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The first set I will definitely buy, probably in numbers to create four fusilier companies. The second set with the muskets over the right shoulder I am not so sure about. As far as I have gathered, only NCO's carried their weapons there.
The first thing I thought is: the rifle is on the wrong side. But ... on a battlefield I do not think soldiers used rifle straps. For the simple walk on road I do not think that the rifle on the right was mandatory.
@Wagram,
It is possible of course, however I yet have to come across a reference on how muskets were carried other than on the left shoulder, strap or no strap. Strelets highlanders and British infantry on the march are also depicted carrying their muskets on the left. They do have straps. Only the fusiliers de marins of the early 20th century are on a fairly rare picture shown to march with weapons on the right shoulder. Apparently manuals dating back to the early 19th century still exist specifically stating that fusils are carried left by infantry.
the idea behind is to have all stages:
marching in columns on the road
marching in formations on battlefield before fire contact with an enemy
approaching enemy under fire
attack
In the real world, if you're walking from Paris to Moscow, carrying a drill manual on your shoulder, how long before you swap shoulders?
A bigger issue for me is the fact these are wearing greatcoats. Maybe they're hiding a Bardin uniform under that greatcoat; I don't think French troops in Bardin uniform are oversupplied.
Alan.
I think giving Napoleon units of SAS and LRDG would be a bit of an unfair advantage. But what the heck if Strelets made them I'd buy them, and I'm sure there's vehicles out there somewhere.
Graeme , strangely enough I had not thought of putting them on a table alongside the little corporal :joy: however if they came in blue plastic with Napoleon as a bonus figure I would still buy them too:relaxed:
They're wearing fusilier pompoms and greatcoats, but they've got the crossbelts and swords of elites. Better to clear up the confusion now or face the same problem as the earlier set of "French Infantry on the March".