The Battle of The River Raisin 23 January 1813

This is the second of the two battles.  Fir the furst please read theborevious post.

The American army camped in and around Frenchtown awake to find the woods filled with Canadian Militia and Native Americans.  In addition British regular infantry and artillery are spotted.  all are within musket range.

The American commander assembled his men.  The Kentucky militia fell in at the works around the town.  The Regulars, caught out in the open started the game in shaken status.  The rifles spread out to maintain contact between the regulars and militia.

In the woods the British commander has his artillery and the 41st Regiment in the center facing the town. He plans to use his artillery to batter the militia while the regulars are held back for the final blow. On either flank a militia regiment and a war band of Natives prepared to out flank the American works and surround the enemy. 

The British artillery started the game by firing on one if the militia regiments to its front.  In either flank the Canadian militia and natives raced to outflank the American works.  The US regular Regiment rallied off its shaken status in time to receive fire from its front and flank.  But a deadly volley cut down some if the over enthusiastic warriors to their front.  While the Americans passed their morale checks, counting heads they wondered how long this could last.

Keeping the Americans pinned down to their front, the Canadian infantry and Native Warriors continued to encircle the town while the artillery and muskets continued to inflict casualties.  The US regulars managed to fight their way back to the town.  But within their ranks many wondered how safe was that.

It was at this point that the most dramatic incident in the game occurred.  As the Native Warriors moved into the town Magua saw his old enemy Colonel John Carroll of the Kentucky militia.  Having vowed to kill his enemy Magua took aim at Carroll and shot him in the back. * The Militia to his right and left never noticed as they were too busy with enemies to all sides now.

At this point everything that could go wrong did go wrong.  Both militia regiments failed their morale checks and routed.  But they were now surrounded and no place to go.  The rifles saw the British 41st regiment advancing with lowered bayonets coming towards them.  And the US regulars were busy fighting enemies to their front and both sides.  There was little to do but throw down their arms and surrender and hope the British could keep the Native Warriors from killing them all.

Conclusion:  another quick and fast game.  Just as one sided as the previous battle.  But fun nevertheless.  Also, how often do you get to fight two different battles with the same terrain?  I think if I do this again I would give the Americans another militia regiment to give them more of a chance.  Having the British/Canadian forces set up and start the game in musket range is very deadly, but also historically accurate.  A little tinkering might make this a more evenly matched encounter.  I enjoyed the research and learning mire about these battles.  Which is after all one reason were enjoy this hobby of ours.

* in the rules I used a single figure needed to roll a 2 or less on a 10 sided dice to score a hit.  Magua rolled a 1.  It was very amusing as the real John Carroll is a friend on the Fife and Drum miniature forum who is always getting shot in the back in his French and Indian War or western gun fight games.  I could not believe that this happened in my game.  Sorry John!

The Capture of Frenchtown 18 January 1813

 

              The first of two battles for Frenchtown.  

South of the town the River Raisin is frozen over and infantry can cross with a movement penalty. North of the town there is a forrest and wide ditch which provides cover for infantry.  It is within musket range of the town.  

The commander of the Kentucky militia crosses the frozen river and advances towards the town.  He places his two militia regiments together with his rifle armed men to either flank.  If he can take and hold the town he can declare a great victory which if course will help his political career back home.

The British/Canadian commander deployed his Native Allies to either flank with his militia  in the center.  He is outnumbered and plans to delay the advancing Americans while avoiding casualties.  He knows reinforcements  are a couple days march away. 

Taking advantage if their longer range weapons the rifles immediately start picking off their enemies.  Once within range the militia exchange vollies with the Canadians taking the worse of the exchange.  they also fail their morale test and rout towards the woods.  The Native Indians quickly join them.  With the militia in the town the Canadians and their allies withdraw to fight another day.  For the Kentucky men it has been a easy walk in the park which will grown in the retelling as a great victory.

In the next days the Americans are joined by a US regular infantry regiment.  In addition they start building a fortified fence line between the village and the woods.  Its cold and they prepare for an uneventful nights rest.  The Kentucky militia camp in the town while the regulars camp in the open outside the fortified lines.  Next day they hope to continue the works.  A couple soldiers grumble about the woods being awful close to our lines.  Nothing to worry about they are reassured...

Conclusion:

A neat small skirmish.  Not very exciting but it sets the stage for the next battle.

Battles of Frenchtown 18 & 23 January 1813

The Battles of Frenchtown, better known as the Battle of the River Raisin or the River Raisin Massacre, was a series of battles in Michigan Territory that took place from January 18–23, 1813.  These were two separate and different actions fought during the War of 1812.  They were also different from most battles I have fought in that the majority of troops were Militia, Volunteers and Native Americans.  The second battle did include small detachment of regulars for each side.  Both battles were fought in the winter so again these will be very different types of actions.  

Wayside from battle site of the second battle.

Wayside of the first battle.

For a quick history lesson here is a recounting of the actual historical events.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Frenchtown

The first battle (January 18) saw a American Force of Kentucky Militia and Volunteers capturing the village from a smaller group of Indians and Canadian militia.  The second battle saw the British/Canadians recapturing the town.  Both sides included regulars and the British had two small cannon.  The battles were  better suited to a skirmish action or a Sharp Practice type game.  I am upping the number of figures per each unit but keeping the ratio of figures per side to fit my collection.  So this will not be a full historical recreation.  More of a Hollywood based on type story.

Order of Battle:

18 January:

Defending the village of Frenchtown:

Canadian militia regiment (24 figures)

Native Warriors (12 figures)

American attacking force:

2x American militia regiments (24 each)

1 x Rifle regiment (12 figures) 

January 23;

Americans defending Frenchtown

2 x Militia regiments (24 figures)

1 x Rifle unit (12 figures)

1 x US Regulars (24 figures)

British Canadian attach force:

1 x British Regular (24 figures)

2 x Canadian militia (24 figures each)

2 x Native Warriors (12 each)

Royal Artillery (2 x light guns)

Got my first Vacine Shot!

 

Today, 11 March I got my first Vivid Shot!  The first step on the road to normalcy.  It was the Pfizer shot and so far I feel fine.  No issues.  

The second shot is scheduled for April 1st.  Someone has a sense of humor.

Remember the Alamo

 

Back in March 2015 Jane and u took a trip down to Texas with our friends Scott and Arline.  We visited a number of sites connected with the Texas War for Independence 1836.  But the highlight was of course seeing the Alamo.  An unexpected part was stumbling on the History Shop as we were walking over to the Alamo.  Inside was am amazing diorama built by Mark Lemon.  It was about 15 feet long and incredibly detailed. Images of it was used in his book, "The illustrated Alamo 1836."  There was a sound and light show around it and Phil Collins narrated the events of the siege and battle.  Well worth while and very well done. I have recently read the store closed and I do not know the fate of this incredible model.  But I found these picture and hope you enjoy them on the anniversary of the battle.

More pictures of my growing village

 

 Just an excuse to post a few mire pictures of the growing village of houses from Things from the Basement.  One thing these pictures have shown me us the need to get some sort of background picture!  I do not think people want to look at boxes and other things in the room.  Also, most of the fun items scattered throughout these pictures like the geese, sheep and cat are from the Hovels catalog.  They are fun items which add a lot to your table top terrain.

St. David's Day

 

  " 1st March 1775;  This being St. David's Day the officers of the 23rd Regiment, or Royal Welch Fusiliers, dinned together according to the custom.  All the General & Staff Officers, the Admiral, and several other person's were invited to dine with the Regiment...."

From the diary of Lieutenant Frederick MacKenzie.

   The "custom" was on each Saint David's Day following dinner the regimental goat with the drummers and fifers are led around the mess table.  The drum major has a silver plate with raw leeks and the mess sergeant carries a loving cup filled with champagne. They halt by the newest joined officer who then stands on his chair with his left foot and places his right foot on the table and eats a leek while the drummers play a continuous roll.  Once he has consumed the leek he is handed the loving cup and before drinking toasts "And Saint David!"  All present who have not eaten a leek, including guests are expected to do so. Similar ceremonies occurs in the sergeants and the other ranks mess.  This custom, described as "ancient" in 1775  is still observed in peace and during war time up to the present time.