Siege of Metz 1870

This siege concluded today 140 years ago. Lots of photos of the Imperial Guard here.

Vanson Joseph-Emile (1825-1900)

The general of the French army who was the first director of the Musee de l'Armee drew some of the pictures featured in the article on Paco's site has written a book. Crimee, Italie, Mexique : lettres de campagnes, 1854-1867, precedees d'une notice biographique / General Vanson

Le fantassin francais 1854-9

Great article on this subject on Paco's blog.

Ball's Bluff 1861

This battle was fought today in 1861.

New Infantry project

Paco explains the new French 1854-60 project on his blog. Exciting stuff indeed.

French troops in the Crimea

By Orlando Norie.

Rifle Brigade in the Crimea

WATERCOLOURS OF LT THE HON H H CLIFFORD VC
from the RGJ Museum

If you want to know more about the Brigade in the Crimea read Memoir of Captain M.M. Hammond, Rifle Brigade

St Albans Raid 1864

This audacious raid took place today in Vermont. A 1954 movie starring Van Heflin was based on this incident.

Defence of Chateaudun 18 October 1870

Today is the anniversary of the defence of Chateaudun in 1870, during the Loire campaign. This was true “people’s war”, the defence being conducted by the francs-tireurs of Colonel Lipowski, one of the best of the French irregular units, supported by the gardes nationaux, the local militia. The action was marked by ferocious street fighting, which left a third of the town in ruins.

Fighting in the main square of Chateaudun.

The fountain in the main square at Chateaudun today. It is clearly visible in the above picture.

A German view of the street fighting at Chateaudun.

" escrime à la baionnette"

Some Chasseur images from André... thanks!


They are " escrime à la baionnette" from the 1845 "Ordonnance sur les exercices et les manoeuvres des chasseurs d'Orléans".

Also from the same manual, the graph showing a chasseur bataillon in full battle order, with the positions of the clairons, officers, etc.

Austro-Hungarian infantry at Solferino

French language page of information on the army of 1859. Contains some of these really charming illustrations.

Interesting photo

This photo was posted on the 100eme Facebook page and I thought it an amusing image. As to the date etc?