Friday 11 March 2011

Recently painted No 18 - Russian Akhtyrka Hussars 1812


The Akhtyrka Hussars were formed in 1651 or 1659 as Cossacks. In 1765 they changed to an hussar regiment.
In 1812 they served in Bagration's 2nd Army of the West in Rayevski's 7th Corps.
In October 1813, north of Leipzig, the 2nd Hussar Division which included the Hussars regiments, Alexandria, Marioupol, White Russia and  Akhtyrka.took part in an action resulting in the disordered routing of a large body of French infantry, many fleeing across the Parthe River. Then followed up and attacked the  hussar, chasseur and dragoon regiments, belonging to the III Cavalry Corps under General Arrighi.
The Prussian officer, Graf Henkel von Donnersmark wrote, they “went on at a cracking pace”. The French chasseurs and hussars fled, some galloped toward Leipzig itself, while others sought refuge on the other bank of the Parthe River. There they continued toward the positions occupied by the infantry and artillery of the VII Corps. The pursuit was long, reaching Leipzig itself. The hussars captured a half thousand prisoners and 5 guns. Von Donnersmark remarked that this attack was “one of the best that I ever saw Russian cavalry made.” The defeat of Arrighi’s cavalry shook morally the infantry on the other side of the river. The hussars suffered very light casualties up to this point but when they were returning from the long pursuit they got under fire from the French infantry.
The figures are made by Essex and painted by myself for Postie collection.

28 comments:

  1. Russian Hussars? Guess they made my grandfathers feel afraid!

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  2. Really good job on those, Ray. I think I have exactly the same figures, painted as the Guard Hussars. Note to self to sort out 15mm Russian army from storage in time for 2012! Thanks for reminding me...

    Cheers
    Paul

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  3. Cheers for the comments!
    @ Caliban I've painted up the guard Hussars too using the same figures, that should appear on the blog soon!

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  4. The level of attention to details you consistently put in to your work never ceases to amaze me. Good job sir!

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  5. Nice blog...i respect the details you put into the figures! keep em comin..Im following

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  6. Lovely detail on those 15mm figures!

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  7. Another great looking unit.

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  8. It still amazes me that you paint entire armies at a time. I paint some Reaper Minis, and the effort I put into a single piece is enough for me.

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  9. Very nice Ray,
    These are on my 'to do' list.
    Keep em coming.
    Cheers
    Paul

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  10. Good work Ray, well painted and based. I'm years and years away from doing the Russians.

    Cheers
    Ken

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  11. Wow tons of details. Really good job!

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  12. Wow this is amazing work man. +Follow

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  13. Those are seriously cool.
    How often are you playing with those and with who?

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  14. Hi

    Nice figures very well painted.

    Cheers

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  15. more great work and interesting info

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  16. Unique blog you have here my friend. Following.

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  17. I gotta say that the level of detail that you've achieved in these cavalrymen is stunning. I've always been fascinated with the Napoleonic era of combat too. I will be following from here on out!

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  18. They look great! Nice work, must take ages

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  19. Now those are some quality Risk pieces lol Those look awesome. great paint job!

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  20. Thanks for all the comments fellow gamers and a big hello to all my new followers who've cared to comment.
    Cheers
    Ray

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  21. that little army looks incredible! nice job!

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  22. Very nice work they look good.

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  23. Dude, did you really do those yourself, Really great work

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  24. wow, that's really awesome. Great job.

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