French generally went on to have 600 men companies. Battalions generally fired by companies (units of 80 men). For the British of the late 1700's and the Prussia of the same time, that would be alternately- 1st company, then 8th, then the second, then the 7th etc. The British adopted this from the Prussians. In the French army- the 1st company, then the 3rd, then the 5th, then the second, the 4th, then the 6th. Firing by platoons was an older firing system, used by British, and in earlier centuries, by the Swedish and the Dutch. and it much more complicated.

[@remittanceman4685]

Was the French individuality perhaps not a case of making a virtue out of necessity? Early French tactics relied on dense masses (columns) of infantry preceded by a swarm of skirmishers. The columns were basically the only way to move untrained levies and the skirmishers didn't need much by way of drill training, just an order to "get out there and keep taking potshots at the enemy until we arrive." Obviously as the army evolved and developed its training the tactics evolved and improved, but by then the basic modus operandi had been established. As for the drift of specialist light infantry back to more basic roles, amongst the British at least, that phrnomrnon's hardly limited to the Napoleonic era. Take the Commandos for instance. Initially they were raised as raiders in much the same vein as the SAS. By D-Day, however, they were essentially just well-trained amphibious infantry.

[@t0talnerd]

Nice to see my dad on the thumbnail 😁😁

[@jozevvonjurgen5757]

NiCE To SeE YoU ArE LyIng 😁😁

[@boomtaylor8297]

Yeah it would be great to see you put some light troops on the table and come with some differant or more accurate rules, moves and formations for skirmishers especially with the epic battle series that has come out

[@LittleLouieLagazza]

Thoroughly enjoyable! I like the period illustrations combined with explanations

[@ratelmike8825]

Id very much like to see videos on specific skirmish units across the nations especially the French and British...

[@mickymantle3233]

I have many buttons from the line regiments + hussars buckles etc; from all over Belarus - found by metal detector. I have some famous regiments including the Imperial guard / 61st etc; of which only a handful survived. These were all found along the route of the Grande Armee & are precious.

[@Edward-Plantagenet]

You've mentioned several times in videos that you'd like to try a rule for this and that. Would be nice to do a summary video regarding the changes you did try and how they panned out, if you ever got round to doing it that is.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

I cant remember them all! 😂 we do try them now and again, but not usually in the context of a full game, more a training ground of say 3 battalions a side

[@andrewbolay1517]

There is a painting shown 6 minutes in, French light infantry. Where could I find a print for framing ? Any help is appreciated.

[@imhollywood101]

Nice dude!

[@grahamehale4411]

30000 Barker riles were made as opposed to 3,000,000 muscuts.

[@theDexMcHenry]

Excellent and really interesting Tim. There is always that link between hunting and associated skills, in society, and light forces; infantry or cavalry. That works for recruitment but I wonder whether the reverse was true and how many light infantry veterans, for example, ended up employed as gamekeepers etc.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Oh I'm sure many did

[@philRminiatures]

Glad to see this subject, skirmishers in illustrations and miniatures, well done!!

[@yankeedoodle7365]

Ok! I like this video, alot is said is spot on, this might be cause I reenact American Revolution here in the states, but the period of black powder of course yes the Rifle is good, gets a shot down range and you will hit your mark at a longer distance then the musket counterpart. BUT! The idea of the musket is just firing to get lead down range is true, they are taking aim, they are going to need to when they get into musket range, 100 at most closer to 75 is your better chance or 50. This is very clear with documents talking about training rounds being issued every week and officers training there men to fire at marks, specifically talking about the British army, sure the Americans did the same thing as well, at fort niagara they talk about it and rangers and such. Come up in talking about commands saying the British say Present but the American command being Take aim cause we actually took aim, always found it silly. Simply saying that they did not just fired just to fire and get led down range, I feel is false, but more firing at there constant and consistent rate. Though this can change if the enemy approach, closer then 50 yards, you would probably hit with little effort. The rifle is yes good in many regards and the future, but for some combat could not fair with the musket, especially small groups or single men hiding behind a tree. Here in the states, probably see the rifle shoot, maybe hit or miss and send 3 guys to take care of him, crossing the distance and probably being atop him quickly to dispose of the nuisance.

[@andrewrobinson3030]

Really enjoyed that. Well explained I’m painting my French 105th infantry brigade. And put two light infantry men on one base to be placed ahead of the column

[@FAR_-ej9xt]

Great content man, very glad I found your channel

[@jeremydarge1990]

It might be interesting to note that the 3rd rank of Prussian line battalions bot before and after 1806 are trained to skirmish. As indeed the Fusilier battalions of the post 1806 Prussian regiments. It's interesting the Prussian Jäger wears the post Waterloo new uniform.

[@rogerwhite5061]

Woodland and Plains Indians Would be the right and most accurate reference , though both the English and French learned the tactics second hand through the colonists they were allied to as the colonists learned it directly and the hard way from the Native American tribes . Also having gotten to shoot both black powder rifles and muskets , the accuracy of the rifles is phenominal compared to muskets as you can accurately pick the spot on a specific target that you want to hit, not to mention that accuracy being able to be used out to 3 times the max range of accuracy for a musket . I can understand why soldiers loaded their muskets with pistol shot back then to ensure that you hit your target. Thank you for another great episode as I've only recently discovered your channel and become inteested in playing historical wargames again since I half gave up 40k as I cant stand having to buy a new rule book and codex every year as their figures are too expensive as it isnot to mention their best sculpters left and started their own minis companies TY to the Perry Brothers ! ). Thanks again and keep up the great work

[@newtonra4337]

Ceylon Riffal Regiment in Kandyan War plezz

[@pyry1948]

The first modern soldiers

[@thekameleon9785]

What scale and rulesystem?

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

All my videos are assumed 28mm and Black Powder unless otherwise stated

[@R.Specktre]

Caçadores ... "KaSSaDoors"

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

If you're at this for correct pronunciation of pretty much anything, even English, you're gonna be disappointed bud! 😂

[@johnwayneeverett6263]

YES YES .....WELL DONE...

[@tonk8395]

What is your'e favorite napoleonic regiment?

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

I did a video a couple of years ago, though it might be time for a revision! kzbin.info/www/bejne/mZS2mZqpermeobs

[@tonk8395]

@@NapoleonicWargaming sorry i post the coment in two of your'e videos i was thinking that you wouldent respond to this one because the video is old

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

@@tonk8395 no worries! It's good because after I replied to the first one it disappeared! So was good I could find the second! 🤣

[@nickhindley4295]

Referring to black powder or other rules, if a unit advancing is fired on by a good quality shirmish/rifle unit are any casualties apportioned specifically against the command units at which they would be aiming and if so is the advancing unit affected in terms of being more shaken due to having fewer commanders?

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Not as such, the unit gets to reroll a miss if they have sharpshooter. This can represent the officers being incapacitated, remember if that inflicts an unpaved casualty, that's a third of a standard units effectiveness!

[@nickhindley4295]

@@NapoleonicWargaming thanks, that seems a fair balance, love the Brunswick episodes, great to learn about the history of such iconic units.

[@Edward-Plantagenet]

Did you ever come up with anything with regard to skirmishers in BP? I don't feel BP handles skirmishers as well as rules like General d'Armee. Skirmish companies deployed by battalions IMO give way to strong a bonus to their parent battalion if in column making them -1 to hit. It negates the +1 to hit them for being in column entirely, just by throwing out a few skirmishers. Why? They are still in column. Overpowered IMO.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Not yet. I've got some ideas but want to play test them

[@Edward-Plantagenet]

@@NapoleonicWargaming Cheers. Reading BP at the same time as pondering using General d'Armee. GDA obviously needs a lot less work to Napoleonise LOL. Having a real time of getting my head round how to form brigade skirmish screens in BP where the screen will act as one cohesive unit, other than using a batallion in Skirmish Order, which creates it's own OOB issues :(

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

@@Edward-Plantagenet which army are you thinking?

[@Edward-Plantagenet]

@@NapoleonicWargaming French and Allies for 1815. In some cases I think it's the fact that rules are all over the place in BP such that it can be hard to find things. Collectively getting my head round all the rules options for forming square was a major exercise LOL! WRT to the brigade skirmish screen thing I actually think the Detachments rule in CoE covers it quite well. Seeing as it's probably the best fit, it's a bit odd that Brigade Skirmish Screens aren't referred to in the rule.

[@Edward-Plantagenet]

Having chatted with the author of CoE about this it seems the best way to handle a brigade skirmish screen is to use the Detachment rule where you basically form a full Skirmish unit of 2-5 stands. If you do the only affect on the parent Battalion is -1 HtH.

[@andreasstokkeland6648]

Great video. Making video on ottoman army?

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

This is a super secret, so keep it to yourself, but this year we'll be having Ottober! That's a month (october!) On Ottomans and Ottoman related matters, including a bat rep (lockdowns permitting!) For now, check out my video of Pasha Mohammed Ali in the Napokeonic Figures series for more Ottoman content!

[@-Thunder-Warrior-]

"Rifles."

[@anglocatholick]

Hello I created my own rules for Napoleonic armies and made it more like GW rules with a points system, I'd like to ask your opinion on being able to break the unit down to single men and also if it's historically friendly to make the rifles range double that of a musket

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Im not 100% clear what you mean by breaking them down into individual men. I assume you mean like 10 points per model and you use your points to make say a unit of 21 mean or whatever? Most rule sets from pre 2000 have casualty systems that remove individual figures. In The Grand Manner for example. As for rifles, I dont think double is too much, but it depends on movement. If that means a unit will be under fire for 4 or 5 turns, itll hurt game balance

[@anglocatholick]

@@NapoleonicWargaming I mean as in breaking the squad down from 10 men to 1 man being able to move away from the squad. Thank you for the food for thought

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

I'm not sure theyd really do that,but it depends on 'scale' of battle. It could certainly work, but I'd probably not bother if the player was commanding more than a brigade. But I would say, playtest it! That's always the best way of knowing if something will work!

[@anglocatholick]

@@NapoleonicWargaming I will, probably going to have to change a lot. Thank you for your help in these amazing videos!

[@Tonks143]

Velites is sort of like Veh-leet-eys or if you're pretentious Wehleetays

[@kc0dxf]

What is a rifle at this time? Surely not breech loading is it?

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

It was yes. It wasn't until the Franco Prussian war that they had breechloaders as standard (I think! I'm absolutely no expert on that fascinating period)

[@smooth_sundaes5172]

@@NapoleonicWargaming Actually, the British had a breechloader as early as 1770 called the Ferguson and was used in the American Revolution and 1812. Breech loaders are known as early as Henry VIII believe it or not but yes, the first to have an army go into battle armed with breech loaders were the Prussians against Austrtia in the 1866 war. Interesting subject for those into guns I guess. I vaguely remember reading about an early Austrian breech loading air rifle but can't remember where exactly. I bow to the better informed of course.

[@matthiuskoenig3378]

@@smooth_sundaes5172 Girandoni air rifle is what you are looking for. it was actually magazine fed (20 balls), it was used between 1780 and 1815 by the austrian army.

[@marschallblucher6197]

@@smooth_sundaes5172 the dryer needle was used before that against Denmark in the Second slechwig War. Though to such an extent as with Austria.

[@8b_03_akhtargyaneshwarpurw3]

are you british?

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

I am

[@redrb26dett]

Your knowledge of history and tactics probably learned for KZbin and Wikipedia go read the historical archives they are very easy to access free of charge and NOT sharpe you'll find the answers very very easily and will give you a greater understanding even which war your referencing

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Hahaha. OK bud. You have a good one.