1817-18 Argentine Army of the Andes

This is the Argentine element of San Martin's Army of the Andes from my 1817-18 Chilean Project.

Roland Davis painted all the figures. Except where noted all figures are the 15mm range from Grenadier Productions. Roland uses the Black Undercoat Method of painting and basing style based on XF-52 Flat Earth (see Flock page for more detail). Flags are based on my best guess Flags for 1817-18 Chilean Project and are painted by Roland. Uniform guides were the books by John Fletcher of Grenadier Productions (Fletcher, 2005, 2006) in particular the illustrations by Prof. Julio Luqui Lagleyze and Cesar Puliafito that appear in Fletcher (2005, p. 28 - 36).

The Full Array

I'm trying to do my 1817-18 Chilean Project in Phases. Phase 1 of produces the bulk of the Argentine forces. So far I've got most of the cavalry and all of the infantry.

Granaderos a Caballo

I've got four squadrons of Granaderos a Caballo.

All four squadrons en masse

A single squadron

Rear of the squadron

Command Stand

Example Trooper Stand

7th Infantry Regiment

The other ranks of the 7th Infantry Regiment were freed slaves. Officers were either white or black.

All eight stands of the Battalion in two ranks

Command stand

Example Fusilier Stand

Grenadier Stand
Notice the distinctive red and yellow cuff of the Grenadiers of this regiment.

Cazadore Stand

8th Infantry Regiment (8th Battalion of Free Negroes)

The 8th Infantry Regiment looks quite similar to the 7th. The only differences are the drummer's uniform, cuffs of the Grenadiers jacket, and number on the flag.

All eight stands of the Battalion in two ranks

Command Stand

Grenadier Stand

Cazadore Stand

11th Infantry Regiment

The 11th Infantry Regiment was manned by white Argentines. The uniform was slightly different to that of the 7th and 8th.

All eight stands in a line

All eight stands of the Battalion in two ranks

Rear of Battalion

Command Stand

Example Fusilier Stand

Grenadier Stand

Cazadore Stand

Cazadores de los Andes (Cazadore Infantry Regiment #1)

The Cazadore Infantry Regiment #1 were also known as the Cazadores de los Andes. They wore a uniform cut like those of British Rifles but in blue. Grenadier Productions lack a suitable figure so I used figures from Fantassin. Spanish light infantry regiments had flank companies like the line regiments, called Carabineros and and Tiradores (corresponding to Grenadier and Cazadore in the line regiments) with the centre company men being Cazadores (equivalent to Fusiliers). Apparently the Argentine units followed suit, but I don't know the distinctive features of the flank companies so all stands were painted as Cazadores.

All eight stands of the Battalion in two ranks

Back view

Command Stand
Figures are British light infantry from Fantassin
(Rifles command packs don't have the right mix of figures)

Cazadore Stand
Figures are British Rifles from Fantassin

Grenadier Battalion

On occasion both Patriots and Royalists converged their flank companies to create Grenadier and/or Cazadore battalions. I got a specialist command stand for the resulting Grenadier battalion, but the grenadier stands themselves come from the line battalions. I love the red bag at the top of the shakos of the Argentine Grenadiers - very distinctive.

Four stands of Grenadier Battalion in two ranks

Back view showing the distinctive Argentine Grenadier bag

Specialist Grenadier Command Stand
The standard bearer has been replaced by a Grenadier figure

Cazadore Battalion

On occasion both Patriots and Royalists converged their flank companies to create Grenadier and/or Cazadore battalions. I got a specialist command stand for the Cazadore battalion but the Cazadore stands themselves come from the Line battalions.

Four stands of Cazadore Battalion in two ranks