Unit history: Raised 1636. Organised as 2 battalions after 1704. First saw action in the War of the Polish Succession. Heavily involved in the War of the Austrian Succession. Commander: 1744-1769 Giuseppe Ottavio Cacherano Osasco Compte della RoccaUniform: Fusilier (left): Black tricorne, white laced edge, white metal button, white strap, mid-blue cockade. Black stock. Very dark (almost Prussian) blue coat, deep red collar, lapels, cuffs, turnbacks, red edge to shoulder strap. White lace, white metal buttons. Heart patches covering hooks and eyes on turnbacks black or very dark blue. Deep red waistcoat, white lace, white metal buttons. Deep red breeches, white metal buttons. White inner stocking. White gaiters, white metal buttons.
Grenadier (top): Black fur cap, deep red bag edged white with white tassel. (1750-3, bag deep red edged yellow with tassel horizontally divided red-yellow-black.) Black stock. Very dark (almost Prussian) blue coat, deep red collar, lapels, cuffs, turnbacks, red edge to shoulder strap. White lace, white metal buttons. Heart patches covering hooks and eyes on turnbacks black or very dark blue. Deep red waistcoat, white lace, white metal buttons. Deep red breeches, white metal buttons. White inner stocking. Black gaiters, white metal buttons.
Sir David,
ReplyDeleteYou have inspired me do do a brigade of these guys. I ordered some figures from RSM and can't wait to start. Thanks...Nill
Thanks, Bill. Glad you like them! More Sardinians to follow - I've got the bug and it's wonderful to avoid all the other jobs I should be doing. ;-)
ReplyDeleteLook forward to seeing your Sardinians when painted.
All the best,
David.
Sir David, Do they have any light troops?...Bill
ReplyDeleteHi Bill,
ReplyDeleteDuring the WAS they had free companies of irregular mountain troops - the Vaudois or Valdesi (French-speaking Protestants) - 10 each of 100 men are recorded in late 1744, for instance. Battalions of between 350 and 600 men are recorded later (1747). They fought in the highland areas but also in the field. They were dressed in a single breasted coat of coarse, local brown cloth, without a collar and without turnbacks. Usual large cuffs, with 5 buttons. Buttons probably covered in brown cloth. Vest red, gaiters black, breeches dark blue, red, brown or black. Equipment: buff leather waist belt with short sword in a frog, shoulder belt over left shoulder with ammunition pouch (or ball bag and powder flask) at left hip. Tricorne with white lace, blue cockade and sprig of Imperial foliage (the usual Piedmontese tricorne, in fact).
Hope that's useful!
All the best,
David.