Those wargamers that I have met who are keen to avoid having masses of Elite troops just because they have the prettiest uniforms, are always searching for something unusual to display before the enemy, but not so obscure as to have never actually fought anywhere. The Milan City Guard fits the bill perfectly.

The Milan City Guard was an North Italian unit that was brought into the front line, by Napoleon, during the 1813 Campaign in Germany, to bolster his newly raised conscript army.

The Milan City Guard were attached to IV Corps which saw extensive action during the Campaign at the Battles of Dennewitz, Gross Beeren, Wartenburg, and Leipzig to name but four. For a want of a better description this unit is best described as an 'experienced second line unit', starting the campaign well trained and well equipped, hardly surprising for the city guard of the capital of the Kingdom of Northern Italy.

The Milan City Guard was created in 1806 from two units of the Cisalpine Republic, the single company of the Milan Civic Guard and the eight Companies of the Milan National Guard. They wore the green uniform of the Italian Reserve forces until 1807 when they were equipped with the below described uniform.

The Uniform of the Milan City Guard 1813

Shako. Brass Chinscales and diamond shaped plate. Italian National Cockade of, inner disc green, over a middle disc of red, over an outer disc of white. Shako surmounted by a small carrot shaped tuft of red over white over green, green being the base colour.

Coat. Light Blue long tailed coat. Turnbacks white with red grenades. All piping red. Collar, cuffs and lapels red. Cuff flaps and shoulder straps light blue piped red.

Waistcoat and trousers were white. Short black gaiters worn as required.

Equipment. White belts with black pouch (no plate or badge), black sabre sheath and bayonet sheath. The Sabre hilt was brass, and adorned with a white strap and red tassel. Brown calf skin pack.

Hair was worn short.

Organisation. The unit consisted of a single battalion of 9 companies of 140 men. It is thought unlikely that more than 6 companies would have taken the field in the '13 campaign owing to the general shortage of man power and the redistribution of trained men to cadre new units.

On April 25th 1813 the Milan Guard had a reported strength of 21 officers and 805 men. The Milan Guard fought the campaign as part of the 3rd Brigade,( General de Brigade Moroni), 15th Division, (General de Division Peri), IV Corps, (General de Division Count Bertrand.)

They went on to fight, with IV Corps at the battles of Ultzen 2.5.13, Konigswartha 19.5.13, Bautzen 20.5.91

By August 15th 1813 the battalion was reduced to 23 officers and 547 men.

The Milan Guard fought at Gross Beeren 23.8.13, Dennewitz 6.9.13, Wartenburg 3.10.13, Leipzig 16- 19.10.13, Hanau 30-31.10.13.

As can be seen the Milan Guard can justify it's presence on many a table with a combat record such as this.