Merry Christmas!

                           A very Merry Christmas to all!

Painting totals 2018

So, how did I do this year with my painting totals?  Not too bad.  I made great progress on my Revolution War figures. My 1776 project went very well and has added another element to my collection.  I painted less War of 1812 then last year but did add some important regiments.  These will enable me to fight most if the battles of the 1814 campaign.  Lastly my French mid eighteenth century collection has been put to the back burner.  On the total of figures painted I have included generals and mounted officers with the cavalry.  Artillery included both guns and crew.

War of 1812
Infantry: 96 figures
Cavalry:   6 figures
Total:  102 figures

French 18th century
Artillery:  4 guns and 8 crew
Cavalry:   12 figures
Total:  24

American Revolution War
Infantry:  432
Cavalry:  14
Artillery: 4 guns and 16 crew

Total for the Year;
Infantry:  528 figures
Artillery:  30 figures
Cavalry:  32 figures

A very respectable out put for the year!

How they look on the table

  I mounted the houses I put together on foam core.  This helps to add strength and durability to them.  I think I might cut down the size of the stands in the future.  But they look very nice on the table top and they fit in well with my minimalist old school terrain.

More Paper buildings

  I am having great fun with the Paper Terrain buildings.  After work I put together one of the stone houses.  Looks great!

Next to it is a small cabin from the American Revolution paper soldier booklet.
Once I mount my other houses on a foam core base they will look more like this.

Paper buildings

  Tis the season to plan out projects and goals for next year.  And one of my goals is to  fight the Battle of Trenton at Christmas time next year.   Once at our club game night in December then again Christmas day with my son.  I have the miniature soldiers ready;  it is the terrain I need to work on.  A winter ground mat, trees, snowy roads and icy river.  But mostly I need buildings, and lots of them.

  After looking at a number of  resin buildings I doubt I will go that way due to the cost.  I really like the MDF buildings but again I need a lot of them. So I will turn my hand to trying the paper type. Towards that end I have bought a number of clap board and stone houses from Paper Terrain.  These look very nice and are a very reasonable price.

  My first try was with one of  the simple white clap board houses.  Nothing complex about it.  I cut out most of the house with scissors and trimed it with a xacto knife.  I then scored the folds with the dull edge of the knife to fold it.  Using tacky glue I put a small amount of glue along the folds and glued the edges.  It went together very quickly and now I have a neat little  home for my table top. Thus ine should work for both  American Rev War and War of 1812. 

  A nice bonous is each house comes with a burned out destroyed version which fits inside the building.  Just in case your British Legion or  Canadian Volunteers are  up to their reported nastiness!

More to come soon both in terrain and buildings.

Battle of Cowpens 1814

  It has been one of those weeks. Repairs to the house, cleaning for the holidays and dealing with long days at the airport and holiday fliers.  To relax I put together a game. Because my son is living at home and has spread out in the basement I was pushed into a corner.   I have wanted to take out my War of 1812 collection and decided to refight the Rev War battle of Cowpens but with War of 1812 figures.

  My American army took the role of Tarleton and his British army;  while my Canadian-British army took the role of Morgan.

The Canadian-British firces under Lt.Col. Pearson deployed the Glengarry Light infantry in skirmish order out front.  The Lincoln and Norfolk militia formed the second line. The Incorporated Militia  Battalion of Upper Canada (IMUC) And 41st hold the third line.  In support are the 19th Light Dragoons and Niagara Dragoons.

 The American commander placed the New York Volunteer Dragoons on his left flank and Militia horse on his right. The U.S. dragoons are his reserve along with the 5th U.S. infantry.  His main line consisted of the 1st Rifle battalion, Pennsylvania volunteers and Canadian Volunteers along with a light gun.

The American commander marched forward trying to get in musket range.  He advanced his cavalry to try and turn the enemy's flank.  They were met with a counter charge and retreated.

On the left flank the New York Dragoons advanced against the Lincoln militia who emptied two saddles for their trouble.  The dragoons remembered they had somethings more important to do and scampered away.

The American main line drives the militia back.

On the left flank the 5th Infantry moves up with the Pennsylvania volunteers.

The light gun unlimbered and started firing at the troops on the ridge.

The American main line closes with the Canadian and British line.

 But being table top wargamers I could not resist a cavalry charge.  It did not go well.  The militia and British line shot down the horses who then raced back home.

 On the  left flank a tremendous fire fight broke out with both sides giving as good as they got.

  The British commander unleashed his cavalry who then over ran the Rifles and Canadian Volunteers.

The 41st swung around to take the volunteers in flank.  At this point both sides called the game with a victory to the Canadian - British side .  A great fun game in a colorful time period was had by all.

  Rules used were my War if 1812  "Mr Madison mets Fife and Drum"

The Rall Brigade 1776

  Prior to their arrival in American the regiments of the brigade were not impressive to many observers.  While the steadness and discipline of Fusilier Regiment Knyphausen was praised, Lossberg's and Rall's  drew unfavorable comments.  Fusilier Regiment Lossberg had the highest number of deserters of any regiment on its march from the capital to the ships;  fifteen men.  This was due to the regiment recruiting an great number of deserters from other countries into its ranks.  This was because of the garrison town it was quartered in which was on the outskirts of the country in a isolated area.

  William Fawcett, who was sent to muster the German troops being sent to American was less then impressed with Grenadier Regiment Rall.  He reported the battalion was inferior to the others he had seen.  The number of recruits were higher then the other battalions because its peacetime establishment was lower.  But he did add, "They are however in surprising forwardness; which is owing to the activity and cleverness of their colonel, who is one of the best officers of his rank, in the Landgrave's army."  While today we remember Johann Rall for the disaster at Trenton few remember him as a outstanding battalion commander.  But how did he get promoted  from battalion commander to brigade commnder?

  Originally  the three regiments were commanded by  Major General Werner von Mirbach.  But after the battle of Long Island a series of unfortunate events fell their commanding officers.  Mirbach suffered a stroke and was sent back  to Germany.  Colonel Carl von Bose who succeeded him also fell ill and left the command.  Next in seniority was Colonel Heringen from Regiment Lossberg who then died of dysentery.  His replacement,  Colonel Borce from Regiment Knyphausen was recovering from wounds.  So Johann Rall, a very junior colonel but excellent battalion commander found himself in command of a brigade. 

  British General Howe, who liked Rall and wanted to reward him for his fine service at White Plains and Fort Washington approved his independent command at Trenton.  Over the very strong objections from Rall's commander von Donop. This led to friction and a lack of cooperation between the two Hessian officers.   And the rest is history