She wore a yellow ribbon

  At game night Peter put on one of his outstanding " Yellow Ribbon" games.  Cavalry vs Indians doesn't get better on the table top.  Visually the games are beautiful and the rules cover the actions as they were fought and not a Hollywood version. The rules, "Yellow Ribbon" reflex the realities of fighting in the old west.  These are one of Greg Novak's  best rule sets.

  One aspect of Peter's games are his meticulous pre game briefings.  Each figure in the game is named and players have orders and objectives for each command.  For the U.S. Forces their objective was to move the wagons and mule train through a valley and off the board.  Commanders had to maintain a steady stream of ammunition to their men as they used up a lot and fast.  There weapons had longer ranges but they had fewer men and were less mobile. 

  For the various Indian war bands these briefings explain their marksmanship, medicine (morale) and victory points.  Yes, they were supposed to stop the wagons. But each band could gain victory points for other things.  These included capturing horses, counting coup or collecting scalps.  It is very difficult to coordinate bands and once your medicine (morale) is exhausted your band leaves the field.  In other words Indians fight like Indians and not Napoleonic light cavalry.  One of the most difficult things for the Indians were activating their war bands. To do so you had to roll two six sided dice and equal or better your medicine. Hard to do if your medicine was 12!  Thus some bands moved right away while others watched the game unfold and never moved!

  The action commenced with the U.S. Forces slowly advancing through the valley.  Some war bands advanced against them, others stayed put.  The cavalry dismounted to form firing lines while the War bands advanced and skirmishes with them;  then fell back when their medicine failed. 

  My three bands of Oglala Sioux activated right away and I moved them towards the right wing of the U.S. Line.  Due to random movement speeds (throw three dice) I could not coordinate the advance and it was more of a one at a time attack.  Each band moved forward, exchanged fire with the skirmish line and fell back.  On my right Bruce also advanced his bands to skirmish with the cavalry troop to my left.  Poor Art and Dave could not get their warriors moving!  An interesting part of the game was each bands medicine points.  For each casualty you got you lost two points. This caused you to call back and rally. If you lost all points your band was removed from the game.

  Byron's cavalry troop managed to put up enough fire to cause my bands to retreat. But I finally caused enough casualties on him that I could close.  At this point he ran out of ammunition and I wiped out his troop!  Although his horses got away I managed to gather a tremendous amount of victory points so I could go back to my tribe and brag about my great brave victories!  Actually I had all but exhausted my medicine points and had to leave the field.

  In the other side of the hill the U.S. Gray horse troop tried to charge a war band and got their captain shot out of the saddle!  One of Dave's war bands managed to drive off some horse holders and capture a number of horses.  And finely, in the last turn he got his last band activated!

  All in all a fine game and a great evening.  Thank you Peter gives great game.







   

British Brigade

 Now that I have added the 4th and 49th Regiments of Foot to go with the 23rd and 33rd Regiments I have a full brigade of line infantry.  Eventually I will add a second brigade of line but for now this creates a very nice command.  And ready for my Battle of White Plains game I am working on.

  Reviewing the brigade is Lord Cornwallis.  I have also attached a light 3 pounder gun for fire support.

   I am planning on remounting my mounted command figures on round bases.  Brigade officers will have small bases for a single figure.  Division commanders slightly larger to hold two figures.  In addition I like how my artillery on round bases looks in my War of 1812 collection.  So I will remount my Rev War artillery likewise.

49th Regiment of Foot

  The second of my two new British line regiments.  The 49th Regiment served with the 4th and 23rd Regiments in the 1st Brigade at Brandywine.  One of my favorite regiments from the War of 1812 I thought I would add them to my Rev War collection.  I painted them in more worn campaign look with the rank and file having removed the lace from their uniforms.  The officers have kept theirs on as have The drummers.

  Again like most of my regiments these are from Fife and Drum miniatures.  Flags are from GMB.  And really nice flags they are too!

4th (King's Own) Regiment of Foot

  To correct the lack of British line infantry in my Rev War collection I am adding two more battalions.  One of my favorite regiments I have just finished the 4th (King's Own) Regiment of Foot.  This fine regiment fought at Lexington and Concord, Bunker Hill, Long Island, Brandywine and Germantown.   If you stop by the North Bridge in Concord the grave of two soldiers  British  soldiers there were men from the Light Company of the 4th.

  Figured are from the Fife and Drum Miniature range.  Flags are from GMB.

Armies of The War of 1812: The Armies of the United States, United Kingdom and Canada from 1812 - 1815

   I recently discovered this wonderful little book through Aly Morrison's blog (thank you!).  Although the text is pretty basic it does a very good job of describing the uniforms of the armies of the War of 1812.  This can be very confusing as the United States changed uniforms about every year. Each state also maintained its own militia who often outshine the regulars in dress.    And what is the difference between the Sedentary and Incorporated militia anyway?


  Well this book will explain all that and more.  Best of all are the uniform plates.  These are from the website of Olivier Millet at History-Uniform (http://history-uniforms.over-blog.com).  Although not as well know as they should be his illustrations are a treasure trove for the War of 1812 gamer.  Great detailed illustrations of uniforms of the type needed to paint your miniature warriors.  These are organized on his web site by regiment and changes by year.  So if you look at the 41st Regiment of Foot you see them in  1812 with stovepipe shakos but by 1814 they are in belgic shakos.  Very nice details!  Best of all all these illustrations are now at your finger tips on this handy book.

These are the type of illustrations you will find in the book.

  Once of the best sections of the book are the various militia regiments.  Each state had its very own army.  And a wide and colorful array of uniforms they are.  While they may not fight well (the Blandenburg races?) they do enliven a table top battle.

  So if you are a War of 1812 buff, or someone who has considered gaming this fascinating period pick.up this book.  You will be doing yourself a favor.  Highly recommended

Game day at Jim's

   On Saturday August 17 my good friend Jim Carol held his annual cookout and wargamer day.  It is a fun time with good friends, good food and good games.  Best of all we get to play in one of Jim's award winning WW1 games.

   The game this year saw a Russian vs German game. Both sides needed to capture a railroad station.  The Russians had lots of infantry but only a single artillery gun and one machine gun.  The Germans more machine guns, a field gun and a mortar.  This made a huge difference in the game.

   Both sides set up and advanced quickly with all the cavalry heading towards the station.  The infantry advanced and used as much cover as they could.  But then the artillery intervened.  The German artillery took out the single Russian gun right away.  By the second turn the artillery also took out the machine guns.

Here is the deadly German Artillery.

With no artillery support the gallant Russian infantry bravely charged forward!  We don't need guns, we have flags!

   The Germans cautiously advanced towards the Railroad covered by their artillery and machine guns.

   In the end while the Russians fought bravely they were no match for the German weaponry.

   Thank you Jim!  A fun time was had by all and I look forward to next year.

MacKenzie Heights: The Battle

  Game set up. Russians to the right.  Cavalry is in the center riding through the village. One brigade of eight battalions to their right and another brigade of eight battalions to their left.  This brigade has massed their guns into a grand battery opposite the French.   The British are entering the field in the top left and French are entering on the bottom left.  The Russian commanders decided to concentrate against the French.  The cavalry, four battalions of infantry and one battery would hold the British.  On the Allied side there was no coordination but just a hardy handshake and a cheerful good luck.

Long line of Russian cavalry ride out of the farm towards the British.  Massed columns of infantry March out towards the French.

Russians regiments massed and advancing against the allied regiments.

The French advance onto the field with the Zouaves in front and the Line battalions to their rear. Artillery and cavalry are thrown out to protect the left flank.

Russian columns marching down on the French.  This is the first of two waves of infantry.

   The French prepare to receive the Russians. Two line battalions changed formation to double lines.

  The poor Zouave battalions are decimated by the Russian massed artillery.

  The first wave of Russians punch through the French line infantry.  A second wave threatens to out flank what is left of the Zouaves.

   The end of the colorful French Infantry.  Ground down by the Russian juggernaut.

  The French commander forgot about his cavalry.  The Russians ran up to the and destroyed them by musket fire.  A sad end to the beautiful French army.  But what if their allies?

!

The British Light Division March into the field in column and deploy into line.  Artillery, both line and horse anchor the flanks.

       Against them the Russians attacked with three cavalry regiments.  They hoped to hit the division as it deployed but were unsuccessful.

Coderington's brigade of the 7th, 23rd and 33rd Regiments formed into line and destroyed the Russian cavalry one regiment at a time.

  British firepower then silenced a battery on the hill.  With little opposite them the way into the farm looked open.  But by this time the French had been destroyed and the Russian player was turning the entire army against the  outnumbered British.  It was at this time the French and Russian players devieded to call the game and retire.

  So the battle ended.  Personally I would have liked it to have gone on for a couple more turns.  There was very little in front of the British who could have taken the hill and farm.  I think the French were devastated by their defeat and the Russians just happy to not face the British rifles and artillery. 

  All in all a good scenario and one which I am sure we will try again.  All players agreed it was a balanced game and all had great fun.  Perhaps we will see this one again!