The Courier! And a New Year

 

Usually at this time of year it is traditional to do a wrap up of the years events.  But since 2020 has been such a depressing event I will ignore this tradition and instead share with you all some good news that happened the other day.

 At the end of this most unusual year I got a most unexpected present.  Dave Mesquita, from my wargame club "The Northern Conspiracy" let me know that he put together a collection of the original "Couriers" for me.  He and Bruce Weeks had been working on a digital editions of them, and he had a collection of extras.  Knowing my interest in them he let me know and I picked them them up on Wednesday at his house (in a socially distant way).  After a conversation I was on my way home.  

 I have mentioned before this was the publication that got me into this wonderful hobby.  So flipping through it is a time machine transporting me back to a younger time in the 1970's.  Its interesting looking at how we once did our hobby and how things once looked.  It is also fun rereading the columns that inspired me long ago and finding columns I missed!  There is a Rev War tactical  battle problem by Steve Haller I had not seen before that looks like a very fun game.  And an old friend Matt Fallon has an article on how to make a 18th century camp including tents, wall tents and bell of arms which should brighten up my table.  I had also forgotten that both Matt and Scott Lesch had done cover illustrations for the Courier.  So many surprises and so many memories. A wonder way to end this year and inspire me going into the new year!

Cover by Matt Fallon.

Cover by Scott Lesch.

To all my friends in the hobby and out in the blogging world I wish you all a most Happy New Years hoping the next year is better and brighter for us all!  Thank you all again for reading my blog and for brightening this year .

(And for the very sharp eyed individuals who noticed yes that is a Reading premium beer can in the background!)

The Aftermath of the Battle of Trenton

 

The Battle of Trenton by H. Charles McBarron from Wikipedia

December 26, 1776 the Battle of Trenton. 

 One of, to me the most fascinating and dramatic battles of the American Revolution.  And one which I hope to recreate one day if I build enough houses!  But as it is the anniversary and I traditionally stay up reading a book or two about it I thought I might share this quote from the book " The Day is Ours" by Glenn Dwyer about the aftermath.  John Greenwood was a fifer in the American Continental army.  Originally from Boston he had moved to Portsmouth Maine just before the Revolution.  His book, The Revolutionary Services of John Greenwood 1775 -1783 is a most interesting read. Elisha Bostwick served in a Connecticut regiment of the Continental army.

Hessian Fusilier cap at the Smithsonian.

"On the way to the boats, Greenwood continued, "seeing some of our men were much pleased with the brass caps which they had taken from the dead Hessians, our prisoners, who were besides exceedingly frightened, pulled off those they were wearing and, giving them away, put on the hats which they carried tied behind their packs. With these brass caps on, it was laughable to see how our soldiers would strut-fellows with their elbows out and some without a collar to their half-a-shirt, no shoes, etc." It was also laughable, according to Lieutenant Elisha Bostwick, to see some of the Hessians springing up and down in the boats with their long plaits flying. The men poling the boats across the river found the job difficult because of ice forming on the walkways. So, Bostwick noted, "the boatmen, to clear off the ice, pounded the boats and, stamping their feet, beckoned the prisoners to do the same, and they all set to jumping at once with their cues flying up and down . . . sticking straight back like the handle of an iron skillet." Greenwood and the rest of his company crossed the river themselves selves after the Hessians had all been carried over. Most of the company flaunted Hessian swords, headgear, or other mementos of battle, but all of them were without their packs-the ones they had piled by a roadside before entering Trenton. "As we never went back that way," Greenwood would recall, "we all lost our packs. At least I never heard anything of mine, and I had in it a beautiful suit of blue clothes, turned up with white and silver laced." Greenwood and the others in his unit were back at the Newtown encampment late in the afternoon, after being on the move for more than twenty-four hours. Some of Washington's other Continentals would not reach their encampments until late the following day, having been gone for fifty hours or more. Some, upon their return, took time to note the day's doings in a diary. David How, an eighteen-year-old from Massachusetts, summed things up with his usual Yankee succinctness: "This morning at 4 o'clock we set off with our field pieces. Marched 8 miles to Trenton"

Merry Chrismas

We got together for  Christmas in a most 2020 Covid way! 

 Janine and I have for the most part stayed home up to now, due to her medical preconditions. Alexandra has also been staying low and has had to have two medical operations this year. Nathaniel has been at work at a new job and a new apartment so has been very busy. We have seen few people and when we have it has been at a social distance and with masks.  But we all wanted to get together for Christmas.  How to work this out?  The idea struck us to have a Christmas get together based on a old add from L.L. Beans that said be an Outsiders.  So outside we went.

Janine got up early and baked and cooked.  Apple cider donuts, mulled cider, bread and beef stew.  I was outside Clearing snow and setting up a fire pit on the driveway.  I placed a number of brick blocks as a base and brought the fire grate across the snow.  After clearing it out I gathered wood and prepared a fire.  We set up chairs and a table for the food and soon Alex and Nathan arrived and a most wonderful time it was!

Nathaniel

Alexandra

A most Merry Christmas to all my friends in the blogging world.  I thank you all for the joy and happiness you have brought to me during this most unusual  year.  I have learned much from all of you and been unspired by all of you.  And most importantly each of you has made this a better year and a better experience for me.  And for that I am most grateful to each and everyone of you.  

A most Merry Christmas to you all And here is hoping for a better new year.  Thank you all.

Some light painting

 

I needed a break from painting historical miniatures and research.  Digging around the boxes of old figures I would do "sometime" I found these.  Eureka miniatures dud a series if teddy bears in 18th century uniforms.  I think I'm picked tum up at an long ago Cold Wars or Historicon on a whim.  Just the thing to paint for the holiday season and waiting to dig out after a snow storm.

Now back to researching the Provincial Light Infantry battalion and the 17th company of the 17th Regiment of Foot and their misadventures in South Carolina 1781.

The Flag of Lee's Legion 1781

 

In my previous posting about Lee's Legion I mentioned I was not sure about the documentation of the Legion's flag.  Here is as much as I could pull together about that flag.  

The present flag that is associated with Lee's Legion is owned by Stafford Hall, the home of the Lee's of Virginia.  It was purchased through the Robert E. Lee Memorial Foundation in 1947 from Francis Bannerman and sons.  The flag itself is made of silk and is 2' 4" wide by 4' 11" long.  Shortly after it was acquired for Stafford Hall the flag was folded, mounted and sealed in a case measuring 26" x 26" by the National Archives in 1948.   It  was remounted in 1983 for exhibition and placed on display.  In 2009 it was removed from display for preservation reasons. Due to exposure to light the the textile colors were fading and there was some deteriorating of the fabric.

The flag is of tan or brown material with a brown horses head and light tan main in the center. The white scrolling has a medium blue center with the words "U.S. Light Dragons." The wording used is very curious as that term was not used by the United States military until the 1790's and the War of 1812.  Since there is no history of where the flag came from before Bannerman sold it it might have been a militia flag from that time period.  In addition there us no mention of this flag in Richardson's book, "Standards and Colors of the American Revolution."

Since the documentation for this flag is so poor I do not intend to use it for my miniature regiment.

The conclusion is my opinion only and I leave it up to each individual if they wish to add it to there miniature regiment.  Often there is so much we do not know and too much information lost that all we can do is come up with a best guess for what we do.  Hence my habit of presenting  what I know or have found out and make my best guess based on that.

Bibliography and links to where to fund it:

The owners of the flag with some background on it:

https://www.stratfordhall.org/the-mysteries-of-museum-collections/

The Son's of the Revolution of the Commonwealth of Virginia site with a illustration of the flag:

http://srvirginia.org/light-horse-harry-lees-light-dragoons-guidon/

For much more about the Legion:

Sherman, William T.  "Lee's Legion Remembered."

https://archive.org/details/LeesLegionRemembered/page/n1/mode/2up

Lee's Legion Infantry 1781

 

A few years ago I painted up "Light Horse" Harry Lee and his Legion.  Although very happy with the cavalry I was less so with the infantry.  In reorganizing my forces I decided to redo the infantry element.  

The 2nd Partisan Corp or as it's better known name,  Lee's Legion was formed in April 1778 when it was detached from the 1st Continental Light Dragoons.  Through its commander, "Light Horse" Harry Lee and his memoir the Legion's service is one of the better known regiments during the American Revolution.  As to if it was an elite unit, that is up to the reader to decide. But what is not debatable is it could be, at times as ruthless as the British Legion with whom it fought. It was a very active part of Greene's army and played a prominent role in his campaign. Incidentally, Lee's  memoir was written partly to adress the controversy over Lee's action at Eutaw Springs.  His son, Robert E. Lee would continue the defense of his father in later editions of the book.

  I understand that suggesting Lee's Legion were not dressed in green coats might go against current  practice.  This color combination  is usually suggested by

 Lee's ambush of Pyle's loyalists.  Lee himself in his memoir says they were dressed similar to the British Legion in green.  (Please note the memoirs were published long after events and have been questioned in numerous details).  When I painted them up I bucked tradition and used the painting of Lee himself in a tan/brown faced green coat. I feel thus might be a more accurate presentation.  Again, my opinion only and I wouldn't criticize another interpretation.

In addition I also used the following quote from private Shaw of the 33rd regiment of foot. He was captured just prior to Guilford Courthouse and wrote later:

"Scarcely had we gone half way up the lane, when seven of Lee's light horse made their appearance: my companion swore there was Tarleton's light horse coming, and, says he, ‘we shall be taken up on suspicion of plundering, and get 500 lashes a piece.' ‘No;' said I, upon observing their brown coats, and white cockades, ‘no, friend, you are deceived; these must be the rebels.' Having therefore discovered his mistake, he began to cry;--but for my part, I thought it very good fortune.—As they were advancing towards us, we concluded to go and meet them; which we accordingly did, and falling on our knees begged for quarter; which they granted ….

 The Infantry of the Legion are much more of an mystery.  I think the evidence suggests the Legion infantry had a different uniform from the mounted element. There was an issue of enough cloth to three officers to make coats of blue faced red and lined white (see p40 Katcher Uniforms of the Continental Army). This was from the clothier general of Maryland in 1782.  There is also a portrait of an officer of the Legion Infantry,  Lieutenant Laurence Manning who was shown in a blue coat faced red with silver lace.

  So I feel confident the Infantry element of the legion in 1781 at least we're in standard blue faced red coats.  There is no evidence of helmets issued so I outfitted my infantry in standard infantry uniform. Please feel free to disagree.

  For my table top Legion I have once again used the most excellent figures from Brigade miniatures for the Infantry of the Legion.  I have been going through my box of extra and left over figures to fill out my collection as of late.

 The flag for the Legion is much more questionable so I have not added one.  There are some sources that suggest one but I am unsure of the documentation.  If better information comes available later to convince me I will add it then.  

And now I look forward to Lee tangling with Tarleton in the battle of the legions on my table top!

A unusual command figure

I needed a command figure for one of my Rifle regiments .  One of the rules sets I regularly use allowed skirmishers to snipe at a battalion's command.  Devastating small arms casualties could also possibly kill them.  Thus creates morale issues for that battalion.  But what figure to use?

Going through my box of left over figures I passed by various officer types.  Doesn't work I thought.  Then he jumped out at me!  Perhaps influence by Eric's 1798 Irish rebellion games and that crafty Jesuit Father Carol (A very well know individual on TMP).  Perhaps it was the Rev. Caldwell yelling "Give em Watts boys" * at the battle of Springfield NJ.  Or the southern Baptist at Huck's Defeat.  Could it be the  Mad Padre from his blog which I greatly enjoy transported back in time?  

No matter he seemed the perfect figure to march with my "Over The Mountain" riflemen who are going to chastise Patrick Ferguson at Kings Mountain.

*During the battle, according to tradition the Rev Caldwell took copies of the old Watts hymnals  from the church and gave them to the troops to use as cartridge paper.  

Kirkwood's Delaware Light Infantry

 

  Following the disaster to the American Army at the Battle if Camden 1780 the famed Delaware regiment was reduced to two companies of infantry.  One was commanded by Captain Jaquett and was assigned to the Maryland Regiment.  The other, commanded by Captain Robert Kirkwood is used as a light infantry company.  Although attached to the famous Maryland-Delaware light infantry battalion at the Battle if Cowpens 1781, it served otherwise throughout Greene's campaigns as a independent light company.  The small company if about 100 men saw service at Guilford Courthouse, Hobkirk Hill and Eutaw Springs.  If you are building Greene's southern army 1781 you need thus unit!

A Don Trioni impression of the Delaware Infantry

The Delaware regiment was attached to the Maryland line and supplied through that colony.  Both before and after the Battle of Camden they were issued blue regimental coats faced red and white small clothes.  Interestingly the officers from Maryland in October 1781 were issued blue and red wool to be made into regimental coats and waist coats.   During the summer if 1781 Greene obtained hunting shirts for the Continental line as a summer uniform.  Traditionally the Delaware regiment had yellow trim to their cooked hats.  

The Company of Military Historians issued a plate in their uniform series depicting a soldier of Kirkwood as company dressed in a yellow trimmed cocked hat, hunting shirt and striped overalls.  No sources are cited.  All issues if overalls to Greene's army appear to be if brown linen or osnaberg materials.

Company of Military Historian plate of Colonel Hall's Delaware Regiment .

 For more information on the uniforms I highly recommend the following article:

Babits, Lawrence E. " Supplying the Southern Army March 1780 to September 1781."

Military Collector and Historian, vol. 47, no. 4 (winter 1995).

For my miniature Delaware company I am painting them in blue regimental coats faced red with yellow trimmed cocked hats.  The figures are from Old Glory miniatures second edition.  I will be mixing brown and tan overalls as well as some unlocked hats to give a field impression of the mixed nature of supplies as well as soldier improvement to their uniforms.  

Final painting push of 2020

 

  I have been preoccupied with family and personal issues for the past couple weeks so have fallen behind in writing and answering replies to my blog.  Now that things have slightly improved I will be posting more regularly.  Thank you for your patience.

Going through my boxes of unpainted lead I  come up with figures for four units I need to add to my  American Revolution collection.  These are Kirkwood's Delaware light infantry (1781),  the infantry for Light Horse Harry Lee's Legion (1781), the Maryland Delaware light infantry battalion (1781) and Haslet's Delaware Regiment (1776).  These are at present on the painting table and primed and ready to go.  more information on the unit histories and figures used will follow.

Happy Thanksgiving

 

Edward Suren "Willie" miniatures

 

In cleaning out The drawers and storage boxes on my painting table I found a small group of 30mm Suren figures.  I had started  working on them back in the late 1980's and like too many projects they fell to the way side.  Curse that butterfly effect!

I have always found the Edward Suren miniatures to be outstanding, and after all these years they have not lost their charm.  I really like them and hope to fund the money to add some regiments to my collections.  I do wonder after all these  years how the molds have held up and what the castings look like today.

As an aside during a trip to Great British in the early 1980's I visited the Black Watch Museum.  I was most excited to see the Suren  diorama about the attack on Fort Ticonderoga.  It was amazingly detailed and the staff was most amused after an hour there I was still looking at it.   Unfortunately none of the pictures I took came out so I have no visual memory if it.  I do wonder if it is still there and what condition it is in.  Also, if any readers of this blog know if the location of any other Edward Suren dioramas please let me know as we are planning a visit to Great British 

New Rivers, a wonderful gift

I received an incredible surprise the other day.  In response to a post I made here and on the Fife and Drum Miniature forum I received a new set of rivers for my table set up.  These were made by Bill Nevins who runs Kings Mountain miniatures.  Bill makes incredible terrain and the terrain of his bases for figures. Tgey are diorama like in quality.  Turns out Bill was working in making roads for one of his displays and took up this as a challenge.  Can I make something like this?

There are two sets of rivers.  The largest is 6" wide and about 12' long.  It includes a number of pie shaped pieces to add twists and turns.  There us also a section with a ford and another section with a smaller stream branching off from it.  Then there are. A number of smaller streams about 2" wide.  More then enough for any game.  

Basic canvas with chalk applied.

Then painted blue and gloss added.

The rivers were made from stretched canvas that artists use for painting on.  Acrylic caulk is then spread over the canvas and painted with acrylic gloss paint.  I asked for a very deep dark blue but you can use any color really.  Lastly it us given A couple of coats of gloss medium.  Smaller details like highlighting and a few dashes of white to represent waves add to the effect. The fords have small islands on them.  They are covered in a static grass.  

Most of the pieces layer out.

A big piece with a narrow stream branching off of it.

A wide and a narrow river ford.  

I like these very much and in the future will be seeing much use on my table.  they are a very flexible system which is just what I was looking for.  Bill mentioned that this system can also be used for making roads.  

Thank you Bill!

Crossing the River.

Get off my lawn

Armistice Day

 

   My grandfather, Edward McNamara from Lexington Massachusetts served with the 101st Regiment (Medical company), 26th Yankee Division in the first world war.  He seldom talked about it, and when he did it was a terrible memory which haunted him.  It was only later that I found out  he was mentioned in the division's orders and was decorated for heroism.  He never mentioned this to me.  I found out later through my own research.  But  I will always remember his smile when he told me how at 11:00 A.M. on 11th November the guns stopped and he and his friends knew they would live, knew they had survived.  He went on to raise a family and contribute to society.  During the next war he built ships for the Navy at the Charlestown Navy yard.

   And as this date is now called Veterans Day I say thank you to my father in law, Aldrich Stevens  who served in the  3rd Ranger Battalion (Darby's Rangers) in the Second World War.  He saw service with them at North Africa, Sicily and Italy.  Seriously wounded he did not make the Anzio landing and thus missed the action at Cisterna (although he may have listened to the last radio calls while at headquarters).   Like my grandfather he too was haunted by the memories of what he saw, experienced and especialy those he lost.  But again he went on with life.  Due to the GI bill he got a education, raised a family and contributed to society.  

I remember their sacrifices and hope both men  have found peace.

The Battle of Cowpens 1781

 

General Morgan gets ready for some down right fighting!

The battlefield from the American point of view.  Cavalry in reserve and main line of Continental infantry.  Ahead are militia regiments and ahead of them rifle armed skirmishers.

The British line.  Ahead are the (r to l) light infantry, legion infantry, light artillery and 7th Regiment.  A troop of cavalry are to both flanks.  In reserve (not on board yet) are the British Legion dragoons and 71st Highlanders.

Turn #1

British line advances onto board.  They advance steadily against the American line.  They will have to close with the enemy quickly due to limited  number of turns.

7th Regiment of Foot

The British Cavalry fan out on both flanks and approached American skirmish line.  The American skirmishes stay ahead of them peppering them with accurate rifle fire.  The light infantry split move lets skirmishes fall back after firing.

The American fire causes both cavalry troops to check morale, which they fail and fall back.  They are later rallied and return to the fight.

Turn #2 - 4

British line continue their advance.  The Royal Artillery takes aim at enemy and starts a slow but steady fire against the American Militia regiments.

Turn #4 and 5

Reinforcements arrive edge of board.  Tarleton brings the remainder of the British Legion Cavalry and the 1/71st Highlanders onto the field.

Artillery hits militia line and causes a morale check, but the  Militia holds. They are helped by the presence of the two American commanders, Morgan and Pickens.

Legion cavalry.

Turn # 6 and 7

The American combined cavalry under It. Col.  William Washington charge the British left flank.  In the melee both the Light and Legion infantry fall back to rally after their defeat.

 Tarleton Counter charges the victorious Americans. With two troops he fights Washington's continental dragoons and sends them fleeing back.  But the milita horse defeats his other troop.  Both sides then pull back to rally.

Turn #8 and 9

The American militia and rifles fall back to join the Continental line.  The rifles, using the rules split move are able to move into range, fire and then fall back out of danger.

Morgan readies his main line for the advancing British.  The Continentals firm the center with Militia and Rifle units to both sides.

Turn #10

The British line all move into musket range.  The 71st and 7th exchange fire with the Americans militia.  Pickens and Morgan steadied them and the line holds.  The return fire causes the 7th to rout.  The poor 7th had been steadily losing men advancing against first the rifles then the militia.  They have been slowly whittled down.

On the other flank the Legion Infantry and British Lights destroy the rifles, but take serious hits from the Militia and Continental line. In the exchange of musketry that follows  both units take hits against their commanders and have to test morale. Both fail and rout back.  In these rules light troops can aim at enemy commanders in a battalion.  It's hard to hit them but when they do it causes morale problems.

The 71st now alone!  They have  the Continental Light battalion and the Militia to its front and is heavily outnumbered.  The officers look about for support, where us Tarleton?

Turn #11

Tarleton, must test morale of his horse after the infantry routes past them.  They fail and turn about and race from the field.  Morgan, waves his hat and the entire American line moves forward to clear the field.  The poor 71st is an island surrounded by American troops.  

The commander of the Highlanders is heard to mutter, " This is what comes of being led by a beard less boy."

It was not my day!

Epilogue:

A decisive battle much as the historical one was.  The rules used worked very well and provided a fun and enjoyable game.  The split move of the light troops works very well in giving skirmishes the ability to shoot and run away.  

I think the results of the fight are pretty much pre ordained.  The British have but one commander who cannot be everywhere at once.  The Americans have multiple commanders who can steady troops.  Also, putting a time limit on the game forces the British to just move forward quickly and no fancy tactics.  But in the end Morgan had an excellent battle plan designed to defeat his enemy.