2020 projects finishing 2019

Crimean actions to do
Nearly bought new ACW figures but I stopped myself as I really didn't want to get back into it
Riel Rebellion actions and should 1837 also pop up,
Between work, pandemics, I should be able to get some actions done this year

Going walkabout Down Under, 1788-1930

WI Issue 383 for September 2019 has an interesting article on frontier conflicts which involves Settlers vs Aborigines

I have enough figures to try and recreate with some imagination
More to follow

Anglo-German War, 1871: what if scenario

One of the interesting situations that I learned about during my time at the Halifax citadel was that the British army began to withdraw to the Home front due to the increased power of Prussia soon to be Germany.
At the time, an interest in invasion fiction hit the western world as an interesting genre of pop culture.
Another chance for me to use my Napoleonic cavalry and Colonial troops plus first war Germans and French.
Inspired by August 2019 issue of Wargames illustrated

Battle of inkerman 5 November 1854

With Wargames  Illustrated issue 381 July 2019 I received a free set of Crimean War Russian infantry by warlord games to which I'm going to paint up and prepare for the battlefield along with the other small figures I have of this. So that's why I'm going to have a Crimean War scenario up on this blog shortly.
At presents I have approximately 5 regiments of Russian troops with a battery of artillery Calvary consists of Cossacks. British troops for the area consists of my Napoleonic British and my Highlanders which at 1/72 scale you really can't tell if the carrying flintlocks or percussion locks.

Crimean War Pacific campaign Siege of Petropavlovsk Aug, 1854

One of the little ideas I have using my Napoleonic British, Russians and Samurai era Japanese
The Russian defense of the area consisted of earthworks.

Crimean War Balaklava

Continuing on with my new interest in this conflict, I have borrowed some books from the family of a late friend of mine. I'm currently reading up on the Grenadier Guards and Balaklava.
With the Napoeonics I have, I should be able to put the battle together

A major change for this blog concerning my US Civil War collection

Recently I have been finding it difficult to consider keeping my US Civil War collection. Most of the figures I have date from the early 1970s and over the years I have struggled to either find a game system I like, or to even see if I want to continue keeping the collection. As well, despite a family connection to the conflict, we had an ancestor who was pressed into service with the Confederacy at the siege of Fredricksburg, and he fell in that fight.
On a personal note, the controversy surrounding the Confederate battle flag is also another reason I decided to part with the collection.
I was going through what I had and have found that with the rule set I have, it would mean an investment of at least another 300-500 figures to make it a go, and I just don't feel like doing that with this period.

The only way I would do any civil war type figures now would be for any Fenian raid type games, and for those, I think I can use other figures for that. Namely my cowboy style figures.

A fellow collector here in Nova Scotia has offered to trade my collection for kits in other eras that I am more interested in.

I will keep this blog up, and update it with the other ideas I have for gaming the period in British North America between 1815-1900.

Havenlocks advance to Lucknow, 1857 Battle of Aong

Wargames Illustrated has an excellent game scenario featuring my old regiment the 78th Highlanders.
The figures amounts are not so large.

1st Madras (European Fusiliers) 20
64th Regiment 20
78th Highlanders 20
8th Regiment 20
Regiment of Ferozepore 20
Volunteer Cavalry 10
Irregular Horse 10
Royal Artillery 2 guns
Bengal Artillery 2 guns

Balance Rao's Mutineers

Sepoys 10
Badmashes 10
Ghazi Fanatics 10

Illregulars 10
Bengal Light Cavalry 10
Illregular horse 5
Balance Raos Horse 5
2 field guns
2 large guns

The rebels hold a village which they have fortified.
If my Indian figures are more than I think I have, then they shall be in the game.

The British will be a mixture of  Napoleonic British as well as my light infantry from my American revolution troops in light kit.

This action was played in August 2019.
The
British assault wasn't as easy as expected. The Indian defenders fighting for their home, tried to hold on to the walls, however the British were enraged at the betrayal of their troops and the murder of their compatriots in the end, they prevailed

some plans for this year

So I should make a basic plan for some games I might be able to get into this year.

1. First up should be some Rebellion of 1837. Now that I have sufficient early 19th century types, I should be able to put some of the battles for this.

2. Fenian Raids. Another project I have wanted to do for a bit, eventually I should see about getting some Crimean War types for Canadian Militia. The Fenians will be made up of the remaining Cowboy types I have.

3. Crimean War actions: I still have some Russian figures and in a pinch, I can throw in some French Foreign Legion types. The British will just have to make due with the Napoleonics I have.

4. Riel Rebellion. The one action I haven't fought so far is Batoche. I have enough earthwork type stuff and terrain effects that I could put together Metis rifle pits.

5. Majuba 1881. Now this is a battle I'll have to draft in several different figures. And eventually, I should be able to get some late 19th century Highlanders.
The Boers will have to come from my cowboys.

6. Indian Munity 1857. Wargames illustrated has some ideas I'm going to try out.

Metis and Cree attack Canadian and NWMP camp, 1885

Canadian Militia, set up a defensive camp near a Hudson's Bay post. The militia entrench themselves.

The Cree warriors prepare to swarm the Canadians.

The left of the Canadian and NWMP post also entrench behind some hastily built defences. The buildings have already been torched by a previous raid.

Ian begins his Metis attack

Eventually, the Canadian tactics of flanking didn't work. The Cree and Metis swarmed both wings of the Canadian position. The survivors fled, leaving the Metis and Cree to loot and then burn the remaining buildings.

American Civil War action: Hoover's Gap

Having noticed that I have not had a Civil War battle for awhile, I shall be fielding an action once I clean up my black powder table.

Union forces on the hill, made up of dismounted cavalry armed with repeater rifles

The Confederate Cavalry arrive

Confederate Infantry begin to advance and fire from the woods

the Confederate Cavalry deploy to cut off the road

I played the Confederates differently from their historic counterparts.

The infantry were extremely aggressive in their attacks. though the cavalry took heavy looses, the rebel artillery and firepower drove off the yankees. 

This battle which I fought on the table top was actually the last one with my civil war collection I parted with the collection to a fellow collector in order to expand my other collections hopefully those of you who look at this site will enjoy the last shots of this collection in action

Fish Creek 1885

British and Canadian troops form up.

Metis warriors take up positions in rifle pits. 

Canadian militia advance and fire in order to clear out the metis

Cree warriors fall back while firing

Victory for the government seems secure

but a few die hard warriors continue to harass the government force

Soldiers of the Queen in British North America 1870-1885

Several battalions of 

British or Canadian militia.
As of 2018, I have remounted these units with their names. More postings to come.

Corydon, Indiana, July 9, 1863

My son has taken a fancy for American Civil War games. It's a way to get him back into black powder actions.
A force of Confederate Cavalry and artillery invades Indiana

Confederate attack on Union camp

I put this up a year ago and can't remember what I did

its just eye candy now

An action on the Northwest Frontier 1870

British Imperials attempt to hold back a massive attack by a thrust by Pashtun warriors

 The Pashtuns  close in

British troops attempting to hold the line don't realise that they are extended too far!

and are proceeded to be cut apart.

This battle turned out more like a Zulu war action where the British underestimated their foe. 

Union forces hold a river crossing

A quick game between my son and I. While I've been working, he has been tweeking his tactics.

He basically sent a Confederate division against a Union Brigade. Despite the Union flanking the Confederate line, they were still able to smash through.

Front Royal Virginia, June 23, 1862

Confederate forces advance to capture both bridges over the turnpike

Federal troops deploy with gun support to protect the bridge

One brigade holds a farm to halt the Confederate advance

By turn three, the Rebels have deployed cavalry and their artillery and infantry have pushed back the Federal position at the farm

With their loss of artillery, the federals are able to burn one bridge and withdrawl, giving a partial victory to both sides

Battle of Fish Creek April 1885

Canadian Militia, with NWMP help attempt to close in on the Metis lines

The Metis in their rifle pits

Their view of the NWMP and Militia

Dumont gives the order to fire

Crozier orders an advance

The Metis pour fire into the advancing Canadians

Having built well dug in positions, the Metis are oblivious to Canadian fire

The Canadians begin to take Casualties

The cavalry charge hasn't worked

The Rifles deploy in skirmish order 

Metis begin to go down

The Canadian left flank has suffered

and so has the Metis centre

With fixed bayonets, the Canadians charge home

a lone mounted Metis dashes back to Batoche

Dumont tries rally his men

and the Canadian strike home

This was my first Riel Rebellion game in a long time. More will follow