Epic Battles: WATERLOO - French Middle & Old Guard
Sunday, 18 June 1815; on an unassuming rain-soaked field in Belgium; two great generals of the age finally met in battle. The climactic clash of the Hundred Days campaign wrought the end of around twenty years of continuous warfare on the continent, and with it an end to the reign of Napoleon. The Battle of Waterloo, arguably the most famous battle in all military history, provides more than a fitting subject for our second foray into the 'Epic' scale of wargaming. Black Powder Epic Battles: Waterloo is here.
Napoleon created the Imperial Guard as an army within an army. To gain access to its hallowed ranks was the dream of many French soldiers. Better pay, food, uniforms and a swagger that carried them all over Europe – it was a post of great honour and they worshipped their Emperor. They were far from being palace guards however as long and active service made them crack soldiers who could be relied upon to get the job done.
This plastic set contains enough troops to field three Guard battalions (80 soldiers in each) with accompanying mounted officers. Old Guard are recognizable by the brass plate on front of their bearskin hats and the rear patch atop them. The Middle Guard bearskins didn't carry the brass plate or rear patch so these can be painted over as if fur. We have added a few extra heads; those who wish to further differentiate their units can replace some of them with the shako or the bonnet to convey the poorer supplied Middle Guard although it isn't mandatory!
Also included are units of Marines of the Guard (30 soldiers) and Engineers of the Guard (30 soldiers). These add a further dash of colour and variety to the French army. To cover the Guard in the attack Napoleon fielded 'His lovely daughters', large 12-pounder cannon, crewed by excellent gunners and which could reach out further than most Allied guns. A dangerous foe indeed...
Contents:
- 3 x Epic Battles: Napoleonic French Middle/Old Guard infantry plastic sprues.
- 3 x Epic Battles: plastic base sprues.
- 1 x Full-colour Napoleonic French flag leaflet.
Models supplied unassembled and unpainted