Raid on New Cheltenham

One of the joys which wargaming has bought into my life has been the many good friends I've made along the way. While regular readers will know that my most frequent opponents here in GHQ are Phil and Jon, there are many others who figure from time to time when they can make the trip here. One such part time regular, John Aston, joined Phil and I yesterday for a three handed F&IW game. John took command of the British and the citizens of New Cheltenham, Phil the French and yours truely the Indians, The table layout ~

At the outset of the game Fort Aston has a small garrison of British Regulars commanded by Major Joroas. ( As an aside, the blockhouse was a £14 buy on a Bring and Buy a few years back. Probably one of my best buys as it was ready painted) ~

Each of the settlement buildings then had a number of citizens who were prepared to do or die in defence of their homes. The folk from Paddock Hall, the 'big house' thereabouts ~

The Rawnsley family and the Rev Jeremiah Bykleigh ~

The poor folk from the pig farm ~

The British had the possibility of being reinforced as the game went on. As it happened, John's dice throwing seemed to become infected by my usual lack of success, although when they did arrive eventually they helped to turn the day in the British favour! In addition, the British have their own 'hero', Owleye and his faithful Indian follower ~

The French enter from the point where the road enters the far side of the table from New Cheltenham, while the Indians will enter randomly to simulate the cunning woodland ways! {For the look of things though, their riverside camp is represented on the far end of the French side of the table} ~

As the game developed the French Regulars rushed the bridge over the creek and were soon drawing the British out of Fort Aston to defend the Hall ~

The good folk of New Cheltenham gave a good account of themselves against the French woodsmen and their Indian allies in fierce fighting on the pig farm, although Chief Biccachook's "braves" did carry off two of their womenfolk into captivity ~

The failure of that part of the French force was more than compensated for when the other group of irregulars managed to set Paddock Hall ablaze ~

Sadly though, for Phil and I at least, the British gained the upper hand and the French found themselves penned in at the end of the main street being assailed on all sides by Regulars, Light Infantry and Rangers ~

At that point it became clear that the French could not win. The Indians had rather let the side down, taking more care to carry off the women than to get involved in the fight until it was too late! The Regulars for the french fought well, but were simply overwhelmed in the end and lacked the support of their irregular allies who were bogged down in a vicious fight with the folk of New Cheltenham. Never the less, we all enjoyed the game immensely and, for me at least, that is what matters most now a days!
For those of you who like to know these things the rules were our home version of Astounding Tales by Howard Whitehouse; the figures are all from Redoubt Enterprises; the Hall is from Architectural Heritage; the houses, barn, out buildings and closet were scratch built many moons since; the trees are from The Last Valley and the bridge is from Ian Weekley's old Battleground range; the wickups are from Grand Manner and the canoes from Redoubt.