Battle of Wheaton Farm

So I have been working feverishly at painting up my AWI troops and last night rounded the 200 miniature mile marker. Anyone who has gotten into table top wargaming knows that doing a period like this is a great undertaking - the Tailor Wars as the period from the Seven Years (or French Indian War as it is better known here in the states) through the end of the Napoleonic era. So with all this painting it has been requested that I post some pictures to show my growing collection. I tried simply getting them all out and shooting pictures...but that was too boring. I chose instead to dress up my table and play a small game, posting action photos! I hope you enjoy!

Click on any picture to make it bigger - you can see much more detail that way!

Here is the full field. The Americans are centering their defense around the farm with some earthwork trenches. They have three regiments of Militia, they place two in the trenches with a third in the woods near the hill overlooking the road. In typical American fashion, the troops in the trees hide. The Americans deploy a unit of Riflemen to the left of the redout covering the flank of the approach to the backup fleche. The 1st New Hampshire Regiment of Regulars deploys to the rear of the formation, ready to plug any gaps in the line as the British advance.

American Left flank in the fleche. 

American Rifle Skirmishers in Hunting Shirts

Militia deployed in the redoubt - the only artillery of the battle deployed to the right, a single 3lb Grasshopper cannon

American 1st New Hampshire Regulars - Skirmish screen thrown forward to harass any enemy troops and provide mobile cover for the close order infantry. 

Militia in the trees to the extreme American right.

British 20th Regt. Line of Foot, Skirmishers screening the advance of the march column

British 24th Regt. Line of Foot in the foreground, the 9th Regt to their rear - both regiments throwing skirmishers forward - a very important part of the era. 

The British Commander in Chief (CinC), riding his beautiful Dapple Grey

Combined Light and Grenadier Regiments - In this era each regiment would have a company of Light Infantry for screening and harassing and a company of Grenadiers - the biggest and strongest, most disciplined troops of the regiment. Most frequently these companies were stripped out of their parent units and combined to form their own elite regiments. 

Indian Scouts hiding in the trees

War Paint

More war paint - see the hand print on the guy's shoulder? Yep...I went there. These are among the more detailed of the troops I painted since they add so much flavor. The blue and white bases indicate that these are Iroquois, employed ion great numbers by the British.  

Close up of the CinC

I am proud of how he turned out - the two line infantry indicate that this is the brigade commander or CinC of a Line Infantry brigade - if he were the Elite Brigade Commander I would have had a Light Infantry and a Grenadier figure.

Close up of the Ensign for the 24th Regt. The flags are printed on white paper, cut out and then glued. While the glue is drying I roll the flag around a paint brush shaft to make it furl - then bend it the opposite direction to make it look like it is flapping in the wind. 

9th Regt.

Lights

Grenadiers

Bearskin Caps of the Grenadiers gave these troops their distinctive look. These troops were known to show no fear and less mercy when unleashed on the enemy - the sight of the bobbing caps was enough to make many militia turn tail.

20th Regt. 

Close up of the cannon - Technically this piece is a Napoleonic era French 6-8lb cannon...but who is looking? It is smaller than the 6lb cannon of the British for the era, making it look half the size. I painted the carriage red to show that this was a French or Spanish supplied piece. The British and Hessians had a very distinctive pale grey-blue colored carriage. 

The Iroquois advance out of the treeline and the general advance is sounded. The American Rifles open at long range to pick off anything they can before the enemy get too close. 

The grasshopper opens up to bounce a few rounds through the oncoming British columns.

The 20th Advance quickly up the road in column, unaware of the Militia in the trees. They deploy into line formation and take position behind the wall, preparing to pour enfilading fire into the artillery unit. 

After turn 2, the British appear to be in good field position, closing fast on the Americans in their defenses. 

The British line errupts into rolling smoke clouds as they fire into the Americans. The Indians fire a volley in preparation for a valiant charge into the pesky Rifles. 

The Americans respond with a volley of their own shaking the Indians up pretty badly. 

The Militia in the redoubt open up and fail to cause much damage as they are forced to shoot into the skirmishers. The Militias poorer quality makes it harder for them to cause damage. 

The militia in the trees swing out and form on the fence - pouring blistering fire into the rear of the 20th. 

The Indians charge and the Rifles stand to deliver a deadly volley at close range. 

The Indians turn craven and flee! Good thing too - Indian scouts have an additional bonus attack in close combat due to their fierce nature and skill in hand to hand weapons. 

The skirmish screen from the 24th fire another volley into the militia trying to shake them up before the impending charge. 

The 3# cannon fires a round of canister into the 20th. The 20th, being caught in a deadly crossfire are forces to take a morale check. If they pass, they would be in prime position to charge the guns and escape from the militia to their rear. If they fail, they stand a pretty good chance of being caught up by the militia - To the colours lads! 

The Indians fleeing, the Lights and Grenadiers advance on the Rifles, trading shots back and forth, the Rifles no worse off fore it as their open formation makes them hard to hit. 

Passing a Morale test with no troubles!

The 20th fail their morale test and run away, the militia shuffle down the row to fire another volley into the fleeing Lobster-backs.  

The 24th declare their charge, the militia stand to receive the charge and fire a volley as the Red Coats advance up the earthworks. The volley does not stop them though and the valiant 24th close to grips with the ill prepared militiamen. 

The Grenadiers declare their charge. 

The Rifles try to stand ground and fire a volley, but the Grenadiers are not deterred by their fire. They close to grips and drive the rifles off with something to think about. 

The 24th punch through the militia and drive them off through the wheat fields. 

The militia on the road declare their charge against the fleeing 20th. The terrified unit is cut down, surrendering their colors. The whole regiment taken prisoner or being scattered to the wind. 

The 9th finally get their hands dirty, deploying into line ready to delivery punishment into the now unformed militia. 

The reserve militia in the fleche fire a volley into the advancing grenadiers, who after the melee with the rifles have now lost a third of their men. The Light infantry behind them forming up ready to fire into the militia as soon as the grenadiers clear out of the way. 

The Indians still flee - they eventually leave the field, broken. 

The 1st NH Regt with skirmisher fire a hot volley into the 24th

The militia in the road formed and fired before the 9th could - the exchange is does not go well for the militia.

The double 6 indicates a critical hit on the leader who is within 8" of the target unit - the British CinC happens to be there...and things to not go well. Rolling on the "Risk to General" table indicates that the General was hit in this pocket watch. Another roll is required to see if the watch was superior quality and stops the bullet, or inferior and the bullet passes through...the roll was not to the Generals liking and the round enters between his ribs. He falls from his horse, the whole of the army seeing the loss of their beloved general lose their desire to fight. 

Capitalizing on the loss of British Initiative, the Rifles reform and they with the militia catch the grenadiers and Lights in a pretty bad crossfire. Without the general and with so many casualties sustained, both units break and flee the field. 

The 24th break and run out of the redoubt, the 1st NH close and fire a volley into the retreating troops. 

The whole of the British army is broken. The Rebels have taken the day. 

Insult to Injury. 

So a pretty good little fight, it is certainly hard to drive troops out of their hiding holes and with such a narrow approach things get dicey. I hope you enjoyed the pictures and, if you are local and want to try your hand at a game, let me know!