Starting the war of 1866

[Chad]

Charon

There is an Austrian Brigade in the VIIIth Corps. 

Chad

[Charon]

Meeting the guys tonight, will see what they think!

[Charon]

Ok, group meeting over, we've decided to go with Chad's suggestion of doing the western campaign which hopefully gives the Austrian players a good variety of troops.

It looks like I will be fielding the Army of the Maine (or part thereof, depending how generous the birthday bunny is feeling  ) One further question (and apologies for all the questions) - would the Oldenburg-Hanseatic brigade have been dressed in the same manner as the Prussian troops, and if not does anyone know what they would have worn?

Thank you!

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Oldenberger's wore EXACTLY the same a Prussian troops, except the  sleeves did not have a solid red cuff like normal Prussian troops, instead they had thin red piping around the top of each cuff. They also have a silver star on the bronze front piece of their Pucklehabe and a different cockade on the left hand side of the chin strap (yes, the figures are detailed enough to see it)!

The other issue is that the Oldenbergers marched under their own flag (even in 1870). I've yet to find a reliable illustration of it, and resorted to using the Ducal flag (red St George's cross over very dark blue background). Until someone corrects me (cue Cameronian and Mollinary), mine will continue to march under it.

[Charon]

Brilliant, thank you Lemmey!

[Chad]

Lemmey

Now you got me confused. The prints from grosser-generalstab and other Knotel images, show a uniform that is closer to Wurtemmburg. No sign of a pickelhaube.

Chad

[mollinary]

Love a challenge!  The Oldenburgers had two active battalions in 1866, and 3 in IR 91 in 1870. They carried flags which dated from 1822 in the case of the 1st battalion, and 1837 for the other two.   The basic design was the same for all three, and was identical on each side of the flag.  The field was cornflower blue, and had a gold fringe on the three open sides.  In the centre, resting on an ermine mantle surmounted by a crown, was a fairly complex coat of arms.  The whole ensemble was surrounded by two green laurels prigs, crossed at the base. In the corners were crowned golden monograms, surrounded by laurels. The crowns on the two lower corners were on the upper side angled towards the centre of the flag, those on the upper corners were also on the top side, angled towards the flag corners.  The monogram for the 1822 flag was PFL, on the other two PFA.  Now for that complicated central shield!  Divided into six parts: top right, top left; centre right, centre left; bottom right, bottom left -all as you look the flag.  Topright, a yellow field with two dark blue lions, one over the other, passant gardent (like the English ones). Top left, a yellow lion rampant, facing left, on a red field.  Centre right, a red field with a white swan standing, both wings raised. Centre left,  a red field with an unidentifiable (by me,anyway!) central device, largely white, triangular with point down, and a red centre. Bottom right, a yellow field with a black, left facing lion rampant.  Bottom left, red field with a knight on a white horse facing left.

But that is not all!  Over the whole thing was a small heart shield? This has a crown above it, and is divided into four. Top right is a dark standing cross on a light background. Top left is a field of horizontal red and yellow stripes. Bottom right, a red an white chess board pattern.
Bottom left, and unidentifiable device in gold on a light background.  I'll look for any more I can find, I have a couple of leads that might be able to help me refine the shield emblems a bit.

Well, you did ask!!!! 

Mollinary

[mollinary]

The coat of arms is the same as the one on the conjectural Oldenburg flag on The Napflags section of the Warflag site, but resting on an ermine mantle.

Mollinary

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Now I have to paint that in 10mm!

Nice one sire!  
The 1866 uniform is closer to the Wurttenberg, I checked once I got home  in armies of 1866 by picklehabe press.
Never mind being corrected.



ps The cockade in 1870 WAS red and blue on the left, black and white on the right, I knew it was different! The cuffs are piped red, but I missed the detail of two white bars of litzen lace...

[Charon]

Now I have to paint that in 10mm!

seems pointless to do just the one - paint two and send me one 

Excellent stuff chaps, thank you!

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

I've got one in a unit already! I'll give it a go over the weekend... IF it works I'll do you one!
Anyone got any pictures of it? The image in The Armies of 1866 is not good!

[Chad]

Lemmey

No problem. It was just that I had bought 10mm Wurttemburg figures for both W'burg and Oldenburg. 

Chad

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Ahh, here we go!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wappen_Deutsches_Reich_-_Grossherzogtum_Oldenburg.png
I think this may take the WHOLE weekend, unless I shrink it and print it...

[Charon]

definitely shrink and print or you'll go blind 

[mollinary]

Well done, Lemmey, that answers all the questions!

Mollinary