Material on the French and Prussian armies has prompted a groundswell of interest in the other major army of the period in Europe - the Royal and Imperial Army of Austria (/Hungary) which added so much to the laurels and prestige of the first two armies mentioned. Since manufacturers are in the process of providing this interesting and formidable (if often unsuccessful) army, I will attempt to provide the necessary information.
The 1859 Austrian Army included massive infantry and artillery forces, with moderate cavalry support in the form of dragoons, uhlans, and hussars. A contemporary French history gives the total engaged at Solferino as 170 battalions, 88 squadrons, 688 guns, 146,635 foot soldiers and 16,489 mounted cavalrymen. That gives us an average of 865 men per battalion, 187 per squadron. With other detachments the total army sent to Italy in 1859 - or remaining there from the start came to 198,035 foot soldiers and 19,280 horsemen. If not overwhelmingly efficient, this force certainly was numerous. I would not recommend trying to recreate it at 20 to 1 even in 5mm!
More Royal and Imperial Army 1859-1866
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