Peninsular War: French Cavalry Painting Guide
Covers:
13th Cuirassiers
The 13th Cuirassiers as they were the only Cuirassiers to serve in Spain. They served in the east of the country for the whole war. Haythornthwaite (1995) and Sapherson (1991) have quite different descriptions of this unit. Both agree about the bright steel breast plate lined in red piped in red; red epaulettes; steel helmet with brass crest and chinscales, a black horse hair mane, and a red upright plume (if worn); white metal buttons; white belts; steel scabbard. However, Haythornthwaite say although the uniform was regulation style it used brown Spanish cloth in place of the scarce regulation dark blue. That means brown coat with maroon collar, cuffs, and turnbacks; brown overalls (worn over boots) perhaps piped red, or breeches (presumably brown or buff; worn tucked into boots); black boots; white gloves. Officers had silver buttons and epaulettes; dark blue shabraques with white edgings. Trumpeters omitted the cuirass and wore reversed colours with white epaulettes, helmet-mane, aigrette and perhaps loops on their dark blue lapels. See Haythornthwaite fig. 45a for an illustration of a brown clad trooper. Sapherson, in contrast, says the troopers had the regulation blue coat and cuff flaps; lilac collar, cuffs, and turnbacks; buff breeches (tucked into boots) or grey overalls (over boots); blue saddlecloth and mantel edged white; white sheepskin over front of saddle edged volet; dark brown harness. Where the authorities differ, I tend to believe Haythornthwaite.
Chasseurs à Cheval, 1815
| Garment | Colour |
| Coat & Overalls | Napoleonic Green (AC-38) or Military Green (Vallejo 975) |
| Facings
(collar, cuffs, stripes down legs, saddle cloth edging) |
1eme = Red (Vallejo 947)
6eme = flat yellow (Vallejo 953) |
| Belts | White |
| White Sheepskin | Tan Yellow (Vallejo 912) with White Highlights |
| Black Sheepskin (Musician) | Black with Grey highlights |
| Saddle cloth (Officer) | Napoleonic Green (AC-38; Vallejo 975) |
| Officers Lace | Light Grey (Vallejo 98) or Silver |
| shako | Black with grey highlight (Vallejo 992)
Blue pompom |
AC = Andrea Color.
Painting guide based on El Mercenario (2007 Jul). The French Light Cavalry of 1815: Chasseurs à cheval and chevau-légers lanciers. Wargames: Soldiers & Strategy, 23, 52-55.
Sources
Funcken, L. and F. (1973). The Napoleonic Wars (Part II). London: Ward Lock.
Haythornthwaite, P. (1995). Uniforms of the Peninsular Wars 1807 - 1814. London: Arms and Armour Press.
Kannik, P. (1968). Military Uniforms in Colour. London: Blandford.
Sapherson, C. A. (1991). Peninsular Armies 1808 - 1814. Leeds, UK: Raider Books.