Battalion Questions

[George]

I recently got a Marlborough’s Wars Starter Army set here in the states. It let’s me build 4 infantry battalions, 1 cavalry regiment, artillery, and commanders. I’m well on my way to getting my first army set.

I’m building War of Spanish Succession Bavarians. What I know about them is that an infantry regiment consisted of 2, then later in the war, 3 battalions.

So, I’m building a “brigade” that will actually be a 3 battalion regiment. Now, I know I could make each battalion look like a different regiment but I kind of don’t want to do that.

However, If I make my brigade all the same regiment then the flags of each of the 3 battalions will be the same.

So, I’d like to ask, how did regiments with same uniforms and flags distinguish their battalions on the battlefield during this war?

Also, I’m learning that there were a few “grenadier” battalions but the sets only let you build up to 4 grenadiers to be a company inside your battalion. Were complete grenadier battalions historically accurate for this war? I thought I read in one battle that the French pulled all their grenadier companies and combined them to good effect (Ramailles?). I ask this to know if I should create a grenadier company for each of my battalions? Any advice on how to incorporate grenadier models.

Thank you for advice.

[invisible officer]

The armies used no battalion color codes in that time. Tactical the units had been seperated on the field, so no real need for that.

 

A small problem, around 1700 Bavarian Grenadiers wore a pistol at the belt. They served with the mother unit. Still throwing grenades, heading attacks or in line at the flanks.

 

One way to give the battalions a different look can be different poses of the OR.   Or gun stock colors, in that time many armies had painted gun stocks.

[Michael Moran]

Hello George

 

I’ve been slowly building up some Marlburian forces for the past year, since returning to the hobby after several decades.  I my case I’ve been concentrating on French forces circa 1707 with, so far, three battalions of the Irish Brigade (5 more regiments to go) and two French battalions.  My battalions have 32 figures in them as I’m not using any particular set of rules to base them on, I just think that that number of figures looks right.

I’ve found out that you have to dig around a lot for on-line info about the armies of that time and there’s often conflicting information.  I recommend having a look at the following: http://www.leadadventureforum.com , http://www.thewargameswebsite.com, http://www.leagueofaugsburg.blogspot.com , http://www.warsof louisxiv.blogspot.com .  I’ve also found some extremely useful information on Pinterest too, much to my initial surprise (there is a good batch of information there on the Bavarians I’ve found)

From what little I know, where regiments were composed of more than one battalion, the first battalion carried the king’s (or appropriate) colour, and the other would have a regimental colour each.  How often all three battalions were in action together I don’t know.

Luckily for me, the French and their Irish regiments didn’t seem to distinguish their grenadier companies so much, unlike other nations. I believe the grenadiers would take up position on the right of the line, so if you want to include them in your battalion that’s the place to put them.  No reason not to brigade the individual grenadier companies together for specific tasks I think.

I hope some of that helps

Best wishes

Michael

[George]

Thank you Michael Moran and Invisible Officer. Your info is helpful.

[invisible officer]

The Leibfahne of Bavarian 18th cenury foot was White, in center the “Muttergottesbild”, Maria with child. In very early 18th century some regiments had it, some not. It became standard around 1705. In most cases the borders had the blue/White Rautenmuster. In that time each battalion, even the first, had an “Ordinarfahne”, the all over blue white covered with “Rautenmuster”. Mostly in centre with Bavarian Kurwappen.

 

So in those regiments with two Battlions that helps to distiguish.

 

Later , post 1800,  the Leibfahne got the arms and the first Bat. had no longer an Ordinarfahne too.

The oldest surviving Leibfahne in the Bayrisches Armeemuseum is from 1777, still with Maria. See:

https://www.armeemuseum.de/de/sammlungen/fahnen-und-standarten.html

 

All the flags shown for 1700 in the books are reconstructions with 50/50 guesswork.

[Author]

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