British Flank companies 1814

Flank companies as battalion.

  Because of the small numbers of  regulars available to British commanders in Canada companies from regiments could be deployed at different locations.  At Queenston Heights the Grenadier and Light Infantry companies of the 41st Regiment fought while the rest of the battalion served elsewhete.  Battlefield commanders could deploy the regiments light company as separate battalions as happened at Chippewa.  Building the Crown Forces for my Niagara 1814 project called for adding Grenadier and Light Infantry companies for each battalion.

Grenadier in line, Lights in skirmish order.

  For my first three companies I went with the regiments that wore the belgic shako in my collection.  These are the 1st, 41st and 100th Regiments.  Figures are from  my favorite manufacturer Knuckleduster miniatures.  I placed the Light Infantry on split stands so they can form into skirmish order or fight in line.  They are distinguished by the shoulder wings on their coats and the green shako plume and cords.  Grenadier figures are distinguished by the shoulder wings on their  coats and white shako plume.  They are mounted on regular infantry stands like regular line infantry.

Flank companies 41st Regiment.

  For historical scenarios I can add the flank companies to their parent battalions to have really large (32 figure) battalions.  Or the Light Infantry stands can be converged into light battalions that can skirmish.   All in all super useful figures.

41st Regiment of foot 1812-14

   The 41st Regiment of Foot was posted to Canada in 1800. Having been an invalid battalion for all of its history up to this point the regiment held no battle honours.  This would soon change dramatically.  During the War of 1812 the regiment saw long service at most of the important battles, both in land and sea.

  Starting with General Isaac Brock the The 41st were at the siege and surrender of Fort Detroit in August 1812;  and at Queenston Heights in October  1812.  The 41st then served under General Henry Proctor (the colonel of the 41st)  at The battle of Frenchtown in January 1813 and the siege of Fort Meigs in April 1813.  Volunteers from the regiment served aboard the British naval squadron during the battle of Lake Erie September 1813.  Following the defeat of the squadron and it's total destruction Procter retreated and was defeated at the Battle of the Thames in October 1813.  Following the battle the 41st was decimated and had to be rebuilt with drafts and recruits.  All were combined into a single battalion when the 2/41st arrived.    In December 1813 the regiment took part in the successful capture of  Fort Niagara.  The Light Infantry company fought at Lundy' s Lane in 1814.

  The 41st Regiment was a red faced regiment with originally silver lacelace for the officers.  Later in 1814 when the second battalion arrived the officers lace was changed to gold.  I have painted the officers in the silver lace.   Because they were a red faced regiment drummers uniforms were white coats faced red.  I have fielded the regiment in belgic shako as these appeared to have been worn for most of their time in Canada.  Figures are from Knuckleduster miniatures;  flags are from Flags of War.

  It is very funny to me how I become attached to certain regiments.  This might come about because a friend or I was a member of that reenactment group.   Or it is because you get attached to them through reading about a certain battle or campaign.  For The 41st Regiment of foot it was through reading Pierre Berton's Flames Across the Border.  This was not only the book which got me hooked on the War of 1812 but also to the 41st Regiment.  To me they were a good but hard luck regiment which served through the War from beginning to end.  In addition the narrative of Private Shadrack Byfield provided me with a common foot soldier to follow.  Bayfield was a weaver who enlisted in the 41st and later had his narrative of service written down for him.  He served throughout the War in numerous battles and sieges.  Unfortunately he lost his arm at the battle of Conjocta Creek in 1814 ending his military career.   I have long wanted to add them to my collection and now I have.

Militia battalion 1776-81

 One always need more Militia for your American Revolution armies.  Having finished these twenty four figure i now have a nice militia brigade of four battalions.  They can take to the field no matter which theater or year I game.  Militia are always there.

  The figures are from Fife and Drum miniatures.  They are dressed in civilian clothing and have a mix of equipment and weapons.  Painting them I tried to get as much variety as possible.  After all you do not want them to be too regular!

1st Grenadier Battalion 1776

 "Some talk of Alexander and Some of Hercules,
Of Hector and Lysander, and such great names as these,
But of all the world's great heroes,
There's none that can compare,
With a tow, row, row, row, row,
To the British Grenadiers."


   Nothing says American Revolution like a battalion of British Grenadiers! And these are beautiful figures that capture the look of these elite soldiers.

   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!"

Colonial Faire At Longfellow's Wayside Inn

  I guess it is officially fall here in New England. How do I know this?  Because Saturday was the annual Colonial Faire and Fife and Drum muster at the Wayside Inn in Sudbury.  This event is something we look forward to each year.  A chance to get together with friends, enjoy the fall weather,  hear lots of very good Fife and Drum music and have a couple beers. This event has been going on since, well I do not know.  I have been going since the mid 1970's and it was an annual event then.

  What happens?  There are about 30 different Fife and Drum bands. Some are very small, only about a dozen members.  Others very large with 30 or more.  Costuming (this is not where you go for authenticity) ranges from colonial type dress to 19th century band uniforms and everything in between.  There are bands that have been together performing for decades; and other started just last week.  But each groups get a time to appear on stage and perform. At the end off the day lots of people get together to jam.

  In addition there are craft persons selling their wares.  Blacksmiths and artist and basket weavers.  Individuals selling reproduction colonial clothing.  This year there were a farm that raises Lama and sells their wool. Our dog Fritz was most puzzled by what these strange animals were!

Fritz meets a Lama!

  One group we look forward to each year are the Middlesex County Volunteers.  They are one off the larger and very professional groups out there.  They have multiple CD's out there and they travel across the country performing.  This year they were at The Edinburgh  Scotland at the muster there.

   In the past they have been dressed in 1779 type continental line musician uniforms.  Reversed coat of white with blue facings.   But this year they are trying out a  War of 1812 type uniform of trousers, short coat and round hat.  Really smart!

  All in all a very fun day!

Hessian Jager company 1776

  It was recently that I discovered I have been so busy painting American line infantry I had neglected my crown forces. Yes, I have some British line and guards and Highlanders but few loyalist, no Grenadiers and a single Hessian battalion.  Time to correct this.

  To get started I painted up a small group of 12 Jagers.  Inspired by reading Captain Ewalt's journal years ago I find that Jagers are ubiquitous and turn up in almost every battle.  So they will be super useful troops.  Their plain uniforms were easy to paint and I did these in a couple of days. I am experimenting with different basing for skirmish type troops.  Single based figures just do not look right to me.  So now I am trying a longish thin base to look like a skirmish line.  After a couple games we will see. Figures are from Minden miniatures and although from the Seven Years War period will not look out of place on my American Revolution battlefields.

Game night: Sharp Practice Great Northern War

Swedish commander gazes over the battlefield.

  Friday was club game night.  There were three great games;  Great Northern War, World War Two and Romans vs Gauls.  All looked great and sounded fun. Others will be reporting ion the other two games in their blog reports.

Village defended by Russians on right.

Glorious Russian line infantry.

The village which was the object of the battle.

Glorious Swedes led by cautious commanders.

My drunken Cossacks preparing to cause grief and mayham to the Swedes.

   I played in the Great Northern War.  Greg out this on and we used the rules Sharpe Practice.  His figures are outstanding and his terrain is beautiful.  He also is one of those individuals who put on great games and it was an honour to play in it.  They are usually well balanced and great fun.  And this game was great fun.

  The Russians were by a village which they had to burn to prevent the Swedes from capturing it.  there was a swamp to their right and a fashioned fortifications to their front.  Across the board was a river.  But it was July and both the river and swamp were dried up so posed little movement difficulty.  To set fire to the village the Russians had to get 18 points from rolling one D6.  Each turn that a certain chit came up they could roll the dice and accumulated points.  So it would take a while.  During that time the Swedes had to capture the village.

  Game started with the Swedes moving forward against the village with two battalions and some skirmishers.  They also sent another battalion and two skirmishes groups through the swamp.  The Russians threw there skirmishes forward to fire at the Swedes while the line infantry moved up to the gabbions.

  My group of Cossacks proved very annoying  to the Swedes.  Each time they fired they caused no casualties except to knock down the officer of the group they fired at. In game turns I believe this causes temporary  disruption.  Anyway it caused great fun for us and grief to the Swedes!

  For some reason the Swedish commanders in front of the village moved their line up to the dried up river and then stopped.  For the remainder of the game they stood there and traded shots with superior numbers of Russians.  Although the Swedes in the swamp pressed on it was hard going and soon the Russians moved two skirmishes groups to snip at them.

  In the end the cautious Swedes gave the Russians more then brought time to build a fire. Once the fire started the game was over and the Russians victorious.  A most entertaining and fun game was held by all.