Sailing

 Today I am off sailing in the lake.  In the video my ship is dead, #99.  I definitely have a lot to learn about sailing but it is great fun and very relaxing.  

Saint David's Day and The Royal Welch Fusiliers

 

1st March 1775;  This being St. David's Day the officers of the 23rd Regiment, or Royal Welch Fusiliers, dinned together according to the custom.  All the General & Staff Officers, the Admiral, and several other person's were invited to dine with the Regiment...."

From the diary of Lieutenant Frederick MacKenzie.

The "custom" was on each Saint Daivid's Day following dinner the regimental goat with the drummers and fifers are led around the mess table.  The drum major has a silver plate with raw leeks and the mess sergeant carries a loving cup filled with champagne. They halt by the newest joined officer who then stands on his chair with his left foot and places his right foot on the table and eats a leek while the drummers play a continuous roll.  Once he has consumed the leek he is handed the loving cup and before drinking toasts "And Saint David!"  All present who have not eaten a leek, including guests are expected to do so. Similar ceremonies occurs in the sergeants and the other ranks mess.  This custom, described as "ancient" in 1775  is still observed in peace and during war time up to the present time.

To all today I wish a Happy Saint David's Day to the Welch, and to all Royal Welch Fusiliers both past and present!

Chatterton Hill October 1776 Game

 

 

Slowly putting together a game based on the Battle of White Plains, in particular the fighting around Chatterton Hill on 28 October 1776.  Sadly there is a tremendous amount of misinformation about the battle and its been interesting researching and trying to figure out who was where and who was involved.  I will be doing a future post on what I can put together about the battle based on primary (first person) accounts later.

  First off here is the order of battle I put together based both on first person accounts and casualties returns per regiment.  Part of the problem here is there were two British columns and two separate American delaying forces.  One retired back to Chatterton hill while the second fell back to the main American line.   Most wargames scenario books have a number of units that did not take part in the fighting on Chatterton hill.  One unit never mentioned was the Independent Loyalists companies that became  The New York Volunteers.  Two companies were assigned to each column. They definitely suffered casualties so might gave been there at the battle.  If I do add them they will be dressed in the loyalist uniform British were just sending;  green coats with white facing's and round hats.  I have most of the figures ready except for the Hessian Grenadier battalions.  RSM Ltd miniatures have castings which are very decently priced.

Crown Forces:

Hessian Line Brigade:  Colonel Rall

Rall Grenadier Regiment (Dk blue coat, red cuff no lapel)

Knyphausen Fusilier Regiment (Dk Blue coat, Black cuff, black lapel)

Lossburg Fusilier Regiment:  (Dk Blue coat Orange cuff,  Orange lapel)

Lieb Musketeer Regiment  (Dk Blue coat, Yellow cuffs Yellow lapels)

2nd British Brigade: General Leslie

5th Regiment of Foot (Gosling Green facings)

28th Regiment of Foot (Yellow facings)

35th Regiment of Foot. (Orange Facings)

49th Regiment of Foot (Green Facings)

Hessian Grenadier Brigade: Colonel von Donop

Grenadier Battalion von Linsing

H-C Lieb (Dk Blue coat, Yellow cuffs Yellow lapels)

 H-C Mirbach M. (Dk Blue coat,  Red cuff, Red lapel)

H-H 2nd Lieb Gren Rgt (Dk Blue coat,  Red cuff, Red lapel)

H-H 3rd Lieb Gren Rgt (Dk Blue coat, Red cuff, Red lapel)

Grenadier Battalion von Block

H-C Wutgenau M. (Dk Blue coat, Red cuff no lapel)

 H-C Prinz Karl M. (Dk Blue coat, Red cuff, Red cuff)

 H-C Trumbach M. (Dk Blue coat, White cuff,  White lapel)

H-C Donop M. (Dk Blue coat,  Straw cuff, Straw lapel)

Grenadier Battalion von Minnigerode

 H-C Erb Prinz F (Dk Blue coat Rose cuffs,  Rose lapel)

H-C Ditfurth F. (Dk Blue coat,  Yellow cuff, Yellow lapel)

H-C Knyphausen F. (Dk Blue coat, Black cuff, Black lapel)

H-C Losberg F. (Dk Blue coat Orange cuff,  Orange lapel)

American Forces:

Here are the American forces who fought on the hill.  I have used faculty returns as well as first person accounts to determine who I think were there.

Ordered to fortify Chatterton hill Washington sent Brook's and Graham's Massachsetts Militia regiments out.  Using fences and stone walls they created a good position for themselves.  Colonel Haslet was then sent out with his Delaware regiment and two guns from Hamilton's New York Artillery company to support them.

Earlier Washington had sent a number of regiments out to harass the two advancing British coloumns.  From Colonel Douglas's brigade the 1st  and 2nd Connecticut State regiments  harassed the left column under General von Heister.  He detached Colonel Rall with his regiment, the Knyphausen and Lieb regiments to push them back.  

Finally Washington sent Brigadier McDougall's brigade to support the hill.  The Brigade was made up of the Smallwood's Maryland regiment, 19th Continental, 1st and 3rd New York regiments.

Haslet's Brigade:

Delaware Regiment

Mosley's Massachusetts Militia

Brook's Massachusetts Militia

New York Artillery

Spencer's Brigade:

1st Connecticut State Regt.

5th Connecticut State Regt.

Skirmishers

McDougall's Brigade:

Maryland Regiment

19th Continental Regt.

1st New York Regt.

3rd New York Regt.

Finaly;  if anyone out there has done convention type games in the past and have advice please feel free to pass this on to me.

Park Service cuts 1,000 jobs

 

 "The U.S. Forest Service is firing around 3,400 hires while the National Park Service is terminating about 1,000 under Trump's push to cut federal spending.

The cuts represent 10% percent of the U.S. Forest Service workforce and 5% of Park Service employees.  They are part of  Elon Musk's campaign to radically cut back the U.S. bureaucracy.”

This year when parks are opened for limited hours or most programs are cut back you know why  

Update:  time to fight back!!

Breaking Down Xavier della Gatta's Battle of Germantown Painting

 

Follow up to the post in the Paoli action.  Germantown is a fascinating battle  Washington plan something similar to Trenton with a number if converging columns   That it did not work is due to a too ambitious plan, the fig and a very spirited defense by the Light Infantry battalions and the 40th holding the Chew house.  One continental love brigadier drinking too much didn’t help!!!

A fascinating action and here are some details to make it more interesting  

1. Washington's Army

Regiments from Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware led the attack at Germantown. Washington’s total assault force included about 8,000 Continental Army troops and 3,000 militiamen from Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey.

2. Lieutenant Richard St. George and Corporal George Peacock

Corporal George Peacock is rescuing the wounded Richard St. George from the battlefield. For his heroic effort, St. George presented Peacock with 50 guineas (gold coins), the equivalent of three years’ pay for a corporal.

3. General Sir William Howe

This officer on horseback is believed to be General Sir William Howe. According to Martin Hunter, when General Howe saw the British light infantry retreating from Washington’s army, he exclaimed “For shame, Light Infantry! I never saw you retreat before!” Howe eventually rallied his 8,000 troops, called up reinforcements from Philadelphia, and forced the American Army to retreat.

4. Beggarstown

Northwest of Germantown is the village of Beggarstown (now the Mt. Airy section of Philadelphia). Washington’s army attacked the British on Oct. 4 on the main road that connected Beggarstown and Germantown, now called Germantown Avenue.

5. African American Trumpeter

This light infantry trumpeter may be a man who ran away from slavery to follow the British Army. Many enslaved men and women saw the British Army as a path to freedom. Those who followed the army worked in various positions, including officers’ servants, laundresses, and wagon drivers (shown above to the right). A few men served as musicians, such as this trumpeter, to help the British Army communicate its orders in camp and on the battlefield.

6. British Wounded

This wagon driver of African descent is evacuating British light infantrymen to Philadelphia for medical treatment. After being rescued from the battlefield at Germantown, Richard St. George was also carted into the city. Eyewitnesses reported that it took 200 wagonloads to bring the casualties from Germantown to the makeshift hospitals in Philadelphia.

7. Cliveden

This brick building is Xavier della Gatta’s representation of Cliveden, the home of Philadelphia lawyer Benjamin Chew. In reality, Cliveden (which is now a historic site, shown in the photograph below) is made of stone and is much larger. Della Gatta’s painting shows the 40th Regiment commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Musgrave entering the mansion and preparing to defend it. The 40th Regiment defended the house from intense artillery fire and 10 infantry assaults over a span of about two hours. One observer said the “Englishmen fought like lions.”

Based on Stephen Gilbert's article:

"An analysis of the Xavier della Gatta paintings of the Battles of Paoli and Germantown 1777" part 1

https://www.academia.edu/44087628/_The_Battle_of_Paoli_Stephen_R_Gilbert_An_Analysis_of_the_Xavier_della_Gatta_Paintings_of_the_Battles_of_Paoli_and_Germantown_1777_Part_I_Military_Collector_and_Historian_vol_XLVI_no_3_Fall_1994_98_108

500,000 Visits

 Guess this is a milestone for the humble blog.   Over 500,000 visits to the blog.  Who would have guessed?   Thank you all very much for the support over the years.  I greatly appreciate it.  Thank you all very much!

Breaking Down Xavier della Gatta's Battle of Paoli Painting

 

"On the night of Sept. 20-21, 1777, a column of British soldiers launched a surprise attack on Continental Army troops encamped in a field near modern-day Malvern, Pennsylvania. In the ensuing struggle, known as the Battle of Paoli, British light infantrymen and light dragoons inflicted heavy casualties on Pennsylvania Brigadier General Anthony Wayne's fleeing troops. British Army light infantry Lieutenant Richard St. George Mansergh St. George, an Irish artist and veteran of the battle, commissioned this painting by Italian artist Xavier della Gatta in 1782 to remember the violence and trauma he experienced at Paoli.". Museum of the American Revolution

1. British Light Dragoons

These four British soldiers on horseback are members of the 16th Light Dragoons. They used their long steel sabers to devastating effect at Paoli. The dragoon on the right is raising his saber to cut down a Pennsylvania soldier.

2. Lieutenant Martin Hunter

Martin Hunter, St. George’s friend, is wrapping his wounded hand with a bandage. In his memoir, Hunter recalled the close combat at Paoli: “I received a shot in my right hand soon after we entered the camp. I saw the fellow present at me, and was running up to him when he fired. He was immediately put to death.”

3. Ferguson’s Riflemen

Wearing green coats and carrying their breechloading rifles with 25-inch long bayonets, a group of Captain Patrick Ferguson’s riflemen helped to lead the attack at Paoli.

4. Captain William Wolfe

Captain William Wolfe, the Irish commander of the 40th Regiment’s light company, died leading his troops at Paoli. He was remembered as “a most brave and attentive officer.”

5. Pennsylvania Troops

Brigadier General Anthony Wayne’s troops scrambled to defend their camp at Paoli. The Pennsylvanians fired their muskets, which made it easier for the British to find and attack them in the dark. Wayne withdrew his troops in a fighting retreat to save them from total defeat. The Battle of Paoli became known as the “Paoli Massacre” or “Wayne’s Affair.”

6. Brush Huts

Instead of tents, Wayne’s troops constructed brush huts, also called “wigwams” or “booths,“ in their camp along a woodline (which still exists today, right). These huts provided some protection from the wind and rain. Both Washington’s and Howe’s armies built temporary brush hut camps during the Philadelphia Campaign when baggage wagons carrying tents were not close by.

7. Artist’s Signature

Italian artist Xavier della Gatta signed and dated his painting in the bottom right corner: “Xav d Gatta 1782.” Richard St. George traveled to Italy after his wartime service and provided Xavier della Gatta with the eyewitness testimony needed to create this painting. Della Gatta also painted the Battle of Germantown.

All information based on Stephen Gilbert's article:

"An analysis of the Xavier della Gotta paintings of the Battles of Paoli and Germantown 1777 " part 2

https://www.academia.edu/43998778/_The_Battle_of_Germantown_Stephen_R_Gilbert_An_Analysis_of_the_Xavier_della_Gatta_Paintings_of_the_Battles_of_Paoli_and_Germantown_1777_Part_II_

Historicon is a Go

 

George dealing with the reservation line.

   Saddle up the horses and pack the buggy we are going to Historicon again!  

  My friend George spent the time and energy staying on the phone and dealing with reservations.  He was successful in booking us a room for 16 through the 19 July.  Last year we arrived late on Thursday and missed a bunch of stuff.  So this year we added the extra day and will arrive Wednesday.

  I know its early but who else is going? I am thinking I might put on a game this year if I can get organized.

The Wargame Companion - A Review

 

When I go in vacation I usually take a Wargames related book for me.  This is for light reading by the pool or on the balcony.  I usually like to bring  my copy of "The Wargame Companion" by Charles S. Grant.  I have his second edition in hardback as I wore out my original copy.  Plus I like the new color pictures of games.  The book is a fun read and can be started anywhere.  Its kind of a personal memoir of his war gaming experiences over the decades.

The  stories about CS Grant playing in wargames with his father, Charles Grant, and Peter Young, as well as other snippets about people like Edward Suren  are worth the price of the book to me.   Grant provides a lot of the "back story" to the hows and whys of the rules, and the fictional 18th century armies that they all used, and much, much more.  It’s like a class in miniature Wargames history.  A few of if my favorite parts:

"The Early Years and the ACW."  Providing background on the Grant family's introduction to wargaming and the birth of the rules, for ACW use, that eventual evolved into The Wargame rules.  Fascinating to see the old article and black and white pictures .  Some good background to create games.

"The Wargame Revisited.". This chapter covers the personalities, both real and fictional; plus background on the armies of the Grand Duchy of Lorraine, the Vereinigte Frei Stadt, and Teutoburg-Althaufen.  Interesting how the personalities molded the fictional armies.  I never got into imagination nations because I just did not have the imagination to do so.  Yet I am in admiration if those who can..

Scenarios,;  including the original game and a new try out of it for Sawmill Village, the Wagon Train, and Lobositz.    He also adds a new Guilford Courthouse scenario for the readers.I was less impressed by this one just because Guilford has been so over done by gamers.  These are fun games I have fought in many different periods over the years  

A chapter on  how to construct buildings like  those seen in The Wargame, with the lift-off buildings/ruined buildings underneath is interesting.  But I am much to happy with my Things From The Basement houses to bother.  

There is set of The Wargame rules in easy to read chart form, done by Henry Hyde,. He has also taken color pictures of the flags and standard bearers for each unit in the Grant family's Vereingte Freistadt army along with pictures from the collections of John Ray, Phil Olley, Angus Konstamm and others.  Finally, Mr. Grant laments that time and age have taken a toll on his plastic Spencer Smith figures. They are slowly in the process of being replaced by new metal armies os Staddens, Surens, Mindens and others.i

My highest recommendation!

A little Humor

 

Visit to the Dade Battlefield

 

 On Sunday Janine and I visited the Dade Battlefield park.  The battle marked the start of the Second Seminole War.  The Dade Battle or  massacre, was a  defeat for the United States Army in 1835.  On 28 December 1835 two U.S. Infantry companies numbering 103 men under the command of Major Francis L. Dade were ambushed by approximately 180 Seminole and Black Seminole warriors as they marched from Fort Brooke on Tampa Bay to reinforce Fort King in Ocala.  The battle took place in a pine forest and swampy area and was a one-sided Seminole victory. All but three American soldiers were killed at the cost of only six Seminole warriors. The defeat sparked the Second Seminole War which lasted until 1842. The Seminole wars are little known and usually ignored in most history text books.  They comprise the longest Indian war in US history.

 The park has a number of walking trails, and a nice visitor center.  There are markers for the troop locations and a replica of the breast work set up by the soldiers.  In the visitor center were excellent displays outline the reasons for the conflict and the course of the war.  In addition there are two life size figures in replica uniform and native clothing.  

  The day we visited the park hosted a historical reenactment of the battle.  There were small camps set up and various weapons firing and other demonstrations.  It all concluded with a mock battle.

Toy Soldier Monument

   This sculpture by Canadian artist Douglas Coupland is titled "Monument To The War Of 1812" and it is located about a block from Fort York. It was installed in 2008 in front of a condominium complex as part of the city's art requirement for new development. The "two abandoned toy soldiers pay tribute to Toronto's history" and Fort York's part in the Canadian victory in the war of 1812.

2024; A Year In Review

 

  "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."  Yes, it's time for the yearly year in review.  I do like reading these types of post as it tends to put what happened into a nice neat box that you can then throw out.   First off a strange mixed year for yours truly.  I was formally retired and am now still adjusting to retirement.  Its strange and unusual to not have to get up at odd hours and go to work.   But I am adjusting.  Slowly.

 

On the miniature gaming front a most interesting year.  The club and friends provided a great number of games, many of them periods I do not usually game in or have an interest in.  High on my list would be Mark D's Pikemen's lament game "Ambush at Black Rock."   Also the outstanding "Hunting Moby Dick game.". And of course Adam's truly outstanding sailing ship games.  All were wonderful and fun and I appreciate the time and effort they put into them.  Thank you!

Great time at the Huzzah convention in Maine. Best thing was meeting up, in person with Vincent from  The Corlears Hook Fencibles who's blog I have followed for a long time.  Here I am with Mr Ed and Vincent as the bloggers three!

Going to Historicon was definitely which point.  A few days away from life to see friends, play games and be with friends.  Again the high point for me was playing in Jim's Picket's Charge game.  Great fun and exciting.  

Lastly our club's game day in October.  Played in AJ's Battle of Rhode Island game which was outstanding.  I usually do not care for computer driven miniature games but his was different and great fun.  Also in Mr Ed's outstanding Jousting game.  Very well done a barrels of fun.

Not too much on my painting front.  I did rebase my American Rev War figures.  And added another division for my American armies.   Also added a few civilians to liven up the table top.

Next year?  Planning on working on a small portable game to tale on my travels.  Also really need to get out and put on more games.  And I have a few research articles I plan on posting here.

Thank you all for following!  I wish you all a most happy and healthy New Years.