"It has to come off lad!"

 In the previous post I mentioned my trip over to Wargames Foundry's Factory Shop when Lockdown MkII was lifted in the Spring/early Summer. Having collected my preorder of SYW French figures I had a mooch around the myriad racks of figure packs looking for something different as table dressing for my Tales from Pendawar project, which was then in full flow on the painting desk here in GHQ. 

Amongst the many packs of Casting Rooms Miniatures I came across a Portuguese Peninsular War range, one pack of which featured a surgeon at work in the field. Not immediately useful at first glance perhaps, but I saw how a simple head swap on one assistant figure accompanied by the right painting scheme overall could see the set redeployed from the Iberian peninsula to the subcontinent and Pendawar. I must say though that the bases have shown up far too reddish in shade in the pictures, much more of a pale brown in the 'flesh' so as to speak ~

Perhaps later I shall make an awning to shield the figures from the subcontinent's heat and glare, but for now the vignette base will stand as it is. In the meantime I'm pressing on with more infantry for my SYW French in the shape of the Gardes Lorraine. More on them in due course I expect, providing this post gets a better response than the last one that is.

Gendarmes D'Anjou

 Having managed to paint all of the ACW figures in the Lead Pimple and taken a bit of a detour into MDF scenery {see earlier blogs}, I decided to paint up some of the Casting Room Miniatures SYW French which I had bought on a trip over to Foundry in the early summer. First up are some cavalry in the form of the Gendarmes D'Anjou, chosen simply because I had their standard in stock from GMB Designs! I know these and the British from the Foundry SYW ranges are a bit Marmite amongst wargamers, but their heavily sculpted detail suits my aging hand and eyes. Enough, here are the finished figures ~

While I've been painting these my order from Dixon Miniatures arrived in the shape of some cavalry in fireman's shirt and kepi to represent the Sussex Light Dragoons for my early war Rebs and a unit of infantry in shell jacket and kepi to bolster the New Jersey Volunteer Infantry brigade. I feel my wargaming world is back in kilter now I have some ACW figures in the Lead Pimple once more! Perhaps I should order some more in the meantime just in case they get lonely...?

Engagement at Bretcher's Mill

 Our regular Tuesday games have been taking place each week in GHQ for a while now as Phil has much to deal with following a bereavement. We settled on an ACW game for our most recent meeting, a holding action by a small Confederate force around the fictional Bretcher's Mill.

The scene of the action from the Union position. All the Union force must enter through Pender's Gap along the turnpike road. While infantry can cross the snake rail fencing, loosing half a move, for cavalry or artillery it take a move to dismantle the fencing.

Leading the way for General P.J. Robinson is a small brigade of cavalry. Phil wanted to use them to seize the road junction and dominate the Rebel position while the infantry brigades marched down the turnpike.

The small Rebel force of two brigades is spread very thinly as reinforcements are not expected until Turn 3 at the earliest. A battery of Napoleons supported by a lone North Carolina regiment hold the Rebs right.

Two more North Carolina regiments line the rail fencing, while in the background Virginia regiments are hurrying to the Rebs left flank.

Poor command rolls, aka thick Virginia mud, hampers the Union advance in Turns 1-3, delaying Phil's infantry and giving ol' Jubal E Bykleigh a welcome breathing space while awaiting any reinforcement.

With the Union cavalry finally engaged the first of the Union infantry brigades, boys from New York, march urgently to the sound of the guns 

Meanwhile ol' Jubal sees the welcoming sight of reinforcements hurrying to shore up his left flank which is coming under increasing Union pressure.

General Robinson surveys the developing Union attack on the Rebs' left while the cavalry skirmish with the Rebs' centre.

Throwing caution to the wind a bold North Carolina regiment charges forward. "Follow me, boys! Follow me!"

Caught by surprise in their flank the exposed New York regiment are soundly beaten and retire 'Whipped'.

At last more Rebs reach the battlefield marching to the sound of the guns. Robinson deploys more artillery as it arrives to support his exposed left, the whole of his two infantry brigades being commited to turning the Rebs' left around Bretcher's Mill.

Under mounting pressure one Union cavalry regiment retires, leaving it's fellows bravely still holding the junction and thwarting the whole Reb advance.

On the Union left a further regiment retires 'Whipped' leading to the Brigade becoming 'Broken' and forcing it to retire.

The second smaller brigade can cover the withdrawal but is too exposed to threaten the reinforced Rebel left.

The Union's massed batteries are holding back the Rebs on the Union left while just in the picture the remaining Union cavalry regiment is bravely holding the junction still. 

The Georgia infantry, having exhausted themselves marching to reinforce the Rebs' right, show little inclination to close with the Union massed artillery.

Anxiously Ol' Jubal awaits news of the fighting away on his left.

"It's all up for our boys today, General!" 

The second Union Brigade is retiring while the fought out Rebs can only look on having snatched an unexpected victory. "Yehaa!"

A grand game suddenly ending in Turn 10 when Phil threw a very low Morale check seeing his second Brigade forced to retire under heavy fire. Until then it had looked very close with the Rebs failing numerous Command Rolls and pretty much leaving the right and centre immobile! Still, all Victories are welcome, so I mustn't complain! Next up a War of 1812-15 game next week here in GHQ. 

A bit of whimsy...

 ...to add to the look and feel of the occasional VBCW games here in GHQ in the shape of two pieces of cricketing ephemera, namely a sight screen and a small scoreboard ~

They come from the Sarissa Precision MDF Pavilion set from their Gaslight range. As such they are firmly aimed at the skirmish end of the hobby, with the building itself being far too large for my tastes in battles on my table here in GHQ. The sight screen and scoreboard though are more acceptable pieces and allied with the small white finished cabin I made last year will be more than enough to suggest a village cricket clubs facilities, very reminiscent for me of Aldridge Cricket Club in the 1960's {where I played my formative games before moving on to another club after College and marriage.}

I find myself in a bit of a trough when it comes to painting, having processed all my stock of ACW figures. Until the next order arrives I'm trying to progress some of the SYW French figures I bought from Foundry earlier this year, but so far my mojo is very weak to be frank. I hope it's just the time of year, I really dislike the short days and long, dark evenings. I've a bit of SAD I think if I'm honest. Can't think that all this Covid malarky has helped either, though I did have my booster vaccination last Saturday, so ought to feel encouraged. Whatever, we'll see where things go anyway I'm sure...

Confederate Limbers...

 ...enhanced by the addition of a handful of figures, hopefully to create a more interesting look on the tabletop battlefield. 

The additional figures are from Dixon Miniatures of course and the flag is a spare GMB Designs one. The original Limbers were done so far back in the midst of time that I can only assume they are also from Dixon Miniatures! The other figure is from 1st Corps I'm sure. The bases are from Warbases, as ever.

I'd three ACW figures left in the Lead Pimple so I've painted them up to represent a Command element for some Dismounted Union Cavalry. If you don't look too closely they will pass muster I think.

For the first time in many, many months I have no more ACW figures lurking in the Lead Pimple! Is this the End of Days I wonder...?

The 18th Georgia

 Another Reb infantry regiment musters into service in GHQ in the form of the 18th Georgia infantry, another regiment which also served at one point in Hood's famed Texas Brigade. 

The figures of course are by Dixon Miniatures, the flags from both GMB Designs and Flags of War, and the bases as ever from Warbases.

 I've just half a dozen or so ACW figures left in the Lead Pimple now. I'm adding some command figures to my deployed limbers bases to boost the look on the table, as I recently did for their Union counterparts, an a couple of dismounted cavalry troopers to pad out one of my cavalry regiments. With those the ACW will be rested while my attention turns to some SYW additions for my French army.

The Last...? Well, evidently not.

 As Phil's circumstances are sadly somewhat out of kilter these last few days we were unsure of our regular weekly games taking place. For that reason I left the F&IW game that Jon and I played last week out on the table, though I did reconfigure the French initial deployment to give a different game I hoped. I took a few pictures during the game to give a sense of the action for interested visitors, even the Trapist ones!

The Paddaquoi paddling their own canoe! Used as markers for starting points in the game.

Other of the Paddaquoi tribe started the game in their temporary village further up the river. (The village is worth 5 Victory Points)

The 38th Foot marking out of camp past Fort Desperation with colours flying. The fort is held by a company of Grenadiers of the 42nd Foot. (The fort is worth 5 Victory Points)

Regiment Roussillon marches boldly across the southern ford, its mission to burn the two homesteads. (Each one Victory Point) Note De Bykli leading from the rear!

The Paddaquoi war party leaves the village and promptly Blunders off up the high cliffs, right in range of the British Light Artillery! Merde! The Coureurs du Bois and the Woodsmen are very tardy in their movements.

Robinson's Rangers are moving to support the 38th's advance on the northern ford while the Colonial artillery does its best to disrupt the blundering Paddaquoi war party!

Lord Rawnsley finds the French are behind his flank and must reorganize his defences to stave off disaster. Meanwhile the Coureurs du Bois seize the northern ford. Still no sign of the large Paddaquoi war party though!

Well, the Paddaquoi war party finally arrives in support of the Coureurs du Bois holding the ford. The French woodsmen find cover in the woods to their front and harass the Light Company of the 38th. 

By Turn 8 things are looking really good for De Bykli's force. Appearances can be so deceptive though and the dice gods so cruel. Volley after volley crashes into the red lines only to see Saving Throws over ruling almost every one! Merde!

Under pressure from the Paddaquoi war party and Coureurs du Bois to their front and the Regiment Roussillon on their left flank the Redcoats and Rangers buckle and bend but do not break! Mon Dieu!

In a final heroic action the chief of the Paddaquoi, Running Scared, leads the remnants of his war party and rushes to set one homestead ablaze! (Follow Me of course!) Sadly the attempt fails in Turn 10 and takes Turn 11 to set the cabin ablaze! {As it cannot burn for three turns with the game ending in Turn 12 De Bykli cannot claim a victory point!}

The scene at the end of Turn 12, each side having 6 1/2 Victory Points the game is declared a draw. Next up in GHQ should be an ACW game in a couple of weeks, as Phil is away for a much needed break. Next up on the blog later in the week should be some Confederate infantry I've been working on steadily.