Flashback February: The Huron Warband is Complete!

Except for the figure on the rock (Magua from Warlord Games), all figures came from the boxed metal set (19 in total) from Warlord Games.

As readers of the blog know, I've been painting 6 figures at a time of my Native Warband to: 

a. Individually painted figures (non-production line) take longer.

b. To give me a "creative" break between groups.

I had a great time painting these figures for the French and Indian War as I have never painted Native Americans (except for one US deputy marshal in the Wild West) and I had a great time looking at primary source illustrations, reading eyewitness accounts, and looking at what contemporary artists have done.

The last six, primarily based on descriptions of the Battle of Bushy Run.

For the entire War Band of 18 figures (categorized as Large for Rebels and Patriots if I use all 18) I went with the 3, 2, 1 alternative basing for the game which really gives an "irregular" look to the unit. In addition, I was able to add some extra details to the larger bases to make mini vignettes.

"3"

"2"

"1"

Okay it is self-indulgent time as I post various pictures of the completed War Band:

Flashback February: Highland Clansmen

 

Here are my Highland Clansmen from Warlord Games:

NORM!!!

Flashback February: The 71st Regiment of Foot (Fraser's Highlanders) in the American War for Independence

After the outbreak of the American War of Independence in 1775, Simon Fraser, Master of Lovat, was authorized to raise the 71st (Highland) Regiment of Foot. With companies mustered in Inverness and Stirling, two battalions were formed and in April 1776 the 71st Highlanders, known informally as ‘Fraser’s Highlanders’, sailed from Glasgow as part of the reinforcement of British forces in America. Elements of both battalions, totaling about 400 men, were captured by rebel naval forces in actions both on the high seas and in Boston Harbor. However, most of the regiment arrived safely off New York in August 1776 and the remaining companies were brigaded into three provisional battalions for the campaigns 1776 and 1777.

After the capture of Philadelphia, the 71st, having been reduced by sickness, was sent back to New York where the Regiment was joined by replacements from Scotland and resumed its original two-battalion structure. In 1778, further companies were raised in Scotland and later that year, the 71st was sent south to campaign in Georgia and the Carolinas. Although both battalions were again considerably reduced by sickness, a skeleton battalion structure was maintained. The 1st Battalion was effectively destroyed at Cowpens in January 1781 with many men being taken prisoner. The Regiment was formed onto a single battalion which went into captivity after Cornwallis’ surrender at Yorktown in October 1781.

The 71st Regiment of Foot or ‘Fraser’s Highlanders’ served in both the Northern and Southern Campaigns, participating in these major battles: Brooklyn (1776), Brandywine (1777), Savannah (1778), Briar Creek (1779), Siege of Savannah (1779), Siege of Charleston (1780), Camden (1780), Cowpens (1781), Guilford Courthouse (1781), and Yorktown (1781).

In April 1782 the remaining battalions of the 71st Regiment were re-formed into two distinct Regiments, the 71st and the Second 71st. The first of these two new units consisted of the remaining men of the original regiment, who had not been killed in action or captured, and numbered only 189 when it set sail from Charleston with the evacuation of all British forces in December 1782. The 2nd 71st was disbanded in 1783 and the 71st Regiment was disbanded in 1786.

One of the longer projects I did; not because the figures were hard to paint but because I kept putting them aside to paint other units. The figures are from the excellent Perry Miniatures American War of Independence metal range and were mounted for Rebels and Patriots though they can be easily used for Muskets and Tomahawks, Sharp Practice and other popular rule sets.

 

Flashback February: Romano-British Army and Arthur, Dux Bellorum

Arthur, Dux Bellorum of Britain leads the elite of Britain against the Saxon invaders.

Usually I take one month out the year to take a break from blogging mainly because I do other things other than play with toy soldiers . . . I mean accurate representations of historical and fictional soldiers, etc. throughout the ages. Okay, they are toy soldiers. What else do I do? Well I watch TV, read, serve my reserve obligation as a Colonel of Mobile Infantry in the Terran Federation, read, do watercolors, re-read Calvin and Hobbes, tinker with my time machine, read, teach grandchildren bad habits (I mean survival skills) and read, practice my awesome bo stick skills and read. So . . . get ready for some of my favorite posts over the years in February.

My Romano-British army composed primarily of Wargames Foundry figures with some Old Glory miniatures is finished and battle tested.  They are mounted for Dux Bellorum on 120mm wide bases.  In Dux Bellorum game terms I organized the army as my own interpretation of King Arthur:

1 Mounted Companions: 5 points

3 Noble Riders: 15 points

2 Ordinary Shieldwall: 6 points

1 Mounted Skirmishers: 2 points

Of course I utilize the Experience Warlord and Imposing Horsemen option!

The assembled War host.

Shieldwall infantry #1.

Shieldwall Infantry #2.

Arthur is the middle figure from Wargames Foundry flanked by Old Glory miniatures. Since he was also known as the "Bear" I added an extra flag to go along with the traditional Pendragon standard.

Okay . . . I'm showing off the dragon painted on the shield.

Another view of the mounted force.

One of the most useful units are my mounted skirmishers for making Saxon Warbands charge when they don't want to. I have also discovered that dismounted skirmishers with javelins are very useful.

I love the priest from Wargames Foundry that was sculpted by the Perrys.

One last look at the "overlooked" infantry of Arthur's army.