Battle of the Civil War

 Hello  There! I have just finished reading 'Battle in the Civil War' It is written by Paddy Griffith and I found this in a second hand book shop. I was aware of the work of the author and being interested in the American Civil War I purchased it after a quick flick through.

I found it to hold a lot of relevant information which I have not seen elsewhere. It explains the basics of how armies function and engage each other. It goes into the problems that commanders from both sides experienced and how they tried to deal with them. This was a refreshing difference to the usual unit history or personal recollections but it also goes some way to expain the actions described in these other publications too.

It includes chapters covering Strategy of the Civil War, Commanders problems, Finding the Enemy, Manoeuvering, Transmitting Orders, Deployment, Generalship, Control in Battle, Pursuit, Artillery, Cavalry and the Fire Fight among others.

Each subject only has a double page spread on each of these and also has so me well detailed line drawings on every page.

Althogh reall y a 'Crash Course' in the American Civil War it was very useful, even for myself who has been reading about the period for years.

I would certainly recommend this to anyone who is interested in the period.

Foam Woods and Explosion Markers

 Hello There! I have some items for sale and would like to put them on here. The amount of interest will determine if I do anymore so if you would like something like this please contact me through this blog.

1.Here are some foam woods. The figures to show size are 28mm Spanish Guerrillas on a two pence piece. The tree trunks are thin dowel and cocktails sticks. The dried paint on the trees has made the foam hard. They are dry brushed a lighter green and spray varnished overall.  Sold as a set and are £15 plus Postage & Packing.

THESE WOODS HAVE NOW BEEN SOLD,(10/04/21), HOWEVER I AM MAKING SOME MORE AND THESE WILL BE POSTED ON THIS BLOG IN DUE COURSE.

2.These explosion markers have two pence pieces glued to their base to weigh them down and stop them falling over.  Sold as a set this set is £12 plus postage and packaging.

 

3.These two large explosion markers are more suitable for larger calibre guns. They are weighed down with two pence pieces and are £8 for the pair plus Postage and Packaging.

4.This group are medium sized markers with various arrangements of explosion arms. This groups are weiged down again and are £15 plus Postage and Packaging.

5.This group does not have the extending arms like the previous items and portray the explosion but not as well developed. They are approximately the same size. Again they are weighed down and are sold as a set. £8 plus Postage and Packaging

6.This and the next set are various sizes. Again weighed down and suitable for different calibres of gun. £10 plus Postage and Packaging

7.These are again weighed down and suitable for different calibres of gun. £10 plus postage and Packaging

Purchasing more than one set will qualify for a 10% discount.

Please contact me through this blog.

The Battle of Maida, 4th July 1806

Hello There! I have been painting units to refight the Battle of Maida so have decided to write the British and French orders of battle to show progess on the project.

Here is the British first.

British Order of Battle

Commander: General   Sir John Stuart

Light Infantry Brigade: Commander Lt-Col James Kempt, (formerly 81st Reg commander)

Composite Light Infantry Battalion, (nine companies)

'Flankers' from 35th Foot, (120 men) (possibly part of the Light Battalion)

Royal Corsican Rangers, (two companies)

Sicilian Light Infantry, (one company)

1st Brigade: Commander: Brigadier Sir Lowry Cole

Grenadier battalion, (seven companies) Lt-Col O'Callaghan

1st battalion, 27th Foot, (eight companies)

Second Brigade: Commander: Brigadier Wroth Palmer Acland

2nd battalion, 78th Foot, (eight companies) Commander Lt-Col Patrick MacLeod

1st battalion, 81st Foot, (eight companies)

Third Brigade: Colonel John Oswald

20th Foot, (eight companies) (Veteran, from Egyptain campaign, Distiguished)

1st Battalion, 58th Foot, (eight companies)

Watteville Regiment, (nine companies)

Artillery, Commander Major Lemoine

10 x 4pdr

4 x 6pdr

2 x howitzers, (Calibre?)

Light Battalion

    This was formed while the battalions were in Malta. Lt- General Sir James Craig stripped the other battalions of their light companies and formed a light battalion of nine companies. While in Malta they were trained in light infantry tactics and he encouraged esprit de Corps in the new unit.

       The unit fought well in the battle and was considered strong and reliable.  

    Although this tactic was seldom used by the British and not again after this battle, (according to Oman), the historian described this action as 'an execrable device'. He highlighted the removal of the battalions best shots and removing the light skirmisher screen which the battalion would also benefit from.

      The system was abolished by Sir John Moore, who commanded the army in Sicily after the replacement of Stuart in July 1806.

Royal Corsican Rangers

    Raised in Malta on 14 September 1803 and commanded by Hudson Lowe this unit consisted of ten companies of sixty men each, two companies of which were present at Maida. Spending all their existence in the Mediterranean area they were uniformed in a very similar way to the 95th rifles, (although I do not believe they were armed with a rifle), the only difference being the black cords had an obvious red fleck included in it.

        I will use figures representing 95th Rifles for this unit leaving out the red fleck so I can use them for further Peninsular War scenarios in the future.

This unit is illustrated in Osprey men at arms 335 Emigre and Foreign Troops in British Service (2) 1803-1815 by Rene Chartrand, plateA3

Sicilian Light Infantry

    Raised in Sicily in May 1806 part or all of this unit was present at Maida. Some sources say just one company was present and another says'it' was present inferring it was all present.

    It was barely raised and kept in reserve so could not be trusted in battle.

    This unit is illustrated in Osprey men at arms 335 Emigre and Foreign Troops in British Service (2) 1803-1815 by Rene Chartrand, plate D2

Grenadier Battalion

This was a composite battalion composed of the Grenadier companies from all except the Watteville regiment, hence their extra company compaired to the other battalions.  

Again formed on Malta it provided another battalion for this force and were very accomplished during the battle.

1st Battalion 27th Foot, Inniskillin

This battalion had buff facing which also included buff trousers and turnbacks. They were described as 'Hard biting fellows' according to Lt-Gen Sir Hensy Bunbury, (Head of the expeditions quarter master generals department). Therefore I would consider them veteran rather than line in morale value.

Further information can be found here.

2nd battalion, 78th Foot, (Highland) Ross-shire Buffs

    This was a recently raised regimment which had arrived in Messina in May 1806 and was due to go to Malta to reinforce the Sicilian garrison there. They were considered inexperienced. Their service took them to India later and they did not take part in the Peninsular. Due to this I have found it impossible to source their flags and so have made them myself. In turn as I would lke to use the figures in Peninsular games later I will paint another highland unit and use that instead.

Further information is here.

1st battalion, 81st Foot

    This unit also has buff facings and turnbacks. They spent the vast majority of the time in the Meditterranean. Further information can be seen here.

1st Battalion, 20th Foot, East Devon

The East Devons had yellow facings. They had a long history being a part of the Peninsular War and were with the army at Rolicia, Vimero, Corunna, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Orthez and Toulouse.

    Later they guarded Napoleon on St Helena in 1819 and 12 grenadiers of their regiment bore Napoleons coffin in 1821. 

Further information can be found here.

1st Battalion, 58th Foot, Rutlandshire

    This unit had black facing which leads to a drummer in a white jacket. They were considered inexperienced green troops but previously fought with great distinction in Egypt so this may be undeserved.

This unit spent its time in Messina and had no further part in the Peninsular War.

Further information cen be found here.

Watteville Swiss Regiment

This regiment also had black facing. I managed to source their flags from 'Flags of War' from their 'War of 1812' range. This is because it is one of the few units in the British Army that served in the Mediterranean, Peninsular and Canada. The flag does bear the battle honour of 'Maida' but with the flag being folded on the flagstaff it cannot be seen.

Artillery

How this was divided up has been difficult to ascertain.

There was an artillery reserve of  4 x 6pdr and 2 x howitzers.

Dyneleys Battery of 2 x 4pdr supported the light brigade.

This leaves 8 x 4pdr which I assume was spread evenly between the remaining two brigades.

Sources

Osprey men at arms 335 Emigre and Foreign Troops in British Service (2) 1803-1815 by Rene Chartrand

The Battle of Maida 1806, Fifteen Minutes of Glory by Richard Hopton

Wellington's Switzers by Alistair Nichols

Steve Barber Models 28mm Napoleonic British Royal Horse Artillery Mounted Officer and Bugler

 Hello There. I have just retrieved some more figures from the 'Lead Mountain of Unending Shame' with the idea to prepare some more figures for painting. I like to deflash, degrease, prime and mount items so that they are ready to go.

I wanted to do some artillery for the French and British as I have started some cavalry and done a few infantry battalions by now as well. I found some Polish artillery from Murawski Miniatiures, (more about them later), and some Royal horse Artillery from Front Rank. To complement these I remembered these from Steve Barber Models.

This company provides a varied and eclectic range of single figures across a wide range of  periods. This is a result of the company providing a service to provide figures for the wargamer under a commission a figure sysytem. The result is then provided on their website.

I have purchased these figures and a number of British and French Napoleonic sailors and marines. I also have some American Civil War items as well.

I am wary of describing how much flash a figure has as each individual gamer has their own opinion as to what 'minimal' or 'bad' is or even 'acceptable' This can easily give an incorrect image to future customers. I also feel that people may expect far too much from figure manufactures sometimes too.

Here the flash consists of a line along the back of each horse which is easily removed with a sharp scalpel scraped along it. The officers horse has some 'proper' flash which is about 10mm long and  2mm deep. The mould marks are easily removed with a sharp blade or a 'rats tail file' The horse cloth has a moulded line to help paint the edging along the horse cloth.

The figures are very clean of mould marks for the standards of the day. The trumpeter has a little under the arm holding the bugle but that is not a problem at all. The braid is very clear and so detailed it is enough to make any figure painter cry realising that he has to paint each line individually.

As you can see from the rear view here the lace work on the jacket of the figure. It is very clear and easy to paint with no flash line involvement.

From the front the officer has TEETH moulded in his open mouth and all cords are just as clear as the bugler.

Overall these figures area very worthy purchase and a very good addition to the RHA figures I am about to start.

I do not have any connections to Steve Barber Models, apart from the fact I purchsed some of their figures.