Slitherine

Has anyone found a use or could suggest one for the 8 dismounted dragoons I get in each dragoons box?

1806-1807 : dismounted dragoons regiment .

the french lacked horses so they dismounted some dragoon regiments who fought has regular infantry .

it was also still the usual dragoon tactic : mounted infantry but they so disapointed Napoleon that he did send them to spain and converted tsome to lancer . In spain they would learn more of their trade and in 1814, called back from spain, will be considered as the last hope units .

But they probably were issued line infantry equipment? They wouldn't be marching in the riding boots would they? I've read about them (forget the name in French), but it seemed their mounted equipment had been commandeered and then issued to raw recruits (with lots of hard feelings between the two groups). But would I make up a unit with the boots and such?

keep the big boots, it will look better as the Austrians roll over them.
Of course if you dismounted Dragoon unit I will likely have to consider starting a British army to oppose them in spain

1806-1807 : dragoon uniform, infantry "boots"

On the retreat from Moscow after they had eaten their horses

Lots of 1812 rearguard actions being played this year! Even in 1813, when there was a lack of horses, there may have been some dismounted Dragoon Rgts.

I found no record of dismounted dragoon regiments in 1813 . Most of the dragoons were serving in Spain and were recalled . Those were mounted .

Dismounted Dragoons are great for Napoleonic skirmish games, with small French garrisons being beset by Guerillas in the hills.
Not much use in an a corps-level game, though
If you don't want them, I can put them to good use

We make provision for dismounted dragoons in the 1805-07 French Infantry and Cavalry Reserve Corps lists - we classify them as average conscripts. The latter on the grounds that while waiting for their horses (as someone has said ) they would not be fully converted to drilled infantry standard manoeuvres when operating in regimental strength.(Its not the man/men - it's the unit(s).)

There is nothing of course stopping anyone using the figures as French Line infantry if they want to within the overall limitations etc of an individual list for French line infantry. And in 1792-1795 that might actually be a better use for them as the cavalry were so poor and understrength !

Myself I prefer to use them in skirmish level games especially in Spain where I want the option of dismounting a troop.

I have some lovely late Les Higgins dismounted dragoons from the 1970's but they are 20mm and only look right alongisde 1970's 25mm and Hinton Hunts so they are well past their use to me along with some Hinton Hunt Guard Marines and late Voltigeurs . (Anyone interested in these old metal 20mms send me a private e-mail and I'll dig them out ! )