'Punative Raid' in South Carolina: An American War of Independence Battle Report

I went down to Earlswood Wargamers for an AWI game with Big Al and Spike a couple of weeks ago. I took my camera and here are a few of the photos I took.

Figures belong to Big Al and Spike. Terrain is either Big Al's or club (mostly made by Big Al in the first place).

The game was based around a British punitive raid against a Southern Gentleman who has been supporting the rebels. I took the role of the Hessian Battalion commander, while Big Al played the Brits. Spike was the hastily assembled militias trying to defend the Southern Gent's plantation.

A southern Gentleman leading the local militia.

The Plantation



Southern Militia ready to fight to protect their homes (well the southern gentleman's home anyway)



The Hessians arrive on one flank...



lead by their brave commander (Me!)...



With a small force of Jagers.



South Carolina Woodsmen are the plantations first line of defence



Elsewhere on the battle field the Brits advance is hampered by the retain and the harassment of the Southern rebels skirmishers

  


The Hessians advance in lines over the fields, ignoring the skirmishers sent to slow them down. I held my nerve and kept on advancing, resisting the urge to start exchanging fire with skirmishers dug in behind cover.



The Brits advance strait into the waiting 6pdr cannon set up on the road ahead.



The Hessians scatter the skirmishers and advance on the big house. They exchange fire at short range with the militia, and then the grenadiers charge in.



The militia break before the grenadiers charge. The southern Gent tries to rally them

  


But its not going to stop the grenadiers ransacking the big house, then putting it to the torch.

All in all a great game, on lovely terrain with beautiful figures. Thanks to Big Al and Spike for letting me join in.

Pirates: Assassin and Standard Bearer

Here are two more additions to my Pirate crew, originally intended for On the Seven Seas. To be honest I think the chance of me ever playing On the Seven Seas is rather remote, so they are just painted for fun really. And because I had them based and sprayed, sat on the painting pile while I am waiting for more Russians to arrive in the post.  The first one is from North Star Military Figures and is obviously a nod towards the characters in Assassins Creed, one of my favourite games. I painted him appropriately. He has an excellent dramatic pose. 

The second figure is a standard bearer. I can't really imagine that pirates fighting on land bothered to take a Jolly Rodger standard along with theme, so this is something of a whimsy. The figure is from Redoubt and was a left over from my French and Indian Wars British. The originally had a halberd in his hand, so was a rather simple conversion. 

French and Indian Wars: Horse and Cart

Just a bit of scenery or an objective for French and Indian Wars. I showed it off in the same picture as the Village Girls a few weeks ago but it was in the background and I though it should deserve a larger photo. The horse and  cart are from Warbases and the cargo is from Ainsty Castings. It will be useful for many setting as well as the FIW, from ECW right through to VBCW and WW2.

American War of Independence Battle Report

 Today was the Earlswood Wargamers 'All Day' game. We played American War of Independence, with Big Al's very fine figures and scenery. I felt very privileged to be able to game on such amazing looking terrain.  We used "Rebellion in the Colonies" as a rules. At first the rules look bewildering with tables to cross reference every time you fire, but in actual fact is was quick and easy to learn, and very slick to play. 

The game was between the arrogant British and their dastardly Hessian mercenaries against the brave American patriots (I was on the side of the Americans). The British force consisted of a Scottish Brigade (Bob), a British Brigade (Big Al), a Guard Brigade (understrength and held in reserve) and a Hessian Brigade (Spike). The Americans had three brigades because we decided before the battle started to break up our forth brigade (a militia brigade) and distribute its companies between the three other brigades to better bolster their poor morale. Vlad commanded the brigade on the left, by the woods, Little Al, our battalions general, took the centre ground, and I had the right flank, covering a corn field. The British objective was simple...to push the rebels aside and capture the road running along our side of the board. 

My Brigade set up deployed in depth with two lines of defence on either side of the corn field. the Scottish Brigade would have to fight its way across the fairly open ground to achieve it's objectives. 

The Scots appear, but the rebels are not about to give ground without a fight. 

On my flank the Scots skirmishers clash with the American light infantry over a bubbling brook. 

Further up stream the Hessians advance steadily towards Little Al's brigade. A company of American militia hold the farm house but Spike decided to ignore them and by-pass them with his main force, leaving a company of Jaeger to deal with them. 

Big Al's British brigade advance towards the woods, where Vlad's Americans wait anxiously

The first line of my Americans give a good account of themselves, thinning the ranks of Scots as they advance. The grim faced Scotsmen will not be deterred by a bit of musketry, and come one undaunted. 

In the woods Big Al's brigade get to grips with Vlad's beleaguered Americans. 

My first line of the Americans fall back before the advancing Scots, drawing them on to out carefully prepared defence lines. 

At the other end of the battlefield Big Al tries to bring the full weight of his numbers against Vlad's patriots, and things begin to look grim on both flanks. 

The Hessians press on hard against the American centre, and Little Al's line starts to buckle. 

 The Hessians take the American fire but nothing seems to stop their advance. 

Back in the farm house the Hessian Jagers are failing to dislodge the militia, and they Hessians are eventually driven off. 

Bob's Light Company make short work of my skirmishers and advance up the flank of my main force, obliging me to deploy my reserves to stop them. 

General Little Al begins to feel the pressure as the British push hard against our lines. 

The Scots advance across the corn field right onto our cannons and the waiting second line. The steady fire begins to take its toll are the Scots are whittled away. Yet still they advance. 

Vlad's militia manage to fend off a company of British line infantry, even when the continentals fall back in disarray. Their heroic efforts slows Big Al's advance to a crawl. 

Bob's light company, full of British arrogance, charge my reserve company of continentals, and are easily driven back

The Hessians break through Little Al's line, but are too badly mauled to exploit the advantage...

...until Spike deploys his reserve- two companies of Guardsmen- to open up the gap in Little Al's line.

The Scot's finally reach the second line of my defence, but in too little numbers to make much impact. When Bob fluffs a charge roll his companies are forced back by my Americans. The Scottish Brigadier has his horse shot out from underneath him. 

On the far side of the battlefield Vlad's heroic defence in the woods proves too much for Big Al's British brigade and they fall back in disarray. 

When the Scot's light company breaks and rout their injured brigadier can not stop his brigade from following them as both of the British flanks collapse at the same time. 

It was felt that the Scottish Brigades rout was the death note for the British attack. The Hessians were a spent force, and the Guard Brigade would have been overwhelmed by the reinforcements flooding in to the centre from both flanks if it did not withdraw to cover the general rout of the rest of the battalion. 

Overall a deadly day for the British and Hessians, and a triumphant day for the Americans. The decision to split the militia brigade amongst the other brigade was vindicated as they performed very well (much better than had been expected). Thanks to everybody for a great game, especially Big Al, who brought all the stuff, and Spike, who taught me the rules. 

French and Indian War: 18th Century Farm Girls

These are my last entry into the Lead Painters League this Year. They are some 18th century farmers which will be used for my French And Indian Wars Project, but could easily populate a pirate board. They are lovely figures from Fenryll. They are a bit tall, probably 30mm, so would look wrong with many of my other ranges, but Redoubts FIW stuff is so chunky they could be just about right. I love the sculpts, which are very detailed. It's nice to see female figures that are attractive, but dressed (fairly) modestly. The horse and cart are from Warbases, and the cargo is form Ainsty. 

French and Indian Wars: Major Toby Topping-Smyth, British Army

Now I am in the mood for some more 18th century goodies here is Major Toby Topping-Smyth of the British Army, garrison commander in my fictional American settlement. Topping-Smyth is a somewhat uninspiring character who lacks the finances to buy a better commission, and has lacks the bravery to go out and earn one. Never the less, he represents the King, and and takes his duties to protect the settlers very seriously. Which is fortunate, because with the Canadians, French and Indians threatening the settlers, not to mention the pirates (see previous post), then things are about to get decidedly more challenging for the Major. Will he rise to the challenge, or be proved lacking? Time will tell. 

The figures are by Redoubt. If I can add one more NCO to my force I can field them as a garrison force in On the Seven Seas, so I will get even more use out of them. The good thing about the British Army of the period (1740 up to the AWI) is that they were going all over the globe fighting anybody. As well as the threat of the French and Indians in America, they fought the Spanish in Havana, the fought in the Indian subcontinent against the French and the other sort of Indians (Clive of India), They fought the French (again) and their allies in the Seven Year War in Europe, The fought the Scottish Jacobites in Britain and fought the French (yet again) in Africa! Busy fellows these British army chaps. 

On The Seven Seas: More Pirates

Here are some more pirates for my 'On the Seven Seas' Crew. These are by North Start Miniatures. I love painting these guys- they have just the right amount of detail-flat areas ratio for me, and their faces are very characterful. I have treated myself to some more sailors so I will have a fully crewed ship soon. I have also been watching Black Sails, which is really getting me in the mood!

On The Seven Seas: Pirate Crew

  I got these for Christmas, and have really enjoyed painting them. It's given me that eighteenth century bug again. As you can see I haven't held back on the colours, going full on for garishness and tastelessness. My pirates like nothing more than spending their ill-gotten gains on bright coloured clothing. Not very realistic or historically accurate but what the hell- their captain is Captain Hook for God sake! 

  The only down side of this is that the On The Seven Seas starter kit doesn't contain enough figures for the starter crew, so you have to go an buy as second box- and then you end up with spare! Just silly if you ask me. 

  The figures are from North Star. I am considering getting sailors from Foundry or Galloping Major to fill out the ranks but I am not sure about scale compatibility, and beside, these North Star ones are a pleasure to paint. 

French and Indian Wars: Eighteenth Century Settlers

Here are a few more hardy English Settlers fro my French and Indian Wars Projects. These will also be useful for any 'tricorn era' 18th Centrury game, and will no doubt see some use in my planned Pirate Projects- Charlie and I are planning to paint some Pirates for 'on the Seven Seas' in the new year (so long as Father Christmas is good to us) and these guys will serve us well as smugglers or land lubbers. they might get some use in the American Civil War games at Earlswood too.

These figures are from Redount Miniatures (I think) and are well sculpted, with characterful faces.

French and Indian Wars: British Light Infantry and French Fur Trappers

 Here are some more of my French Indian War figures for Muskets and Tomahawks. First up, some British Light Infantry, skirmishing away on the flanks of the Regular Infantry.  

Next up, some Frenchies (boo!).

 These are fur trappers and frontier traders, or as they were called by the French Coureur de Bois (Forest Runner). These rugged types penetrate the deep forested interiors of Canada, living off the land and trading furs with the natives. In M+T these guise are a sort of elite skirmishers, able to use the terrain to their advantage. They sport beards and fur hats too, so they can't be all bad.   

These figures are by Redoubt Miniatures