American Brigadiers

  My American Army for Niagara 1814 is nearing completion.  Not that I will not be adding regiments, but close to what I had originally planned.  While most of my regiments have been spotlighted here one part I have neglected is the command.

  Knuckleduster Miniatures makes very nice mounted command figures of the American top commanders for this campaign.  Brown, Scott, Ripley and Porter are all done.  And very well at that.

Brigade Winfield Scott
1st Brigade

Brigade Porter
3rd Brigade

Brigade Ripley
2nd Brigade

British Brigadiers

 Knuckleduster miniatures make a nice variety of mounted and dismounted command figures.  On the American side there are figures of Brown, Scott, Ripley, Porter and Johnson.  I have already posted pictures of these esteemed individuals (but not Johnson, yet)  with their brigades elsewhere on the blog.  There are also a very nicely done dismounted command group which would create a neat little vignette.

  On the British/Canadian side they make two versions of a mounted British Brigadier.  The first is wearing the old uniform with epaulette.   This looks to be a war worn individual who has seen it all and has a serious look about him. .  I plan on using him to portray Brigadier Joseph Morrison of the 89th Regiment who led a  brigade at Lundy s Lane where he was wounded.

  The second figure is wearing the more up to date uniform including aguellettes instead of epalettes.  He is waving his hat and looks like he could be encouraging his troops or directing a attack.   I plan on using him for acting brigadier Thomas Pearson of the 23rd RWF who commanded the 2nd or Light Brigade in 1814.  And if you have not yet read it do yourself a favorite and read Donald E. Graves excellent biography of this man, "Fix Bayonets."

Niagara Light Dragoons

  More cavalry gallop from my painting table this month!  For a war not known for gallant cavalry actions I have painted my share, this month of horses and riders!   To oppose my American Light Dragoons here are  Captain William Merritt and the first  troop of the Niagara Light Dragoons.

   The regiment was raised in 1813 and saw much active service.  Captain William Merritt, who was born in upstate New York a son of a Queens Ranger loyalist. From 1813 he led his troop in defense of their homesteads  including at the action of Stoney Creek.  They were especially active in the skirmishes wars in 1813 against the renegade Colonel Wilcox and his Canadian volunteers.  Captain Merritt was captured at Lundy's  Lane in 1814, by "six skulking fellows" during the fighting in the darkness.  He was interned at Pittsfield Massachusetts for the rest of the war.

   Little is know of the uniform of this regiment.  Locally raised from militiamen in the Niagara area.  Most were long service militiamen.  the regiment was equipped from British cavalry  stores. These issued items included light dragons swords and carbines, blue jackets with red collars and cuffs and tarleton style helmets.

1st American Rifle regiment

Rifle armed regiments were a tradition in the American Army during the time of the Revolution.  The actions at Saratoga, Kings Mountain and The Cowpens were legendary in the American mind.  So it was that in the tiny United States Army one of the first regiments created were the 1st Rifle Regiment.

The regiment was armed with the Harper's Ferry rifle.  Volunteers were selected for there marksmanship.  Although there was a regulation uniform the regiment appeared more often in the field a green hunting shirt with buff trim.  Trousers were white or green.  Head gear was a bell shaped shako with yellow cords.  Equipment was black leather and the standard haversack and wooden water bottle.

1st American Light Dragoon regiment

The War of 1812 was not known for decisive cavalry actions.  Aside from the Battle of the Thames there were few if any massed cavalry charges that influenced battle outcome.  But being war games that will not stop players from hurling what cavalry there is into battle.  To assist them here is a small squad of the 1st American Light Dragoons.  I have mounted them individually to use as messengers and couriers which was there true role on the battlefield.  But until have no doubt they will part of many a glorious charge in the future.

Battle at The Mackenzie Brother's Farm

  I was invited to game night with my old club, the northern conspiracy.  They are a great bunch of people and they put on magnificent games.  Sad to say back about twelve years ago I had to drop out of the club due to a career change and new work hours.  So my return was very exciting and enjoyable for me.  I hope this will mark my return to the club.

 My game was set in the War of 1812 during the Niagara campaign.  A larger American force was advancing and needed to clear a road junction and two small farms owned by the brothers McKenzie (Bob and Doug).  The smaller British/Canadian forces needed to hold them up to buy time.  The rules used were Fife and Drum rules for the American Revolution.  Terrain was plentiful (perhaps too plentiful!) With a nice old school look to everything.

The British/Canadians commanders (Greg and Ralph) placed their  line troops (1st, 8th, 100th, 2nd Lincoln militia and Volunteers incorporated militia) defending a stone wall and a  long ridge line.

 Artillery was place along the road with clear fields of fire to the front.  The Light troops (Glengarry Light Infantry and Native American Indians) pushed forward in the woods.

 The plan was to use the woods and light troops to delay the American advance while the line troops held a good solid defensive position.

 The American forces (George, Kevin and Phil) divided their forces into three commands.  Kevin took Ripleys

brigade (1st, 21st and 23rd) and advanced along the right flank.  Phil took two battalions of Scott's brigade (9th and 11th)  and both guns and advanced on the left flank.

 George with two battalions of line 25th and 22nd)  and two battalions of volunteers (New York and Pennsylvania) would clear the woods and attack the enemy line.

  While the American right and left advanced quickly the center became bogged down against the pesky lights.  The Indians especially were obnoxious, advancing and retreating and causing

numerous moral checks. A house rule we added was frest time Indians fire at you you check morale.  

 Phil's advance on the left and his artillery placement finally caused the Glengarry's to fall back to the main British line.  The Indians followed and the American center finally came face to face with the British behind the stone wall.  On

the right flank the Lincoln militia bravely held the ridge while the American 1st brigade advanced on them.

 Kevin attacked the militia and drove them off the ridge.  But Greg caused numerous casualties and caused two American battalions to go shaken.  In the center

George charged the main British line, over running one of the guns.  But the splendid 100th Regiment of Foot behind the stone wall won the melee against the volunteers and regulars.  By this time it was time to pack up.  Both sides felt the britidh/canadians had held up the Americans and could now withdraw with honour.

  After the game all agreed it was a good time.  The rules played well, but local additions and interpretation will be added for the next time.  I put too much terrain out which slowed the game down.  A lesson for next time.    I am most happy with the "look" of the project.  Big battalions of six stands of four figures each with a nice old school style terrain and rules.  Terrain is practical but visually attractive.  The rules play well and capture the feel of the period.  All in all a good effort and I hope to put on another game soon.  It was grand being back and I look forward to playing with my old friends soon.  Thank you for inviting me.

Rebased Artillery Stands

  The problems with any forums or blogs are you get inspired my other people's work.  In my case, always looking for how things "look" I can get carried away.  This is one case in point.

  On a site I was very taken by how one person based their artillery.  They were on round bases.  In all my war game experience I have always based my artillery on rectangular bases.  My friends have always based their on rectangular bases.  But here was something very different.  For some reason this really took my fancy.  And I was off!

  So at Cold wars I got new bases.  And, since

I just had to of course I had to get more gunners to do it right (and paint more gunners).  Four gunners look so much better then two gunners per stand.

Here are the new artillery.  Again I think they look neat.  They were thrown into the fight last night but that is a topic for my next post.