Maintenance Of The......Oh Look!

Sighhh......there I was, working on my fictional 1830's forces when I stumbled on one last straggler of the one-piece Scruby ACW cavalrymen of the sort that have been recruited into my 1790's British Light Dragoons. As it happened, I needed exactly one more to finish the 2nd squadron.........sighhhh..... why wait?

(Please let me know if the above doesn't show. My favorite Chrome laptop, with the best photo adjustments, has been banned from Google Drive, so for now I'm trying ways to circumvent when necessary until I manage the new photo options.)

Right, back to the 1830's.....

Re-use, Re-hat, Re-paint

Some time around 2006,  Sash & Sabre released a range of 40mm Alamo figures. At the time, I was starting a collection of 40mm figures for the mid 19thC Sikh Wars and I couldn't resist at least 1 set of the Mexican ladder set in their broad shakos (like the 1840 British shakos).

https://redbookplayed.blogspot.com
Scenario 15

Well, the British Army was well started, but without Sepoys, and the Indian force was barely started, when I got distracted by other collections to face various friends' armies. As years went by, and friends moved away, etc etc and I started accepting that there were not enough years to complete both armies for two score projects.

The 1830/40's 40mm collections had a start on the Sikh Wars, the Patriot Rebellion in Lower Canada (Quebec), the Upper Canadian rebellions, and the Mexican/American War. Some how, they all got started, but none were ever finished. 

The result is that the ladder lads almost never got into action beyond that one game. So, since there were plenty of assaults on defended cities and forts in the West Indies during the French Revolution Wars, and my Revolutionary armies are getting use and still expanding, I decided to convert my storming troops to fit in.

Now to build a walled city to storm......

Another Bridge Too Far? (Conclusion)

Now the fighting became serious.

The fighting was noisy and bloody!

At last the Scots marched on, and were sent to clear the left flank. The Emigres were ordered to support the riflemen in the town by the far bridge.
(No dice here, the ...ummh, British player... forgot to move them on to the table for 2 turns! (head slap!)

Order/Counter Order! The Emigres were ordered to halt and wait for new orders as the French had concentrated their forces and stormed the 1st bridge while at the ford, the French infantry deployed and opened fire, daring the British to try crossing!

The British General spotted a fault in the French plan and seizing the initiative, (ie a red card came up giving the British the first move this turn.) ordered the Highlanders to advance towards the bridge, and the Dragoons to charge the flank of the French line! The French broke and ran back through the column just crossing the bridge. The Dragoons pursued, and the battle was over.
(The French had had so many 1st move cards that...'their general' hadn't expected that!)

Now....hmm....what should I play next? 

Let Us Go Over The River (Pt 1)

 It was early in the morning in Flanders in 1794 when General McDowell, with an escort of Dragoons, rode ahead of his column of infantry to see what the situation was. It was soon evident that the French rebels had arrived there first, and were already crossing. He sent an Adjutant to hurry his column of infantry.

As one of those American Rebels would say in the future: "Get there fastest with the mostest!" 

Soon the redcoats were flowing onto the battlefield. A squadron of Light Dragoons were pressing on with speed to stop the enemy cavalry from crossing over.

The French Black Hussars threw back the Light Dragoon but did not destroy them, and Heavy Dragoons were at hand with riflemen moving quickly to take post in the town houses. Before long, the Black Hussars, were ordered back across the bridge with Dragoons to support them.

The terrain was too broken up for long lines but both armies had learned a lot about flexibility in the America's during the Rebellion.

To Be Continued

....To be continued

Now The Hurly-Burly Is Done.....

 But I don't have time to make a full post this evening.

I do have time to post a mid-game sketch by some artistic junior officer after the battle. (unhuh)
 (Double click on the picture to get the full screen version)

Tomorrow then!

More Rumours of the Battle in Progress

OK, OK, between chores, looking after a pack of hounds while their 'Mom' is off to a dogshow weekend, and trying to figure out which of several versions of the rules I want to choose for going forward, I haven't gotten too far but I think I'm set and the game is about to resume should finish by noon (knock knock) and the report be posted later.

In the meantime:

(Click on the photo for the full size version)

Please stand by!

And So It Begins

 

To be continued....

Annnnnd We're Back!

Taxes all done, a week earlier than usual!  The table has been cleaned and has returned to being a wargame table. I wasn't sure what to put on the field of battle, so I shook my head and "French Revolution in Flanders" came up.

Scenario #25 in Grant&Asquith's "Scenarios For All Ages".
Click twice on the picture for full size picture.
(I'm not sure if I have played it since 2009 but not recently anyway.)

I think there might be a battle tomorrow......

Ahhh, Spring!

The time when my soldiers go into Spring quarters while I spend too much time on cleaning up Winter's debris and preparing for Summer.   In the meantime, here's a link to a game from last April:

Somewhere in Flanders, 1793 (click)  from last April

or...looking back a decade to 2016: 

1/72 ACW from April 24, 2016

"Regular service will resume soon."

War Resumes on Belmont Island

After another British victory which allowed supplies and reinforcements to make it through, (see Ambush) the fighting on Belmont Isle was limited to small raids and skirmishes when patrols collided. As another New Year's came and went, the French Governor ordered an attack on the British possessions. After a series of meetings with a leader of ex-slaves, and a supply of muskets and powder, a joint operation was arranged.

The British had fortified a road block but had not considered a flank attack from the wooded hills to the east of the British outpost. Patrols spotted the French column and a messenger was quickly dispatched requesting reinforcements.

The forces gather.

Soon the fighting was wide spread while reinforcements on both sides marched on. On the hills behind the British flank, the freed slaves hesitated for a while but then decided to engage. 

Supported by skirmishers and the artillery, the 1st battalion charged the redoubt but was repulsed. With the English preoccupied, the freed slaves came storming down from the hills and a long firefight began.

After a brief pointblank musketry duel, the first battalion broke and ran. The 2nd battalion formed a storming column and assaulted the gate across the road while the 3rd battalion deployed and began a prolonged  short range firefight with the French having 2:1 numbers but the British soldiers being in cover.

A prolonged fight but eventually, numbers counted.

An attack on the main gate was repulsed  but the French skirmishers manage to silence the British gun and they took the wooden barricade for themselves until the gun could be brought up.

At last the British casualties in the redoubt weakened the post and General St. Lambert ordered another assault on the redoubt and one on the gates. On the other flank, two companies of Marines (not yet royal), made an attempt to drive the French from the gun position but the French skirmishers were determined to hold their position and poured such a deadly hail of bullets that the Marines broke and headed back for safety.

The situation was hopeless and the order was given to retreat with the Hussars and the first two companies of marines were ordered to form a rearguard to hold the enemy at bay. 
Behind them, they could hear the cheers and the sound of  La Marseillaise being sung.

At Last

 The battle has finally been fought!

If all goes well, the battle report should appear sometime on Friday. 

At last!

 At last a move or two have been made and dice have been rolled!

Maybe this afternoon I may get at it again once I get back from a visit to the dentist. 

STAND TO!!!!

It had been quiet day on Belmont Isle until the long roll called the small garrison to form up. Amid the noise and bustle, officers, ncos, and the other ranks speculated on why they had been called to fall in. Was it a drill or a real alarm? Then, as the garrison was formed up and quiet, they could hear the approaching sound of drums and voices singing:

"Aux armes, citoyens, formez vos bataillons, marchons, marchons...."

To be continued....

It's Winter, Time To Go To The Caribbean

 Well, not me! Just the little lads.

Base behaviour.

To my surprise, the last West Indies game was posted on 31 December 2024. So, I've decided that the West Indies are due to reappear. However, the 3rd party (ex-slaves) were still waiting to be put on regulation 18C bases. 

So, I'm doing that now, and then will come up with a scenario, probably with French and ex-slaves vs British, and set the table. I might even get to play it today if I'm fast!  

The Battle of Notenoy (Pt 2: Conclusion)

 While the Germans and Emigres were tackling the redoubts, the British infantry enveloped two sides of the central village while leaving a clear line of fire for the Royal Artillery.

The fight for the town was bloody and sustained while the opposing cavalry units eyed each other. If either had charged and won, the victorious horsemen could turn the tide in their side's favour but if they lost, all might be lost. So it was that neither General ordered them in and the opposing cavalry stared at each other, ready for pursuit if their infantry triumphed, or to cover their army's retreat if needed.  

A balloon's eye view of the battlefield, 1/2 way through the day.

With the redoubts cleared, the General ordered his left wing to detach a battalion to join in the attack on the village. He also ordered the redcoats to side step to give the artillery a clean line of fire to the stone house. The Black Watch, having suffered heavy casualties was ordered to fall back and guard the flank of the infantry in case the French cavalry charged. Slowly, the allied infantry fought their way into 1/2 the houses in the town. 

On the far left, the German battalions stormed the town and, despite heavy casualties, they drove the French out with the points of their bayonets.  The Republicans themselves had taken even heavier casualties and there was no chance that they could attempt to take the town back.  The Republic still held two of the objectives and the sun was sinking low. Was it time to gamble with the cavalry?

There was no need. The allied infantry manged to take most of the town and after very heavy losses, the remaining Republican infantry broke and ran. The Republican cavalry covered their retreat and the Duke decided not to risk his cavalry in pursuit when there were so many of these French Republicans to fill the ranks of their infantry. (ps this was the 3rd last turn.)
  

Up next?   hmmm....

The Battle of Notenoy (Pt1)

The 1st Coalition armies were getting restless in the fall of 1793. The campaign seemed to have stalled but eventually the Duke of Belmont had received orders to advance with an allied force of British, Emigre and Brunswick units and seize the strategical town of Notenoy where the road splits, and either the town on the North road or the redoubt blocking the South road.

Cavalry scouts reported that the Republicans had occupied the town and both exits but with a smaller force. After a quick council of war, a plan was decided on. The British infantry would seize the central town and road junction while the Emigre and German brigade would storm the enemy redoubts and seize the smaller town. The cavalry would guard the flank of the infantry while the light troops would work their way through the forest and try to silence the enemy artillery which was holding the third objective.  

The British infantry headed straight forward to the main objective, supported by all of the artillery and were quickly engaged.

On the left, the French musket and canon fire was causing serious casualties. The Emigres were first to reach their target but they were blown back by cannister fire.

The veteran Brunswickers also took heavy casualties but they cheered and swarmed over the redoubt, capturing the French guns and raising the morale of their experienced supports.

"Advance The Guns!" came the order. The bombardment against the redoubt had done little damage so they were ordered to advance to a more effective range. Supported by infantry musketry, the artillery did its work.  

On the Southern flank, the German Jagers slowly forced the French skirmishers back towards the redoubt beyond the woods. In the clearing between the woods and the town, the opposing cavalry sat and faced each other. If either side charged and drove off their enemy, they could wreak havoc on the already engaged enemy infantry or exposed artillery, but it was a dangerous gamble, one to only be used if absolutely necessary.   

After a brief bombardment by the British artillery, the Royalists charged again and captured the second redoubt. Now it was time to move on the crucial goals but the day was half spent and not one objective had been taken. Could it still be done?

...............To Be Continued 

At Last This Hurley Burly Is Done!

 Battle Report to follow.....

....probably tomorrow.

At Last!

Its always something!   Routine chores, helping out with a litter of 3+ week old puppies, oh and rediscovering that the scenario called for twice as many Coalition troops as I have. Luckily, a number of German states had not changed their uniforms as drastically since the Seven Years War as the British and French had done, and it didn't take long to cast and paint a few more Dragoons for the Coalition army. I could use double the number of artillery pieces, but, not today!

Hmm, A little crowded but....

Let the battle begin!   (But not today, now I have errands to run in town.....sighhhh).

The Table Is Reset

 The table is set, the recce has been done, and the British general is making his plan. 

Those readers who are familiar with CS Grant's 1st book of scenarios will doubtless recognize the scenario (I'm pretty sure it appeared first as one of the Table Top Teaser magazine articles in the 70's buttttt.... that was awhile ago to say the least.) Those who are familiar with the battles of Marshall de Saxe will also recognize the historical battle that inspired the generic tabletop scenario.

Looks like there's going to be a battle tomorrow!

Indulging Myself

Sometimes things just come together and either one seizes the moment or one lets it go by. 

Well, there I was, pondering my plans for this year, and of the passing of Rene Chartrand who I had the good fortune of meeting several times when I was a young officer cadet and cadet curator of the Musee de Fort St, Jean and also a member of the Montreal Wargame Club who were meeting at the old fort on Ile St Helene in Montreal  where Rene was curator amongst other things and would show us stuff. 

In addition, I had decided to focus more on 18thC campaigns in Canada, esp on Louisburg and Acadia. Then a Helion book sale flyer landed in my inbox and it included a two volume set with "Frontier Soldiers in New France" with Rene being a co-author. They also had a book on Grey's 1794 West Indies campaign, the only other book I had found on this subject had been in a university library some 30+ years ago.  Well, that was relevant to my current miniatures interest.  

Once looking, I stumbled across a new printing of a fairly rare 26 year old book on the 1745 siege of Louisburg, available from a "local" bookstore (about 120km but in Nova Scotia) . Well that was just the period I've been setting my games in, and Louisburg is a site that I've visited several times, so.........

Anyway, having just completed my first 7 decades, I decided to treat myself to help me stay on track over the next 2 decades.