Friday, February 9, 2024

Winter Quarters

Winter was late arriving but it arrived none the less and with it came snow that put an end to campaigning.  In their warm, commandeered houses, the Generals and officers planned for the spring, drank brandy, and played cards while the soldiers found what shelter they could in barns and lean to's and ate stale flour and what they could find or hunt.

The war calmed down, but it had not ended for everyone.....

The rangers, provincials, compagnies franches and milice  manned outposts against surprise attacks and occasionally launched raids to keep the enemy awake.

In the Spring,  the camaigning would resume once the supply ships from England, Boston and Boulogne had arrived and the Spring mud had dried up. 


16 comments:

  1. Great picture! Tough being the sentry when there's a warm fire in the barrack house

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    1. On a nice sunny day, it might be a relief to get out of that smokey cabin full of men who last washed a couple of months ago!

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  2. When I first saw that picture I thought, "Oh, no! A roof on one of Ross' sheds caved in under the weight of all the snow he got!" Then I zoomed in.

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    1. I needed time to paint more figures for the campaign.....

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  3. I expect one could get tired of drinking brandy and playing cards …. At some point :-)

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  4. Terrific period engraving, sorry photo, that does make me feel for this sentry. I bet he just can’t wait to get back indoors to the rancid barracks.
    Alan Tradgardland

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    1. At least there's little wind and no blowing snow on this watch.

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  5. Toy soldiers in the garden, even when it snows. Lovely Stuff, Ross.
    Michael G. Butterfield

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  6. Sums up January and February - my least favourite months.

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  7. Love the picture Ross. Yep. Winter Quarters is proving to be a good time to paint.

    Eric

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  8. Even when in winter quarters, there's still "soldiering" to be done (ie, getting your face out into the weather).

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    1. Heck, even when you're not a soldier you've got to get your face out to fetch firewood and shovel the driveway :)

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