I’m nearing completion of my 1817-18 Chile Project and wondered how I can reuse those figures for another campaign. The third campaign in Upper Peru (Jan-Nov 1815), featuring the Battle of Viluma / Sipe Sipe, looks a good candidate and these are my notes on how to how to create the new armies based on the old. I have put together a Order of Battle for iluma / Sipe Sipe as the basis for my thinking.
Patriot
First of, the Patriot force in 1815 is an Argentine army pure and simple. I’ve got a fair number of Chileans for the 1817-18 Chile Project but they won’t be of any help for Upper Peru. But the Argentine figures of 1817-18 are a good basis for 1815. The trouble is I just don’t have enough figures.
| Unit | Comments | What to buy/paint |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Infantry Regiment | Another battalion(1) | |
| 6th (Pardos & Morenos) Infantry Regiment | Use figures from existing black 7th Battalion with new command stand. | Command stand |
| 7th Infantry Regiment | No substitute as they:
|
Another battalion |
| 9th Infantry Regiment | Another battalion(1) | |
| 12th Infantry Regiment | Two battalions of this regiment were present (800 men in total). Might ignore this and field on unit one table. Use figures from existing 11th Battalion with new command stand. |
Command stand |
| Cazadore Battalion | Use Cazadores de los Andes. The uniform was slightly different (a matter of blue versus red facings) but close enough. | – |
| Granaderos a Caballos | Got them already | – |
| Peru Dragoons | Fletcher (2005) has the Peru Dragoons in the Orbat but the painting guide mentions the Peru Line Cavalry; I assume they are the same chaps. Use Granaderos a Caballos. The uniform was slightly different (a |
– |
| Artillery: 8x4lbrs | Converts to four models | – |
| Artillery: 2x2lbrs | Converts to one model | Buy 1x2lbr with 1 crew |
| Artillery: Mortar | I think I’ll ignore it. | – |
Notes
(1) Both the 1st and 9th Infantry Regiments were white. However I could save myself some painting buy mixing in some stands from the unused black 8th Infantry Regiment.
Royalist
[TODO finish it]
| Unit | Based on | What to buy/paint |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Infantry Regiment | Two battalions of this regiment were present (600 men in total). Might ignore this and field one unit on table. |
|
| 2nd Infantry Regiment | Two battalions of this regiment were present (600 men in total). Might ignore this and field one unit on table. | |
| Cazadore Battalion | ||
| Centre Battalion | ||
| Fernando VII Battalion | ||
| Partiddario Infantry Battalion | Pedrazzoli (2009) has these chaps in a shako with colpack, like the 1817-18 Argentine grenadiers. | |
| Reserve Grenadier Infantry Battalion | ||
| Voluntarios de Castro Battalion | ||
| Dismounted Cavalry | Not sure who these guys were | |
| Cazadores a Caballo | ||
| Cochabamba Dragoons | ||
| Guardia del General Cavalry | Only 50 men. | |
| San Carlos Dragoons | ||
| Artillery: 34 or 36x4lbrs | 36 guns = 18 models. I’ve got 8. Perhaps I rope in some Patriot and Carlist War guns. | 10x4lbrs each with 2 crew |
| Artillery: 4x2lbrs | I don’t have any 2lbrs | 2x2lbrs each with 1 crew |
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.
Hooker, T. (1991). The Armies of Bolivar and San Martin [Men-at-Arms 232]. Osprey.
Pedrazzoli, F. D. (2009). Viluma 1815: The revolution beheaded. Madrid, Spain: Regimentos de America.
Pedrazzoli, F. D. (2010). Uniforms of the Northern Army: Infantry – Upper Peru 1814-15. Madrid, Spain: Regimentos de America.