Saturday, April 28, 2018

Monumento a las víctimas del Maine



   Last year while in Key West Florida I reported on my hunting for The USS Maine.  Today here I am in Havana Cuba, visiting the actual site of the disaster and the monument to the Maine itself.  Built in 1925 and called The Monument to the Victims of the USS Maine it honors the American sailors who died in the explosion in 1898.  The monument is on the Malecón Boulevard.  The ship had anchored at Havana at the request of American consul Fitzhugh Lee. The explosion and deaths of over half its crew was the pretext for the United States declaring war on Spain.  Based on photographs from the period, I think our cruise ship dock is near to where the ship sank and the wreckage stayed for years before being salvaged.

  On the monument are the two 10" cannon barrels from the ship's main gun turret.  Heavily rusted, they were recovered from the wreck of the ship.  They are painted black and attached to the base of the monument.

One of the ten inch cannons.

  The monument itself was originally crowned with an American eagle, but its wings extended in such a way that a hurricane damaged it.  This is now in the U.S. Embassy building in Havana.  The eagle was  replaced in 1926 by a new one with horizontal wings.  The newer eagle was pulled downed in 1960 because it was considered a symbol of American imperialism.  The eagle's head was recovered by Swiss diplomats.  It too is now in the Embassy of the United States in Havana.  The body and the wings are stored in the Havana City History Museum.  The museum's curator believes that good relations with the U.S. will be symbolized by the reunification of the parts of the eagle.  I hope to see this happen in my lifetime.

Enjoying a cigar in front of the monument.

Photos by Mark and Janine.   
Thank you to Janine for help in editing this article.

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Battle of Granny Creek part 2


Granny Creek battlefield.  American continental line at bottom left of picture.

  As mention before this battle is based on the historical Battle of Camden, August 1780.  While the original battle saw a larger American army defeated by a smaller British army I felt as a game it lacked tactical possibilities.  It was a simple line them up and march forward game. How to make it a more interesting?

   I placed the battlefield a couple miles north of its actual location and gave the American commander a opportunity to alter the actual set up.  The order of battle was based on the historical one but I combined many regiments or left out some regiments for better playability. After all I was looking for a game which gave both sides a chance to win.

American Militia Brigade on left flank.
Continental line holding right flank.

In the center of the American line. Militia Brigade and rifles deploy.

  The American commanders chose to set up similar to Gate's historical battle.  Both Continental brigades (four battalions) and the artillery covered the right flank. They defended along a rail fence and anchored the position on a small farm. The left flank was defended  by a militia brigade of three battalions. They set up two battalions along a rail fence with a third in reserve.  The center had a militia brigade of three battalions plus the rifle battalion and both cavalry squadrons.  They positioned themselves in a wood with a small farm house.  After action reports by the Americans suggested their plan was to have the British worn down by the american's superior numbers.

British masse massed cavalry on left flank.  An impressive sight.


  The British also copied the historical set up.  On their right flank the were the 71st, 33rd and 23rd regiments plus the Royal Artillery.  The left has the two loyalist battalions, and the entire British Legion plus a light gun.  Rather then hold the Legion cavalry in reserve it was placed in the front line.  Perhaps to cause terror In the hearts of fhe Americans? In the center a single combined light battalion of twelve figures hoped to hold.




  The battle comenced on the British right with a slow advance (poor die rolling) by the 23rd And 33rd against the rail fence.  The 71st sprinted forward and pushed back a militia battalion.  The reserve militia battalion then stopped the highlander's cold with a devastating volley of six hits which caused 5 disorganization points (DP's) and one casualty (removal of a stand of three figures).  In the rules "Loose Files And American Scramble" DP's represent temporary disorganization within the ranks.  By redressing ranks a regiment can remove DP's.  Better quality units can do it faster while poor quality units need a Commanders help.  So the 71st fell back to regroup.  The 23rd and 33rd then routed the other two militia battalions.  With the flank open the British commander reorganized his command.  Although having seen his entire brigade routed The American commander took great satisfaction In having fought the 71st to a stand still. I am sure it will be recorded as such in the history books.

In the center The gallant Americans hold firm.

While the gallant light Bob's also hold firm.

  In the center the American Militia Brigade bravely stood facing the light infantry battalion.  The light Bob's were only too happy by this event.

Charge!

The great cavalry fight

Charge and counter charge.
The thin blue line.

  Much of the drama of the night occurred on the American right flank.  The massed British Legion cavalry rode forward against the American cavalry.  Although The American cavalry held in the first close combat, superior training and numbers eventualy saw them decimated and driven off the field.  The Legion cavalry reduced in numbers also retired from the field due to casulties.  The 17th Light Dragoons attempted to charge the 2nd Virginian Regiment who shot them down in a reenactment of the thin red line at Balaklava.

  The lesson learned  was small cavalry commands should be held in reserve.  These are not heavy european battle cavalry.  Small numbers cannot take too much damage before they are useless in the table top.

  Meanwhile in the center The American Militia brigade patiently awaited the British light infantry battalion attack.  The Lights  continued holding in place.

Continental brigade line.

Forming line.

American start to advance

Loyalist brigade.

  The American Continental line commander by this time realized he out number his opposite British command.  He drew up in line his two Maryland battalions and his guns against the two Loyalist battalions.  He advanced with his two Virginian battalions and routed the British Legion Infantry battalion.

  At this point the game was called due to the late hour.  A pity as things were getting exciting.  The British had rolled up the American left flank.  Now the American 's were returning the favor on their right flank.

  Both sides claimed a victory.  But in my mind any victory awarded should have been given to the little British light battalion.  They held the center against superior numbers (12 light infantry against 90 militia and 12 rifles) for the entire game.  Bravo, my fine fellows.







Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Battle of Granny Creek 1780 Part 1


 Friday 13th.  Not the movie, but game night with the Northern Conspiracy.  And I will be putting on a American Rev War game.  So I have taken a leaving from the painting table to organize and set up my game.  I am very excited as I have not played with my new collection outside my house  so it will be the first time they venture out of the house.



  The game is a historical what if.  All Rev War gamers are familiar with the American disaster at Camden in 1780.  While fascinating it is of very limited tactical options.  Sort of a line them up move forward game.  So I am moving the battle a little up the road.  Historically the Battle was fought where it was as both armies bumped into each other at night and set up where they were.  I am moving the Battle a little off the actual battlefield to more interesting  terrain.  I am also giving Gates a chance to set up as he would rather then following the historical deployment.  From my reading Gates had planned on advancing on the British garrison at Camden and then digging in and waiting the British.  That is what I am having Gates do here.  Perhaps he will have a little better luck.

Armies are in 25mm.  Rules used are my all-time favorite Loose Files and American Scramble.  I have altered the order of Battle to combine smaller units into larger regiments.  But I have kept the ratio of forces.  The Americans have a larger army, but of poorer quality.  The British army is  smaller but more contains more higher quality regiments.

So let's see if quality is its own quantity.


Battle of Granny Creek

Crown Forces:
Lord Cornwallis commanding

Webster's Brigade: (1st class)
Light Infantry (12)
23rd Royal Welch Fusiliers (30)
33rd Regiment of Foot (30)

Rawdon's Brigade: (2nd class)
Volunteers of Ireland (30)
New York Volunteers (30)
British Legion Infantry (24)

Reserve: (2nd class)
71st Highlanders (30)
Royal Artillery (2 x medium guns)

Tarleton's Legion (2nd class)
1st Troop (8)
2nd Troop (8)
3rd Troop (8)
17th  LD (6)
3lbr  gun





American Forces
General Gates commanding

Maryland Brigade (2nd class)
1st Maryland (30)
2nd Maryland (30)

Virginian Brigade (2nd class)
1st Virginian (30)
2nd Virginian (30)

Reserve:
Militia Horse (12) (4th class)
Rifle company (12) (3rd class)
Continental Artillery (2 x medium guns)
(2nd class)

North Carolina Militia Brigade (4th class)
North Carolina Militia (30)
North Carolinia Militia (30)
North Carolina Militia (30)


South Carolina Militia Brigade (4th class)
South Carollina Militia (30)
South Carolina Militia (30)
South Carolina Militia (30)






Friday, April 6, 2018

Camera differences




  I am very sorry about the quality of the pictures in my last two posts.  These were taken on my kindle rather then my phone.  i do almost all the work on this blog on my on my Kindle.  It was only after checking the site that the difference in quality jumped out at me.  Here are some better quality pictures.

Again thank you and sorry for the poor quality.



Wednesday, April 4, 2018

Down on the farm



 I wanted to spruce up my gaming table this year.  I enjoy the tiny items that many gamers place in the table such as animals and civilians.  I think they really add to the visual effects.  And why play with you soldiers on the table top if not for the visual effect!  I was especially excited to see one table at Cold Wars.  It was a sharp practice game during the American Revolution.  The gamer had civilians, farm animals and all such interesting items scattered about the table.  They my made the table come alive for me.  I also really liked his casualty markers but that is another  project for another time.



So, after that I stopped at the Eureka miniatures booth and picked up the following figures. It includes a woman milking a cow, a young boy with a butter churn and a very happy looking woman with a yoke and two water buckets. The last figure reminds me of the reenactment of the Battle of Monmouth in 1978.  Young ladies such as her with their water buckets save a number of us from the extreme heat that day.  Perhaps you will see the figure doing similar good deeds on my table top!


  They are very nice figures and will look good around my new farm houses.


Friday, March 30, 2018

Militia Horse painted figures



  While at Cold Wars I did something I don't do.  I bought painted figures.  They were very well painted, and at almost unpainted pricep a bargin.  After all when do you see mounted War of 1812 figures for sale.


 And nothing shouts War of 1812 (to me) like hunting shirts and top hats (round hats in the period language).  They represent mounted riflemen from the frontier.  Johnson's mounted rifles at The Thames wore black hunting shirts turned red .  And eventually I want to paint These up.  Knuckleduster does a most excellent figure of These. But these are a nice tan color hunting shirt.  I will use them as generic mounted militia.  The War of 1812 is not known for cavalry actions, but when has that stopped war gamers from fielding and fighting them in battle!


  But for me it is unusual as I have not bought pre painted figures before.  I like painting.  I have a style I like and I feel looks good on the table.  More importantly I have a sense of ownership.  These are mine and I painted them.  So I feel a little different in actually having someone else's work in my  collection.  I think my feelings must be unusual as there is a big business side of the hobby that supplies painted figures.  In the past I have painted figures for other people.   I have painted figures for other people.  So perhaps I am over thinking this.  Perhaps I should just enjoy  the new additions.



Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Laser cut buildings



  I have been curious about these buildings since they first came out.  They look good, and are less expensive then the cast ones.  So that was a big plus for me;  the frugal wargamer.  At Cold Wars this year I picked up two buildings in the flea markets. At $10 each They were  a bargin. They were wooden buildings that could fit into my Rev War and 1812 games.  Again more bang for my buck.



  The first was by Battlefield Accessories from Australia.  It looked very basic and simple so I choose this one to start with.  I used Arlene's tacky glue to put it together.  Similarly white glue.  The cabin went together quickly and was the definition of simple.  The final project will look good on my table top.

  The cabin from Sally 4th was much more detailed and comprehensive.  Fortunately for me they provided a goid, illustrated set of instructions.  These helped with the construction.  In fact I would have been lost without them.


  As a final improvement i think I will base these buildings.  Add a few items like fences and possibly a tree would provide a neat little mini diorama on my table.  A few civilian figures would be nice also.  Of course then I should add a few farm animals.........