Militia in hunting shirts and round hats

   One can always use another militia unit.  No matter the time period.  Especially if they have round (top) hats!

  These figures are from Brigade games miniatures.  I picked them up at Cold Wars.  I had heard very good things about the range and was eager to see if they fit in with my Knuckleduster miniatures.  They do!  Similar style and look correct together on the table top.

  These figures will be a generic militia unit.  The round hats and hunting shirts fit in for the  Niagara or Upper Canada,  the Chesapeake bay area and New Orleans.

  The black flag with the death's head belonged to a New York militia regiment.  The other flag was similar to one I saw in Lossing's field book diverge War of 1812.  I think two flags look way better in a infantry regiment.

  Very happy with these fine fellows.  I will be working on a Brigade games miniature regiment of American Regulars in mid war uniform soon.

Based for trees

  Always looking to add trees to my collection of terrain.  When you game American Revolution and War of 1812 you need plenty of woods to provide cover for you rifle men and indians, and for period atmosphere.  Most of my trees are individual based.

  At Cold Wars this year I got some extra trees free when I bought some river sections.  Since they needed to be based I used some pre cut GW based I had lying around unused.  I think they look good this way.  I may create some addition bases like these to use to break up line of sight in games.  I am going to add some woodland type animals to some for color.  But more of that in another posting.

Gabions

  A most useful item.  These gabions came pre painted and ready to use.  Picked them up at Cold Wars.  I will have to think up some scenarios to use in future games.

7th New York Hussars 1814

  The War of 1812 was not known for its cavalry actions.  One can always find an exception to the rule but for the most part cavalry played a very minor role.  But that has not stopped any miniature war gamer from fielding these colorful regiments.  And something about cavalry on the table top means glorious charges no matter the historical realities.

  Adding to my American army I already have two mounted regiments. One of American regular Dragoon and a militia regiment in hunting shirts and too hats.   But I just had to add these fine fellows.  As militia they most likely paid for their own uniforms.  And from the looks of These fellows they must have been from the upper crust of society.  Not content with plain uniforms they modeled theirs on the European hussars that graced so many Napoleonic battlefields.

  I can find little information about them so I cannot tell if their actions in the field resembled their uniforms.  Perhaps they got no further from the Niagara frontier then their own town greens.  perhaps most of their actions of dating were with the local ladies.  But I am sure on my table They will be involved in many heroic actions.

  Figured are from the Old Glory line of miniatures.

Hemingway in Havana

  Back in March Janine booked a short four night cruise out of Miami to Havana Cuba for us.  Well we are just back in the USA.  The trip was exciting and wonderful but exhausting.

  Havana is like stepping back into the 1950's.  If you like classic cars this would be like going to heaven.  The cars are beautiful and the owners very proud of them.  Interestingly the engine are usually entirely rebuild, many of them with canabalized Russian engines.  You can hire the car and driver for a three or four hour tour of the city.  Due to the heat (and yes it is very hot) I perfered the air conditioned tour bus.

  A visit to Havana would not be complete without a evening at the famous Tropicana night club.  Again entering the venue is like stepping back in time.  When you enter  ladies are given a rose, and the gentlemen a cigar.  You also get a bottle of Havana rum and a can of cola to enjoy with the show.  A very large and very talented band provided an amazing variety of music throughout the night.  The dancers and their costumes were incredible and would put to shame a Las Vegas show.

  Being a fan of Hemingway visiting his home was a must see. We booked a tour for our second day there which included not only visiting his home but two of his favorite bars.

  The home is meticulously maintained.  It truly looks like you could see Hemingway striding about with a drink in hand or standing in his writing room composing at his typewriter.  The swimming pool is empty which is sad.  But next to the pool is his fishing boat the Pilar.  In town at the El Floridita  there is a bronze statue of him at the bar.  And yes they make a great dacari.  At the La Bodeguita Del Medio you get a mojito. Cheers!

Monumento a las víctimas del Maine

   Last year while in Key West Florida I reported on my hunting for The USS Maine.  Today here I am in Havana Cuba, visiting the actual site of the disaster and the monument to the Maine itself.  Built in 1925 and called The Monument to the Victims of the USS Maine it honors the American sailors who died in the explosion in 1898.  The monument is on the Malecón Boulevard.  The ship had anchored at Havana at the request of American consul Fitzhugh Lee. The explosion and deaths of over half its crew was the pretext for the United States declaring war on Spain.  Based on photographs from the period, I think our cruise ship dock is near to where the ship sank and the wreckage stayed for years before being salvaged.

  On the monument are the two 10" cannon barrels from the ship's main gun turret.  Heavily rusted, they were recovered from the wreck of the ship.  They are painted black and attached to the base of the monument.

One of the ten inch cannons.

  The monument itself was originally crowned with an American eagle, but its wings extended in such a way that a hurricane damaged it.  This is now in the U.S. Embassy building in Havana.  The eagle was  replaced in 1926 by a new one with horizontal wings.  The newer eagle was pulled downed in 1960 because it was considered a symbol of American imperialism.  The eagle's head was recovered by Swiss diplomats.  It too is now in the Embassy of the United States in Havana.  The body and the wings are stored in the Havana City History Museum.  The museum's curator believes that good relations with the U.S. will be symbolized by the reunification of the parts of the eagle.  I hope to see this happen in my lifetime.

Enjoying a cigar in front of the monument.

Photos by Mark and Janine.   
Thank you to Janine for help in editing this article.

Battle of Granny Creek part 2

Granny Creek battlefield.  American continental line at bottom left of picture.

  As mention before this battle is based on the historical Battle of Camden, August 1780.  While the original battle saw a larger American army defeated by a smaller British army I felt as a game it lacked tactical possibilities.  It was a simple line them up and march forward game. How to make it a more interesting?

   I placed the battlefield a couple miles north of its actual location and gave the American commander a opportunity to alter the actual set up.  The order of battle was based on the historical one but I combined many regiments or left out some regiments for better playability. After all I was looking for a game which gave both sides a chance to win.

American Militia Brigade on left flank.

Continental line holding right flank.

In the center of the American line. Militia Brigade and rifles deploy.

  The American commanders chose to set up similar to Gate's historical battle.  Both Continental brigades (four battalions) and the artillery covered the right flank. They defended along a rail fence and anchored the position on a small farm. The left flank was defended  by a militia brigade of three battalions. They set up two battalions along a rail fence with a third in reserve.  The center had a militia brigade of three battalions plus the rifle battalion and both cavalry squadrons.  They positioned themselves in a wood with a small farm house.  After action reports by the Americans suggested their plan was to have the British worn down by the american's superior numbers.

British masse massed cavalry on left flank.  An impressive sight.

  The British also copied the historical set up.  On their right flank the were the 71st, 33rd and 23rd regiments plus the Royal Artillery.  The left has the two loyalist battalions, and the entire British Legion plus a light gun.  Rather then hold the Legion cavalry in reserve it was placed in the front line.  Perhaps to cause terror In the hearts of fhe Americans? In the center a single combined light battalion of twelve figures hoped to hold.

  The battle comenced on the British right with a slow advance (poor die rolling) by the 23rd And 33rd against the rail fence.  The 71st sprinted forward and pushed back a militia battalion.  The reserve militia battalion then stopped the highlander's cold with a devastating volley of six hits which caused 5 disorganization points (DP's) and one casualty (removal of a stand of three figures).  In the rules "Loose Files And American Scramble" DP's represent temporary disorganization within the ranks.  By redressing ranks a regiment can remove DP's.  Better quality units can do it faster while poor quality units need a Commanders help.  So the 71st fell back to regroup.  The 23rd and 33rd then routed the other two militia battalions.  With the flank open the British commander reorganized his command.  Although having seen his entire brigade routed The American commander took great satisfaction In having fought the 71st to a stand still. I am sure it will be recorded as such in the history books.

In the center The gallant Americans hold firm.

While the gallant light Bob's also hold firm.

  In the center the American Militia Brigade bravely stood facing the light infantry battalion.  The light Bob's were only too happy by this event.

Charge!

The great cavalry fight

Charge and counter charge.

The thin blue line.

  Much of the drama of the night occurred on the American right flank.  The massed British Legion cavalry rode forward against the American cavalry.  Although The American cavalry held in the first close combat, superior training and numbers eventualy saw them decimated and driven off the field.  The Legion cavalry reduced in numbers also retired from the field due to casulties.  The 17th Light Dragoons attempted to charge the 2nd Virginian Regiment who shot them down in a reenactment of the thin red line at Balaklava.

  The lesson learned  was small cavalry commands should be held in reserve.  These are not heavy european battle cavalry.  Small numbers cannot take too much damage before they are useless in the table top.

  Meanwhile in the center The American Militia brigade patiently awaited the British light infantry battalion attack.  The Lights  continued holding in place.

Continental brigade line.

Forming line.

American start to advance

Loyalist brigade.

  The American Continental line commander by this time realized he out number his opposite British command.  He drew up in line his two Maryland battalions and his guns against the two Loyalist battalions.  He advanced with his two Virginian battalions and routed the British Legion Infantry battalion.

  At this point the game was called due to the late hour.  A pity as things were getting exciting.  The British had rolled up the American left flank.  Now the American 's were returning the favor on their right flank.

  Both sides claimed a victory.  But in my mind any victory awarded should have been given to the little British light battalion.  They held the center against superior numbers (12 light infantry against 90 militia and 12 rifles) for the entire game.  Bravo, my fine fellows.