Scenes of Desperate Fighting at Greenacres Farmstead

For Phil's most recent session on Tuesday here in GHQ we had fixed on a visit to the AWI collection, as it had not enjoyed a recent airing. I entered the game with no real expectations of victory, being on a run of mostly defeats so far this year. As usual now then an anotated photomontage to carry you in to the unfolding drama of some desperate fighting at Greenacres Farmstead ~

The Rebellious Colonist's forces are commanded by the veteran Ol' Independence or Death Bykleigh while the Loyalists and Hessians are lead by Lord Rawnsley. Having the initiative Bykleigh sends his Mountain Men forward in advance of his main force to slow the enemy's approach.

The Fourth and Eighth Virginia Continentals along with the New Jersey Blues advance behind the Mountain Men, their left flank covered by a small brigade of Militia.

Rawnsley's Loyalists are slow to move off but Butler's Rangers have reached the lane and take post behind the split rail fence. On their right the Volunteers of Ireland lead the King's Orange Rangers and Loyalist Militia forward.

Von Robensahn's Hessians are hesitant. Perhaps somehow the Paymaster General omitted to forward the necessaries?

Battle lines are finally being formed in preparation for the main event getting underway! It seems the Hessians were paid after all!

The Hessians shake out into line facing the Continentals, who are still screened by those Mountain Men. The main action is underway after a considerable delay for both sides.

Von Robensahn's Hessians make a daunting sight for the Continentals, who might lack their enemy's experience but make up for that in patriotic determination.

Bykleigh's Continentals advance with grim determination and deliver a crashing close range volley into Von Robensahn's men. Morale is everything and the volley shakes the resolve of several units.

Around the Greenacres Farmstead the Volunteers of Ireland and their supports have pressed forward to close with the Militias who are taking some cover behind the fence line.

All along the centre and right volleys of musketry crash out. Men fall, morale is tested, but the lines are both holding fast. Strangely though on the far flank neither Brigade commander wants to make the first move and risk exposing his army's flank.

The Continentals trade fire with the Hessians without any side having caused decisive casualties! Neither side will fall back in the face of their foes!

The 3rd Maryland march to support the Militia who are facing a determined attack from Loyalists.

Finally the morale of one Hessian unit fails and they flee to the rear. With a further battalion Shaken it seems the momentum may be swinging behind Bykleigh.

Galling fire from the Militias, supported by elements of Lee's Legion drive back the Loyalists at a vital moment.

The Grenadiers von Raal are broken by the weight of casualties suffered and flee the field. Von Robensahn's Hessians are on the verge of defeat!

The opportunity to press forward cannot be passed over. The Virginia Continentals dress their lines and advance on the remnants of Von Robensahn's command!

It is all too much for the mercenaries and with collapsing morale they flee the field. With his right beaten, centre driven back and right imobile Lord Rawnsley conceded the victory to Ol' Independence or Death Bykleigh. 

A grand Black Powder 2 game full of twists and turns which we both enjoyed as ever. All up for Phil in Turn 7, mainly as a consequence of a run of very poor Command, Firing and Morale dice scores. Anyway, he's off in Cornwall for a week's R&R and I am off to Partizan tomorrow (DV)!!! 

The Flashman Effect

While the idea of using up surplus figures was still fresh in my mind - see a previous post on this subject - my eyes fell on the Wargames Illustrated Giants in Miniature figure of Flashman I received from Dan a while back. I have found that taking time out on a fripary now and again can refresh a project, especially one on the scale of my Crimean War one. I was unsure how I'd use him until I remembered that amongst the spare figures left from the Prodigal Foundry Collection there lurked a fainting female figure - back in the 'Golden Age' of buying single figures to suit she was marketed as Fanny Fainting Under Fire if memory serves. It seemed a match made in heaven, the arch cad and womaniser Flashman having his usual effect on a Victorian female who swoons in his presence! Anyway, it'll make a small vignette and add to the overall look of a camp scene.

Meanwhile the 97th, the Earl of Ulster's regiment is underway now and I'd hope they will muster into GHQ before the end of the month. One base is already finished, along with the first two figures for the second base. Mind, the next few weeks are likely to be a tad disrupted with this weekend set aside for Partizan, Phil being away with family in Cornwall for a while and Paul no doubt tussling with the Druids. My turn next month!

More Roosians?

"Shurely Shum Mishtake" you might think on reading that heading? Well, no, I have acquired some preproduction castings from Eureka Miniatures, all the way from Nic in Melbourne! 

For reasons of real politic, though acquiring the rights sometime last year I believe to produce this range sculpted in Russia, Eureka Miniatures have not been able to produce the range officially. That's a real pity on one level as they are lovely sculpts and cover a wide range of the Roosian army with figures not likely to be available in 28mm elsewhere. Having learned about this impass, but always willing to chance my arm, I contacted Eureka Miniatures by email to enquire if a sample might be available. Fortunately Nic was amenable and offered to cast me up a couple of sets. I chose some dismounted Cossack Scouts, some Roosian casualties and a Roosian Field Dressing set. They arrived yesterday in under a week from Oz! Great service from Eureka Miniatures and the respective Postal Services! 

Dismounted Cossack scouts in advancing and firing poses plus an officer figure.

The Roosian Field Dressing set and Roosian casualties. They arrived mixed in one bag like this so I can't be certain entirely which belongs to which set. It doesn't matter much anyway as they combine together really well. 

How do they compare with the three ranges of figures already available, from Wargames Foundry, Great War Miniatures and Warlord Games is the first question most wargamers would ask? Well, the sculpting is exquisite and the casting flawless bar one figure missing his right hand, though of course that could be how that figure was sculpted! The figures are finely detailed, so will be fun to paint up when their turn comes.

Size wise they are taller than Wargames Foundry's veteran range, slightly smaller and slimmer than Great War Miniatures, closest to my few Warlord Games figures I'd judge. I especially like the two nurse figures included - one offering a man a drink, of vodka perhaps, and another seated writing details of patients in a notebook. One figure also appears to be a surgeon to my eye. Would I buy more of this range if I could? Of course I would, though probably sticking to the sets offering subjects not covered by other ranges. As to size/heft on the table, I really doubt it would be a live issue once battle was joined! Sadly though as I understand it from Nic the figures are not to be commercially produced in the foreseeable future. Such a shame that 'Mad Vlad', the 'Violet Elizabeth' of world politicians, has put his oar in!!!

90th, The Perthshire Volunteers

Not wishing to hex myself you understand, but I seem to be fairly well blessed with hobby mojo at present. Having recently completed the 7th, the Royal Fusiliers, I jumped immediately into another British infantry regiment, the 90th, the Perthshire Volunteers. The Great War Miniatures figures are from a mixture of five packs: British infantry firing line in shako; ditto in field cap; casualties; command in field caps; and finally, light infantry command. As you might guess from that they are largely composed of left overs! 

As usual their bases are from Warbases and the flags from the North Star range. A bit of a story here as I found I didn't have the correct flag sheet for them and added it to last month's order. Arriving quickly, as North Star orders usually do, I found the wrong flag sheet included. A quick phone call and the correct sheet arrived in two days! Pretty good service that and typical of them I've found. Anyway, here are the pictures of the individual bases making up the regiment. I hope my meagre efforts will pass muster!

As with other firing line units they have fewer figures than usual, only 18 in their case. Of course this is unimportant as the old fashioned figures to men ratio has long since been consigned to history here in GHQ in favour of standard base sizes. It does mean however that the unit is rather quicker to complete! An important factor in maintaining painter morale!! Finally as you know I'm not much of a modeller, but can you spot the conversion in this last photo?

Next under the brush is another small fripary followed by another British infantry regiment, the 97th, the Earl of Ulster's regiment. 

If all goes well there are two games scheduled here in GHQ In quick succession: firstly an AWI bash with Herculé Robinson and then an ACW game with Paul later in the week. More on those in due course...

The 7th, the Royal Fusiliers

The latest figures to complete their journey across the painting desk and muster into GHQ joining their comrades are the 7th, the Royal Fusiliers. These are Great War Miniatures of course with flags from North Star and bases from Warbases as ever.

They are a mixture of packs in both coatee and greatcoats and are in an advancing or attacking pose to give a little variety to the look of the British element of the Crimean War project.

I had two more British infantry regiments on the holding area of the painting desk, the Earl of Ulster's regiment and the Perthshire Volunteers. Hearing that metal price rises had forced Griffin to raise casting prices to their customers I reasoned that it would not be long before others felt they must do likewise and prices to customers would rise accordingly. With that in mind I sent off an order to North Star for some more British figures - Highlanders advancing/marching and Line Infantry charging. You are entitled to ask why at this juncture! Simples really; I want to have three regiments for the two Brigades of the Highland Division and three regiments to add to the Light Division. This will make the British army in the Crimean War games more varied in look in future tabletop games. Next under the brush are the aforementioned Perthshire Volunteers. The figures are in Firing Line so not so many on each base! 

Meanwhile I've been cleaning up the French infantry in the Lead Pimple, starting with the Zouaves now that Phil has kindly changed some heads on Foundry officer figures for me! So far I have cleaned up four regiments of French with two more still in their blisters. The hand doesn't do too well after a session cleaning up and as it makes painting later too painful so I have to space out the process over days if I want to get any painting done! I've also ordered some Eagle flagstaff tops for the French from Front Rank/Gripping Beast to collect at Partizan, along with a gun and crew for the Italian Wars.

Action at Passing Waters

 Once more the week has rolled round and Tuesday morning saw Phil and I meeting up in GHQ for another game. For personal reasons you need not trouble yourselves about we had decided on a smallish game set in the F&IW using our cut down Black Powder rules adaptions. Basically in small games we ignore Brigade morale, simply allocating 10 VPs to each enemy unit Broken and 5 VPs to each Shaken when the 12 Turns are completed. Of course if all are Broken before that juncture then the result is clear! The table at the onset of hostilities ~

Major Robinson took command of the Crown's forces: the first Brigade made up of Militia; ad hoc Homesteaders; and a Light Gun. The second Brigade of British Light Infantry; Colonial Infantry; and a large unit of Robinson's Rangers. Alphonse de Bykli commanded the French: four warbands of First Nations Paddoquoi; Coureur de Bois; Frontier Militia; and companie Franche de la Marine. The Crown had the Initiative and chose to move first. On then to the action ~

Lt de Rumforde urges his men forward past the cornfield to engage the advancing Colonial infantry!

Two Paddoquoi war bands remain to defend the village from surprise attack. {Failed command rolls of course!}

Robinson's Rangers have disembarked from their canoes on the far bank of Passing Waters to flank any French moves to cross Muddy Brook.

Warbands of Paddoquoi warriors advance boldly towards the Rawnsley Homestead intent on mischief. The Frontier Militia are rather more cautious...

Lt de Rumforde's stout men face off with Robinson's Rangers across Passing Waters while Alphonse de Bykleigh has pushed the Companie Franche de la Marine forward onto the rocky outcrop.

The hastily gathered homesteaders of the area clash with the Paddoquoi war bands. Fierce fighting rages at close quarters as more Paddoquoi hasten to the scene.

A nasty surprise awaits de Rumforde's men in the shape of a smart volley from the Militia deployed in the homestead's kitchen garden.

Two more war bands of Paddoquoi warriors have crossed Passing Waters to find themselves confronted by the British Light Infantry and Robinson's Rangers. 

Back on the other bank the homesteaders have defeated the first war band who flee unexpectedly as their morale crashes.

Finding time to catch their breath they reform just as the second Paddoquoi war band crosses Muddy Brook intent on taking scalps!

The Paddoquoi warriors are not daunted by the volleys from the Lights and Rangers moving swiftly through the woodland to attack.

They emerge into the clearing 'whooping and hollering' but the Lights are unmoved, giving them a devastating close range volley!

Despite the fire the Paddoquoi close with the Light Infantry. This will be a desperate struggle it seems.

The Colonial Infantry have been transported by canoes along the Passing Waters and form up on the far bank where Muddy Brook flows into the Waters.

The second Paddoquoi war band rushes the reformed homesteaders despite losses and disorder. The fighting is bitter with no quarter asked or given!

Worn down by fighting the homesteaders' morale collapsed and they flee from the Paddoquoi, a first success for de Bykli's forces.

De Rumforde's men have fallen back in Disorder after volleys from the Colonial Militia to be replaced by the Frontier Militia just as the Colonial Infantry form up below the rocky outcrop.

The success of the Paddoquoi warriors is short-lived. The Colonial Militia drive them back from the Rawnsley Homestead...

...while on the far bank of Passing Waters the other war bands are driven back to their canoes as their morale fails!

The Crown's forces are in the ascendancy having cleared the far bank of Passing Waters and driven back the remaining Paddoquoi warriors from the Rawnsley Homestead.

Its all up for the French at the end of Turn 12. They have 15 VPs to the British 45 VOs, a clear victory for Major Robinson. Rawnsley Homestead has been saved from destruction and plunder and the way is open to the Paddoquoi village. A fun game lasting just two hours and delivering lots of twists and turns along the way. Just what the doctor ordered!