Models
Painting by T. St Claire
The Battle of Bussaco
The battle of Bussaco took place on September 27th 1810. It was the major action of Wellington’s tactical withdrawal through Portugal during the summer of that year.
Having concluded his planned retreat west along the Coa and Mondego rivers, Wellington turned to face Massena’s invading French army on ground of his own choosing at Bussaco, northeast of Lisbon. Massena was at the head of three corps, totalling 65, 050 men and 114 guns. Wellington’s army comprised seven divisions and 60 guns – consisting of 26843 British troops and 25429 Portuguese troops well positioned on the crest of the Bussaco ridge. Massena launched simple frontal attacks throughout September 27th and made no impression at all before retiring at the end of the day. Having inflicted damage on his enemy at little cost to his own strength, Wellington resumed his retirement towards defences in the Torres Vedras hills.
The battle of Bussaco took place on September 27th 1810. It was the major action of Wellington’s tactical withdrawal through Portugal during the summer of that year.
Having concluded his planned retreat west along the Coa and Mondego rivers, Wellington turned to face Massena’s invading French army on ground of his own choosing at Bussaco, northeast of Lisbon. Massena was at the head of three corps, totalling 65, 050 men and 114 guns. Wellington’s army comprised seven divisions and 60 guns – consisting of 26843 British troops and 25429 Portuguese troops well positioned on the crest of the Bussaco ridge. Massena launched simple frontal attacks throughout September 27th and made no impression at all before retiring at the end of the day. Having inflicted damage on his enemy at little cost to his own strength, Wellington resumed his retirement towards defences in the Torres Vedras hills.
The model of the battle of Bussaco was commissioned by the Director do Museo Militar and executed by Keith Moore in early 2007. The model in encased in glass and is situated in the Portuguese Army Military Museum of Bussaco.
The model is three by two metres in size and contains 1151 25mm figures, producing a scale of approximately 100 to 1.
The model is three by two metres in size and contains 1151 25mm figures, producing a scale of approximately 100 to 1.
The Battle of Wagram
The battle of Wagram took place on the 5th and 6th of July 1809 – this battle followed Napoleons defeat at Aspern-Essling on May the 21st and 22nd, where the French were forced to retreat back across the Danube. The Wagram operation was planned much more carefully by Napoleon who had at his disposal some 188,000 men and 500 guns, whilst his adversary, the Arch Duke Charles, the Austrian commander, had approximately 155,000 men and 450 guns available to him. In the two days of heavy fighting Charles’ attempt to cut off Napoleon from his bridgehead failed and when the Austrian centre was split in two, he quit the field having suffered a heavy defeat. This defeat culminated in the collapse of the 5th coalition against Napoleon.
The battle of Wagram took place on the 5th and 6th of July 1809 – this battle followed Napoleons defeat at Aspern-Essling on May the 21st and 22nd, where the French were forced to retreat back across the Danube. The Wagram operation was planned much more carefully by Napoleon who had at his disposal some 188,000 men and 500 guns, whilst his adversary, the Arch Duke Charles, the Austrian commander, had approximately 155,000 men and 450 guns available to him. In the two days of heavy fighting Charles’ attempt to cut off Napoleon from his bridgehead failed and when the Austrian centre was split in two, he quit the field having suffered a heavy defeat. This defeat culminated in the collapse of the 5th coalition against Napoleon.
Heeresmuseum, Vienne
Of particular interest is the presence in Oudinots’ 2nd corps of the Portuguese Legion comprising 54 officers and 1,417 men. These fine soldiers, forming a part of Tharreaus’ division, covered themselves with glory when at 4.30 p.m. on the 6th of July they broke through into the village of Wagram. Sadly, this glorious event in Portuguese history is barely acknowledged in Portugal today.
The model depicts the French centre and Austrian left wing at around 10 a.m. on the 6th of July – Oudinots’ 2nd corps are shown confronting Rosenbergs’ 4th corps – with the cavalry screens of Davout and Marmont in evidence on Oudinots’ flanks and contingents of Hohenzollerns’ cavalry on Rosenbergs’ right. To the 2nd corps left are de Wredes’ advancing Bavarians and to their rear the Imperial Guard in reserve. The massed Cuirassiers and Carabiniers of Bessieres’ cavalry reserve are positioned to the left of the Imperial Guard. The scale of the model is 100 to 1 (1 figure representing 100 actual participants). All of the figures have been painted, in every detail, to represent the actual units present at the battle. The model contains over 700 figures and is to be installed on a 3 metre by 2 metre glass encased table.