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Monday, February 25, 2019

1st Polish Legion in 1799

With the Battle of Trebbia as a possible monument for 2019 gaming (see Project Plans 2019),  a battalion of the Polish Legion was pushed into the painting queue.  Thirteen figures comprising this BMU muster out as the 1st battalion of the 1st Polish Legion.  Figures are AB Miniatures.  As expected from AB, the figures are superb with fine detailing.  I found the dark blue uniform with colored labels an easier unit to paint than an equivalent French battalion.  Still need to grant the battalion a flag.  
The 1st Polish Legion served in Dabrowski's Division at Trebbia.  Each of the three infantry battalions under Dabrowski were distributed across each of his three brigades.  The 1st Battalion was assigned to Calvin's Brigade.  Dabrowski's division was engaged on the first day of battle (June 17) along with Victor and Rusca at Tidone Creek.  After having passed the Tidone, Dabrowski was attacked vigorously by Bagration.  The Poles were forced to retire back across the Tidone.       

The 1st Battalion joins the 2nd Battalion in "Figures Completed" side of the ledger.  To finish off Dabwroski's command, one more Legion infantry battalion is needed in addition to a combined grenadier/chasseur battalion, two squadrons of lancers, and two squadrons of dragoons.

50 comments:

  1. Great looking Polish infantry! They look just the job!
    Best Iain

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  2. AB miniatures are superb and your painting has done them great justice Jonathan.
    Cheers,
    Pat.

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  3. Superb figures and brushwork, Jonathan. The details and sculpting look better than many 28mm figs.

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    1. Thank you, Dean! These Poles are wonderfully sculpted, for sure.

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  4. Elegant and splendid additions my friend, well done!

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    1. Phil, I can count on you to be so supportive. Thanks!

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  5. A good looking unit. Are all your bases having a mounted officer, or do you mix it up some with some without?

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    1. Thanks! For this project and the 18mm SYW project, all infantry have a mounted officer.

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  6. Great looking unit and very nicely sculpted figures. Great paint job too!

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  7. lovely painting and miniatures - thumbs up!

    cheers,

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    1. Phil C? Is that you? Long time, no hear. Hope all has been well for you. Thanks for comment!

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    2. Yes its me :o) not doing well, to be brief, late 2017 after a 6/7 foot drop off the ladder while painting my house i have nerve damage in my left arm/hand/shoulder/ ..I have the shakes..

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    3. Phil, I hope your situation improves. Is painting still possible?

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  8. Looks good. The Czapka always looks smarter than the run of the mill Shako.

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    1. Thanks, Jake! The czapka is a smart looking headgear.

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  9. A very attractive uniform and a lovely paint job...

    All the best. Aly

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  10. Oh, yes!They're in all school history books :)
    Great work Jonathan!

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  11. Lovely figures and paintwork Jonathan

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  12. Very nice unit as always Jonathan - it must be nice having only 9 figures per unit - even I could normally manage to paint 9 figures in a couple of evenings!

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    1. Thanks, Keith! Smaller batches of figures (13 in this case) help keep unit turnover and motivation high. Coming off the painting desk soon is a batch of 39 figures (three 13 figure battalions). I don’t always tackle small batches.

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  13. A fine looking unit Jonathan. The early Polish uniform doesn't look dramatically different from that of the later period to my eye. Perhaps it is just the czapka that ties the periods together.

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    1. Thank you, Lawrence! Yes, the uniform is not much different and the eye is definitely drawn to the czapka. Honestly, these figures are from AB’s DoW range. For me, the differences between this DoW uniform and the earlier uniform are insignificant. A purist might argue this point but not me!

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  14. Nicely done! I do especially like the units that have the mounted leader as part of the unit. I keep meaning to steal that idea. 😀

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    1. Thanks! I like a mounted officer included within the unit too.

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  15. A great looking infantry unit Jonathan! You’re handling a several project simultaneously, I guess you never feel boring :)

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    1. Thank you, Dmitry! Rarely do I get bored. That’s for sure!

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  16. A superb unit, Jon!

    "Poland has not perished yet
    So long as we still live.
    That which alien force has seized
    We at sabrepoint shall retrieve.

    March, march, Dąbrowski
    From Italy to Poland.
    Let us now rejoin the nation
    Under thy command."

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    1. Thanks, Peter! What is the source of your quote? Stirring stuff!

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    2. This was written during the Napoleonic Wars:

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poland_Is_Not_Yet_Lost

      It is the national anthem of modern day Poland, and the music is even more stirring:

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQTq07gihqg

      Napoleon ("Bonaparte") even gets a mention. The Poles swerved him and France loyally, and deserved better than they got!

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    3. Uh, "served", ahem. Although "swerved" is kinda funny in context!

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    4. Thank you, Peter! “Swerved” is kinda funny!

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