Painted Brunswick Leib Infantry

Dated: February 26, 2000.

The Brunswick Leib-Bataillon was the senior infantry battalion of Duke Friedrich Wilhelm's army during the Waterloo campaign of 1815. Its traditions reached back to the "Black Brunswickers" raised by the Duke in 1809 to continue the struggle against Napoleon after Brunswick had been absorbed into the French-controlled Kingdom of Westphalia. Their black uniforms became both a mark of mourning for the lost duchy and a symbol of their determination to restore it.

Box front


After the 1809 campaign, part of the Brunswick force entered British service and fought in Portugal and Spain as the Brunswick-Oels Jagers. The Leib-Bataillon itself was organized at the beginning of 1815, drawing upon veterans of this Peninsular service and men from the Brunswick forces raised after the Duke returned home in 1813. It therefore combined the prestige of the original Black Brunswickers with the experience of soldiers who had already campaigned under British command.

Line drawing


The battalion wore the dramatic black uniform associated with the Brunswick army. Its short, tailless coat was decorated with black braid in the style of a hussar dolman, while the shako carried a distinctive drooping horsehair plume. The men carried British-pattern equipment, including the round wooden water bottle, together with the standard infantry musket and bayonet. These details place the figures in the later British-service uniform suitable for the campaigns from approximately 1810 onward and especially for the re-formed army of 1815.

Sprue






During the Battle of Quatre Bras on 16 June 1815, the Leib-Bataillon initially formed behind Picton's troops with the Brunswick line infantry. It was later moved forward with the 1st Light Battalion and elements of the Avant Garde, extending skirmishers and helping to defend the area near the Brussels road. The Brunswick infantry repeatedly formed square against French cavalry, while Duke Friedrich Wilhelm was mortally wounded during the fighting close to his troops.

Close ups.

All figures painted by Eric Williamson.

Two days later, the battalion fought again at Waterloo as part of the Brunswick Corps in Wellington's Anglo-Allied army. The Brunswickers were held largely in reserve behind the centre of the Allied position and were later brought forward as the fighting intensified. After enduring heavy pressure during the French attacks, the corps recovered and joined the general Allied advance at the end of the battle.

This set contains 48 figures in nine poses, including men marching, advancing, firing and loading, together with an officer and a versatile figure capable of carrying several supplied accessories. The set also includes a drum, horn, standard, muskets and eight alternative heads. Four heads wear the Corsican-style hat of the Avant Garde, while four have shakos with pompoms suitable for Brunswick line infantry, giving the modeller useful possibilities for conversions and additional units.

The figures can be combined with our Brunswick Avant Garde to represent the skirmishers and trained Jagers operating ahead of the main body. Our Brunswick Cavalry adds hussars and uhlans, while our upcoming Brunswick Line Infantry will provide the ordinary infantry battalions that fought beside the Leib-Bataillon. Together, these sets can be used to assemble a broad Brunswick force for Quatre Bras and Waterloo, including guaard infantry, line troops, light infantry and cavalry.

8008 Brunswick Avantgarde Jaeger

8174 Brunswick Cavalry

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