19 April 1775

Very early illustration from Don Troiani from the 1970's published in American Heritage Magazine.  I always looked forward to these as they were a cut above anything in print at that time.   Also some friends from the 43rd/2nd Pennsylvania Regiment knew him and also modeled for him.  It still is fun to find them in his early work.

 

one of the few that got the landscape correctly.

Good example of lights skirmishing.

111 years ago today

111 years ago today RMS Lusitania departed New York’s Pier 54 for the last time.  It was her 201st crossing of the Atlantic. 

From newsreel of the Lusitania leaving NYC

 

passengers and crew from the newsreel

Many United States newspapers ran notices from the German Embassy in Washington, warning travelers not to sail on ships flying the flag of nations at war with Germany;  that such vessels were at risk of destruction in British waters. These notices appeared alongside advertisements for Lusitania’s voyage, heightening the ominous tone of the day.

outside of the harbour as the Lusitania passed a British ship heading to New York a passenger snaped this photograph.  It is the last photograph of the Lusitania taken.

Cavalry Skirmish 1781

 

  

A smallish skirmish I played out recently.  The British Legion (and 17th LD) vs Lauzun's Legion in a all cavalry clash.  Fun back and forth but in the end the French sent them packing.   Tarleton and Lauzun did cross swords with the Duke getting a slight wound and Tarleton unhorsed and rescued at the last minute by the 17th LD.  Fun game and most colorfu

Valour & Fortitude Game

I am back up north for a talk I am giving on 18 April at Fort Devens.  My good friend John heard I was up and put together a smallish Civil War game with the Perry Brothers rules Valour and Fortitude rules.  These worked very well and made a fun and fast moving game.  

 

The game wad in 10mm/12mm scale with lots of reinforcements for both sides marching to the sound of the guns.  In the end I held the Union right flank while Warren broke the Confederate center for a glorious Union victory.

Thank you john for taking the time to put this together.  A great game and a great day out with friends.

Royal Marine Grenadiers?

 

The model is from the  National Maritime Museum and is labeled c. 1758. Here is the information from the National Army Museum concerning the model;

"Passenger vessel; Landing craft

Scale: 1:24. A contemporary full hull model of a troop landing boat (circa 1758), complete with a full complement of 20 sailors and 50 armed Marines. Measuring 32 feet in length by 10 feet in the beam and an approximate tonnage of 12 burden, the hull is built in clinker fashion with a square transom and round bows.

These troop boats were carried in specially adapted transports hired by the Admiralty, and could be partially dismantled so that they would nest on top of each other for easy storage. They were used for landing soldiers on enemy shores, in particular on the French coast in 1758 and also the capture of Havana and St. Lucia. A half-pound swivel-gun mounted on the bow gave added protection when going ashore under fire."

Detail of the figures in the model have the Grenadiers in fur caps   These were authorized in the 1768 warrant so the figures may be of the American Revolution period.  The cap plates look like the Marine type as is the white facings on the uniforms.  While the model may be of the 1750's  I wonder if someone added the figures later?

Very realistic fur and note grenade on back of cap.  Also uniforms have white facings  which again are correct for the 1770's Marines.

Nice details of the Royal Navy blue jackets

There appears to be a number of these models in the museum.  Some of the infantry are definitely in Seven Years War caps while two models have fur caps.