Death Before Dishonour

 For our usual Tuesday game, this week on a Monday, Phil and I decided to get the Punic Wars collection on the table in GHQ and give Hail Caesar rules a run out in anticipation of receiving the updated Second Edition at some point. Phil took on the persona of Coronus Cunctator leading the army of the Republic leaving me to take command of the Carthaginian army as Hannibal Bicca. As is my wont, an annotated photomontage to convey some sense of the unfolding catastrophe...

The opening positions of the two armies: the Carthaginian army of Hannibal Bicca nearest the camera, the Republicans of Coronus Cunctator in the distance. For those interested, the villa is the Warbases small Roman villa kit.

Hannibal Bicca makes a sacrifice to the dice gods, in vain as things turned out, but let's not get ahead of ourselves at this stage.

The opening phase of the battle sees the Numidian light cavalry clash with the Roman and it's allied Celtic cavalry. Javelins fly to their targets but on the enemy come with steely determination.

On the left the Carthaginian army puts it's faith in their elephants supported by slingers and light infantry, with medium infantry positioned to mop up what remains of the enemy. At least that was the plan...

Most of the Numidian cavalry and supporting light infantry flee the field in disorder! Already the Carthaginian right is creaking dangerously.

The Carthaginian cavalry commander fails to lead his main force forward at this vital juncture in the battle, handing the initiative to his Roman opponent, despite the badly mauled remnants of the Numidian light cavalry seeing off the Celtic Medium cavalry in a fierce hand to hand combat.

The Allied Legion on the Roman right has moved into the attack only to be met by the Carthaginian elephants and their supports.  In the centre, Legio VI, the Wolf's Cubs, hold themselves ready to join battle with their foe.

On the Carthaginian right more Cavalry flee the field in rout, leaving only the Spanish Medium cavalry to hold off impending disaster.

Meanwhile, over on the Carthaginian left, the Allied Legion has got the best of the Carthaginian elephants' supports, leaving the great beasts vulnerable to attack.

Fighting is fierce with no quarter given or asked for. One of the great beasts falls in its death throes, one routs through its own supporting infantry, leaving only one to fight on alone!

The Carthaginian left is crumbling as the Allied Legion presses home it's advantage remorselessly. The omens are not looking good for Hannibal Bicca's cause...

The left and right wings of the Carthaginian army are in disorganised and panicked rout! Rather than face Dishonour Hannibal Bicca falls on his sword!

Hannibal Bicca's veteran African infantry and his Southern Italian mercenaries never got into action! With both wings of the army shattered and their commander crossing the Styx they would leave the field to fight another day.

It was all decided in five Turns! We were a bit rule rusty at the outset but soon found our second wind. The game played out pretty well we thought, giving a more cohesive feel to the battle than Neil Thomas's Ancient and Medieval Warfare rules seem to. We shall see what changes the new edition brings in due course.

Gardes Suisses,2me Reg't

 Having seemingly broken free of the malaise which was holding my painting in limbo with the Roman civilians I posted in an earlier blog entry, my next project was to complete the final French infantry regiment for my SYW expansion project in the shape of the second regiment of the Gardes Suisses. As with the rest of my French army these are from the Foundry offshoot, Casting Rooms Miniatures, and are not to everyone's taste as I know. As usual, the bases are from Warbases and the flags from David's splendid blog resource 'Not by Appointment'.

For now at least this brings the French element of the SYW expansion project to a conclusion, though as wargamers we all know that it is fatal to utter the word 'finished' in respect of any project! This brings me nicely on to the next phase of the project, which is to either embark on my small Hanoverian contingent or to tackle the small imagination of Aufenhaltsland-Wolfsschinken. 

Finally, a little gentle nudge for those many anonymous visitors who look at each blog entry and move on without leaving any sort of response. It’s nice to be appreciated you know, so perhaps take a moment now and then to let me and others know you're not a bot?

A Fierce Engagement at Rawnsley Gap

The friendliest of hostilities resumed in GHQ this week, with Phil tactfully choosing an ACW game to kick off the new year. The game is another of our series of loosely linked games, forming the 'Robinson in the Valley' campaign. An indifferent performance by both commanders so far sees neither worthy of promotion and so their basic command remains the Division of two or three Brigades'. The action sees Robinson's Rebs presented with an opportunity to defeat Bykleigh's Union force at Rawnsley Gap and so open the route into the valley for much needed reinforcements. If he succeeds the Rebs win and he is promoted, receiving a further Brigade in the next game. If Bykleigh can hold the gap then he is the winner, promotion and a possible Medal of Honor might be his fate. Defeat might see him sent out west...

The opening scene of the game. Robinson's difficulty is effectively deploying his troops into the narrow Gap, all the while being harassed from Union positions to his front. He has a Brigade deployed for a flanking attack on his left, but the going is difficult over broken ground and a wooded ridge making progress slow. Now, as is customary, the usual annotated photomontage to convey a sense of how the battle panned out ~

Calder's Brigade advances briskly past Lender's Farm, where the Staff are hard at it trying to work out where they will head after brushing 'those people' aside.

Paddock's Brigade are making heavy going of their advance. It seems there is some confusion when it comes to orders being received.

Brecher's Brigade takes the centre of the Union position around Aston's Farmstead with Moore's Brigade in support.

The 1st USSS are thrown forward in Open Order along a wooded ridge. They will hopefully slow down any advancing Rebs on the Union's right.

The Rebs' artillery opens the battle with a furious bombarding of both Brecher's and Desch's positions. Despite losses the boys stand firm. "They shall not pass!"

With Desch's command coming under heavy fire Bykleigh orders the Pennsylvanian cavalry forward with a view to occupying Aston's Farmstead and bringing some added fire on the advancing Rebs 

On the Rebs' right O'Brien's Brigade is making slow progress forward shadowed by the 1st USSS.

Calder's leading regiment shakes out into line as it prepares to move forward across the open fields towards the enemy 

Desch's command is coming under increasing pressure and some Disorder ensues. Support is now at hand though as the Pennsylvanians reach the farmstead.

Just in time they occupy the farm house and gardens as Calder's attack gets underway. If their left is turned Brecher's position will be difficult to defend and 'PJ' may seize the Gap!

Under growing pressure from O'Brien's Brigade the Sharpshooters are forced to fall back on their supporting infantry. There is real tension in the ranks as they hear the Rebs approaching through the woods!

A Fierce firefight breaks out as the Rebs close in on the Sharpshooters. The Rebel Yell rings out and under pressure the Sharpshooters fall back behind their supports. 

Calder's Brigade has come under increasingly effective fire causing much Disorder in the ranks and stalling progress on the Rebs' right 

Despite continuous artillery fire the Union boys are standing firm as the game nears it's halfway point.

Calder's Brigade is struggling to reform under steady Union fire. The Rebs'right is looking very shaky now.

At last Paddock's Brigade shakes out into line and begins to bring real pressure to bear on the Union centre and right. Moore's Brigade moves out to support the threatened flank.

In the centre the Rebs of Paddock's Brigade advance with determination but the western boys under Brecher stand firm.

On the Union's left Desch's command and the Pennsylvania cavalry have done their job, Calder's Brigade falls back Whipped!

On the Union's right and in the centre heavy firing is taking its toll on both sides! Once more the Rebel Yell rings out as they charge forward into contact.

Despite their advantage in numbers though the Rebs'first attack fails. The western boys sure fight hard!

A moment of disaster unfolds for the Union as in fierce fighting Brecher falls and his Brigade, without command, falters. O'Brien senses his moment has come to press home his attacks and beat back the troops on the Union right 

However, he has misjudged the boys in blue. Despite mounting losses they put up stiff resistance. Their steady fire sees O'Brien's Brigade fall back Whipped! Of all the times for the dice gods to desert Phil this was the cruelest, as victory turns to defeat...

As Turn 12 and thus the game concludes both armies are badly mauled. As the scenario did not allow for a draw the win goes to the Union who have held the Gap, just...

Order of Battle :-

Union ~ Brig Gen'l 'Useless' S Bykleigh

1st Brigade - Col Brecher

6 Wi

7 Wi 

10 Mi 

19 Ind 

2nd Brigade - Col Moore 

20 Mass 

76 NY 

94 NY

23 Pa Vol, Burney's Zouavres 

1st USSS 

3rd Brigade - Col Desch 

8 NJ Vols 

Battery L NY Light Artillery

Rebels ~ Brig Gen'l 'PJ' Robinson 

HQ 

1 Va Cavalry 

Sussex Light Dragoons

1st Brigade - Calder 

3rd Lo 

3rd Ark 

18 Ga 

Crump's Battery 9lb Napoleons 

2nd Brigade - Paddock 

2 NC 

10 NC 

16 NC 

28 NC 

36 NC 

Anderson's Battery 3" Rifles 

3rd Brigade - O'Brien 

1 Ma 

14 Va 

33 Va 

Another really close and taxing game which might in the final two turns have gone either way, but for the dice... A few bonus pictures to finish as a reward for my loyal reader making it through to the end ~

Imperatoria Familia

Here in GHQ the New Year has seen my application to painting figures from the Lead Pimple being much the same as it was when the Old Year finished, and that leaves much to be desired in my view. So, in an effort to shake off this lethargy, rather than break out a new regiment for my SYW expansion project I selected the remaining figures from the Warlord Games set of Roman civilians. You may recall that I previously showed the two I had completed from the set, a begging veteran and an officer making an offering to those pesky Dice Gods, but if not, I'll pop them in here to refresh your memory ~

The remainder of the set make up a more domestic scene to grace a villa or camp setting, perhaps the Imperial household of old Pompus Maximus or the earlier Consular household of Coronus Cunctator?

Finally a formidable looking figure. Perhaps a bodyguard or hired help, a Celtiberian chieftain or champion perhaps?

These made a nice break over the New Year, but now it's back to the SYW expansion project. Rather than kick off as intended with the new Hanoverian force I decided to tackle the last French infantry unit, a second regiment for the Gardes Suisses. More on them hopefully later this month.

If the Cap Fits, as they say

 

My good friend up in Aberdeenshire Kevin Calder got this for Christmas from his wife Viv. I couldn't resist sharing it with you as it neatly encapsulates the one constant for almost all of us in the Wargaming fraternity. 

Aside from the ever present siren lure of the new and shiny this above all speaks to me at least of the difficult relationship between what I own in the Lead Pimple, what needs to be painted at some stage, and what I'm looking to buy next despite the first two! It's certainly been true of my December 2022 mind set: hardly anything painted from the Lead Pimple but still looking to acquire more figures and new projects. It's a good job the strikes at Royal Mail are putting a damper on my tendency to send off an order when I feel the urge! Meanwhile I must stop staring at those Warlord Games' Roman Civilians sitting on my painting desk...

French SYW Grenadiers Royaux

As I mentioned in the final blog post of 2022 I hoped to have something new to show at the opening of 2023. The 'something new' takes the shape of a second regiment of Grenadiers Royaux for my French SYW army. As usual the figures are from the Wargames Foundry offshoot Casting Rooms Miniatures, the bases from Warbases as ever, while unusually for me of late, the flags are not from David's splendid blog resource 'Not by Appointment', but were sourced via a Google search for reasons I can't now recall.

The figures are a bit 'marmite' to many fellow wargamers, as I've said before, but the Grenadiers are particularly so on a number of counts. I almost hesitate to let them be seen, but for me they will have to do. The big issue is the presence of lacing on the coat front and cuffs and the waistcoat together with the bearskin headwear. But, needs must when I had the figures in the Lead Pimple, so I'll beg your indulgence if I may and KBO.

As to the other pictures, well, they are to remind me of the two things I hope to follow through in my 2023 'Vague Aspirations '. Namely retaining a childlike sense of fun in my hobby and remembering that painting figures is solely aimed at putting armies on the tabletop battlefield for games with my friends and nothing more. Happy New Year!