Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Napoleonic French Guard Grenadier Eagle Escort

I have started painting the Porte-Aigle, Premier, Deuxieme and Troxieme, from Strelets Set 013 Napoleon's General Staff and have been trying to find information on this subject. http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/Review.aspx?id=765

Most of the information I can find describe the Port-Aigle Premier as a Sous-Lieutenant or ensign and the Porte-Aigle Deuxieme and Troxieme as Sergeants or Senior Sergeants who could not get further promoted because of illteracy, but received pay as a Staff Sergeants.

However, the Porte-Aigle Deuxieme and Troxieme figures in Strelets set have contra-epaulette and epaulette which indicate ranking as officers and not Senior Sergeants. As Sergents, they should have epaulettes and they should be a mix of red and gold in color.

The only picture reference I can locate on all three of the Eagle escort party is the illustration from a print by Job as published in Osprey Men-at-Arms Series 141 Napoleon's Line Infantry. The solution is to either paint them as officers which means historically inaccurate or convert the contra-epaulette to epaulette.
This is my Porte-Aigle Deuxieme painted up so far. Probably will have to change the contra-epaulette. For the letters on the pennant, I will need a gold color ink pen with a fine tip.

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