Lost before it began

From my last post, I promised a synopsis of the Battle of Bunker Hill. Well, I apologize, but I forgot that there were a few conflicts that happened before it, and were vital to the escalation of the war. 

Many people look at the American War of Independence (AWI) with a certain degree of almost mythological inaccuracy. Many of the characters have been popularized, ingratiated or overly vilified. My goal is to tell it like it was, not embellish with patriotic rhetoric or overly critical analysis, but to call the shots as they happened.

Before we dive into the blow by blow of the conflicts I wish to set the stage by saying that in 1770, what we now call the USA was a colony of Great Britain. Big surprise right? Not really. What we take for granted in that though is exactly what it would have meant to be a colony of the UK or better said what difference the common person, you or I 250 years ago would have noticed between being a colonist of the UK or being a citizen of the US. In reality, the American colonies, by 1770, when the Boston Massacre happened, the Colonies were already almost fully autonomous. They clamored for no taxation without representation due to the Stamp act and Townsend acts that put taxes on goods that the colonists were consuming and buying already when in reality, they simply ignored the Stamp act, didn't buy the stamps and published their goods and burned down the houses of those that collected the tax on the stamps. On top of this, rather than pay the taxes levied on sugar based goods from the Townsend Acts, "Americans" simply turned to to nothing short of piracy. Rather than dock at port and offload cargo to be counted and taxed, they would offload their cargo further down shore and not have to pay the tax. The reality of the matter is that as colonists called for reform. they were paying less than 1.9% of what British citizens in London were paying (Americans paid sixpence to the British average of 25 shillings, or rather 302 pence). So really, what were they crying about?

The other myth I wish to dispel is that ALL colonists wanted independence. The truth of the matter is that the split was more 50% Patriot, 25% Loyalist and 25% Neutral. When hostilities broke out in Boston in 1775, a majority of the push for change came from citizens north and east of the Hudson. So it is with this framework in place that we descent upon Boston in the winter of 1770. 

As a British soldier you were promised sixpence a month and 3 square a day. You were promised to see the world and indeed you could. As a 17-23 year old boy from mostly poor families, the prospects otherwise were bleak to say the least. The adventure of the American colonies would have seemed like a dream. With no barracks, most of these boy-soldiers would have quartered with American families who would bed and feed the troops and often launder their clothes. For some this was a welcome opportunity for enterprise, a great symbiotic relationship, the soldiers had a place to stay and the quarters would often get paid for the extra services rendered. as summer wears on though, the British begin to wear out their welcome. Many misdeeds of the troops are published, tales of wanton and craven acts visited upon the chastity of virtuous colonial women who were powerless to stop the advances of the Lobsterback cretins. Soldiers begin to slack on their debts and cause further strife. By the time winter rolls around soldiers are sock of the ungrateful colonists and the colonists are sick of everything British. 

While on patrol a group of soldiers come across a group of angry settlers near the customs house. The mob is vicious and numbers near the hundreds. They throw insults, chunks of ice, snow and bits of rock at the vastly outnumbered patrol. They yell out things like "Go on now, you cant kill us all!" and "Fire damn ye, Fire!", the crowd willing to commit suicide by scared young redcoat. A shot is fired. The scared British discharge their weapons into the crowd and 5 are killed where they stand. The first "victims" of a war that would not start for another 5 years. 

Tune in next week for the spirited defense of the perpetrators of the smallest "massacre" to be so named. 

Where'd you get your information from?

Recently, my studies have deviated from my normal field of the Napoleonic era to that of the American War for Independence. I have been reading two really great books on the subject, Hibbert's Redcoats and Rebels and W.J. Wood's Battles of the Revolutionary War. Though they may sound dry, both of these books have brought the conflict to life in a way I have never before experienced.

                                                       Lexington Green

Redcoats and Rebels is a rather unconventional take on the subject as most books tend to be from American colonial perspective,  rather patriotic volumes glorifying a war well fought. This book, however, is written from the perspective of the side that lost. Using almost exclusively English source documents, Hibbert is able to put together a view of the war through the eyes of the Lobster-backs. It brings a fresh approach to the conflict as it gives eyes to what King George and all his white wigged friends in Parliament and the military were doing while Washington and Adams had a war to win and a nation to forge.

Battles of the Revolutionary War takes a little more conventional approach, the typical "so and so moved his troops here, they did this and this happened" type of feel, though the delivery is almost Hollywood-ized in that it is presented in an almost theatric approach that makes the battles come to life.

                                                   American Minutemen

The way I am reading them helps out as well. I will read in Redcoats and Rebels until I reach a battle. Then I will read the account of the battle first in Battles of the Revolutionary War, then in R&R. using the two together sheds light on the war in a way that almost makes you want to sign the enlistment papers outside your local tavern. They both discuss the follies and strengths of the leaders involved but do so from a boots in the mud perspective gathering direct info from the diaries of soldiers that were there. This flesh and blood, smoke and powder feel make these both a must read for anyone interested in the war.

My next post will deal with the Battle of Bunker Hill...there are some pretty interesting turns of events that made this almost sure victory into the noteworthy first near defeat the British had of the War.

Purchase Redcoats and Rebels
Purchase Battles of the Revolutionary War

French Artillery Progress

After a few weeks of working slowly on my Legere Battalion, I have decided that the upcoming Borodino battle was more important than my personal unit progress. I have this "shelved" my Chasseurs in favor of painting up my commitment to the battle - Fleeing artillery crews and abandoned artillery pieces.

I will be providing these troops for the game coming up labor day weekend and am very excited to get them painted...they should paint up pretty quick.

For the crews, I primed them Ultramarine blue and have washed them in a light black/brown wash to pick out the details against the blue figure. My next task will be to paint flesh on the hands and faces, followed by the red on the cuffs, turn backs, collars and shakos. Once that is done, my work is almost complete! I will then add the white to the belts and straps and finish the model off with black on the boots, cartridge and fuse boxes and finish them off with a final coat of wash. I also will need to paint the details of what each figure is holding, cannon balls, caisson boxes, swabs and buckets and trail spikes.

Anyway, here are some pictures of the guns themselves. I know the green is a little too dark for my taste, making them look almost Russian in their color, but with some small highlights I can pick the tops out and make them look a little lighter. They will also lighten up against the light green of the static grass.

Hope to have pictures of the crews soon!

Weekend Progress

Well, this weekend was not as productive as I would have liked, but it was more productive than most other days during the week, so no room to complain!

My wife threw out her back camping this weekend, we went up to Payson to tool around and do some shooting, the drive up her back started twinging...not a good sign. Long-story made short, rather than go to church, we stayed at home like heathens that we are and she rested while I modeled.

My paints were left at work (I like to paint on my lunch hour) on Friday, so no painting minis, but I did get some work done on my battle terrain - I had some old paints kicking around my drawer and was able to get my hedges and some other terrain features done.

My first project was a grove of trees recovering from winter - some small foliage on their branches, but still mostly nude. The project was easy, just used some trees in varying sizes from Woodland Scenics, used green turf rather than the clump foliage used for larger broad leaf trees. The result was a cool effect making the trees look sparsely ornamented with the first leaves of spring. On the ground I put green grass and some mud patches where the grass had been matted down. I put some wagon tracks through mud in a cool effect that made the area look like there was some foot traffic.

My next project was to to get my hedges up to snuff. Last weekend I had put the cut "Scott" pads on the bases and left it at that (time was limited last weekend). this week, I broke them back out, threw some light green paint and some buff color down to highlight the whole thing, put down the grass and they look awesome! I an excited to use them in a game.

With my hedges all done, I started a new project to make some low stone walls. This was as simple a project as there is. All you need is some hot glue, Talus rock and flocking materials. I laid down a strip of glue on the base, pressed it in the talus, lay another layer of glue, press it into the talus, make sure to shape it with your fingers so the wall stays straight, add a third layer of glue and rock, and you have your wall! Add grass to the exposed base and you are done. Instant wall. Paint the wall if you wish, but that was too much of a pain for me to want to do...so I moved on to my final project of the day, A simple broken ground area.

For the broken ground, I just needed something that would provide some small cover, not a full forest, but something bigger than a wall or fence. I cut the base out and flocked it, added some rocks, a small portion of a wall and a large tree. I thew in some bushes for color and it was done.

Terrain, I am finding, is a really quick and easy way to cut down on the cost of gaming. You can make most of the terrain yourself, saving you money that can later be spent on the more elaborate pieces, like buildings etc.

My next terrain project will be making some Wheat fields, streams/rivers and plowed, un-planted fields. I also am going to start working on a few bridges, some stone and some wooden as well as begin working on some earthwork trench defenses.

I will upload pictures of my terrain soon, hopefully as part of another battle report!

Second Battle of Farm House

After the first Battle of Farm House a few weekends ago, I wanted to re-fight it with the french in defense and with increased numbers to see how it would work out. The result was a fun, albeit quick game resulting in an astounding victory of the attacking British. 

The british came with a little more enthusiasm and troops than last battle, having a battalion of Line and a battalion of Scottish Highlanders. They also had 4 companies of the 60th Regiment of Foot Rifles and 2 squadrons of Light Dragoon Cavalry held in reserve (no need to commit them unless things go poorly) A 6 gun light battery was assigned to the Brigade to support the advancing infantry. 

The French had 2 full battalions of Line infantry, each having 1 1/2 company of Voltigeurs and the Grenadiers being attached to the Brigade command. The farm house was also defended by one light gun at the outer defenses. 

The French deployed with both battalions in open order along the wooden fence with the artillery in the center and the grenadiers in support.

The British deployed with the Highlanders in March Column (foreground) with the rifles in open order screening the advance. The Line battalion entered in March column with their light company depolyed in skirmish order as well. The artillery were placed on the British Right flank to provide direct fire on the french in front of them as well as enfilade fire against those units along the British left flank. 

The Rifles advance and open up on the french 2nd Battalion

Even at long range, the rifles  score 2 hits

Already looking down for the french!

The French descide to advance on the rifles with the hope of routing them before the Highlanders are able to deploy. They hop the fence and make a dash toward the outcropping of trees

In like fashion the 1st battalion on the British Right advance to the outer fence to lay down fire on the advancing column.

Voltigeurs and the Cannon open up on the rifles, no hits.

A look across the field from the cannons toward the French 1st Battalion. The battery opens up and fires on the french at Effective range. The guns were well sighted and of the 6 shots they fire score 4 wounds.  

 A look through the trees as the British shells bounce through the French 2nd Battalion in the outer defenses.

The British 60th Rifles are the heroes of the day. This was their first round of shooting. The unit advanced into the trees before the french could and then laid down murderous fire. The 4 stands of rifles opened up at effective range. Notice the triple 6? yeah...Critical casualty on the French 1st Battalion. The secondary roll on the Critical chart scored a Wound on the Battalions Colonel.

A sniper's view as the rifles skirmish with the French Battalion.

View from the French 1st Battalion as the orchard erupts in clouds of smoke as hot lead is poured into the unit.

The fire was too hot and the Battalion, having lost their colonel, ran toward the farm house.  In the French turn, the Brigadier General rallied and reformed the men. They advanced back to the fence line.

The French returned fire and killed the Highlander Light company that had attached to the Rifles. The Rifles fired another volley, and killed another 2 stands! they scored 8 hits with 8 rolls! again, the rifles showing their keen eyes paid off.

Clearly, the British Light Companies were not the place to be during this battle as the French 2nd Battalion opens up on the British Line's Light company in Skirmish. The French have some great shots and kill the whole company where they stood...and at long range too! Things are starting to look up for the french!

The Line Battalion deployed into line formation and advances.

While the artillery opens up a world of hurt on the French line. They fire another volley and cause another 3 casualties, finishing off the stand that they had hit in the previous round.

The French battalion fires on the British in line and cause 2 casualties.

The Rifles advance and fire as the cavalry round the flank. The Highland battalion forms line and advances, thought the deployment is only for show...the left flank had completely collapsed by this time as the 1st battalion had all but been destroyed, leaving only the Battalion command and the partially destroyed voltigeurs. Not a good day for the french. On the other side of the field, the British line battalion advances and pours more fire into the already wavering 2nd battalion. The French General has steel resolve though and decides to keep fighting.

The Rifles pour more heat into what remains of the first battalion, now so reduced in number that they can occupy the farm house.

The Highlanders, completely untouched, advance on the french battery. The guns stay silent.

The final shots are fired as the french and british trade shots back and forth.

Smoke filled fields. The French try disparately to push the British back, though the british keep firing as long as the french stay on the field.

The French Brigadier looks on in horror as his brigade withers under the intense British volleys.

The Grenadiers are sent to support the wavering 2nd Battalion.

A final look from the farm house as the French general realizes he can no longer hold his position against the British onslaught.

The Day ended in a Total victory for the British. Unit of the day award goes to the Rifles, who single handedly destroyed the French 1st Battalion Killing 340 and wounding 180 of 660 men.

The French deployed 1320 men and 2 guns. A total of 580 were KIA with 280 wounded including a Battalion Colonel.
The British deployed 1560 men, 120 Cavalry and 6 guns. 120 were KIA with an additional 80 wounded.

A SMASHING victory to the British.

Progress

So, since my last blitz of painting I have been slowly but steadily working on my Light infantry Battalion.

The full battalion is going to be 36 figures to make a full battalion - 1 company Carabiniers, 1 company Voltigeurs and 4 companies of Chasseurs.

Here are the most recent pictures after last nights additions.

Here is the traditional way I paint my minis. I glue them to the head of a nail with PVA glue and then prime them. The nail gives me a really easy handle to turn the mini any way I need to without fearing that it will stick too hard to the nail...PVA is pretty easy to pop off the nail :)

Also, notice the carnage in the background...my 6 month old son is still trying to learn the fine motor function required to pick up cheerios and other cereal...emphasis placed on the trying part!

Here is a close up of the Carabiniers. Last night I worked on adding Red and brown to the models, I got the plumes, epaulets collars and the sleeve turn back. The brown was applied to the packs, guns and scabbards (I am alternating black and brown scabbards per unit) 

Also seen in this picture are the scantily painted Voltigeurs, red only being applied to the sleeve turn backs and the pom-poms. Brown was also applied to these models. 

Here is another shot of the same group. 6 grenadiers, 6 voltiguers and 24 chasseurs...progress moves slowly, but each additional color makes the models pop with added life!

Here is a close up of the Chasseurs. I love the minis from Old Glory 15s Battle honors line...they are really well done and offer some nice models in a variety of poses. It really makes a unit come to life when the models look like they are moving. For a unit like the Chasseurs that were constantly running around, being sent out to the Skirmish lines and back to the battalion, it makes it nice to see the figures in moving poses. 

Here is a close up of the Battalion commander as he is currently, nice full beard...we'll see if he keeps it :) 

So there you have it. Slow progress, but thats what you get for an hour of painting with a screaming flayling child throwing cereal at you. I am pretty happy with them so far. The great thing about 15mm is that the scale hides a TON of sins. The devil is really in the details of the straps and belts and all. these minis are pretty easy that way, once painted up they look a ton better and look like I have spent eons of time on each one...thats the beauty of colored primer and ink washes :)

More pictures to come as I make progress!

Small action Battle Report

This weekend I got to try out my "City Fight" small engagement rules...and the game was AWESOME

It didnt turn out the way I had hoped...I was playing solo, but hoping the French would win.

The French had:
1 Company Grenadiers (one stand)
1 company Voltigeurs (2 small stands)
9 companies Fusiliers (one stand each)
1 gun of Light Artillery (one stand)

The British had
5 stands of line (10 companies)
2 stands of Rifles (2 companies)
1 Stand of Brigadier General Staff
2 stands Light Dragoons

The British were set up to defend a Farm house. The house had a wooden fence around the perimeter and then had a stone wall around the courtyard with an orchard on the right flank of the house.

The French lined up with 3 line companies to each section, one to the right, one in the center and one on the left. The Group on the right had the grenadiers with them. Group Center had the Cannon and group left had the Voltigeurs.

The french sat and pounded the brits with the cannon for a few turns as the infantry got into position, but did nothing as the British were in cover behind the fence.

The General advance was sounded and the french began the assault. Along the right flank they formed into columns with the grenadiers leading the way through the orchard.

In the center they advanced through the open field as the British Rifles took Pot shots at them.

The left flank advanced in line with the Voltigeurs out in front.

The right met very little resistance through the orchard as the British troops were not in range and were too under-strength in the other parts of the line to reinforce the flank defense. The Center moved up and let out a volley at long range and did some small damage. The left moved up and the voltigeurs opened up on a company causing 3 kills (on a stand of 6) The the company ran toward the farm house.

The right pushed through the orchard and was met by a company in cover, causing a few casualties to the fusiliers. The Center marched to effective range and traded rounds with the line and rifles, but as the brits were in cover and the French were in the open, the day went poorly and 2 of the 3 companies ran.

The left flank marched up to the fence and the voltigeurs hopped it and poured lead into the rear of the British in the front line. The Brits held their ground and poured murderous fire into the left flank killing a company and sending another running. The volrigerus continued harrassing the brits and the British unit that ran was rallied and entered the farm house on the right flank.

The company in the farm house opened up on the Grenadiers at close range and scored 2 critical hits...making the company fail their Morale test and run.

The Supporting battalion in the courtyard opened up on the other Fusilier company, they missed all shots and followed up with an assault that caused french company to flee. The other two battalions on that flank also took murderous fire from the farm house and the courtyard causing them to run before they crossed the wooden fence.

In the center the french came over the fence and killed a British company of line and a company of Rifles. The left held as the french companies were either killed or ran due to intense fire. The voltigeurs were flanked by reinforcing dragoons and both stands were destroyed.

With the cavalry reinforcements and the center and right flank in retreat, the left flank felt it better to retreat than to press the attack and be destroyed.

The British held the farm.

After totaling everything and applying some house rules to casualties I found that the French ended up taking 76% casualties - Killed or wounded. the British took 55% and held the field. overall, an impressive feat of defense considering the odds.

The most impressive bit of the day? I was in the middle of the game when My wife came home from babysitting and she said "Next time you play I would like to give it a try...it looks like fun. If it is totally boring nothing lost, but it looks fun. I would like to give it a shot."

So...the brits won the day and my wife wants to give it a try...not a bad turn of events :)