This product is sold as a single unpainted figure.
Additional Images.
1. The whole French Intervention in Mexico French and Allied Army range.
MAJOR DUNDEE AND THE
UNDEFEATED!
‘Major Dundee’ is a 1965 western film directed by Sam Peckinpah and
starring Charlton Heston, Richard Harris, Jim Hutton and James Coburn. The film
is about a Union cavalry officer who leads a troop of Army regulars,
Confederate prisoners, and Indian scouts on an expedition into Mexico during
the American Civil War and French Intervention in order to destroy a band of
Apaches who have been raiding United States bases and settlements in the New Mexico
territory. The film ends with a cavalry charge on the Rio Grande River between
Dundee’s men and French lancers! It was filmed on location in Mexico.
In fact………
- The American Civil War ended in
April 1865. American demobilised soldiers went south to fight.
- The Imperial side
attracted Confederates, most notable being General Joseph Orville Shelby
but others included Jubal Early, Missouri Governor Sterling Price and John
B Magruder. Shelby brought 1,000 men from Missouri to Mexico City. Maximilian
I rejected their request to serve but did grant them land in Mexico near Veracruz.
‘The
Undefeated’ is a 1969 American western and civil war era film directed by
Andrew McLaglen and John Wayne and staring John Wayne and Rock Hudson. It
is loosely based on Shelby’s escape to Mexico and his attempt to join with
Maximillian’s Imperial Mexican forces.
- The Republican side attracted
Yankees, some of whom were formed into a small unit (60) in 1866 called the
‘Legion of Honor’ which served at Zacatecas and the sieges of Queretaro
and Mexico City. Chartrand refers to 1,500 Americans serving with the
Republican Army, most scattered in various corps such as the artillery or
as junior officers. He also estimates approximately 3,000 served with the
Republican armies in Mexico.
- Within days of Lee’s surrender
General Phil Sheridan was ordered to the Texas border to command US forces
there. Although there was never an invasion, the presence of Union troops
along the border caused the French concern. General Bazaine kept his units
away from the border to prevent any incidents.
THE WARGAMER
Here are the makings of an interesting ‘what if’ scenario using ACW
units on each side of the war. Why not use the figures in the Jacklex
Miniatures American Civil War range to represent Union and Confederate
adventurers?
Source: ‘Colonial Campaigns: Maximilian in Mexico’, Tim
Tilson, Skirmish Campaigns, 2001. An excellent little soft back A4 booklet for
the wargamer. It gives organisation and uniform detail as well as providing a
very useful bibliography. The major part of the booklet covers nine wargame
scenarios each based on an historical battle of the war. There is a tenth scenario
covering the fictitious actions of Major Amos Dundee (Charlton Heston) – a nice
touch. Highly recommended.