2nd Battalion, 4th Baden Infantry Regiment

2nd [German] Infantry Division 
GdD Jean-Francois, Baron Leval,

Brigade
OB Heinrich, Freiherr von Porbeck,
Baden Infantry Regiment Gross-Herzog Nr. 4: OB Heinrich, Freiherr von Porbeck, 1st Battalion

Baden Infantry Regiment Gross-Herzog Nr. 4: OB Heinrich, Freiherr von Porbeck, 2nd battalion
Nassau Infantry Regiment Nr. 2: OB August von Kruse, 1st Battalion

Nassau Infantry Regiment Nr. 2: OB August von Kruse. 2nd Battalion
Baden Foot Battery: 2 – 7pdr howitzers, MAJ Franz-Friedrich-Christian von Steinmetz

Brigade
GM David-Hendrik Chasse,

Composite Dutch Infantry Regiment: OB Baron de Grave,1/2nd Infantry Regiment
Composite Dutch Infantry Regiment: OB Baron de Grave, 2/4th Infantry Regiment
Dutch Horse Artillery Battery Nr.3: 6 guns, HPT Hendrik-Rudolph Trip

Brigade
GdB Balthazard Grandjean,
Hessen-Darmstadt Infantry Regiment Gross- und Erbprinz Nr. 4: GM Georg-Johann Schaffer von Bernstein, 1st Battalion
Hessen-Darmstadt Infantry Regiment Gross- und Erbprinz Nr. 4: GM Georg-Johann Schaffer von Bernstein, 2nd Battalion
Confederation of the Rhine Battalion Nr.3 (Frankfurt) OBL von Welsch
Hessen-Darmstadt Foot Batterie: 4 - 6pdrs, LT Ludwig Venator

The completion of the German Division, took one step nearer with the addition of the 2nd Battalion of the 4th Baden Regiment. For a potted history and links I referred to in the construction of the regiment just click on the link in the orbat above for the 1st Battalion.

As previously the unit is composed of Warmodelling figures except the skirmish elements which are adapted AB Bavarians.

The Baden colour (Regimenterfahnen) is for the 4th Regiment, white with the yellow cross and reversed to that carried by the 1st Battalion. As before this was supplied by Maverick Models, a link for which is in the side bar.

I thought it would be complete to show the Regiment together with their brigade commander, OB Heinrich Freiherr von Porbeck, who was modelled using a Warmodelling Austrian commander.  

Next up the final unit in the division, the Baden artillery and then it's on to some Germans serving in Wellesley's army.

1st Battalion, 4th Baden Infantry Regiment

With the completion of the 1st Battalion of the the 4th Regiment of Baden Infantry, I am on the last infantry component of the "German Division" at Talavera and the last three units to be done. The Order of battle below illustrates progress too date and will allow you to view previous units completed so far.

2nd [German] Infantry Division 
GdD Jean-Francois, Baron Leval,

Brigade
OB Heinrich, Freiherr von Porbeck,

Baden Infantry Regiment Gross-Herzog Nr. 4: OB Heinrich, Freiherr von Porbeck, 2 battalions
Nassau Infantry Regiment Nr. 2: OB August von Kruse, 1st Battalion

Nassau Infantry Regiment Nr. 2: OB August von Kruse. 2nd Battalion
Baden Foot Battery: 2 – 7pdr howitzers, MAJ Franz-Friedrich-Christian von Steinmetz

Brigade
GM David-Hendrik Chasse,

Composite Dutch Infantry Regiment: OB Baron de Grave,1/2nd Infantry Regiment
Composite Dutch Infantry Regiment: OB Baron de Grave, 2/4th Infantry Regiment
Dutch Horse Artillery Battery Nr.3: 6 guns, HPT Hendrik-Rudolph Trip

Brigade
GdB Balthazard Grandjean,
Hessen-Darmstadt Infantry Regiment Gross- und Erbprinz Nr. 4: GM Georg-Johann Schaffer von Bernstein, 1st Battalion
Hessen-Darmstadt Infantry Regiment Gross- und Erbprinz Nr. 4: GM Georg-Johann Schaffer von Bernstein, 2nd Battalion
Confederation of the Rhine Battalion Nr.3 (Frankfurt) OBL von Welsch
Hessen-Darmstadt Foot Batterie: 4 - 6pdrs, LT Ludwig Venator

The Baden Infantry Regiment was, like the Kingdom of Holland Regiment, a composite unit composed of the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Regiment Rastatt (Red Facings) and the 1st Battalion, 4th Regiment Freiburg (White Facings). The two battalions and a battery of artillery under the command of Oberst Heinrich von Porbeck , who was killed at Talavera, formed the Baden contribution coerced out of Grand Duke Carl Friedrich of Baden by Napoleon.

Grand Duke Carl Friedrich of Baden

 
The regiment and the battery marched out of Baden on 24th August 1808, reaching Bayonne on the 12th October, covering 1000km in 48 days. The infantry were issued with French model muskets and the artillery with French 4 lbr guns, simplifying the logistics of ammunition resupply. On the 16th October 1808 they entered Spain.*

 
The Baden infantry was organised on the French system with four fusilier companies, a voltigeur and grenadier company in each battalion. When they marched into Spain, most sources agree they were still wearing the Bavarian style black leather helmet, the kasket, probably changing to French style shakos in 1810. So for Talavera I was keen to have my Badeners in their distinctive looking uniforms.

After much thought I decided to keep to the theme of using "Warmodelling" figures for the bulk of this division, with AB Bavarians with slightly modified kaskets to represent the skirmish elements.

The mounted officer is speculative on my part, being a "Warmodelling" Austrian ADC that came with an Austrian General who will be my brigade commander "von Porbeck". He should probably be wearing the side to side bicorne, as with the foot officer, but I couldn't resist having him with a kasket.

The flag (Leibfahne) is from Maverick Models. The staff is described by Digby Smith as being black, topped by a gilt finial, with chords or red, white and gold

Other sources consulted were:
http://www.napoleon-series.org/military/organization/c_baden.html
http://revistas.ucm.es/index.php/MILT/article/viewFile/MILT9595110359A/3446

* Source: Napoleon's German Division in Spain Vol 1, Digby Smith

Hessen-Darmstadt Foot Batterie

The next unit completed for the German Division is the artillery contribution from Hesse Darmstadt, a half battery, eventually rearmed with French 4lbr guns.

2nd [German] Infantry Division 
GdD Jean-Francois, Baron Leval,

Brigade
OB Heinrich, Freiherr von Porbeck,

Baden Infantry Regiment Gross-Herzog Nr. 4: OB Heinrich, Freiherr von Porbeck, 2 battalions
Nassau Infantry Regiment Nr. 2: OB August von Kruse, 1st Battalion

Nassau Infantry Regiment Nr. 2: OB August von Kruse. 2nd Battalion
Baden Foot Battery: 2 – 7pdr howitzers, MAJ Franz-Friedrich-Christian von Steinmetz

Brigade
GM David-Hendrik Chasse,

Composite Dutch Infantry Regiment: OB Baron de Grave,1/2nd Infantry Regiment
Composite Dutch Infantry Regiment: OB Baron de Grave, 2/4th Infantry Regiment
Dutch Horse Artillery Battery Nr.3: 6 guns, HPT Hendrik-Rudolph Trip

Brigade
GdB Balthazard Grandjean,
Hessen-Darmstadt Infantry Regiment Gross- und Erbprinz Nr. 4: GM Georg-Johann Schaffer von Bernstein, 1st Battalion
Hessen-Darmstadt Infantry Regiment Gross- und Erbprinz Nr. 4: GM Georg-Johann Schaffer von Bernstein, 2nd Battalion
Confederation of the Rhine Battalion Nr.3 (Frankfurt) OBL von Welsch

Hessen-Darmstadt Foot Batterie: 4 – 6pdrs, LT Ludwig Venator

Again as with the Dutch artillery, I am forced to mix and match and so a bit of scratch work to get suitable figures to recreate Lieutenant Venator's command.

So for the gunners I went for the "Warmodelling" French Horse Gunners, removing their chords and sabrateche. The sabres aren't correct as these chaps should really have a sabre briquet, but I think they work pretty well.

The artillery train are AB Austrian with an Austrian limber that does a good impersonation of a French light limber suitable for towing the 4lbr gun. Again the pompom should really be mounted on the side of the hats (Corshut), but if you can live with them being on the front then so can I.

As with the Dutch guns, I have chosen to use the Blue Moon French 4lbr which seems to look well on the table

So it just leaves OB von Porbeck, the Baden infantry and Baden guns to do to finish the division. The good news is that the Baden Fusiliers have arrived so I can press on to the get this project finished.

Next up though is another Roman cohort. More anon

Kingdom of Holland, Horse Artillery Battery No.3

2nd [German] Infantry Division 
GdD Jean-Francois, Baron Leval,

Brigade
OB Heinrich, Freiherr von Porbeck,

Baden Infantry Regiment Gross-Herzog Nr. 4: OB Heinrich, Freiherr von Porbeck, 2 battalions
Nassau Infantry Regiment Nr. 2: OB August von Kruse, 1st Battalion

Nassau Infantry Regiment Nr. 2: OB August von Kruse. 2nd Battalion
Baden Foot Battery: 2 – 7pdr howitzers, MAJ Franz-Friedrich-Christian von Steinmetz

Brigade
GM David-Hendrik Chasse,

Composite Dutch Infantry Regiment: OB Baron de Grave,1/2nd Infantry Regiment
Composite Dutch Infantry Regiment: OB Baron de Grave, 2/4th Infantry Regiment
Dutch Horse Artillery Battery Nr. 3: 6 guns, HPT Hendrik-Rudolph Trip

Brigade
GdB Balthazard Grandjean,
Hessen-Darmstadt Infantry Regiment Gross- und Erbprinz Nr. 4: GM Georg-Johann Schaffer von Bernstein, 1st Battalion
Hessen-Darmstadt Infantry Regiment Gross- und Erbprinz Nr. 4: GM Georg-Johann Schaffer von Bernstein, 2nd Battalion
Confederation of the Rhine Battalion Nr.3 (Frankfurt) OBL von Welsch

Hessen-Darmstadt Foot Batterie: 4 – 6pdrs, LT Ludwig Venator

Ok, the first thing to say, is that my battery is not quite correct as these are French horse gunners in habites, rather than hussar style jackets. They are as close as I can get it in 18mm and will do until I can get more suitable figures. Likewise, there is not a lot of information on the Dutch artillery train and so I have given these guys a French look.

The models are all Warmodelling figures except the 4lbr guns which are from Blue Moon.

With the completion of the Dutch brigade its on to the Hesse Darmstadt battery to complete Grandjean's brigade. See the above links to view other completed units in the Division.

Next up, Roman Auxiliaries.

Kingdom of Holland, 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment

2nd [German] Infantry Division 
GdD Jean-Francois, Baron Leval,

Brigade
OB Heinrich, Freiherr von Porbeck,

Baden Infantry Regiment Gross-Herzog Nr. 4: OB Heinrich, Freiherr von Porbeck, 2 battalions
Nassau Infantry Regiment Nr. 2: OB August von Kruse, 1st Battalion

Nassau Infantry Regiment Nr. 2: OB August von Kruse. 2nd Battalion
Baden Foot Battery: 2 – 7pdr howitzers, MAJ Franz-Friedrich-Christian von Steinmetz

Brigade
GM David-Hendrik Chasse,

Composite Dutch Infantry Regiment: OB Baron de Grave,1/2nd Infantry Regiment
Composite Dutch Infantry Regiment: OB Baron de Grave, 2/4th  Infantry Regiment

Dutch Horse Artillery Battery Nr. 3: 6 guns, HPT Hendrik-Rudolph Trip

Brigade
GdB Balthazard Grandjean,
Hessen-Darmstadt Infantry Regiment Gross- und Erbprinz Nr. 4: GM Georg-Johann Schaffer von Bernstein, 1st Battalion
Hessen-Darmstadt Infantry Regiment Gross- und Erbprinz Nr. 4: GM Georg-Johann Schaffer von Bernstein, 2nd Battalion
Confederation of the Rhine Battalion Nr.3 (Frankfurt) OBL von Welsch

Hessen-Darmstadt Foot Batterie: 4 – 6pdrs, LT Ludwig Venator

The completion of the second of the two Dutch infantry battalions under General Chasse leaves just the two battalions of the Baden infantry contingent and the artillery to complete the German Division for Talavera.

The figures used, as with the first battalion, are from Warmodelling with the Regimental Colour from Maverick Models. A few conversions were added as mentioned in the post covering the 1/2nd Infantry, just follow the link above to see that post, which covers off a bit more of the information behind the construction of these units.

The Dutch brigade add a great splash of white to the German Division and together with the Nassau battalions in green help to offset all the blue.

I am awaiting the arrival of my Baden infantry, and so before embarking on them and the artillery units I will be amusing myself with a 28mm unit of Early Imperial Roman Legionaries which I will post up next.

Kingdom of Holland, 1st Battalion 2nd Infantry Regiment

2nd [German] Infantry Division 
GdD Jean-Francois, Baron Leval,

Brigade
OB Heinrich, Freiherr von Porbeck,

Baden Infantry Regiment Gross-Herzog Nr. 4: OB Heinrich, Freiherr von Porbeck, 2 battalions
Nassau Infantry Regiment Nr. 2: OB August von Kruse, 1st Battalion

Nassau Infantry Regiment Nr. 2: OB August von Kruse. 2nd Battalion
Baden Foot Battery: 2 – 7pdr howitzers, MAJ Franz-Friedrich-Christian von Steinmetz

Brigade
GM David-Hendrik Chasse,

Composite Dutch Infantry Regiment: OB Baron de Grave, 1/2nd Infantry Regiment
Composite Dutch Infantry Regiment: OB Baron de Grave, 2/4th  Infantry Regiment

Dutch Horse Artillery Battery Nr. 3: 6 guns, HPT Hendrik-Rudolph Trip

Brigade
GdB Balthazard Grandjean,
Hessen-Darmstadt Infantry Regiment Gross- und Erbprinz Nr. 4: GM Georg-Johann Schaffer von Bernstein, 1st Battalion
Hessen-Darmstadt Infantry Regiment Gross- und Erbprinz Nr. 4: GM Georg-Johann Schaffer von Bernstein, 2nd Battalion
Confederation of the Rhine Battalion Nr.3 (Frankfurt) OBL von Welsch

Hessen-Darmstadt Foot Batterie: 4 – 6pdrs, LT Ludwig Venator

The Dutch infantry contingent in the German Division was a composite regiment with a battalion each from the 2nd and 4th Regiments (Some references say the 2nd and 3rd, but I've gone with Boisselier above and Burnham, http://www.napoleon-series.org/military/organization/c_baden.html).

There are not many options around in 18mm for the Dutch contingent in Spain and so I have, as with the other units shown so far, used the "Warmodelling" figures. The figures themselves are ok but are probably my least favourite of their current range. The fusiliers only come in two poses and are not the best castings, the grenadiers are only in one pose and are ok, but the voltigeurs are the most frustrating only shown in an advancing pose, again only one option. Sadly none of the options provide a campaign look as with the Germans. I would have really liked a figure with loose fitting baggy trousers to replicate the Spanish and captured cloth items that would have soon replaced the uniform leggings of the standard uniform.

I should say that the information on the Dutch at this time is very limited and often contradictory and the decision to produce a certain look will probably come down to the individual, based on the reference they know and/or prefer, based on corroboration from other sources. I have used several references in the painting of the battalion with this thought process.

One very interesting source looking at Dutch troops in the field from this period is

Dutch troops in Hamburg

One reference insists the the Dutch voltigeurs copied French practice in having their collars faced yellow, and don't get me started on plumes!

So how to make the best of what we have. First up was a mounted Colonel to represent Baron de Grave. This chap was a French colonel with his plume removed and a piece of brass rod put on the side of the shako with modelling putty shaped to produce a new plume.

Next up were the voltiguers, both skirmishing and in the unit. As all the other figures were in march pose with sloped arms I decided to remodel some French voltigeurs with side plumes. With the skirmish elements I kept two of the advancing poses and put head transplants on two skrmishing French voltigeurs.

My final adaption was to use an oversize Colour from Maverick Models. The Dutch colours were a copy of the French 1804 standard and should be smaller, but given the Dutch were not using Eagles at this time I decided to give them oversize colours to help them have a bit more on table presence when on with the German battalions. You can call it artistic licence and I'm the artist and I'm happy.

All in all I'm quite pleased with the look achieved but would really like to see new options in 18mm to do the Dutch in Spain, but until then these will be my chaps for Talavera.

I am now getting ready for a two week holiday in France, so the German Division will go on hold until I am back, but I do aim to post some holiday stuff as I am close to Paris and the scene of Napoleon's 1814 campaign. Once back I'll be getting on with the 4th Dutch and some Romans!

Confederation of the Rhine Nr. 3 (Frankfurt) Battalion

The third component of GdB Balthazard Grandjean's brigade was the Frankfurt battalion, commanded by Oberstlieutenant von Welsch.

2nd [German] Infantry Division 
GdD Jean-Francois, Baron Leval,

Brigade
OB Heinrich, Freiherr von Porbeck,

Baden Infantry Regiment Gross-Herzog Nr. 4: OB Heinrich, Freiherr von Porbeck, 2 battalions
Nassau Infantry Regiment Nr. 2: OB August von Kruse, 1st Battalion

Nassau Infantry Regiment Nr. 2: OB August von Kruse. 2nd Battalion
Baden Foot Battery: 2 – 7pdr howitzers, MAJ Franz-Friedrich-Christian von Steinmetz

Brigade
GM David-Hendrik Chasse,

Composite Dutch Infantry Regiment: OB Baron de Grave, 2 battalions

Dutch Horse Artillery Battery Nr. 3: 6 guns, HPT Hendrik-Rudolph Trip

Brigade
GdB Balthazard Grandjean,
Hessen-Darmstadt Infantry Regiment Gross- und Erbprinz Nr. 4: GM Georg-Johann Schaffer von Bernstein, 1st Battalion
Hessen-Darmstadt Infantry Regiment Gross- und Erbprinz Nr. 4: GM Georg-Johann Schaffer von Bernstein, 2nd Battalion

Confederation of the Rhine Battalion Nr. 3 (Frankfurt) OBL von Welsch,

Hessen-Darmstadt Foot Batterie: 4 – 6pdrs, LT Ludwig Venator

With the Treaty of Luneville in 1801 all territories of the Holy Roman Empire on the left bank of the River Rhine were ceded to France. This massive change to the map of Europe in time led to the creation of the Grand Duchy of Frankfurt. Frankfurt was called upon to raise and maintain a battalion of infantry initially 968 all ranks, this was later increased to 1,500 men.

On the 4th of August 1808 Frankfurt was ordered by the Emperor Napoleon to mobilise its battalion. The battalion, 980 men strong was organised along French lines with a grenadier and voltigeur company and four fusilier companies.

The battalion when raised in 1808 wore white tunics faced red with white buttons. In March 1809, after the Battle of Medellin, large stocks of dark blue and brown cloth were captured and the ragged white tunics and breaches were replaced with the dark blue uniform as illustrated. All badges of rank and company followed the French model.

My battalion is composed of figures from the "Warmodelling" range, with von Welsch mounted on an "AB" steed. The Colour carried is speculative, and thank you to Stuart at Maverick Models for supplying me with two options. I decided on the plain white with the eagle as a suitable banner for my my battalion to tread the field of Talavera with.

Next up, the Dutch contingent.