Distractions, Always Distractions

I was clearing up my increasingly cluttered table when I came upon this figure, mostly painted. The figure was (I think) meant to be either blocking or about to club someone. A pose I hadn't seen in an ACW set. (According to Plastic Soldier Review he's from an  Accurate set.)

I didn't have any room for another regiment, and I didn't feel like prying another figure off a base to replace it with this guy. So, I cut the musket away from his left hand and using a little soldering iron to coax the right arm to twist back, then finished painting him. 

He'll now be another casualty marker for when a stand is removed after receiving 6 hits.

General Standing's Brigade

After last week's ACW game, I decided to fill out the ranks.  I've settled on brigade units with 3 regiments/battalions (in case I want to do a smaller game, or if a scenario requires breaking down the brigade to individual regiments, etc).  Each side will have 2 Divisions of 3 brigades each and more guns than they should.  I haven't counted the available cavalry yet but certainly enough for each army to have two small cavalry brigades as well as having as more guns than brigades,

Each battalion has 3 stands including a colour, with 3 battalions in the brigade. (Any resemblance to the organization in Lawford&Young's Charge! is due to good memories.)  I had 6 stands of Yankees at attention but had to go scrabbling through various drawers and boxes but managed to get enough figures for the extra 3 stands, even if the new battalion consisted of more grey plastic figures then blue ones and has an extra officer. Once painted they work. I even managed to find 3 flags, all different sizes but..........

There is one last Union regiment on my painting table. Kinch's Zouave regiment, led by Irish Colonel. 

The real issue at the moment is whether I should play another ACW game before putting them away, or play whichever of my active collections has been longest on the shelf, or the period/collection that is most requested. (requests may be made in a comment on the blog or by email: rmacfa@gmail.com) 

Battle of Blue Creek

At last! The game has been played to a conclusion. The scenario was an encounter with both armies marching to cross the Blue Creek while preventing the enemy from doing the same. There was one bridge on the main road but also two fords on side roads. Each army wanted to force a crossing while preventing the enemy from doing the same.   

Artillery Duel, from the loser's POV. 

Being a recreational game rather than a recreation of an historical event, both sides had equal forces with 'standard' units. I use a deck of cards to determine by colour, who will act first that turn. The size of the deck controls the length of the game. I usual play 15 turns but I bumped it up to 20 for this game.

About 1/2 way through the game, the bridge is still contested but the Rebs have pushed infantry over the fords and on the far side, have also had a small cavalry brigade across the road. 

Fairly early in the battle, an aggressive Rebel Brigadier pushed a regiment over the Western ford. Due in part to the excellent shooting of Yankee artillery, reinforcements didn't manage to come up in time and a full brigade pushed the Rebs back over the creek. 

On the eastern flank, the Rebs managed to push back a screen of dismounted cavalry and seize the ford with cavalry backed by a brigade of infantry. Since there was little room in the bridgehead, the Brigadier had massed his artillery on the far side of the hill with orders to harass or stop reinforcements.
(see 1st picture) 

The battle raged late into the day. Neither side would gamble sending a narrow column over the bridge.
On the Western flank a Yankee counter attack forced the Reb bridgehead to be withdrawn. Firing continued late into the afternoon but neither side had the strength to carry the ford and reinforce it. 
However, the Rebs had a solid bridgehead on their right, though there were no reserves coming, and Yankee guns had nearly silenced the rebel artillery on that flank. 

With a fresh Yankee brigade backing them up as a reserve, and the sun sinking, the order was given to the weary Blue defenders to fix bayonets, fire one good volley and then drive the Rebels back over the river.  (Well, it worked for the 20th Maine...) The Rebs must have been weary themselves and shaken by their losses, because they broke and ran. As the Federal troops advanced, they were able to cross the ford unopposed, cavalry first and secured the road on the other side. With the Yankees reserve (the only remaining fresh brigade on the field) marching to cross over the ford, there was nothing for the Rebels to  do but to retreat before they got cut off.  

Well, it was one battle, not the end of the campaign and the rules need another test. The next ACW game will probably be next week, not next year. 

Behind The Scenes (updated)

Despite a mix of household duties, looking after my health, and taking time to write a new set of rules with a very different approach, I have managed to play about 1/2 the scenario. The reorganization and rules are feeling solid enough, and the play is satisfying my personal likes and goals well enough. In summary, so far its working and is giving me hope!

The battle is engaged across the table (and across the river in at least 2 spots.)

In the meantime, its been 15 years since I rescued the remains of an aborted solo 1/72nd ACW collection that I had started after getting my first paying job after resigning my commission (1981). A few months later I reconnected with some friends and 15mm and 25mm metal were the order of the day again and the little plastic guys retired to a spares bin. When we bought our retirement house in the country in 2005, I had a friend not too far away who was into 1/72nd plastic and was starting an ACW collection. Being a pack rat, I still had those 30yr old veterans and brought them back into service and started to add reinforcements. (see 1st ACW blog post here)

   

One of these is too little, one too big and one is jusssst right.
(picture from 2010 post) 

Anyway, when I got back to the game after a break of a day or so, the early approaches had been made and the armies were about to engage across the table. With movement done I commenced shooting, 1 die per stand. It only took a few minutes to soak in that now the armies were engaged, it would soon be my duty to roll 6 dice for each of the 6 infantry brigades on each side plus 2 dice for each gun and then the cavalry. Depending on the situation, I'd have to roll up to some 60-80 dice every turn once the fighting got serious. I'd have to pay myself to do that! As well, the game would last who knows how long? That's when I stopped and moved over to the drawing board (so to speak).

A 2012 ACW game with a friend.(see blogpost)
(hmm, I think most of the room is a bit tidier now...sort of...the 6'x8' table is now 5'x5' and I don't really miss the extra sq footage) 
The little white house on the table (on the viewers left,) represented my house, which had been built by then.The house by the river is where the stream flows into the Kennetcook river just before it flows into the Avon river. (The owner of that house and my 2nd closest neighbour, a km away, was a good person, a retired naval officer who had attended the same military college as me, but 20 years before me! How's that for a coincidence? 

Anyway, rather than trying to chase the latest glossy games, I went back to Lawford&Young and Featherstone for inspiration, along with other quick play sets including the One Hour Wargame which rules, I confess, I had initially poopooed at first sight (sorry) although the cut down scenarios have been useful. 

The result was retreating from 6 stand Brigade units to fall back on my old 3 stand regiments with 1d per regiment with the score on 1 die equaling the #of hits inflicted on the enemy (with 1/2 effect at  long range and cover etc). Again streamlining, I went back through the archives and resumed the practice of rolling to see how many formations the General can order each turn. (yes with recognition to wrg/dba) With that bit of 'friction' and the simpler rules, after 6 quick turns, the game is now playing smoothly but with tension and moments of triumph and disaster and some clear decisions to made by the "general" ("Only 2 orders this turn? hmmm who to activate"...).

Ant that brings this post to a close. The game will continue tomorrow....or the day after.....or..well soon! 

Another Start

 I hate it when this happens, but its for my greater good. 

Two or three turns were enough to click buttons in my brain as to why the ACW boys haven't been getting out. Sad as it may seem, I'm just don't enjoy big battles seen from a far with brigade units with no history, stories or personality. I do like simple and fast these days and so I "tweaked" the one page rules with much thought and a little bit of testing. It means, smaller actions, perhaps parts of bigger battles or just my comfortable, generic, 'scenarios'. 

One of the satisfying retreats was breaking up my 6 stand brigades and letting my 3 stand regiments once again be individual units. These are again grouped into 2-4 regiments under a Brigadier.  I stripped the rules even more in order to speed play. Then I started again. 

So far, so good.

Tomorrow I "should" be able to finish the last 3/4 of the game in an hour(-ish) and start writing down Generals' names for consistency in narration.

Interuptions! Always Interruptions!

 But I got a few turns in and .Sunday is looking good to play the game.

Stay tuned....

Hastily Trained......

...... but ready to see the Elephant.

News when available.

Where's The Cavalry?

 "The new recruits are still being trained Sir. "They should be in the field in a day or two." 

Strelets R 1/72nd ACW dismounted cavalry.

Its been almost a year since I cut these lads off their sprues and washed them, but more than a year since the last ACW game. Ah well, "Hurry up and wait" is an old army saying and these lads at least are now getting painted and will see the elephant as soon as they are 'dressed' and 'trained'. 

Almost a century later and over 1,000 miles away ......

 ..... a passing hot air balloon snapped a picture of opposing Union and Confederation cavalry heading for an encounter.

I feel a battle coming on.

Gorham's Rangers Take The Field

 This was a tricky lot, but they'll serve. 

Gorham's Rangers primarily served in what is now Nova Scotia from 1744 to 1759 (Some of them probably crossed what is now my yard!) and then joined Wolfe's expedition to Quebec,  Information on how they were dressed is scarce, and mostly speculative since no parts of their uniforms have survived, nor were there any contemporary drawings, just a very few vague descriptions in diaries etc.. Sooo, I decided to go with the most common descriptions, nearly contemporary drawings, and modern day reenactors who usually do a good job of digging into the history. I then crossed that with what I had to work with, decided to drop the sort of skirt or all round apron which wasn't always mentioned or sketched, especially in the early years.

The Scots bonnets seem to be the best bet for headgear and recent(ish) study has decided that the same sort of bonnets were worn by Roger's Rangers despite the old NorthWest Passage movie. Luckily, I happen to have Prince August's SYW highlander mould which includes what we called a 'Balmoral' cap when I was in the Black Watch of Canada Cadet Corps in my teens. 

In the early days at least, many of the Rangers were recruited from First Nations in what is now New England, long time enemies of the Mk'maq and other tribes in what are now the Maritime Provinces, so, I included two of them by darkening their skin slightly. 

Leggings or gaiters to above the knee were common enough but the next bit was tricky. They seem to have worn short jackets and Prince August presented Russians in summer gear without their long coats, but I wanted more poses. I also happened to have the Austrian Grenz moulds. The coats were a bit long and had lace and swords but a bit of work with knife and file gave me a few rather rough conversions, including reducing swords to hunting knives. 

From there, I called heavily on the various interpretations and did my own to make it easy, after all, I want them to play wargames, not sit on display.

Rangers Partly Dressed

Spring!  Spring and outdoor chores!  But I've been making a little time for myself to paint.

Details and just a little shading next.

Recruiting is complete

Now for the training!

These lads will shortly painted up as Gorham's Rangers.  Hopefully the forecast of rain will be accurate, 

Sometimes, Ya Just Gotta Try it......

Well, that experiment is over. 

What triggered this bustle of reorganizing and re-basing a portion of my "horse and musket" armies, was something simple: not being able to divide a 3 stand unit into two half units when a scenario called for it!

Instead of looking for all the Cons of the new units, or the Pros for the existing system, I just reorganized and re-based, with enough units for a small skirmish. game. Both games went well, but......visually, the troops looked like they were in loose order since I didn't want to paint another 6 figures for each battalion, I went from 3x6 figure bases to 4x4 figures. Yup wider frontage with fewer figures and the maximum number of units on the table were diminished.

Given that I wanted to have a choice of smaller or larger games, I decided to just restore the old order but since I had the materials at hand, I cut new bases from thin plywood cut into 2”x2" squares, (I know, but I learned the old Imperial way first and they're my toys!)

All the current painted infantry are done on both sides as are some of the light troops but there are plans for more infantry, sappers,  light field guns with crew, some siege/fortress guns, more Canadian/Acadian militia, possibly a single stand of French dragoons, and, well  time will tell.

And yes, the small portion of 1790's troops who were the first guinea pigs, will be rolled back to standard as well

I have a feeling there'll be another game on the table this weekend.

Rangers Training

 Another step towards being ready for action.

Given they'll likely be used for historical fiction games, I just call them 'Ross's Rangers'

For My Next Act...

 (Anyone remember Rocky and  Bulwinkle? ) 

Anyway, since my current focus is a history inspired version of the fighting in Acadia, I need some of Gorham's Rangers. 

Volunteers anyone? ?.…....

Proposed bits from several Prince August moulds.

Thank you gentlemen! (Hmm, not sure on the standing, firing guy).  Now to dress you.

Hurry Up And Wait

That's the old army saying, but it's all over now. 

Its been 8 months since my last game set in Acadia but the world turns and things are slowly returning to normal. Its also been a wee bit over a week since the table was set, but now the game has been played. Mostly it was the outside world interfering but when I was free, I found that the rules I had spent so much time fashioning and tweaking over the last few years, worked ok, but.....weren't satisfying.  

The games tended to be too fast or too slow, dice had too much effect and the General (ok, player) had too little influence on what his troops were going to do. So, I spent some of my time reviewing a number of old wargame rules, mostly by early wargamers who had fought in real life as well as studying history, and a few newer sets of rules. However, I also revisited bits of various 18th and 19thC memoirs and also a few recent, relevant, history books. Then I tried again.   When they have been tested in a couple of games and consist of more than a one page quick reference, I'll post them. 

Here's how the test game went: 

_____________________________________

Somewhere in Acadia in the 1740's  where the Duc d'Anville's force was still under orders to secure Acadia and evict the British.  Spring has arrived, the snows are gone and the roads are sort of dry most days, but word comes from  Mi'kmaq and Acadian scouts that an army of Redcoats have landed at Pisiquid, and are marching Nor'east. The Brigadier Sieur de St. Lambert was ordered to stop them!   

A Raven took this shot as he flew away from the first "BANG". Honest!

The 'armies' meet at the little village of Nullepart.

 

In short order, the British seized the Church and graveyard as well as a wealthy merchant's  Stonehouse but the French and their allies soon seized 3 buildings, some on each side of the river.
The British had no real option but to push on.

The 27th Foot pushed forward and unleashed a crashing volley! The Mi'kmaq warriors ducked and then began shooting British officers. 

The order to "Hurry up with the Damned Gun!" was acknowledged but the ground was soft and it was hard going, even with a battalion gun. In the village, the Mi'kmaq were picking off redcoats while making good use of their cover. Behind them, the beating drums of Lally's Irish gave all a warning that they were coming. Soon it would be Redcoat vs Redcoat. The British Colonel sent off an officer to request support from the Massachusetts Bluecoats.

Eventually, the British battalions were forced to fallback into cover to avoid destruction, and a lengthy but ineffective firefight ensued. As the sun sank, a firm order came to "Drive those savages out of that town!" The Colonel suspected he was talking about the enemy Irish and ordered the 27th forward to the stonewall, and the Rangers to support them on their right.

The firefight between Irish and Irish was indecisive but the Rangers, judging that the remaining Mi'kmaq were wavering, decided not to stop and stormed the building then turned their accurate fire on the enemy Irish.  

 
The French general surveyed the field and eyed the sun. His force was split across the river and was down to 1/2 strength plus stragglers and the wounded who could no more attacks today. The British had nearly as many casualties but their battalions were still capable of defending and had artillery and the village, stocked with full cellars. 

It was time to withdraw, regroup and send for reinforcements, 

Now The Battle Is Lost and Won....

 But, while we're waiting for the official report, here's a bird's eye view as the armies started to deploy: 

The rest to come soon.

..

Now The Irish Engage

 Interruptions, always interruptions!  But the game carries on.

Friday should see the end of this affair, but another game should follow soon after..  

Now The Battle Has Begun

 Taxes are done, and the battle has begun in earnest.

.......to be continued

So! It Begins.

As the armies deploy, and the Commanders begin to form a plan, the morning quiet has shattered by musket fire.

The game will resume in a day or two, when our annual tax forms have been submitted.

It Was A Quiet Sunday Morning.....

The men were gone, summoned to do their duty to God and the King in the militia, but the women and the older boys did the men's work on the farm or there would be famine come next winter. But, it was Sunday. Mass had been held by the priest, and now the women visited with their neighbours before resuming chores when suddenly the bells rang out again and the priest appeared, looking hurried and calling out to them! 

"Les anglais arrive!! Dépêcher  vous au forêt et vite!!"

to be continued....

En avant!

 Alright!  The French and their allies now have enough troops ready to march to war again.

(More than this and even more getting ready to mount the new bases.)

Somehow, I doubt that I'll be able to restrain the two lots from getting into a scuffle this weekend......

Once More Unto The Bases

 Yup. 

These veterans have been on various bases from individual washers to various multi-figure bases, often more than once. Having shaken the 60mm wide base habit, this arrangement of four 40mm infantry on a 2" sq. base worked well in the last game, gives a better impression  of a long thin line, and lets me deploy 1/2 of a battalion or even a single stand. 

Its going to be a busy weekend, 

Somewhere in Flanders, 1793

My 1793/94 Flanders campaign armies having spent most of the last 3 years in Brittany, the West Indies and Egypt, I thought they might want to head back to their original fields to have another go at a quick & easy, generic, set of Horse & Musket rules.   (More on these rules later, but this 1st game finally gave me what I've wanted but its only 1 game......)

The 40mm figures were all converted from other things. For many, it was mostly just a new homemade head with a 1790's hat added to homecast Prince August SYW or Meisterzinn Napoleonic castings. The exceptions were mostly the British light dragoons converted from Scruby ACW cavalry and my F&IW Highlanders that I had had cast more than 25 years ago.

The scenario was Scenario 13 from C.S. Grant and S. Asquith's Scenarios For All Ages. The opposing armies march on with orders to find and seize a ford over the river. Six markers were placed on the board, one marked as the ford. When a unit reached a marker, they could peek at it. If there were 2 players, they'd have had to guess what the other player found out when they reached the marker. 

Playing solo, I didn't bother trying to fool myself but as it happened that 5 of the 6 markers had been checked and none of them were the ford. Both sides realized that the marker at the extreme end of the table had to be the ford and the race was on!   

The Highlanders got there first on a turn where the British got the initiative, but they didn't quite have enough movement to cross over and deploy into line but the French were close on the other side. They deployed and poured a heavy fire into the Highlanders struggling through the water.   

There wasn't much for either side to do but blast away and bring up support. 

The sun was starting to sink towards the horizon and casualties were heavy on both sides but the British general sensed that the French were wavering and ordered the Highlanders to form column and have another go at the ford.

HUZZAH!!!

Both sides had taken heavy casualties but the French had taken slightly more, as well as their battery which had been shattered by the Royal Artillery. It was time to call back his men and retreat while he still had an effective rearguard.

Now The Hurley Burley's Done

 While we're waiting for the full battle report, a little glimpse of the action:

.......

The Battle For The Ford Rages

 Somewhere in the Low Countries c1793..........

A truce has been called to allow for the armies and umpire to have lunch ..............

Time For The Same But Different

 Yes, we're back to the 1790's. 

Somewhere in the Low Countries ....

Scenario 13 from C.S. Grant and SA Asquith's Scenarios For All Ages. 

To be continued...

Back To The Present

Well, that was worth testing but I think I've gotten into a comfy pattern and after a few turns, I decided to go back where I had been and make a few minor tweaks.  That seemed to make a difference, especially on getting in a full game with a good chance of a clear victory for one side and within the sort of time I can usually muster, but not being tooo quick.

By the book, the game ended up a draw since both sides had troops on the hill, even though Blue was on the edge of breaking.

A cavalry clash was indecisive and the sun was setting.

Time to clear the table and start looking for another scenario..

Going Back To Go Forward

After various futile efforts to make a new, successful, simple, quick play, one page, set of Horse & Musket rules, I decided to go back in time to seek inspiration. 

Eventually, it was inevitable that I turned back to my first wargame book. I had purchased it with one of my first paycheques at Military College but had to wait till the end of the century to play a proper game with hordes of 40mm homecast figures. (Here's a link to one of our multi-player Charge! games, part of our 2010 play through of "Raid on St Michael". (On my rather dormant "Not Quite The Seven Years War" blog)

Battle renewed.

Now, I'm not actually playing using Charge!, just taking a different approach, inspired by it.

To be continued.,...