#OnThisDay, Octobre 14, in 1781, companies of le Gatinois and le Royal-Deux-Ponts make their way through the trenches surrounding Yorktown, as they launch their assault on Redoubt 9. Chasseurs and Grenadiers from across these two regiments were ordered forward at 8pm; as Samuel F. Scott has written, the fighting was "brief but bitter", with a … Continue reading On This Day – 14th October 1781
Just Marching About?
https://videopress.com/v/0YIQMywA?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true We're absolutely thrilled that High Peak 1 got this footage of us drilling during #buxtongeorgianfestival at Buxton Crescent Heritage Trust. The soldats are demonstrating the Stechschritt (or "piercing step") which was becoming progressively more popular across Europe in the mid-late eighteenth century, as a result of Prussian successes under Frederick the Great. Its obvious … Continue reading Just Marching About?
2025 Buxton Georgian Festival
We were absolutely delighted to end our 2025 season of public events at #buxtongeorgianfestival, hosted by the marvellous team at Buxton Crescent Heritage Trust! Not only was it a valuable opportunity to conduct some training for our soldats, our growing number of civilians had a wonderful time interacting with many lovely visitors, who were interested … Continue reading 2025 Buxton Georgian Festival
Summer Training Weekend 2025
Following a cancellation in our public events calendar, a small group of le Gatinois met for a wonderful time sewing, drilling, trying out some new period card games, and otherwise generally enjoying each others' company. After all, why do we do this hobby if not to make new friends? And if you want to join … Continue reading Summer Training Weekend 2025
Un soldat en marche en Amérique / A soldier on the march in America
Photo by kind permission of Skipping Red Panda
Introducing the Voices of Williamsburg
Whilst we are heavily focused on our impression of the French army during the #RevWar, this is not to suggest that we are only a military group! We have a growing range of civilian impressions - the "Voices of Williamburg" - reflecting the interactions between soldats of le Gatinois and the Virginian population they lived … Continue reading Introducing the Voices of Williamsburg
Moira Furnace 2025
Our latest visit to Moira Furnace Museum and Country Park was a little different to our previous outings. We provided our usual demonstration of French uniform and weaponry, sentry duties, and continual public engagement...but this time the main scenario was set around Lexington and Concord in 1775, so we were not able to participate in … Continue reading Moira Furnace 2025
Caption Competition
Here we see the Caporal with his signature (French?) look of disdain...but what has attracted his ire this time? Our favourite suggestions included:- “Who left the cheese out in the sun?”- "Did someone use the wrong glass for the wine?"- "Soldat Saintpierre, again!" Photo by kind permission of Pat Patrick
Drill…again!
Every army had to teach its men to load and fire its muskets: the British had their 1764 Manual Exercise, and the French had the 1776 Ordonnance de Roi. In this image, we can see the soldats at the first step - "chargez vos armes". They are about to be ordered to "ouvrez le bassinet" … Continue reading Drill…again!
Les soldats en piquet recherchent la chaleur / Soldiers on guard duty seek warmth
Photo by Emma Norfolk
Le Régiment Gatinois 