The Battle of Lookout Ridge

The following is an excerpt from an anonymous journal thought to have been penned by an officer in the Hochelaga Fusiliers who participated in the little known Cyprus Hills Expedition.
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The first shots are fired as the Canadians advance into range.

....as we approached the ridge the order came to deploy into a single line with no reserves. "A" battery formed on the left of the infantry, the lancers of the NorthWest Constabulary formed on the far right. When all was in order the bugles rang out and we started forward.

Every once in a while we caught a brief glimpse of a rapidly moving figure on the crest but it was hard to tell how many were there and what there intentions were. As we neared the foot of the hill though the skyline erupted in smoke and a positive hail of bullets rained down on us.  Quickly the gunners opened up driving back a taggle of ragamuffins from their right flank. All along the line the boys advanced, fired a volley then fixed bayonets and drove the enemy off the crest with a cheer. The sight from the top soon sobered us up though.

The Canadians seize the ridge as American reinforcements appear.

From the top of the ridge we could see the enemy we had driven back but also a force twice their numbers rapidly marching towards us, complete with artillery. We lay down on the crest and opened up on the enemy before us while behind us the guns limbered up and rushed to the right passing the Lancers who were galloping towards our open left.

The American force is stubborn under fire and deadly accurate but their General is having trouble coordinating an attack on the ridge. 

The American fire was deadly. Our Colonel went down as we hit the crest and many other good men were helped back down the slope to be bandaged but we held firm and they seemed unwilling to get too close. Seeing their flank open the Lancers rode forward and launched a rash attack. The Americans quickly turned and shot down the half of them. Recoiling they tried again and again, until none were left in the saddle. Perhaps mounted Riflemen would have been more useful in modern war.

The American counter attack has stalled under heavy fire and the need to deal with the flanking cavalry.

At last after two gruelling hours of intense fire, the Americans seemed on the point of launching an assault.  As we braced ourselves, Colonel Marten himself rode up and called out " Fusiliers! Lets see these buggers off. Fix bayonets and follow me!" He spurred down the hill and rising up, we followed cheering. It was too much for the Fenian rabble in front of us and they turned tail and ran.

With their flank wide open and half their companies scattered to the winds or limping to the rear, the Yankee regulars had little choice but to fall back as well. It was over.
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The end.

Note: these pictures are of a recreation of this engagement fought out with 54mm figures and the Square Brigadier Rules. The Blue and Red dots indicate where stands or Officers were removed. More discussion of the tabletop battle to follow.

Battle of Lookout Ridge. (Teaser)

In the middle of the Disputed Territory, in the middle of the wide Prairie, is a low hill known locally as Lookout Ridge. Its not much as ridges go but being the highest point of land for miles it makes a good observation post.

When agents reported that the Americans were planning to seize and fortify the ridge in order to set up an experimental Heliograph station, Colonel Marten was ordered to take a detachment out to see them off.

The American advance guard opens fire with  deadly accuracy.

Battle Report of this 2 Hour Square Brigadier version of a One Hour Wargame to follow Sunday afternoon.

Time to get back to the table

OK, I've been having fun, no question, but its been over a week since my last game and two weeks since my last home game. Time to push away from the desk and play something.

I picked this 54mm plastic camel up almost 20 years with vague thoughts of a Zamburak for the Emir. Well the Emir and his lair have gone but it seemed like the time to finally do it. The gun is more than a bit crude and is rather over size but it was the only way I could make it a working gun that actually shoots.
(No, you will not see it in action here! )  

The question is, once I clear all the c**p off my table, what shall I play?

At the moment its even money between a 16th Century game to get me thinking about my main effort for Huzzah and a 54mm Cyprus Hills game, perhaps played twice with duelling rule sets, Square Brigadier vs Portable Wargame.

These 17th Lancers you will see in action here, but not this weekend. There's too much work left to do on them.

Stay tuned!