Corsican Chasseur

Dated: October 11, 1999.

We have some more contributions from Mr. Alessandro Gentilini of Sassari, Sardinya, Italy.



This is a chasseur of 21st Demi-Brigade Legere in 1800 Egypt campaign, a "black" regiment. Components of this regiment formed the 7th "Real Africano" regiment in the Kingdom of Naple's army. This is a resin model realized by myself starting on Italeri Austrian infantry figure. I cut the crest, changed the leather casquet form and added a sword. Other differences consists of changing the uniform and skin colour.


This conversion is a transformation of Esci Prussian infantry to Frankfort 1807 fusiliers. These troops belonged to the Rhine Confederation, a state created by Napoleon in 1806 by joining many German states ( Saxe, Wurtemberg, Wurzburg etc.. ) together. About the conversion: I cut off the hat plume and a button row, shortened the habit tails, added a bandoleer and a bayonet. Then I painted the uniform in white and red.


The Corsican chasseur battalion belonged to Corsican Legion and was attached to Neapolitan army since 1806. It fought in Spain, on the Italian front in the 1809 campaign and had garrison duty in the Russian 1812 campaign. The Corsican chasseurs wore this particular uniform, with corsican hat, only in 1814. About the conversion: I cut off the coat of a Brunswick advantgarde figure and modelled a bandoleer that I have painted in yellow. Then I changed the grey Brunswicker uniform color to brown and green Corsican chasseur colors.

Many thanks to Mr. Gentilini for his contribution.

Here is some more information on the Corsican Chasseurs from a regular visitor to the site, CDR John T. Kuehn, many thanks for the information.

From "Swords Around a Throne", pages 220 and 221, more info on the Corsican Sharpshooters in Napoleon's Army. This is an executive summary and the complete story such as exists in in Col Elting's definitive work...he also includes much information uniforms.

The Tirailleurs Corses were formed initially as part of the garrison troops of Corsica and initially suffered much desertion due to the "back country boys hating to leave their familiar hills."! However their skill as marksman was undeniable and eventually Napoleon brought them to the mainland where they were brigaded with another foriegn unit (not foreign if you consider Napoleon Italian!), the Tirailleurs Po. As such both units fought in Davout's magnificent Corps at Austerlitz no doubt making many a Russian Jaeger pay as they advanced leading Buxhowden's Corps on Napoleon's right. One neat item that Elting mentions, for you conversion buffs, is that their carbineer company (remember light infantry had carbs regulars had grens) received bearskins due to Marshal Soult. Speculation here but did he do it in recognition of their fine holding action that allowed him to effortlessly occupy the Pratzen Heights...and thus win the Battle for the Emperor? It sounds out of character for Soult to buy anything for anyone..so they must have been ferocious fighters. I refer you also to the Corsican Brothers as a testament of Corsican ferocity.

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