Fort Ligonier's SYW Collection

Last Summer I visited Fort Ligonier in Pennsylvania.
You can too here:

http://johnsmilitaryhistory.com/ligonier.html
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See all kinds of British SYW equipment such as wagons, forges, sleds, Conestoga wagons, howitzers, ammo wagons, field forges and lots more. Plus there are amazing photos of this 18th C. fort.
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Go now for your virtual tour. Go someday in person to see the fort and the best 250th commemoration collection of 18th C. items probably  anywhere. It is an hour east of Pittsburgh.
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Respectfully,
Bill

News: March 7, 2012

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PENINSULAR 

* The 9th Foot is more than half done. Goal: finish before April 16th.
* Two resplendent Rifle companies are being painted by John Preece for me. 
* May 12th we shall have two games here; morning and afternoon.
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SYW ASSN. WEEKEND GAMES AND ME
* Jürgen's  Tricorne game in India. Tons of fun last year.
* Der Alte's Rev. War game with his lovely Fife and Drum Miniatures.
* BAR in Westphalia run by Der Alte and myself. British and allies vs. the French.
* Dr. Duffy's Jacobite Game.
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GAME EMPHASIS THROUGH AUGUST

* The Sudan.
* Colonial Gunboats.
* Expedition To Alexandrapour
* Gen. Pettygree vs The Thugs continues.
*  Weeknights: Pulp, WWII 20-28mm Platoon, WWII Air.
* WWII Blitzkrieg Commander II N. African Campaign
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PAINTING OTHERWISE
* Resume SYW painting; Saxon foot, horse and arty.
* Colonial odds and ends for the blog stories and games.
* Lady Pettygree's hussars.
* Colonial Russians
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A fine thing on electronic paper and too many notes too I suppose.
Respectfully,
Bill

BAR Peninsular Update

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Captain Effingham: "Steady on an' listen to what Bill an' Jim have to say, you lot."

Next Game Date:12 May 1808/2012
Situation: BAR Peninsular Game Preparations
Location: Road To The Port Of Corunna
Remarks Fom Jim and Bill

Colonel Devereaux: "Major Hicks, Sir. I dare say we are getting somewhere now."

Major Hicks: "I do believe we are General. The plan is coming along splendidly."

Dynamics:
25-28mms
1:10 ratio {Miniatures/historical men}.
Rules: Batailles de l'Ancien Régime adapted for Napoleonics.
Scale: Several brigades per side.
Tabletops: Main table plus two back tables; one per army.

Our intent is to place the player in the role of a regimental commander of infantry or cavalry dealing with all the tactical problems therein.

Half of the newly arriving 9th Regiment of Foot, the East Norfolks nicknamed in Spain as The Holy Boys. Elite Miniatures plus a few Foundry officers.

Royal Marine shore party waiting to march from

the Port of Corunna

inland to the main army.   Foundry Miniatures.

Raison d'Être
Significant maneuver and marching room.
Spanish terrain/structures.
Terrain obstacles but too much bogs down play/enjoyment.
Tactical problems germane to historical locations.
Easy attrition from game to game with reinforcements and returning wounded.

Blog background stories, AARs, vignettes and personalities.

The plan is to not have games with dozens of units per side.

Players invited to raise one unit. More is a personal choice.

Lord Henry Paget's Light Cavalry Brigade; 4 1/2 squadrons.
Mostly Elite Miniatures with some Front Rank.

So-called BIG Battalions/Squadrons, etc.
Recommended company strength: 10-12 miniatures.
Recommended squadron strength: 12 miniatures.
No need to raise units at full paper strength or slightly higher though we can.

French Battalions: We are using the later structure of six companies.

British Battalions: Ten companies at 100 men each. However, it might be easier to think of each two of the eight line companies as a grand division or to say several companies are on detached service. This way the daunting idea of raising a battalion of 100 miniatures is made more palatable at 50-80 miniatures.

Cavalry Regiments: Two squadron minimum recommended.
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Base sizes:

Horses: 1" frontage. Depth as needed depending on horse length.
People on foot: 3/4"x3/4" squares or 3/4" fender washers with a 1/8" hole in the middle.
Generals and the like: 2" circular bases.
Magnetics recommended.

Major General William Justinian Pettygree and staff.
Elite Miniatures.

Pettygree: "Well Gentlemen. Here come the French."

Dixon Miniatures.

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Closing Remarks:

1) The above collection is Bill's.

2) Jim has a British line battalion, several rifle companies and an almost completed RHA battery with limbers. He also has a French Brigade of infantry. 

3) More miniatures for 12 May? Naturally!

Bill: Finish the 9th Foot and receive two rifle companies from a friend painting them.

Jim is thinking about finishing his RHA battery and possibly adding French lancers.

Curt has started a French officer and hopes to next do several squadrons of French Chasseurs a Cheval. Bon!

4) This is a perfect project for local and regional pards to raise one unit to join the fun; a battalion of infantry, heavier cavalry than shown above, something from Portugal or Spain, etc. Perhaps something missing from our collections; a gap needing to be filled?

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Three Pike & Shot ECW Photographs

On the 28th of January we had a game using my "antiques" as Rob rightly said. Most of my English Civil War miniatures are three decades old. Game photos won't mean much to viewers I'm thinking but three below might prove appealing or at least diversionary for you.

Parliamentarian Right Flank. The Earl of Essex's Lifeguard is farthest right wearing 3/4 armour. Such accoutered combatants were called Lobsters because of all the armour from head to thigh. These are 25mm Hinchliffes. Within the enclosure is The Tower Hamlet Regiment of Foot of 25mm Miniature Figurines

2nd London Trained Band in the center rear of Parliament's position. Castings are 25mm Miniature Figurines with GMB flags. They are preparing for trouble because....

On Parliament's Extreme Left Flank we see Prince Rupert's Royalist Brigade of Horse. The Cavaliers are reorganizing and reloading pistols after having swept a weaker Parliamentary Brigade of Horse off the field. The nearest unit is Rupert's Regiment of Horse led by Rupert himself with his faithful dog, Boye.

This is a newer unit from about seven years ago made up mostly of 28mm Redoubt Miniatures. Others are Hinchliffe.

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CLOSING REMARKS

1. Pike divisions typically deployed six ranks deep. So....almost eight years under the spell of Warhammer ECW's photos, I changed from 1:20 to 1:10. Most every regiment of foot was increased so it could have a minimum of twenty-four matchlocks and twenty-four pikes. Usually this meant adding eighteen miniatures. This was easy and fast to do although rebasing was needed. This allowed pike miniatures to be in four ranks instead of two. I did not want to do six. Moreover, I could have more than one flag using GMB's lovely products. I thought Warhammer ECW's photos showing this kind of depth appealing and more correct for the era.

2. Colorful period isn't it? Lovely flags and every unit is a different color.

3. Different too because of such tactical nuances as fire by introduction or extroduction, the caracole, Rings (think a round square), matchlocks, pikes and firing pistols in cavalry charges. There is more too....

4. The collection has been sleeping for decades. I hope to get it on the tabletop several more times in 2012.

Thank you for looking in.

Are you for King or Parliament?
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Light Brigade Show And Tell

In an idle moment last June I mentioned my very dormant interest in the Napoleonic "Peninsular" to Der Alte Fritz; Jim P. In a few more moments both of us rocketed into plans to build a small 1:10 force. We might even be on the same side for this one.

Don Featherstone's writings about this era were initially responsible - never forgotten - but laying dormant for decades. My initial contribution to raise a British Light Cavalry Brigade now completed -- follows.
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Two squadrons of 15th. Hussars ride on the left whilst two squadrons of 16th Light Dragoons move forward on the right. Centered is one troop of 7th Hussars riding with Brigade Commander Lord Paget. 

 7th. Hussars: 28mm Front Rank Miniatures with GMB standard.

15th. Hussars: 28mm Elite Miniatures with a GMB flag.

Elites are a little taller and longer than Front Rank chaps.

16th. Light Dragoons: 28mm Elite Miniatures with a GMB flag.

Lord Henry Paget confers with the regimental commander of the 16th Light Dragoons. Paget [Front Rank Miniatures] was commander of the 7th. Hussars.

He later became the Lord Uxbridge who lost a leg at Waterloo. He survived.

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AFTERWORDS

1. My next contribution is the 9th Foot. It was chosen solely because it was probably involved in more actions than any other infantry line unit. The plan is to finish the unit before May 1st.

2. Jim is busily and happily involved with his Fife & Drum line of Revolutionary War miniatures and painting same for a debut at the annual Seven Years' War Assn. Weekend in late March. He hopes to get back to Spain soon.

3. Back to the Seven Years' War later this month or next!

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MERRY CHRISTMAS

May the reason for Christmas fill your homes.
Blessings to all.
Respectfully,
Bill

Let Loose The Hornets!

Date: 5-9 December 1761/2011
Location: A Rasthaus Near Fulda, Germania
Situation: Column of March And Pursuit!
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DECEMBER 5, 1761

A Gallian column of march waits for the order to march
at the Fulda Rasthaus; site of the battle two days earlier. For background see:
http://campaignsingermania.blogspot.com/2011/12/lady-de-winter-attacks-lady-diana.html

Staff Officer: "Oui Monsieur. This road will take you out of The Fulda Gap."
Aide Major d'Infanterie Orbs: "Do I have the order to march?"
Staff Officer. "Oui. Let loose your hornets."
Orbs: "To sting the foe!"

One battalion of the Fischer Legion will cover the column of march. 2/Grenadiers de France will follow. Off to the the right Battalion Albanie has formed in camp preparatory to joining the column.

2/Grenadiers de France's long ribbon of color.

Encamped Battalion Albanie awaits its turn to march.
We must assume many more brigades follow out of sight.

While two squadrons of Fischer Chasseurs a Cheval canter forward to take the lead as the most forward screen.

Watching the column form is Lady Diana Pettygree on Express, her grey.

Lady Pettygree: "I wish you success in your march Monsieur."
Lieutenant General Chevert: "Merci."

Pettygree: "I remind you Monsieur l'General, if I may, to look out for a black coach and four accented in red seen in the monstrous attack of two days ago? One year ago...."

Pettygree: "I saw the same coach when our activities were interrupted then. It's owner was protected in both years by ruffians wearing black with red facings and...."

Pettygree: "Now that I think of it again, I dimly recall a woman with flaxen hair present last year somehow associated with that dreadful day. I am told someone similar also appeared here two days ago in the battle."

DECEMBER 9, 1761

Four Days Later

Captain Eugene: "My Lady Pettygree!"
Lady Diana Pettygree: "News Captain?"
Eugene: "Oui. This morning...."

Eugene: "Three of our Chasseurs a Cheval encountered an angry peasant and...."

Chasseur Philippe: "Have you seen a black coach and four trimmed in scarlet?"

Peasant: "Ja, the swein. {Spitting} They took all my livestock and two horses with a promise to pay for them after the war. A beautiful woman mit flaxen hair sat inside the coach."

Peasant: "They rode away laughing.
Philippe: "Which way did they go?"
Peasant: "On this road here - toward - Hesse-Seewald."

Peasant: "I hope you find and drive them to ground - even if you are Gallian!"
Philippe: "This is our intention. Take some marks for your trouble courtesy of King Louis XV."

Eugene: "And so My Lady, the villains were en-route to Hesse-Seewald today."

Pettygree: "A pattern develops Captain and the fog begins to lift. Find that blackguard coach and deliver the owner to me Monsieur. Your reward will be beyond your dreams!
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CLOSING REMARKS

1. The above furthers our storyline in anticipation of the 4th Annual Winter Terrain Game set in the first quarter of the new year in Hesse-Seewald {Lake Forest at Der Alte Fritz's}.

2. Remarks welcome.

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Lady de Winter Attacks Lady Diana Pettygree

Date: 3 December 1761/2011
Situation: 4th Annual Light Troop Game Day

Game #3: Fulda Roadhouse, Germania
This third game was our annual skirmish between the vendetta driven Lady de Winter and Lady Diana Pettygree.

Participants:
French: Randy and Bill. De Winter's Force: Jim and Keith.
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For the other two games see: http://campaignsingermania.blogspot.com/2011/12/our-three-light-troop-games.html
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Réflexions et mémoires sur la  Diana Pettygree à la Bataille de Fulda

That day, December 3, 1761, commenced with happy expectations was shockingly ruined by a human storm of such suddenness that it defies credulity. As my ladies Masquerade and Silhouette accompanied me from the Fulda Roadhouse to a nearby wooded meadow, a continuous thunder of muskets and hooves arose from the South.

Our party guests immediately fled impeding our de Saxe Lanciers trying to ascertain what was the trouble. Lady Silhouette ordered her dismounted hussarettes to move within the tall trees toward the sound of the guns.

A mysterious foe clad mostly in black pressed toward the meadow as Silhouette's carbines were loaded. Too few. Oh too few carbines. Our Lanciers continued to be blocked, vexing them terribly. You can understand that I am sure.

When their path cleared, the charge was sounded. At the gallop they charged into the dark foe hurling them back. Bravo mes amis! Bravo!

Would you countenance the thought that delaying the charge was an advantage for us? Hardly but, it allowed time for a squadron of Bercheney Hussars to mount up and charge in support. The melee continued desperately for the longest time. {Three turns} Exhaustion found both sides falling back to reorganize. The threat here, for now was over but....

As Masquerade and I wearing my blue Royal Carabinier ensemble rode into the trees to check on our scattered guests I learned....

That the blackguard foe had brazenly cut down the petite four pounder cannon crew to the right of the wooded area. To their surprise though, Monsieur Bercheney personally led a second squadron of his hussars after them, charging, pursuing and scattering the ruffians from whence they came.

On the other side of the roadhouse, the intemperate foes at first advanced shockingly toward the camp of one of Brigadier Fischer's sleepy battalions. {Not shown.} Others galloped down the road where I with Lady Masquerade happened to be. {Not shown.} Fortunately their horses or ardour were no match for ours. We easily cantered {Evade rules.} around the building to that meadow I've mentioned. Later more of the enemy came on but withdrew as our infantry formed and advanced upon them.

Meanwhile, another of Monsieur Fischer's battalions countered a body of enemy foot. The latter had even entered the walled roadhouse enclosure with firebrands terrifying the few staff left there.

The ruffians charged our fusiliers. We held allowing time for both of the Fischer battalions to fight the foe front and to the rear with the bayonet. The foe succumbed.
{Note the second Fischer battalion coming on in the upper left of the image.}

Toward the end there was the greatest confusion and happiness. Infantry and horsemen of both sides engaged each other in final embraces. In the end we prevailed and....

Elsewhere some of Monsieur Fischer's horsemen countered and advanced upon unseen enemies in their view.

As the battle ended, I espied a familiar black coach and four protected by a Rear Guard in the distance. {On a Back Table.} I had seen it before - one year ago under similar circumstances.

Coincidence or?

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CLOSING REMARKS

1. Horsemen: French 89 and Mysterious foe: 96. Late in the game the French were reinforced by a 12 man squadron of Saxon von Brühl Dragoons riding from a screen some miles to the rear; too late to matter. Rather than specify an arrival turn, they arrived when it was 1:00pm in the afternoon real time; a nuance to get them in the game and speed turns along before their arrival.

2. Infantry: French 154 versus the foe at 156.

3. Artillery: French with a four pounder and the enemy with a three pounder.

4. One third of the French force was on duty near the roadhouse or in a screen to the south and east of the roadhouse. Another third were encamped unavailable until Turn 3. The last third was off table to the north unavailable until Turn 3.

5. Lady de Winter's force was allowed a move, fire and move on Turn 1 simulating a surprise attack. After this the French could move and fire or fire and move concluding Turn 1. Afterwards we reverted to card draw for move and fire.

6. This deWinter/Pettygree game was a little different in that forces were numerically reduced a lot to allow for more maneuver and to remove the sense that large armies were involved.

7. This was a see-saw engagement without formed battle lines as such. Kind of fun and different; the purpose of Light Troop Game Day #4 actually.

8. A follow-up story is ready to post in a few days. See you then.

9. Rules:  See Rules by Bill  at the upper left of the blog. We used Batailles de l'Ancien Régime (1740-1763).

10. Comments welcome as usual below, if you please.

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