500,000 Visits

 Guess this is a milestone for the humble blog.   Over 500,000 visits to the blog.  Who would have guessed?   Thank you all very much for the support over the years.  I greatly appreciate it.  Thank you all very much!

Breaking Down Xavier della Gatta's Battle of Paoli Painting

 

"On the night of Sept. 20-21, 1777, a column of British soldiers launched a surprise attack on Continental Army troops encamped in a field near modern-day Malvern, Pennsylvania. In the ensuing struggle, known as the Battle of Paoli, British light infantrymen and light dragoons inflicted heavy casualties on Pennsylvania Brigadier General Anthony Wayne's fleeing troops. British Army light infantry Lieutenant Richard St. George Mansergh St. George, an Irish artist and veteran of the battle, commissioned this painting by Italian artist Xavier della Gatta in 1782 to remember the violence and trauma he experienced at Paoli.". Museum of the American Revolution

1. British Light Dragoons

These four British soldiers on horseback are members of the 16th Light Dragoons. They used their long steel sabers to devastating effect at Paoli. The dragoon on the right is raising his saber to cut down a Pennsylvania soldier.

2. Lieutenant Martin Hunter

Martin Hunter, St. George’s friend, is wrapping his wounded hand with a bandage. In his memoir, Hunter recalled the close combat at Paoli: “I received a shot in my right hand soon after we entered the camp. I saw the fellow present at me, and was running up to him when he fired. He was immediately put to death.”

3. Ferguson’s Riflemen

Wearing green coats and carrying their breechloading rifles with 25-inch long bayonets, a group of Captain Patrick Ferguson’s riflemen helped to lead the attack at Paoli.

4. Captain William Wolfe

Captain William Wolfe, the Irish commander of the 40th Regiment’s light company, died leading his troops at Paoli. He was remembered as “a most brave and attentive officer.”

5. Pennsylvania Troops

Brigadier General Anthony Wayne’s troops scrambled to defend their camp at Paoli. The Pennsylvanians fired their muskets, which made it easier for the British to find and attack them in the dark. Wayne withdrew his troops in a fighting retreat to save them from total defeat. The Battle of Paoli became known as the “Paoli Massacre” or “Wayne’s Affair.”

6. Brush Huts

Instead of tents, Wayne’s troops constructed brush huts, also called “wigwams” or “booths,“ in their camp along a woodline (which still exists today, right). These huts provided some protection from the wind and rain. Both Washington’s and Howe’s armies built temporary brush hut camps during the Philadelphia Campaign when baggage wagons carrying tents were not close by.

7. Artist’s Signature

Italian artist Xavier della Gatta signed and dated his painting in the bottom right corner: “Xav d Gatta 1782.” Richard St. George traveled to Italy after his wartime service and provided Xavier della Gatta with the eyewitness testimony needed to create this painting. Della Gatta also painted the Battle of Germantown.

All information based on Stephen Gilbert's article:

"An analysis of the Xavier della Gotta paintings of the Battles of Paoli and Germantown 1777 " part 2

https://www.academia.edu/43998778/_The_Battle_of_Germantown_Stephen_R_Gilbert_An_Analysis_of_the_Xavier_della_Gatta_Paintings_of_the_Battles_of_Paoli_and_Germantown_1777_Part_II_

Historicon is a Go

 

George dealing with the reservation line.

   Saddle up the horses and pack the buggy we are going to Historicon again!  

  My friend George spent the time and energy staying on the phone and dealing with reservations.  He was successful in booking us a room for 16 through the 19 July.  Last year we arrived late on Thursday and missed a bunch of stuff.  So this year we added the extra day and will arrive Wednesday.

  I know its early but who else is going? I am thinking I might put on a game this year if I can get organized.

The Wargame Companion - A Review

 

When I go in vacation I usually take a Wargames related book for me.  This is for light reading by the pool or on the balcony.  I usually like to bring  my copy of "The Wargame Companion" by Charles S. Grant.  I have his second edition in hardback as I wore out my original copy.  Plus I like the new color pictures of games.  The book is a fun read and can be started anywhere.  Its kind of a personal memoir of his war gaming experiences over the decades.

The  stories about CS Grant playing in wargames with his father, Charles Grant, and Peter Young, as well as other snippets about people like Edward Suren  are worth the price of the book to me.   Grant provides a lot of the "back story" to the hows and whys of the rules, and the fictional 18th century armies that they all used, and much, much more.  It’s like a class in miniature Wargames history.  A few of if my favorite parts:

"The Early Years and the ACW."  Providing background on the Grant family's introduction to wargaming and the birth of the rules, for ACW use, that eventual evolved into The Wargame rules.  Fascinating to see the old article and black and white pictures .  Some good background to create games.

"The Wargame Revisited.". This chapter covers the personalities, both real and fictional; plus background on the armies of the Grand Duchy of Lorraine, the Vereinigte Frei Stadt, and Teutoburg-Althaufen.  Interesting how the personalities molded the fictional armies.  I never got into imagination nations because I just did not have the imagination to do so.  Yet I am in admiration if those who can..

Scenarios,;  including the original game and a new try out of it for Sawmill Village, the Wagon Train, and Lobositz.    He also adds a new Guilford Courthouse scenario for the readers.I was less impressed by this one just because Guilford has been so over done by gamers.  These are fun games I have fought in many different periods over the years  

A chapter on  how to construct buildings like  those seen in The Wargame, with the lift-off buildings/ruined buildings underneath is interesting.  But I am much to happy with my Things From The Basement houses to bother.  

There is set of The Wargame rules in easy to read chart form, done by Henry Hyde,. He has also taken color pictures of the flags and standard bearers for each unit in the Grant family's Vereingte Freistadt army along with pictures from the collections of John Ray, Phil Olley, Angus Konstamm and others.  Finally, Mr. Grant laments that time and age have taken a toll on his plastic Spencer Smith figures. They are slowly in the process of being replaced by new metal armies os Staddens, Surens, Mindens and others.i

My highest recommendation!

A little Humor

 

Visit to the Dade Battlefield

 

 On Sunday Janine and I visited the Dade Battlefield park.  The battle marked the start of the Second Seminole War.  The Dade Battle or  massacre, was a  defeat for the United States Army in 1835.  On 28 December 1835 two U.S. Infantry companies numbering 103 men under the command of Major Francis L. Dade were ambushed by approximately 180 Seminole and Black Seminole warriors as they marched from Fort Brooke on Tampa Bay to reinforce Fort King in Ocala.  The battle took place in a pine forest and swampy area and was a one-sided Seminole victory. All but three American soldiers were killed at the cost of only six Seminole warriors. The defeat sparked the Second Seminole War which lasted until 1842. The Seminole wars are little known and usually ignored in most history text books.  They comprise the longest Indian war in US history.

 The park has a number of walking trails, and a nice visitor center.  There are markers for the troop locations and a replica of the breast work set up by the soldiers.  In the visitor center were excellent displays outline the reasons for the conflict and the course of the war.  In addition there are two life size figures in replica uniform and native clothing.  

  The day we visited the park hosted a historical reenactment of the battle.  There were small camps set up and various weapons firing and other demonstrations.  It all concluded with a mock battle.

Toy Soldier Monument

   This sculpture by Canadian artist Douglas Coupland is titled "Monument To The War Of 1812" and it is located about a block from Fort York. It was installed in 2008 in front of a condominium complex as part of the city's art requirement for new development. The "two abandoned toy soldiers pay tribute to Toronto's history" and Fort York's part in the Canadian victory in the war of 1812.