“Bring on the empty horses”

The quotation comes from David Niven’s biography. While filming “The Charge of the Light Brigade”, director Michael Crutiz, a Hungarian film director wanted a scene with rider-less horses galloping across the screen and is asks for the “empty horses”. Since reading the biography, that quotation lingers in my mind while painting cavalry. Good film and the biography is a good read.

Cavalry… four squadrons of Cuirassiers and one of Carabineers and augmenting my Austrian infantry are the two combined grenadier battalions and two battalions Sincere. Flags and standards were glued in place. Furling the flags helps when the glue is still drying. There is an elastic gold colour thread which is ideal for the cording which hangs over the flags. I shall check a few stores in town and ask about. This would set the flags off nicely.

Imperial Austrian Army (Frontier service)

FzM Graf von Collorado

Major General Freiherr von Beck
GHR Karlstädter Gz. Hussars 5 sqds
GHR Slavonische Gz. Hussars 5 sqds
GIR 64 Warasdiner Creuzer 1 bn
GIR 68 Slavo.-Peterwardeiner 1 bn

Fml. von Puebla
Brigade of Infantry
IR 27 Baden Durlach 1 bn
IR 37 Joseph Esterházy (Hun.) 2 bns
IR 51 Guylai (Hun.) 2 bns

Fml. Graf zu Wied
Brigade of Infantry
IR 29 Alt-Wolfenbüttel 1 bn
GIR 60 Karlstädter Liccaner 1 bn
GIR 63 Karlstädter Oguliner 1 bn


Fml. Graf zu O’Donnell
Brigade of Cavalry
DR 26 Althann 3 sqds
DR 28 Sachsen-Gotha 2 sqds
DR 31 Löwenstein 2 sqds
Artillerie: Batterie 6 lbers

Fml. Freiherr von Wollwarth
Brigade of Cavalry
CR 8 Pálffy 3 sqds
CR 21 Trautmansdorff 1sqds + 2 sqds

Fml. Marquis de Spada
Brigade of Cavalry
CR 29 Brettlach 3 sqds
CR 33 Anspach 3 sqds

Fml. Graf von Arenberg
Brigade of Infantry
IR 43 Platz 2 bns
IR 54 Sincere 2 bns

Fml. Graf Plettenberg
Independent Formations
Plettenberg Grenadier Bn. 1 bn
Georgi Grenadier Bn. 1 bn
Mounted Grenadiers 1 sqd
Carabineers 1 sqd
Artillerie: Batterie 6 lbers.

Total strength: 9,600 infantry, 3,400 cavalry, 16 guns
Total nr units: 16 battalions, 26 squadrons, 16 guns

Those units in Italics when ordered and painted will complete this order of battle. As you can read, completion is not far off and one final order would do it.

The original composition was meant to offer a nice balance of light troops for le petite guerre. However, as our campaign commenced, I thought it prudent to add more weight to the list by adding Cuirassiers, Grenadiers and more German Line. As we move toward the third phase of the Campaign in Bohemia, the events after the battle of Kolin will require need of these troop types.

Why an order of battle?

I found working with an order of battle was much like shopping with a list. As it the collecting and painting commenced the army slowly grew. This list offers a nice balance to front line troops, elite troops, lights and a variety of horse in a good ratio. Is this list complete? Good question, is an army ever complete?

I think if I were to add more troops to the Austrians, these may be individual regiments or battalions that would flesh out the existing number of brigades. Secondly, I would add more squadrons to each of the cavalry regiments. Another option could have an allied contingent, from Wurttemberg or Bavaria, but that is all future planning. What a joy collecting is.

Cheers,