Friday, March 23, 2018

Giant Commission -- Last of the French Cavalry

These last eight stands will let Glenn field his expanded cavalry units for his Waterloo scenario.




1st Hussars






1st Chasseurs a Cheval







Chasseurs a Cheval, Grenadiers a Cheval, and Dragoons of the Guard



These last three stands took the longest to research and paint.  It's always challenging getting musicians painted in correct uniform!


Saturday, March 17, 2018

The Battle of Bunker Hill

Today the fellows came by my place to fight the Battle of Bunker Hill!  Kevin took the British while Jon took the Americans.

Kevin started by moving Howe's brigade into a single line.  He was hoping to pin Stark's men in their fence position and take the hill with his grenadiers.



Pigot's men approached in column.  The British batteries peppered the rebels with long range fire.



Howe's men took enough harassing fire as they approached that all three battalions picked up disruption points.



The British grenadiers started up the long slope, and all three of us were reminded of Howard Pyle's painting.





"Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!"  Prescott's men send the grenadiers reeling back down the hill, leaving 60 dead and wounded behind them.




The American skirmishers kept Pigot's brigade from coordinating too closely with Howe.





It was at this point that we had an actual casualty!  Jon cut his finger on the steel tape measure.  Ouch!  I didn't even realize I had a picture of our bloodshed until I looked through my shots.




Kevin made a second attempt on a frontal attack, this time with the 5th and 52nd Foot.  One of Pigot's battalions, still in column, took a nasty volley at close range.




With three British battalions routing, Kevin called off the attack.  The rebels had held Breed's Hill!

We had a break for lunch and tried the scenario again.  This time Kevin held off any attack until Clinton's reinforcing brigade was available. With only nine turns remaining until the end of the scenario, Kevin was gambling that once concentrated blow could clear the Americans off the hill.



This time seven British battalions would advance as one.



Still only one unit from each brigade can charge at a time.  Here Pigot's lead regiment closes on the breastworks.  Every time the rebels fired, they rolled unmodified 10s or better.  This time is was a double six: two extra casualties on the lead unit and a wounded general.



The British light infantry went in next.  Another series of devastating volleys crippled the British attack.





The third time was the charm!  The 5th and 52nd Foot gained a foothold on the last game turn.  Unfortunately this same turn, two British units failed rally rolls and dispersed.  This game too resulted in an American victory.

In two plays of this scenario, we had two resounding American victories, which was not at all what I had expected!  I will play this same scenario through solo to see if I can get a different result.

Even if the games were lopsided, a good time was had by all!  I'm very lucky to have such a good gaming group.  No drama, no hurt feelings, just friendly guys who enjoy history and a good spectacle!


Friday, March 16, 2018

Prepping for Bunker Hill

Long-time readers of the blog may remember that back in 2011-12 I built a British army to fight Bunker Hill.  Although I have this great 28mm AWI collection sitting around, I have only played two games with it!  Tomorrow I will finally get Bunker Hill on the table.  My group will be using the excellent "British Grenadier!" rules.



Pigot's (left) and Howe's (right) brigades move into attack position.




Prescott's brigade mans the Breed's Hill defenses while Stark's brigade lines the rail fence.






Howe's converged light infantry companies will lead the way.





Stark's boys look like they mean business!



This is a pretty small scenario.  The Americans start with eight maneuver elements, with the chance of two more coming on board later.  The British start with seven, with two more coming on halfway through the game.  I think we may get in more than one game!

Thursday, March 15, 2018

Giant Commission -- More French Infantry

Here are 102 more figures, French infantry in close order for the 100 days.


Legere Center Companies







Line Elite Companies




Now I am working on French skirmishers and yet more French cavalry.  Onward!

Monday, March 12, 2018

A Miniature You?

No, this isn't about a diet or exercise regime.

The proprietor of Lord Ashram's House of War has passed on news of a new venture, which I thought might be interesting.  It surely interests me.


This Minuteman Miniatures will make a 3D scan of your head (or use a scan you provide) to create a unique miniature with YOUR features on a Greek, Roman, Napoleonic French, or World War II officer.

Lord Ashram explains it all better than I can on his blog.  He and his team will be at Cold Wars this weekend.  If you're going, stop by Minuteman Miniatures and let me know what you think!

Monday, March 5, 2018

Giant Commission -- More French Cavalry

The British army is now in Glenn's hands, but my work is not done.  Glenn has chosen to add a few more bases so he can really play Waterloo in style.

The first set of figures from this additional force are these 54 French cavalrymen.

1st - 4th Cuirassiers






5th - 8th Cuirassiers






9th - 12th Cuirassiers






1st and 2nd Carabiniers









2nd and 4th Lancers



Now I am working on a couple hundred French infantry.  Last week I got another delivery of more figures, so this addition will likely keep me busy four a couple more months at least!