Languedoc Regiment at Ticonderoga (1 Viewer)

[Fraxinus]

The news is now out. Based on a London Show Photo, our forum member Dragoon identified the first french regiment release as likely being the Languedoc. So people do not miss this link or it gets lost in deep post, I will post the info again plus a link to another very good site with great detail, Kronoskaf:

Here is a short history of the Languedoc regiment and then the uniform specifics are described in the lower half of the text, so scroll down. The Languedoc Regiment was one of the initial formations attacked by the 42nd. A diagnostic distinction between the different french regiments was in the pockets of the outer coat -- the shape and orientation of the pockets and button combinations.

http://www.militaryheritage.com/languedoc.htm

You can access other french regiment descriptions via a few button links on the bottom of the page or try this link, 3/4 way down the page:

http://www.militaryheritage.com/7ywart.htm

The original source is Military Uniforms in Canada, 1665- 1970 (Summers and Chartrand, 1981) is a beautiful volume on good high gloss paper, 9 x 12 ". Each drawn figure occupies a full page - the Languedoc figure is a tad over 7-inches in height, from boot to head. The Bearn figure is over 8.6 inches tall.

When a figure is presented, it is the only element printed on that page and the back of the figure pages are blank. Simply a joy to read and see. If you have a library and are interested in the French and Indian War, this would be a great edition. I believe that JJD uses this volume in his research for his figures. Chartrand wrote many of the Osprey volumes on the French & Indian War.

I think each of the French regiments at Ticonderoga have an separate entry in the text.

Although I do not understand the site name, this site is apparently devoted to the Seven Years War- in North America, the conflict is called the French and Indian War. Very detailed information is presented here.

For the Languedoc:

http://www.kronoskaf.com/syw/index.php?title=Languedoc_Infanterie

For the french regiments as a whole:

http://www.kronoskaf.com/syw/index.php?title=French_Army#French_Line_Infantry_Regiments

For the 42nd regiment, black watch:

http://www.kronoskaf.com/syw/index.php?title=42nd_Foot

For our beloved 44th

http://www.kronoskaf.com/syw/index.php?title=44th_Foot

 

[Fraxinus]

Punt to Mike Miller. Old post. John could throw us a curve and release more than 1 french regiment as he did for the British at Quebec. Dragoon's identification was based on a photo of a painted figure at the London Show in early December. Nothing in print from JJD says Languedoc. However, I agree with Dragoon that the London sculpture is definitely an officer in the Languedoc. A diagnostic distinction between the different french regiments was in the pockets of the outer coat -- the shape and orientation of the pockets and button combinations.


Of course, John's initial release of the french need not be the Languedoc. All we really know for sure is that John sculpted and painted a Languedoc officer and that this figure successfully invaded England and made it all the way to London.

 

[Combat]

Anyone know why the 42nd Grenadiers fought separately at Ticonderoga from the 42nd? They were apparently organized with Grenadiers from other regiments. Maybe for use as some type of elite strike force? John's depiction of his new 42nd figures shows fighting Highlander Grenadiers intermixed with the regiment. Would that have happened at Ticonderoga? The regimental records of the 42nd in N. America were apparently lost after the war. The Osprey books shows the 42nd basically attacking at almost every part of the French line. I wonder if they simply slipped up and down the French line as they encountered resistance.

 

[Fraxinus]

Combining the grenadier companies into a separate elite formation was a standard tactic by the British. Happened at Quebec. The thought was the loss of combat power to the individual regiments was minor compared to the advantage as seen from the Army's commander position of having essentially an additional "regiment" available, all being elite grenadiers.

The battle started at around 1 o'clock in the afternoon, but the 42nd strongest assault did not begin until after 5 o'clock and lasted another 90 minutes. As such, there is plenty of time for the 42nd to have attacked nearly every french formation looking for a weakness. The ability of the 42nd to attack numerous formations is expanded simply by the size of the 42nd, 1,100 strong. Nearly 3 times the size of a french regiment.

I think the idea that the 42nd "simply slipped up and down the French line as they encountered resistance" is very fair. My thought was the cliche "run to the sound of the guns, boys".

William Nestor or Nester has written a book on Ticonderoga. My guess the needed information is buried in this volume.

 

[Fraxinus]

A key question to me is why the British regiments did not try harder to turn or go around the French left flank (along the River). From what I read in Osprey, the 42nd was tasked to actually do that in the very early stages of the battle, but all I read was that they failed and were turned back by the French Colonial Marines and Militia.

I must be missing something here.

William Nester's Volume on Ticonderoga --- Some Preview pages, Volume also covers the Battle of Snowshoes.

http://books.google.com/books?id=ku...&resnum=2&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

[churchmouse1]

Combining the grenadier companies into a separate elite formation was a standard tactic by the British. Happened at Quebec. The thought was the loss of combat power to the individual regiments was minor compared to the advantage as seen from the Army's commander position of having essentially an additional "regiment" available, all being elite grenadiers.

During the Revolution these ad hoc "corps" became functionally permanent and would serve for entire campaigns and even in garrison together.

Dave