The Lace Wars: Prussian Commands and Positions

My good friend, Bernd Fischer, kindly gave me an interesting book recently entitled:

"Die Kriege Friedrichs II"

This was published in communist Berlin in 1981. The front and rear plates contained some excellent images of the various positions taken by an infantryman of the 18th Century, most probably from the years prior to the War of the Austrian Succession.

Black Hussar Miniatures has tried to follow these positions in its recent SYW range as has Crann Tara Miniatures with its Wars of the Austrian Succession and Jacobite figures.

Schlesisches Kürassier-Regiment Nr. 1

Keeping with the Leipzig theme, here are two squadrons of the Schlesisches Kürassier-Regiment Nr. 1. under Oberstleutnant Karl Philipp Traugot von Briesen, (Pour le Mérite). The Regiment served with the 2nd Prussian Corps under Generallieutenant von Kleist in the Reserve Cavalry, Generalmajor von Röder commanding. They were one of three cuirassier regiments in GM Freiherr August-Friedrich-Ludwig von Wrangel's heavy cavalry Brigade. The other regiments in the Brigade were Ostpreußisches Kürassier-Regiment Nr. 2  (Oberstleutnant von Werder) and Brandenburgisches Kürassier-Regiment  Nr.4 (Major von Loebell).

Schlesisches Kürassier-Regiment Nr. 1

I made the standarte following the Bunde plates. It stills needs decorative cords. The unit was painted for me by Carl Robson using Perry Prussian cuirassiers in campaign Litewkas with the officer in a Leibrock. Not so stunning as their dress white Kollets.

Oberstleutnant Karl Philipp Traugot von Briesen and staff

Oberstleutnant Karl Philipp Traugot von Briesen

I highly recommend Peter Bunde's excellent series of uniform plates. I used Nr. 58 for this project.

Many thanks to Jon von Briesen, a relative of Oberstleutnant von Briesen for providing additional research when he saw this article.

Here are a few new pictures taken 5.19.15 in my new light box.

Converged Grenadiers 13/26 von Finck: 'Mit der rechten Hand ans Gewehr!'

The elite 4-company 13/26 von Finck Converged Grenadier Battalion, major F. A von Finck commanding. This unit was painted for me by Leuthen Studios with figures by Black Hussar Miniatures.

The Battalion fought at Prague, Kolin and Rossbach. It was captured at Maxen in 1759 and had to be reconstituted with 4 companies from 4 different regiments.

13/26 von Finck Converged Grenadiers

13/26 von Finck Converged Grenadiers

13/26 von Finck Converged Grenadiers

13/26 von Finck Converged Grenadiers

13/26 von Finck Converged Grenadiers

IR13 von Itzenplitz, the so-called "Donner und Blitzen" regiment, provided 2 companies to the "coverged" Battalion. Using "Maurice" rules, I'm using 2 (of 4) bases for each of the musketeer regiments providing grenadiers.

IR13 von Itzenplitz Grenadiers

IR13 von Itzenplitz Grenadiers

IR13 von Itzenplitz Grenadiers

Officer, IR13 von Itzenplitz Grenadiers

Musketeer Regiment, IR26, von Meyerinck, provided the other 2 grenadier companies for the converged battalion.

IR26 von Meyerinck Grenadiers

IR26 von Meyerinck Grenadiers

IR26 von Meyerinck Grenadiers

Grenadiers, IR26 von Meyerinck Grenadiers

Officer, IR26 von Meyerinck Grenadiers

Drummer, IR26 von Meyerinck Grenadiers

The result is a very colourful battalion which should do well on the miniature battlefield!

IR17 von Manteuffel

IR17 von Manteuffel  is now complete! The figures are by Black Hussar, painted by Leuthen Studios with flags from GMB.

IR13 von Itzenplitz Grenadiers

More images of the outstanding new Prussian Grenadiers from "Black Hussar Miniatures", painted as IR13, von Itzenplitz. They formed the Combined Grenadiers 13/26 von Fink together with IR26 von Meyerinck. These were once again painted for me by Leuthen Studios. The uniform follows Hans Bleckwenn with white rather than straw breeches and small clothes. The full detachment is ready for basing, pictures of the complete unit to follow.

IR Nr. 17 von Manteuffel Musketeer Regiment: Command

Here are some individual figures for the second half of my von Manteuffel Musketeers using the new "Black Hussar" 28mm miniatures. They will be based shortly on the Regimental Command base per "Maurice" rules.

Drummer

Drummer

 The drummer has been beating the pas de charge very vigorously from the look of the drum surface!

Drummer

The talented artist at Leuthen Studios has even tried to simulate the drummer's intricate lace.

Drummer's Lace

Musketeer

Musketeer

NCO

NCO

Officer

Officer