Captured officer vignette

   I am on something of a roll with painting small vignettes.  It's a nice break from production line painting of line regiments.  And this charming one has always been on my list to paint.  A very interesting group of figures and uniforms.  But something about the set looked, well,  like there was much more to the story.  And after a bit of asking around here is the story I found out.  This is from Giles Allison's blog, Tarleton's Quarter.

"It was noted that Alan's AWI range was nearing the magic "100 packs" mark. Shortly afterwards, I suggested on the TMP forum as a joke that a suitable way of celebrating this landmark would be for Alan to do a "National Army Museum characters" pack. It was then suggested (I'm not sure by whom, perhaps Eclaireur or Alan himself) that a suitable vignette might be a group of British/Hessian officers interrogating Alan, as an allegory of the pestering that Alan has to put with from those of us who are always demanding that he makes specific packs of obscure AWI troops.

  And so pack AW100 was born. Mug-shots and measurements (our heights, obviously...) were sent to Alan early in 2006, there was a bit of discussion about what uniforms the various, er, "personalities" should be wearing and then in July I received an email from Alan with a picture of the greens he had finished. The likenesses that he has captured in such a small scale are absolutely incredible. The Perries together with other Games Workshop designers have already demonstrated their superb skill as portrait artists through their "Lord of the Rings" figures, so I suppose we should not really have been surprised at how well these figures turned out. But many thanks to Alan for being so game and taking on this capricious idea!

In front of Alan are a gesticulating Eclaireur (in the uniform of a Guards officer; of impeccable breeding is EC), Dave Brown in the yellow facings of the 44th Foot (which became the East Essex Regiment in 1782) and myself reading the captured despatches, dressed as an officer in the Black Watch. Behind Alan are two Hessians in the orange facings of the von Lossberg regiment. The tall officer is AWI expert and guru Supercilius Maximus (as he is known on TMP) whilst the sentry is a chap I think is called Norbert. I also painted a set of masters for Alan's own collection which he's put up on his site. Painted November 2006. Tree stumps and fence from Redoubt Miniatures. Base size: 100mm x 100mm. "

https://gilesallison.blogspot.com/2007/01/interrogation-vignette.html

I would like to see a different version of this scene.  Perhaps some of the same characters but this time at either Trenton or Yorktown.  :)

18th century civilians

   Here we have a few civilians to add to my back ground on my table.  All figures from Perry miniatures.  Very useful for adding interesting scenes in the background and additional color.  One more thing to brighten the table top.

Camp vignette

  I picked up this very nice vignette from Perry Miniatures at Cold Wars too many years ago.  It went into my "to do" box and got forgotten about.  I recently found it and wondered why I had never painted it!

  The camp scene is a series of small set pieces.  Here is a woman cooking over a fire, while a soldier brings a barrel of water.  Two soldiers settle the problems of the world over a drink while another soldier gets his hair dressed.  The set is full of life and very charming.

  I decided to set it in my American camp.  The timing is 1776 around New York city.  The Continental Army is not yet field tested and their clothing has not acquired the campaign look from hard service.  One soldier is in a typical New England brown faced red coat.  The one getting his hair dressed is in the uniform of the famed Delaware regiment.  The women's clothing is very well done and unlike too many miniatures correct for the time period.  No "farbs" here!  It is also of a better quality then you may find in camp.  Hence my setting it around New York before the fighting starts.

   The two continental line soldiers holding a animated conversation reminds me of two old friends from the Park Service.  To me they look like Eric Olsen from Morristown NHP and Joe Craig from Saratoga NHP.  

Light Infantry battalions

  The 1st and 2nd battalions of Light Infantry 1776.  The "Light Bobs" are ready for the skirmish at Harlem Heights that I am planning later this year.

  In the meantime a couple pictures of these fine battalions.  All figures by Fife and Drum miniatures.

Grenadier battalions

   Now that I have my two battalions of Grenadiers finished I wanted to take a few pictures.  Here we have a short parade before Lord Cornwallis.

Two quotes about the Grenadier battalions at the Battle of Brandywine in 1777.

Nothing could be more dreadfully pleasing than the line moving on to the attack; the Grenadiers put on their Caps and struck up their march, believe me I would not exchange those three minutes of rapture to avoid ten thousand times the danger."
Lt William Hale, 45th Foot.

"(The) line moving on exhibited the most grand and noble sight imaginable.  The grenadiers beating their march as they advanced contributed greatly to the dignity of the approach."
Lt Martin Hunter, 52nd Foot

2nd Grenadier battalion

  Is there anything on the table top that is more inspiring then a battalion of Grenadiers?  I think not! Having starting my past reenactment career as a Grenadier (later as a Fusilier for a much longer time) I am very particular about Grenadier figures.

   Made up of the most veteran and best soldiers in the battalion, these companies were detached from their parent regiments and combined into special, elite battalions.  They were often used as assault troops or the van guard of attacks.  The distinctive tall bearskin cap added to their height and made them stand out.  Wings, strips of regimental lace were sewed on the shoulders to also set them apart uniform wise.

   The Fife and Drum miniatures Grenadiers  are uniformed as they might have appeared on campaign with shortened regimental coats and trousers.  Swords have been placed in storage and waistbelts worn over the shoulder or converted to shoulder belts.  At this time the grenadier cap was still being worn into battle.  These were light weight, with a tin front to give it it's shape and they could fold flat. For daily service they wore a fatigue cap, made from an old coat or a cocked hat with a white feather.  At the Battle of Brandywine the commander of the 2nd Grenadier battalion Colonel Meadows is reported to  address his soldiers by saying, "Grenadiers, put on your caps (bearskins); for fighting and drinking I'll match you against the world!"

   In 1776 the 2nd Grenadier battalion was commanded by Lt. Col. Monckton and included the following companies: 43rd (white), 44th (yellow), 45th (yellow), 46th (yellow), 49th(green), 52nd (buff), 55th(green), 64th(black), 1st and 2nd Marines(white).   

   And the Fife and Drum miniatures Grenadiers are some of the very best available today.  They look incredible and have a noble bearing to them.  Outstanding!  The only figures that give them a run for their money were the Edward Suren American Rev War Grenadiers  if you can find them today.

British Grenadier caps 1775 to 1783

Original Cap in Smithsonian museum.

 How can you be a American Rev War gamers and not have Grenadiers?  We all have them in our collections.  And a more noble sight on the table top there never was.  And while we all know Grenadiers were picked soldiers there may be something we do not really know much about.  That is their famous bearskin caps.  So here is a little bit of history about those caps.

  In the Royal Clothing Warrant of 1768 (which governed the uniforms worn during the Rev War period) the Grenadier caps are described:

  "The caps of the grenadiers to be of black bear-skin. On the front, the King's crest, of silver plated metal, on a black ground, with the motto, "Nec aspera terrent." A grenade on the back part, with the number of the regiment,on it. The royal regiments, and the six old corps, are to have the crest and grenade, and also the other particulars as hereafter specified. The badge of the royal regiments is to be white, and set on near the top of the back part of the cap. The height of the cap (without the bear-skin, which reaches beyond the top) to be twelve inches. "

 Once the new Royal Warrant was adopted regiments went about wearing out their old uniforms before obtain the new uniform.  The old Grenadier cap was a cloth mitre.  Some regiments continued to wear these untill worn out;  other regiments covered their cloth caps in bear skin to get a start on the new fashion.  The series of drawings of the 25th Regiment on Minorca island show the mixture of old and new uniforms.

  By 1775 the new bear skin covered Grenadier caps were standard equipment and the old make due items long gone.  There is a watercolor of a Fusilier of the 23rd Royal Welch Fusiliers on guard duty wearing his Fusilier cap in Boston done in 1775.

 The new Grenadier cap was light weight and folded flat.  It was constructed around a tin front plate which gave the cap it's outline and shape.  The bear skin was sewed around it.  Here are pictures of a original cap's various pieces to show how it was put together. Note the bear skin sewed in shape, the tin plate it is attached to and front plate to cover it.  There is a linen cap inside the cap and decorative cords outside.  The only part missing is the red wool covering the back.

   For daily wear Grenadiers would wear a cocked hat, sometimes with a white feather.  The Grenadier cap was worn for guard duty, parades and also into battle.  At the Battle of Brandywine the commander of the 2nd Grenadier battalion Colonel Meadows is reported to  address his soldiers by saying, "Grenadiers, put on your caps (bearskins); for fighting and drinking I'll match you against the world!"

British Marine Cap.  Photo from the British Marine reenactment group at
 https://britishmarines.blogspot.com/2013/06/1775-british-marine-grenadier-cap.html

   In the Royal Marine museum in Great Britan there is a original Marine Grenadier cap plate.  Slightly different from the 1768 plate it suggests there may have been more originality then once thought.

For more detailed information on the cap and it's construction I highly recommend the following article:

Military Collector and Historian
Vol. 46, No. 3 -- Fall 1994
The Grenadier's Bearskin Cap, 1768-1802: A Method of Construction,
by Linnea M. Bass and William W. Burke