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Queries
Q23.1:
I am a new entrant to the hobby, and I am currently building up wargame armies. What concerns me is the colour descriptions used in some of my sources compared to the available paints (for instance, is Humbrol Prussian Blue an exact match to extant Prussian uniforms?).
Have any readers got their own lists of what paints best match uniform colours, musket stocks, and gun carriages?
--Paul Holmes
Q23.2:
Did the Hanoverian infantry units at Waterloo (regular and militia) fight in a two-deep or a three-deep line?
--Dave Cox
Q23.3:
Does anyone have the answer to where the standard-bearer formed up in an Austrian infantry battalion?
Bowden and Tarbox state in Armies on the Danube that "In all formations the flag was on the far right side of the battalion". However, a copy of the drill reglement on page 36 of the same book clearly show Grenz battalions formed in line with the standard in the centre between the 3rd and 4th companies.
Assuming that Grenz and Line drill were not that different, could it be that the standard formed in the centre when the battalion was in line. It would move to the right flank when the battalion was column to assist in alignment.
--Peter Korabik
Replies
Q21.1:
The Mansfeldsches Landwehr-Pioneer-Bataillon was founded on 19 November 1813 and was initially raised from miners in the county of Mansfeld by Ober-Bergmeister von Veltheim in Eisleben. Berghauptmann Gerhard, in charge of the Prussian mines, suggested that the battalion also recruit from the entire district, and the King of Prussia granted his permission to do so on 2 December 1813.
Thus a Landwehr-Pioneer-Bataillon of four companies, each of 123 men was raised, being recruited from the miners, smelting and salt workers from the provinces between the Elbe and Weser rivers. It was later raised to a strength of 801 men. It was to conduct the same duties as the regular fortress pioneers, being similarly divided into groups by skills. The officers were mining, smelting or salt work officials.
The uniform was to consist of traditional miner's costumes, that is a black coatee, with light blue facings, the provincial colour. They were issued with greatcoats, and were to wear the Landwehr cross above the hammer and iron badge on their head-wear, but the one contemporary illustration of them, in the Elberfeld Manuscript, shows the subject illustrated without the Landwehr cross on his shako.
The men were to be armed with bayonets and carbines, or normal infantry muskets, but only sergeants were allowed to wear a side-arm. However, the most important items of equipment were their spades and other tools.
Recruitment began on 11 January 1814 in Eisleben, and 500 men joined within four days. However, there was a shortage of pontoniers, so these had to be recruited from outside the mines. By the end of February, it had reached its designated strength, and was sworn in on 1 March. It never saw action, nor was it used in a theatre of war.
Sources:
Elberfeld Bildhandschrift, Lipperheide Collection, Berlin
Das Preussische Heer in den Jahren 1814 und 1815, (Berlin, 1914), pp38-40.
--Peter Hofschröer
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