Calpe Miniatures
25mm Napoleonic wargames figures, meticulously researched, finely sculpted

Prussian Reserve Infantry

Prussian Reserve Infantry: Officers

Reserve battalions were the product of the Krumper system. A certain number of trained men were released from the line regiments each year but held on a reserve list. When these men were recalled to form the reserve battalions, the parent regiment provided the officers. The officers leading these battalions were regulars and wore the regulation uniforms of the parent regiment.

Providing officers for the reserve infantry, with uniforms which are historically correct but have the right �look� for these battalions, has allowed me to close a gap in the existing range of figures. The following figures are all line officers wearing variations of the regulation uniform, as officers would have favoured on campaign. Particularly relevant are those officers wearing the uberrock (the knee length frock coat) or the lagermutze (officers forage cap). Remember, although these figures were designed to complement the reserve battalions, they are relevant to the regular line battalions as well, as such they have PM (musketeer) and PF (fusilier) code prefixes and appear in those lists as well.

Prussian Reserve Infantry: 12th Line Regiment (2nd Brandenburg): 1st Battalion

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Please note that the b versions of the figures below, all wear the peaked reservists cap.

The 12th line is the closest you can get to a crack reserve regiment. As reserve battalions of the Lieb infantry regiment, the two musketeer battalions of this regiment had already seen action before the 1813 armistice. With the removal of the Guard from the line, these two battalions, together with a reserve battalion from the First West Prussian regiment, were the first of the reserve battalions to attain line status. They were then present at every major engagement in which the Prussian army was involved during the 1813-15 period. Most importantly, sources agree that they retained the same mixture of uniform styles throughout the period; i.e. this regiment is only one of four that did not radically change it�s appearance. Some of the infantry from this regiment took to the field at Waterloo still wearing the caps and canvas backpacks first issued in early 1813.

The figures for these two battalions are designed to look as if they are advancing, �at-the-double�, with their muskets sloped on their shoulders.

The men of the 1st battalion wore short, single-breasted, black jackets without tails or shoulder straps. White canvas trousers were worn over short gaiters. They received stocks of regulation shakoes, backpacks and greatcoats early on, but seem to have used existing stocks of caps and canvas backpacks to make up for shortages.

Prussian Reserve Infantry: 12th Line Regiment (2nd Brandenburg): 2nd Battalion

Approximately 2/3s of the 2nd battalion were issued with regulation kollets and equipment, but were also issued with the same long canvas trousers as worn by the 1st battalion. The rest of the battalion wore the same uniform as the 1st. Some of these men would have worn caps or canvas backpacks. The following figures represent the men of the 2nd battalion issued with the regulation uniform items. The rest of the men for this battalion should be taken from the list above.

Prussian Reserve Infantry: Spring 1813 Uniform: Advancing

Once again, there are two versions of each figure. The first wears the shako, the b version wears the peaked reservists cap.

These figures form the core of the PR set. They wear the uniform issued to all reservists at the start of hostilities in 1813. The reservist�s uniform was based on the fatigue uniform of the regular infantry. It consisted of a peaked cap, a short grey jacket with province coloured patches on the collar, grey breeches, gaiters (when available), a black cartridge box and canvas backpack and knapsack. Since they were produced at the provincial level, there were slight variations in the uniforms issued by the various provinces. The most noticeable differences were in the production of the jacket: some had shoulder straps, others not: some had yellow metal buttons, others had cloth covered ones: two reserve battalions of the First West Prussian regiment, even added short tails to theirs.

The reserve uniform evolved or was replaced as the war progressed. Those battalions which retained this uniform, were issued with regulation covered shakoes, regulation packs and greatcoats, as soon as they were available. In most cases these regulation items were already in evidence by the time the unit saw action. The caps and canvas packs were used as replacement items. There were still men using caps and canvas packs in most of the battalions wearing this uniform at Ligny and Waterloo. Very few reservists were issued with the regulation sword as worn by the line infantry. However, since the sword knot was important in identifying each individual�s company, most men were issued with sword knots which they usually tied to the strap of the knapsack on the left hip.

This uniform was worn by the following battalions/regiments:

• All reserve battalions prior to the 1813 armistice.
• Following the armistice, this uniform was retained by 3rd battalion of the 12th line; all battalions of the 6th reserve regiment (later 18th line); all battalions of the 7th reserve regiment (later 19th line); all battalions 10th, 11th, 12th reserves (later 22nd, 23rd and 24th line).
• By the time of the Waterloo campaign, this uniform was still used by 3rd battalion 12th line; all battalions of the 23rd and 24th line.

Prussian Reserve Infantry: Spring 1813 Uniform: Trail Arms

Prussian Reserve Infantry: Spring 1813 Uniform: Standard Bearers and Musicians

Prussian Reserve Infantry: Spring 1813 Uniform: Firing Line

Prussian Reserve Infantry: Spring 1813 Uniform: Specials

Prussian Reserve Infantry: British Manufactured Uniforms

9th Reserve Regiment in British manufactured uniforms: (a), (b) and (c). Click on pictures to see larger versions.

There were three basic patterns of uniforms supplied to the Prussian army by the British Government.

(a) A blue jacket with long tails and �shoulder rolls� but without the white lace to the button holes.

(b) A similar jacket without the �shoulder rolls� but with white lace to the button holes.

There was a slight difference between the tails of the two jackets. Jacket (a) had tails which were rounded into the body of the jacket and a strip of lace continued from the turn backs to decorate the bottom of the jacket at waist level. This lace continued vertically along the opening in the jacket from waist to collar. Jacket (b) had tails which were square cut into the body of the jacket and had white lace decorating the button holes, but not the bottom, or the opening in the jacket. Both these jackets were worn with blue trousers, generally worn outside the short black gaiters.

(c) A dark green uniform identical to that worn by the British rifle regiments was also supplied. This had short tails, with turn backs only on the outer edge of the jacket, but with a vertical, three-pointed pocket also decorating the tails. Three rows of closely spaced silver buttons formed a feature on the breast and the shoulders had "rolls". Green trousers of the same colour as the jacket were worn outside the gaiters, although some men seem to have been issued with grey trousers instead.

The three uniforms were topped by a "stovepipe" shako. Those battalions issued with the blue uniforms had an oval brass plate on the front with an impression of a lion rampant stamped on it and a red and white feather at the top centre. Those with the "rifles" uniforms had a silver horn at the front and a dark green feather at the top. All other items of equipment were, in general, regulation Prussian issue.

The Prussian reservists, although grateful for the uniforms, disliked their distinctly un-Prussian appearance. As a result, these uniforms were heavily altered by some battalions. Many battalions issued with uniform (b) removed all or part of the white lace which seems to have been particularly detested. Some discarded the plumes. Others even went to the trouble of re-tailoring the jackets by removing the lace or shoulder-rolls and adding a second row of buttons at the front to make them look more like the regulation kollet. Added to this, some battalions had the stovepipe shako replaced with the regulation Prussian shako as soon as it was available. It is as a result of these changes that such confusion surrounds the reservists in British uniforms.

It is not possible to sculpt figures to cover all the myriad uniform permutations, or indeed to cover the changes over time in the uniform of any one battalion. My only option is to supply the three uniform types, as they were initially issued, and to leave alterations to your discretion.

These uniforms, in the many altered forms, were worn by the following battalions/regiments:

• Uniform (a): 1st battalions of the 8th and 9th reserve infantry regiment. The 1st battalion of the 9th (by then the 21st inf. reg.) were still wearing these uniforms during the Waterloo campaign.
• Uniform (b): 1st battalion 1st reserve inf.: all battalions 2nd reserve inf.: all battalions 4th reserve inf.: 2nd battalions of the 8th and 9th reserve inf. ergs.. Only the 2nd battalion of the 9th (now the 21st inf. reg.), were still wearing these uniforms at Waterloo.
• Uniform (c): 3rd battalions of the 8th and 9th reserve inf. regs.: also (possibly) 3rd battalion of the 5th reserve inf. reg.. Once again, only the 3rd battalion of the 9th reserves wore these uniforms of Waterloo.

Prussian Reserve Infantry: British Manufactured Uniform (a): Advancing/Charging

Prussian Reserve Infantry: British Manufactured Uniform (a): Trail Arms

Prussian Reserve Infantry: British Manufactured Uniform (a): Standard Bearers and Drummers

Prussian Reserve Infantry: British Manufactured Uniform (a): Specials

Prussian Reserve Infantry: British Manufactured Uniform (b): Advancing/Charging

Prussian Reserve Infantry: British Manufactured Uniform (b): Trail Arms

Prussian Reserve Infantry: British Manufactured Uniform (b): Standard Bearers and Drummers

Prussian Reserve Infantry: British Manufactured Uniform (b): Specials

Prussian Reserve Infantry: British Manufactured Uniform (c): Firing Line

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Prussian Reserve Infantry: British Manufactured Uniform (c): Specials

Prussian Reserve Infantry: March/Attack

These figures all wear the uniform issued in 1813, short jackets and breeches tucked into black gaiters. As before, the b versions wear the cap. I have sculpted them with the mix of equipment usual in reserve formations. Since these figures are all in march-attack poses I have ensured that they are all marching "in step". I decided to sculpt these figures as I needed them to complete the third battalion of the 12th line which I was painting at the time. They are now the fusilier battalion of that regiment.

Note that I have not added drummers, trumpeters or new officers to this set as they are already available in the range.

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