Steven’s 1817-18 Chilean Army on Big Bases

When I rebased my Argentine army I also transferred my Chilean army to Big Bases. This is the Chilean element of San Martin’s Army of the Andes from my 1817-18 Chilean Project.

General Staff

Bernard O’Higgins was the main-man for this period of Chilean history. I’ve used two figures from PS-014 General O’Higgins – O’Higgins himself on the horse and the charging guy. The standing officer is from PS-015 Patriot General San Martin as I wanted San Martin to get the standard bearer.

1817-94 Chilean O'Higgins
1817-94 Chilean O’Higgins

Cavalry – Caballeria Cazadores de la Escolta Directorial

O’Higgins had a guard unit – the Caballeria Cazadores de la Escolta Directorial (Light Cavalry of the Director’s Escort). As I explained in Patriot Cazadores a Caballo in the 1817-18 Chilean Campaign this unit is sometimes called the “Cazadores a Caballo”, “Horse Cazadores” or “Escort Cazadores”. I’ve got two squadrons of this unit.

The base figures are PS002 and PS003 Argentina Granadero a Caballo Cavalry (shako) although Roland had to add the epaulettes. Nice bit of putty work that.

1817-67 Chilean Caballeria Cazadores de la Escolta Directorial
1817-67 Chilean Caballeria Cazadores de la Escolta Directorial

Line Infantry

The Chileans had a standard infantry uniform. The figures are all using PSU-003 Chile Infantry 1817-1823 UNIT PACK. The only difference between line battalions was the flag. I’ve got some battalions with the flag of the transition (the tricolour) and some with the Lone Star flag. See Flags for 1817-18 Chilean Project.

1817-84 Chilean Line Infantry
1817-84 Chilean Line Infantry
1817-86 Chilean Line Infantry
1817-86 Chilean Line Infantry
1817-85 Chilean 1st Infantry Regiment
1817-85 Chilean 1st Infantry Regiment
1817-88 Chilean 2nd Infantry Regiment - Column
1817-88 Chilean 2nd Infantry Regiment – Column
1817-83 Chilean 3rd Infantry Regiment
1817-83 Chilean 3rd Infantry Regiment
1817-92 Chilean 4th Infantry Regiment - Column
1817-92 Chilean 4th Infantry Regiment – Column

Coquimbo Cazadore Battalion

One infantry unit did have a significantly different uniform … the Coquimbo Cazadore Battalion. The figures are PS-010 Chile Infantry 1817-23 Command and PS-009 Chile Infantry 1817-23 Cazadore. All stands are cazdores.

1817-87 Chilean Coquimbo Cazadore Battalion
1817-87 Chilean Coquimbo Cazadore Battalion
1817-88 Chilean Coquimbo Cazadore Battalion
1817-88 Chilean Coquimbo Cazadore Battalion
1817-90 Chilean Coquimbo Cazadore Battalion
1817-90 Chilean Coquimbo Cazadore Battalion

Artillery

I’ve got 11 Chilean 4lb guns with 2 crew and a howitzer with 3 crew.

1817-81 Chilean Artillery 4lb
1817-81 Chilean Artillery 4lb
1817-82 Chilean Artillery Howitzer
1817-82 Chilean Artillery Howitzer

Acknowledgements

Roland Davis painted all the figures. Roland uses the Black Undercoat Method of painting.

I based most of them using Sand, Flat Earth paint, and Dry Brushing on Big Bases. Roland based O’Higgins; he has a similar style to mine but used plaster rather than sand.

Most figures are the 15mm range from Grenadier Productions.

Flags are based on my best guess Flags for 1817-18 Chilean Project.

Uniform guides were the books by John Fletcher of Grenadier Productions (Fletcher, 2005, 2006) in particular the illustrations by Prof. Julio Luqui Lagleyze and Cesar Puliafito that appear in Fletcher (2005, p. 28 – 36).

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.

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