Looking Behind and Ahead.

The armies that I am now refurbishing were a direct result of my falling in 'love' with shiny Scruby 40mm figures nearly 20 years ago, crossed with a long standing interest in the uniforms and history of mid 19thC "small wars" (from India and Mexico, to suppressing rebellions in my own country, to the Crimea). 

A 2013 battle report: The Brooklyn Fusiliers storm a Pirate base (click to see). 

When I started to develop my 1830-40's "Imagi-Nation" setting, my table was roughly twice the size it is now, I was in my 50's, could paint for hours, had a few bucks in my pocket, and thought I knew what I wanted. Of course I eventually I realized that part of me still wanted to do everything! I still wanted to paint and play with armies from some 2,500 years of history across 1/2 the globe, and contribute troops to various co-hosted convention games and games with local friends. So I tried to do it all and while I almost never "finished" any of the "projects" I was working on before starting the next two, I still enjoyed the journey. 

However, over the last decade I eventually found myself mired in incomplete projects, and realized that much of what I had started, was never going to be "finished", even if used once or twice with stand ins. It was also clear that even if I did do everything that caught my attention, there was not enough room to display or even store that many figures, nor time enough to play with them all. 

I've also figured out that apart from storage and display space issues, painting is less enjoyable than before. Neither hand nor eye are as steady and focused as they were, so my attraction towards the simpler glossy toy soldier look is a bonus, but even so I can't sit and paint for hours any more. So, as "70" looms, the time has come for yet another phase of downsizing and reducing the number of collections/projects. 

So what stays and what gets dropped?

Despite all the enjoyable experiments and detours, for me, a setting resembling 19thC eastern North America is still right for my main, all purpose, generic (semi-fictional) horse & musket collection. The terrain will be based on familiar terrain in my own country, including period battlefields that I've visited 150 years later. The uniforms, historical or fictional, call to mind "Tin Soldiers" (such as the Anderson's Steadfast Tin Soldier)  as well as "The Alamo", and the tactics were at the height of development until the arrival of the minie ball changed things. The secondary collections that are still alive can be seen on the "My Collections" tab on the right hand side of the home page.

So, that's the plan, and while I'm refurbishing the Brooklyn Fusiliers, here's a  2012 Oberhilse and Faraway Battle Report from the archives:

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Jan 7, 1842

THE BLUE REPUBLIC CROSSES THE LINE

Yesterday morning, an unprovoked attack was made on the new battery established at Torn Point near Belmont on the Blugene River.  The Queen's forces in the area were composed of 1/2 a company of the Royal Fusiliers guarding the bridge near Brown Rock, the gunners with their 12 pounder and a company of local militia. These troops were on the Qui Vive however,  and at the first sign of enemy preparations alerted neighboring garrisons who rushed to their aid with unprecedented haste.

Three companies of Blue's 1st infantry under General Scott landed  upstream of the bridge. One was dispatched to hold off reinforcements while another company approached the redoubt at the bridge and opened fire. Despite taking 25% casualties, the Elite soldiers of the Fusiliers stood their ground and with a withering return fire, drove off the attack. The 3rd company soon renewed the attack and forced the remaining Fusiliers to retreat. While some Blue soldiers set to work tearing up the bridge, the rest followed up the Fusiliers who were attempting to make their way across the fields to rejoin their regiment and drove them off.   A fresh company of Fusiliers supported by a company of Victoria Rifles was at hand already. Several point blank volleys routed the first company of Bluecoats then a bayonet charge cleared the bridge before the destruction could be completed.

The Stone House near the point was attacked by Brigadier Zinn with a company of Rifles and 2 companies of the 2nd Infantry. Brigadier Zinn, led the 2nd Infantry forward in person but a bullet from one of the defenders threw him from his saddle and the attack stalled. The Rifles began to work their way around the House and casualties began to mount amongst the defenders but help was at hand. Rushing up the road from Brooklyn came the Green Tigers led by Colonel Stoneforte. The Grenadiers rushed to reinforce the defenders of the house while the rest deployed and opened a heavy fire.

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Moments later a loud whistle followed by an explosion announced the arrival of the Rocket Battery. Fresh from the exercise grounds, these opened an unusually accurate barrage. Behind them, Princess Louise's Dragoons  trotted up the road, helmets gleaming in the sun

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Crossing rapidly over into the adjacent fields, they charged the company of Blue infantry which had been pursuing the Fusiliers. Blinded by their own smoke, the Blue Infantry failed to form square and were ridden down.

The invasion seemed well repulsed but Blue was not yet done, The second wave was at hand! Despite the lack of any senior commanders, two companies of the 3rd Infantry and a Mountain Howitzer landed and pushed inland while the Rifles pushed up the road and opened a heavy and accurate fire on the Rocket Battery, forcing them to limber up and retreat. Behind them, another wave of boats landed. The Blue Guards were at hand!

Pushing up the road towards the bridge a company of the 3rd opened fire on the Dragoons from behind the fence line. The cavalry wheeled around but as they attempted to jump the fence to get at their foe, a tremendous point blank fire cut them down in droves and the remaining dragoons scattered back to safety.

The day hung in the balance as the Blue Guards formed with precision, their Colonel at their head. With a ring cheer they charged the house where the Tigers had replaced the garrison.

A volley the likes of which has rarely been known cut down the Colonel and nearly 1/2 the Guardsmen. The remaining Blue troops quickly re-embarked and abandoned their enterprise.