Plans for 2019

After realising that six weeks of 2019 had galloped by I thought I would try to start some painting plans for the year. Here I will start with the American Civil War.

Here are the proposed targets. Here is a Union wagon, a two wheeled ambulance, a field forge, surgeons, prisoner escort, horse holders, further dismounted cavalry and already on the painting table more mounted and dismounted Confederate and Union cavalry.

This is all to explore the possibility of putting on an ACW cavalry raiding game. The great majority of the games I play are simple confrontation games. Either based on an actual battle or generated from a scenario. Our scenarios are either from a magazine article or from 'Programmed Wargames Scenarios' by Charles Stewart Grant.

After reading about a few raids by Confederate cavalry during the American Civil War I decided to look further into the possibilities of organising a game using this idea.

Many figure manufacturers have products which could be helpful and as this idea grew legs so did my unpainted figure collection! The above is from Wargames Foundry, Perrys, Redoubt and Hinds Miniatures, (Hinds have been very helpful and sent me some miscast artillery pieces).

I have also seen advertised from Raven Banner Games a Confederate camp fire set and some Confederate sharp shooters. These will/are available from Old Glory UK.

The other things I may need are tentage. This is available from Rendra but I intend to make my own.  This may also be the subject of a future feature for WSS.

I recently bought a set of four books entitled, 'From Sumpter to Shiloh', 'North of Antietam', 'Retreat from Gettysburg', and 'The Way to Appomattox' These books are a reprint of magazine articles published in 'Century' magazine starting twenty years after the War finished and includes features written by a number of Generals and eye witnesses. The original illustrations are also included which as well as copies of photographs of the main contenders from both sides but also a number of pictures of camp life, armies on the march, units and individuals in action and the scenery and buildings present.

These books are rather hefty but as all four volumes were only £15 I did not pass them up. This has also been cheaper than purchasing a number of unit histories which may all say the same thing!

Some of the illustrations show clear line drawings of camps and bivouacs of armies of both sides with plenty of ideas for tents and camp layout. Well worth the money and the text includes a lot of ideas for scenarios.

Although some of the text may be a little inaccurate, (as some of the contributors had their own respective axe to grind), it is still useful to see their perspectives and opinions.

Looking forward to progressing with this project! 

Battle of Torrington 16/02/1646

This game was played yesterday at the New Buckenham Historical Wargamers Club. The figures were 28mm and the rules used were Warlord Games 'To Kill a King'

 The board consisted of a line of barricades at the edge of the town of Torrington, blocking two roads which enter the town. The defenders were entrenched with a number of cavalry units in the rear. The defensive line terminated in a large redoubt manned by artillery and infantry.

This was the last battle of the English Civil War with the last Royalist remnants holding out in the village. The New Model Army were to attack from the end of the table.

Here is the left of centre of the defences. The musketeers are manning the entrenchments with the Pike in the rear ready to support the frontline in the event of a heavy attack in their area.

Here is a close up of a musketeer line. As you can see the standard of painting from Stuart and Peter helped the visual appeal of the game.

The large redoubt was heavily defended and flanked either side with further infantry.

Here is a close up. With the large amount of open ground in front of this position the Parliamentarians had the opportunity to deploy onto the table.

Part of the attack in the centre of the table stalled at first but did eventually continue.

 The fighting for the redoubt was fierce and continuous. During the real battle the redoubt fell due to the use of pikes by the New Model Army, but only after two hours of fighting. Also once the redoubt fell as the Royalists fell back the church was destroyed by an explosion as an amount of gun powder ignited.

Here are some of the Parliamentarian cavalry. These deployed to the left of the defenders and had a difficult time deploying in front of the defenders trenches. Unfortunately these troops did not budge for a long while despite a lot of encouragement! The rules used try to add uncertainty to the movement rates by determining the amount and types of movement a unit can make by a dice throw. Throwing over this initiative rate means that nothing happens. This can be infuriating for the player commanding those figures. I personally can see why this has been done in the rules but feel a morale based system rather than something more abstract would be more suitable. Using these rules I have seen units stubbornly refuse to do anything for most if not all of the game which is not strictly accurate.

If you look closely at the figures above you can see the roots growing out of the bases of these figures into the board!

The game went to history and after the redoubt fell the game came to an end.

Many thanks to Paul, Stuart and Paul for organising this game and supplying the figures. Further pictures can be found here

Wargames, Soldier & Strategy Magazine Feature

I have just seen the advert for issue 101 of Wargames, Soldier & Strategy Magazine. It contains my feature on making flags for wargaming units.

The advert can be viewed here

Tunnies Junction. ACW game played 8th Febuary 2019

I recently put on a game at short notice at The New Buckenham Historical Wargames Club. The table had a 'T' junction set diagonally with the roads bordered with snake rail fencing. Hills bordered the edge of the board and there was a scattering of woods across the board.

The snake rail fencing was scratch built by myself. I have since found out that this not quite historically accurate and I have discussed this further in a feature I wrote for WSS magazine, in issue  78.

Here is the latest completed addition to the Confederate forces. These are Harts Battery of Hampton's Legion. They are closely watched by a figure representing Wade Hampton. This unit and the other companies of Hamptons Legion will form the basis of a feature for WSS magazine.

On the other side of the table The Confederate cavalry entered the board and galloped down the road to the junction. One of the regiments had to dismount to hold off a force of Union cavalry who approached from their right flank.

Half of the Union force dismounted and advanced on the Rebel cavalry while the other half remained mounted, which would later oblige the dismounted Confederates to retire.

On the other side of the board the Confederate artillery unlimbered on a hill with the infantry waiting for the artillery to 'soften up' any Union troops who would appear to their front.

The Union obliged and advanced through the woods in open order but the front regiment was repulsed and the remainder took cover behind the fencing lining the road.

With flags flying the Union troops stood up to the rebel fire for a while but then fell back.

The Confederate infantry saw their chance and started to advance.

Meanwhile the Union cavalry obliged the Confederate cavalry to retire and they took the position in the road.

The leading Rebel cavalry fired repeatedly on one of the Union artillery batteries before being driven off by advancing infantry but took up a lot of Union time to push them back.

Confederate infantry started to take casualties as they advanced but the dice throws looked kindly upon the and they reached the fence line.

The Union infantry fell back behind the fence line to wait for the Union attack.

Overall the battle was going to the Unions favour but the Confederates were pushing their enemies back on the left wing.

Here is the overall view.

The Union cavalry dismounted to try and harass any Confederate forces attacking the Union forces.

At the end of the game the Union had possession of the junction but the Confederates had made it a hard fight.

Further pictures of the game can be found here