Bit By Bit

 Well, I've managed to get a piper and an ensign painted at least:

"Ensign! Where are the colours!??" "Not yet arrived sir!"

A close picture of my simplified version of the sett of the kilt which at this point, was the same as the Black Watch. Like my old kilt, from across the room, or when on the table (them not me), they just look dark, but if  you are closer you can start to make out the variation of 4 colours/shades and the pattern. 
(There was a time when stripes would be straighter on 40's and a bit more regular in width etc., but these days, if I can make out who a unit is at arms length, thats good enough for me.
I have a growing feeling that I'd better get all my painting down before this decade is done! )

Right! Next up: a stand of grenadiers are primed and on a painting 'stick' and the final stand of highlanders are assembled and about to be primed. Will I get them painted before the next game? 

Back To "Work"!

I haven't been doing much painting recently but life is starting to slow down again, so today I finally turned my attention back to the next company of Fraser's (78th) Highlanders, the grenadier company. 

Recruits for Fraser's Highlanders

I can't fit a 40mm Siege of Louisburg game, or even the Plains of Abraham, on my little table but they'll get their share of tabletop fighting in my alternate universe Acadian war. Won't be right away though, the coats on the first batch of highlanders dried darker than I intended and seems to have darkened even more since,  so I'm going to have to get the grenadiers right, then go back and fix the coats on the first highlanders. 

I'll need six more Highlander after than but they don't need to be a full battalion to get in some action. When the time comes, it'll be a matter of deciding whether to paint or play on some quiet day.

Fight For The Ford

When the word came to the Commander on the Frontier that the Saxons and Picts were marching to meet up and ravage Britain, there was dismay. Could enough men be raised to repel them? Should a quarter of each unit be held back in garrison? Would any of the independent British kings answer a call to join forces? After debates and messengers riding there and back, two forces marched to rendezvous at the Inn on the Ford with every man they could spare at such short notice.

Neither side was expecting both sides to arrive at the same time but the battle was soon engaged and the generals were left improvising and adapting plans as the day went on, hoping that their ally would be able to adapt and cooperate.

(Note: click on the pictures for a closer look, click twice for a much closer look!)

The Picts arrived from the North, on the Eastern bank of the river. Their force was all cavalry and light troops, even the spearmen, and they quickly drove back some Roman cavalry and occupied a wooded area which had to be passed to march down the road and cross the ford.

The Saxons were soon up to the ford and started to deploy with a wary eye on the British cavalry which could be seen riding quickly forward on the East bank. As the Romans deployed, the Pictish king called back his cavalry and some of his spearmen to guard a fordable section of the river to stop the Romans from flanking the road ford. The rest of the infantry prepared to hold the woods.

From the south, the British forces soon appeared. Their cavalry rode forward but there was no easy target so their horse archers dueled for a short while with Saxon archers before falling back. In the meantime the British infantry crossed over another ford and began to occupy and fortify a Villa while their Duke studied the situation and formed a plan.

There was a brief time while the Picts watched the Romans deploy in orderly fashion, then came the hurricane of steel.

Before the Pictish warriors could retreat back to their ford, the pursuing Roman veterans were upon them, driving them into the river.

While the some of the British were still crossing the ford, a Saxon shield wall gave a cry and moved to contact. The fighting was bloody and prolonged.

With the Picts out of the way, the Roman Veterans stormed the ford but the Saxons held their position despite their casualties.

The Saxon Hearthguard began to push the Britons back across the villa but those Britain's were led by Prince Micheal and he called upon his men to push the Saxons back. 

All along the line, Saxon and Briton fought and died but behind the British shieldwall, the British knights crossed the ford and thundered along the rear of the British shieldwall, giving them all heart and determination. (and some good die rolls.....)

"Come On! We'll flank'em!"

When the thunder of the hoofs and the battlecries appeared on the Saxon flank and rear, their morale gave way, The shieldwall broke and soon the whole army was fleeing!

An Eagle's eye view of the battle's end.