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!