Once again I’ve been chatting to John Fletcher of Grenadier Productions about the South American Wars of Liberation. These chats are always informative, but often a risky experience. In this case, I’ve decided to stop procrastinating and do a “War in the North” Project. The independence of the Viceroyalty of New Granda started in Gran Colombia and Venezuela and then drifted through Ecuador to Peru. Like my previous 1817-18 Chilean Project for the South American Wars of Liberation (with the follow on the the 1815 campaign in Upper Peru), my War in the North Project will have several phases to spread the expense and painting efforts. Each phase will focus on one or two key battles. This is, of course, a ridiculously large and overly ambitious project. Some would say megalomaniac.
War in the North in brief
There were three phases to the War in the North:
- 1810-1814
- 1815-1819
- 1820-1825
Within those phases the Patriots saw cycles of victory and defeat. And that was reflected in their uniforms, with the troops being in rags or in uniforms depending on the military situation.
1810-14 saw the creation of the Venezuelan First Republic (1810–1812) and, as a result of Simon Bolivar’s “Admirable Campaign”, the Second Republic (1813–1814). In Venezuela this phase ended in defeat by José Tomás Boves and his locally raised Llanero army, “the Legions of Hell”. In Colombia the first five years of independence is known as the period of the “Foolish Fatherland” (la Patria Boba). The Colombian federalists were constantly at odds with the centralists and even fought a civil war (1812-14). Despite Patriot attempts to evict them – Magdalena Campaign and Pablo Nariño’s Southern Campaign – the Royalists stayed entrenched in the north and the south of present-day Colombia. During this period the Patriots were generally uniformed militia. Key battle: Urica.
In March 1814 Ferdinand VII was restored to the Spanish throne and he reimposed absolute monarchy. That would have serious consequences for the Americas.
1815-19 featured the Spanish reconquest of New Granada (1815–1816) with an expeditionary force of 10,500 Peninsular veterans under Pablo Morillo. Initially successful Morillo’s veterans were eventually spread out through Venezuela, New Granada, Quito, and Peru. Simon Bolivar saw his chance launched a new independence campaign. Bolivar’s the “Liberation Campaign” (1819) resulted in the creation of the Republic of Colombia (Gran Colombia or Greater Colombia) on 17 December 1819. His new republic included present-day Colombia, mainland Ecuador, Panama, Venezuela, parts of northern Peru, and parts of northwestern Brazil. Bolívar’s army was a mix of New Granadan exiles, Venezualan recruits including Llanero guerrillas, and British mercenaries. Initially the Patriots were a rag tag bunch with few uniforms and poor equipment. Key battles: Vargas Swamp and Boyacá.
1820-25 saw Simon Bolivar’s Gran Colombian army campaigning to liberate the southern parts of New Granada and Ecuador. Bolivar then moved into Peru and Bolivia to join up with Chilean and Argentine patriots already there. With the resources of Gran Colombian behind them, the Patriots were well uniformed and equipped. Key battle: Ayacucho
General guidelines
I’ll reuse any figures that I can. This will particularly apply to the Royalists. The Patriots, however, will need a new look.
Most of the collection will be from 15mm Wargaming Figures for the South American Wars of Liberation. I will have to go outside that list on occasion e.g. Hussars with big French style Colpack. I like all the variety of poses as I can get.
I’ve already outlined by scheme for Liberators on Big Bases. Infantry form battalions of 24 figures including 1 x officer, 1 x standard bearer, 1 x musician/drummer, 21 other ranks (including NCO figures). These are on two Big Bases (command, fusiliers) per battalion, each 80x40mm with 12 figures.
Cavalry form regiments and nominal “squadrons”. A nominal “squadron” is one base with 6 figures with either a command configuration (1 officer, 1 musician/bugler and 4 troopers) or a trooper configuration (6 troopers). Regiments have two nominal “squadrons”, with with a command configuration and the other a trooper configuration.
Commander-in-chief will have three figures on a round base. The figure poses will, hopefully, indicate the personality of the general. Brigadier generals will have two figures on a round base.
Artillery will be on 40mm square bases with the number of crew indicating the size of gun. Most will be 4lb with 2 crew or 6lb with 3 crew.
Phase 1: 1815-19
The specific battles I’m eyeing up are the Battle of Vargas Swamp (Pantano de Vargas) (25 July 1819) and the Battle of Boyacá (7 August 1819). Two battles, same armies.
| Patriots | ||
|---|---|---|
| Branch of service | Units | Figures |
| Generals |
Simon Bolivar; Brigadier General Francisco de Paula Santander; Brigadier General José Antonio Anzoátegui |
Napoleonic generals with a head swap to get a straw hat. Both Bolivar and Santander should be sword weilding charging types. |
| Nevado, Simon Bolivar’s dog | Irish Wolf Hound or similar | |
| Tinjaca, Simon Bolivar’s Amerindian companion |
Grenadier Productions: 1 x Llanero/Peasant Infantry w/lance |
|
| Llaneros for command stands or couriers |
Grenadier Productions: 4 x Llanero Cavalry |
|
| Straw hats |
Peter Pig Range 6 Heads: 32. Broad brimmed hat (confederate); 81. Mexican sombreros |
|
| Infantry |
Nueva Granada Regulars: 1st Line Battalion; Venezuelan Regulars: |
Grenadier Productions: 105 x Llanero/Peasant Infantry w/musket; 5 x Llanero/Peasant Officer; 5 x Llanero/Peasant Standard bearer; 5 x Llanero/Peasant musician; Perhaps fill gaps with figures from other ranges. |
|
Nueva Granada Militia: Militia of Tunja; Militia of Socorro; |
Grenadier Productions: 42 x Llanero/Peasant Infantry w/lance; 2 x Llanero/Peasant Officer; 2 x Llanero/Peasant Standard bearer; 2 x Llanero/Peasant musician |
|
|
Nueva Granada Regulars: Vanguard Cazadore Battalion |
Blue Moon Miniatures Spanish 1809-1811: 3 figures from pack 15NST-200: Spanish Tailless Jacket with Top Hat Command; 21 figures from pack 15NST-201: Spanish Tailless Jacket Infantry with Top Hat; |
|
| Cavalry |
6 nominal “squadrons” split between …; Regiment of Lancers ‘Llano de Arriba’ Use Llaneros; 1st and 2nd Squadron Guides of Apure; 3rd Squadron Dragoons ‘Carabineros’; Infante Regiment (Dragoons Squadron, Infante Squadron) |
Grenadier Productions: 36 x Llanero Cavalry |
| Other | Peasant camp followers |
Peter Pig Range 11 Mexican revolution offers: 8 figures from pack 39. Sombrero women + baggage. |
| Royalists | ||
| Branch of service | Units | Figures |
| Infantry | Native Venezuelans / Amerindians |
Peter Pig Range 11 Mexican revolution: 44. Indians with bows; 46. Indian command |
Phase 1: 1815-19 – Patriots
The Patriots were a rag tag lot, in peasant gear. None of my existing Patriot forces will help. I need an entirely new army. The core are six regular infantry battalions using in peasants uniform but with muskets. The Patriot militias were recently recruited and, after discussion with John Fletcher, I’m only giving them spears. All of these figures are in the Grenadier Productions range. Production is moving from Grenadier Productions to Eureka Miniatures so I might have to wait for some of them.
I’ve seen illustrations of the Vanguard Cazadore Battalion (Batallon Cazadores de Vaguardia) in a white (peasant) uniform with a straw colour top hat (Hooker, 1991, Figure A1). It is possible this top hat (or round hat as the Spanish called them) was worn by others. I suspect all of these should have a jacket without tails, which limits the options. But luckily Blue Moon Miniatures Spanish 1809-1811 offer infantry with a tailless jacket and top hat (15NST-200, 15NST-201).
The top hat guys and other Spanish infantry with a mixed uniform / civilian that might fill in some gaps amongst the peasants (15NST-206, 15NST-207).
If I need to, I can pick up some extra infantry command figures from other ranges. Peter Pig Range 11 Mexican revolution offers “28. Sombrero flag bearers and buglers” and “56. Cowboy hat standard and bugler”. I’d have to trim down any cartridge belts and pistol holsters.
For the Patriot cavalry I need six nominal “squadrons”. All of these are Llaneros. Cool. Lots of Llaneros.
I could supplement the Llaneros with command figures from the Peter Pig Range 11 Mexican revolution e.g. “31. Sombrero cavalry bugle and standard” and “69. Cowboy hat cavalry command”. I’d have to discard anybody with a Winchester but the other figures would only need any cartridge belt trimmed down. I probably only have to do this for command stands.
I’ll need three general stands with the staff figures in uniform with straw hats. To get the generals I can use pretty much any Liberators general and/or Napoleonic general. But they will need a head swap to give the straw hat. Peter Pig Heads Peter Pig Range 6 Heads 32. Broad brimmed hat (confederate) and 81. Mexican candidates are candidates for peasant’s straw hats.
General Simon Bolivar has to be accompanied by his dog, Nevado, (Mucuchíes breed) and his Indian companion, Tinjaca (in peasant dress). I’m thinking on an Irish wolf hound for Nevado the dog. They look similar to the Mucuchíes breed. Check out Splintered Light Miniatures: IRISH10 Scots-Irish Wolfhounds. Tinjaca can be one of the peasant figures, but on Bolivar’s stand. I might throw in a standard bearer as well, if I have one spare. Alternatively, Bolivar’s Honour Guard were cool looking guys in a French style Elite Hussar uniform with a big colpack and braided pelisse. If I have any spare figures from my Husars de Fernando VII mini-project, I’ll use one of those figures for the Bolivar command stand. Both Bolivar and Brigadier General Francisco de Paula Santander should be charging types. Santander was was the Llanero commander and needs them as escorts. Less sure about Brigadier General José Antonio Anzoátegui.
I like collecting baggage and camp followers for my armies, even if the rules don’t give them a place. They provide colour. Peter Pig Range 11 Mexican revolution offers pack 39. Sombrero women + baggage.
Phase 1: 1815-19 – Royalists
My Royalists from 1815, 1817, and 1818 can be used for the Northern War.
Having said that, native Venezuelans / Amerindians fought for the Royalists in the region of Riohacha, Santa Marta, La Cienega and Valledupar. Although some looked like peasants with muskets, most fought in native Venezuelan cloths with bows. I can get very similar looking guys from Peter Pig Range 11 Mexican revolution range, which includes pack 44. Indians with bows and 46. Indian command.
Phase 2: 1820-25
I think I’ll focus on the climatic Wikipedia: Battle of Ayacucho (9 December 1824).
| Patriots | ||
|---|---|---|
| Branch of service | Units | Figures |
| Generals | ||
| Infantry |
Colombian Infantry: Bogotá Battalion; Voltigeurs Regiment; Pichincha Battalion; Caracas Battalion; Venezuelan Infantry: |
Grenadier Productions: 6 x Venezuela/Gran Colombia Infantry (Officers); 6 x Venezuela/Gran Colombia Infantry (standard bearers); 6 x Venezuela/Gran Colombia Infantry (drummers); 24 x Venezuela/Gran Colombia Infantry (Cazadores); 24 x Venezuela/Gran Colombia Infantry (Granaderos); 78 x Venezuela/Gran Colombia Infantry (Fusileros) |
|
British/Irish in Venezuelan service: 1st Venezuelan Rifles; Albion Battalion |
Grenadier Productions: 2 x British/Irish Infantry (Officer); 2 x British/Irish Infantry (Standard Bearer); 2 x British/Irish Infantry (Musician); 42 x British/Irish Infantry (Privates); |
|
| Cavalry |
Peruvian Junin Hussar Regiment; Colombian Hussar Regiment |
Grenadier Productions: 20 x Cavalry (Hussar Dolman) Trooper; 2 x Cavalry (Hussar Dolman) Officer; 2 x Cavalry (Hussar Dolman) Musician |
| Colombian Horse Grenadier Regiment |
Grenadier Productions: 10 x Argentina Granadero a Caballo Cavalry Trooper (shako/lance); 1 x Argentina Granadero a Caballo Cavalry Officer; 1 x Argentina Granadero a Caballo Cavalry Musician |
|
| Other | ||
| Royalists | ||
| Branch of service | Units | Figures |
| Generals | ||
| Infantry |
Cantabria Battalion; Burgos Battalion |
War Modelling: EN17 Spanish Infantry French Shako; EN22 Spanish Command Bicorne; EN22a Spanish Command (Shako); Blue Moon Miniatures: |
| Cavalry |
3 nominal “squadrons” for Dragones de la Union; 1 nominal “squadrons”for Dragones del Peru; 2 nominal “squadrons”for Granaderos de la Guardia; |
Grenadier Productions: 30 x Royalist Dragoons w/ helmet troopers; 3 x Royalist Dragoons w/ helmet officers; 3 x Royalist Dragoons w/ helmet musician |
| 3 nominal “squadrons” for Husars de Fernando VII |
Blue Moon from Old Glory Miniatures: ; 8 figures from 15NC-137 Hussar Elites Charging / Colpack (3 poses; 9 pack); 2 figures from 15NC-134 French Hussar Command (3 x Standard bearers, 3 x Trumpeters and 3 x Officers; 9 poses; 9 pack); Capitan / War Modelling from Stone Wall Miniatures: Essex Miniatures: |
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| Other | ||
Phase 2: 1820-25 – Patriots
I need six Venezuela/Gran Colombia Battalions. Grenadier Productions has these figures. Some of these overlap with the Chilean figures.
I live in the UK so it would be rude not to get some “British” in uniforms. Again Grenadier Productions has these figures. I think I’ll get the 1st Venezuelan Rifles and the Albion Battalion. The 1st Venezuelan Rifles were without uniform at Caujaral (2-7 Feb 1819), Gamarra (27 Mar 1819), Pantano de Vargas (25 Jul 1819), Boyaca (7 Aug 1819) (Fletcher, 2011); for these battles I can use the peasants from the earlier period. But they got a uniform for La Cienega (10 Nov 1820), Carabobo (24 Jun 1821), Bombona (7 Apr 1822) Taindala and Yacauanquer (22-24 Dec 1822), Collpachuico *3 Dec 1824), and Ayacucho (5 Dec 1824). I think the Venezuelan rifles had a British rifle green uniform in this period. Despite being a “rifles” unit, they carried muskets throughout.
The Albion Battalion was formed from the British Legion and fought at La Plata (23 Apr 1820), Pitayo (6 Jun 1820), Jenoy (2 Feb 1821), Yaguachi (19 Aug 1821), Huachi (12 Sep 1821), Pichincha (24 May 1822) (Fletcher, 2011). The Albion Legion’ uniform either Venezuelan blue or British red. Red is kind of appealing.
I need three Patriot cavalry units. The Peruvian Junin Hussar Regiment were previously the 4th Squadron of the Peruvian Guard Legion (Wikipedia: Hussars of Junín). Fletcher (2006) has the Hussars of the Peruvian Guard Legion. These have a shako and short jacket with braids. The Colombian Hussars are similar. Grenadier Productions offers the perfect hussar figures: Cavalry (Hussar Dolman).
The Colombian Grenadier Regiment carried a lance and wore a shako so I’m thinking the Argentina Granadero a Caballo Cavalry (shako/lance) from Grenadier Productions.
Phase 2: Royalists
If I was sensible I’d use existing Royalist figures. But nobody can accuse me of being sensible when it comes to collecting wargaming figures. If I get keen I might do a couple of rather garish units:
- Cantabria Battalion: Blue jacket with brown collar and turn backs, light blue lapels and cuffs; white trousers
- Burgos Battalion: Light grey jacket, yellow collar and cuffs, red turn backs, green lapels; blue trousers. Musician in red jacket with green collar, cuffs and turn backs (no lapel)
My go to for Royalist in the official blue uniform are Spanish Infantry French Shako from War Modelling (EN17, EN22, EN22a). But more recently Blue Moon Miniatures entered the market with their Spanish Tailed Jacket Infantry with Bell Topped Shako (15NST-204, 15NST-205).
John Fletcher has convinced me I need more Royalists in helmets for use in Peru. This is to leverage Grenadier Productions Royalist Dragoons w/ helmet. Looking at John’s books, I figure I need 6 nominal “squadrons” of Royalists in helmets (36 figures):
- 3 for Dragones de la Union (1 @ Lima; 3 @ Torata; 3 @ Moquegua; 3 @ Ayacucho)
- 1 for Dragones del Peru (1 @ Lima; 1 @ Ica)
- 2 for Granaderos de la Guardia (1 @ Lima; 1 @ Ica; 2 @ Torata; 2 @ Moquegua; 3 @ Ayacucho)
But since I got looking at this period, also had to consider the Hussars of Ferdinand VII (Husars de Fernando VII). Pablo Morillo brought this unit, and the Dragones de la Union, from Spain. Both units had squadrons fighting in the War in the North and the War in the South. Unlike my existing Spanish hussars, these guys have a big French style colpack (with long bag), plus the pelisse and dolman. I need three nominal “squadrons”. The nearest I could find are Napoleonic French Elite Hussars in Colpack. Several manufacturers do this and here is a selection:
- Blue Moon from Old Glory Miniatures
- Capitan / War Modelling from Stone Wall Miniatures
- Essex Miniatures
- Campaign Game Miniatures
- AB Miniatures from Eureka Miniatures
I suspect I’ll use a mix of Blue Moon (9 fig), Blue Moon command (2), Capitan / War Modelling (4 fig), Essex (4 fig). The musician will need a green stuff colpack. The AB figures are nice, but the pelisse is buttoned up and I think it looks better unbuttoned.
Phase 3: 1810-1814
I don’t have much detail about the War in the North during 1810-1814. So this is tentative, to supplement existing forces. When I get around to this I’ll focus on Battle of Urica (5 December 1814). The Royalist caudillo José Tomás Boves died, which was a big deal at the time. John Fletcher’s comment about these armies was: “little more than two armies of peasant/llanero uniform troops going at each other”. On that basis I’ll need more Llaneros and I’ll probably need even more peasants with muskets to bulk out my existing Royalists. But during this period the Patriots were often in government, and issued uniforms, so I’ll need some of those. We’ll see.
| Patriots | ||
|---|---|---|
| Branch of service | Units | Figures |
| Generals | ||
| Infantry | Maybe uniformed infantry |
Grenadier Productions: Venezuela/Gran Colombia Infantry |
| Cavalry | 10 more nominal “squadrons” of Llaneros |
Grenadier Productions: 60 x Llanero Cavalry |
| Other | ||
| Royalists | ||
| Branch of service | Units | Figures |
| Generals | ||
| Infantry | Peasant infantry |
Grenadier Productions: Llanero/Peasant Infantry w/lance; Llanero/Peasant Officer; Llanero/Peasant Standard bearer; Llanero/Peasant musician |
| Cavalry | ||
| Other | ||
Phase 4: More kit for the War in the South
Although I have been armies for the War in the South, I can always get more.
| Patriots | ||
|---|---|---|
| Branch of service | Units | Figures |
| Generals | ||
| Infantry | ||
| Cavalry | Gauchos de Linea de Salta |
Grenadier Productions: 10 x Militia Cavalry (Top hat; Lance) – Trooper; 1 x Militia Cavalry (Top hat; Command) – Officer; 1 x Militia Cavalry (Top hat; Command) – Musician |
| Gaucho Infernales |
Grenadier Productions: 12 x Gaucho Infernales |
|
| Other | ||
| Royalists | ||
| Branch of service | Units | Figures |
| Generals | ||
| Infantry | Maybe Early War Royalist Infantry | Spanish from Blue Moon Miniatures |
| Cavalry | Early War Royalist Cavalry |
Grenadier Productions: 10 x Militia Cavalry (Top hat; Lance) Trooper; 1 x Militia Cavalry (Top hat; Command) Officer; 1 x Militia Cavalry (Top hat; Command) Musician |
| Other | ||
There was quite a lot of Gaucho action around Salta. The Gaucho could be either in uniform e.g. Gauchos de Linea de Salta or the Infernals. Grenadier Productions offers options for both. I could go for more variety with Capitan / War Modelling ENC5 Garrochista (Irregular horsemen) (1 pose; 4 pack).
I’m also wondering whether I can leverage the Spanish from Blue Moon Miniatures for Early War Royalists:
- 15NST-200: Spanish Tailless Jacket with Top Hat Command
- 15NST-201: Spanish Tailless Jacket Infantry with Top Hat
- 15NST-202: Spanish Tailed Jacket Infantry Top Hat Command
- 15NST-203: Spanish Tailed Jacket Infantry with Top Hat
- 15NST-204: Spanish Tailed Jacket Infantry with Bell Topped Shako Command
- 15NST-205: Spanish Tailed Jacket Infantry with Bell Topped Shako
- 15NST-206: Spanish Infantry in Mixed Uniform/Civilian Dress Command
- 15NST-207: Spanish Infantry in Mixed Uniforms/Civilian Dress
References
Fletcher, J. (2005). Liberators! Volume 1: The War in the South. Grenadier Productions.
Fletcher, J. (2006). Liberators! Supplement 1: The War in the South. Grenadier Productions.
Fletcher, J. (2011). Adventures of the British & Irish Legions in South America 1817-1824: Gamer’s Guide & Sourcebook. Grenadier Productions.
Hooker, T. (1991). The Armies of Bolivar and San Martin [Men-at-Arms 232]. Osprey.
Luqui-Lagleyze, J. M., and Manzano-Lahoz, A. (1998). «Los Realistas» (1810-1826): Virreinatos del Perú y del Rio de la Plata, y Capitanía General de Chile [Hombres en Uniforme No 5]. Quiron Ediciones. [Spanish]
Marley, D. F. (1998). Wars of the Americas: A chronology of armed conflict in the New World, 1492 to the present. ABC-CLIO.
Really looking forward to this.
Grenadier Productions figures are on a plane as we speak. All systems are go.