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.