Now that I have more than a start on the 8 Nations Alliance for the Boxer Rebellion, it's time to turn my attention to the Imperial Chinese Army and the Boxers. I'm a great fan of The Men Who Would be Kings which is my kind of Colonial Colonial Gaming. In researching my army, I'm also going to give a nod to making the Field Force as colorful and with as many flags as possible. My army will be semi-historical with an eye to gaming and having fun.
Right now I'm focusing on forces during the Second Relief Force when the 8 Nations Alliance forces under Lt. General Sir Alfred Gaselee marched on Peking to relieve the Internation Legaitions. Once the Taku Forts were taken, the Imperial Chinese, which had forces actively fighting the Boxers, viewed the action as a declaration of war and the Boxers started to take a back seat to the Imperial Army. But hey, we are going to have lots of Boxers for the Imperial Chinese commander as cannon fodder, um, ahem, as loyal citizens helping the Qing Dynasty.
A nice photo from the National Army Museum in the UK picturing Manchu hat wearing Imperial infantry.
Imperial Chinese Infantry Unit #1 (they'll get names later) from Wargames Foundry's the Taiping Rebellion in China 1851-66 range sculpted by Michael and Alan Perry.
Irregular Infantry: 4 points.
Poor Shots: - 1 point.
Total: 3 points.
Chinese Ever Victorious Army from the Taiping Rebellion range that will be later Chinese Imperial Infantry. The figures from the range make great proxies for the Boxer Rebellion in 28mm.
Irregular Infantry: 4 points.
Poor Shots: - 1 point.
Total: 3 points.
I wanted one unit with Manchu hats and one with turbans. My unit with turbans will have a dark blue uniform with black turbans.
3. Chinese Imperial Infantry Unit: The Kansu Braves. How can you not have a Chinese army without the Kansu Braves!
Irregular Infantry: 4 points.
Poor Shots: - 1 point.
Veteran: +1 point.
I'm going to use the Kansu Braves from Crusader Miniatures - pictures from Crusader Miniatures website.
I gave the Kansu Braves veteran status as they had pretty good staying power during the Boxer Rebellion.
4. Chinese Boxers x 2.
Tribal Infantry: 3 points.
Fierce: 1 point.
Total: 4 points.
My Boxers will be hard plastics from Wargames Atlantic with a few metal figures thrown in.
Photo from the Wargames Atlantic Website.
5. Imperial Chinese Artillery.
Well drilled: 6 points.
Total: 6 points.
Figures again from Wargames foundry and the man in charge of the gun is going to wear his fancy armor!
Looks like some of the artillery was at least average in performance though further research is warranted. I'll probably paint them in the famous, classic uniform from the cigar box cards.
To recap my generic Imperial Chinese Field Force for The Men Who Would be Kings:
1. Chinese Imperial Infantry Unit # 1 (Irregular Infantry, Poor Shots): 3 points.
2. Chinese Imperial Infantry Unit #2 (Irregular Infantry, Poor Shots): 3 points.
3. Kansu Braves (Irregular Infantry, Poor Shots, Veterans): 4 points.
4. Boxer Unit #1 (Tribal Infantry, Fierce): 4 points.
5. Boxer Unit #2 (Tribal Infantry, Fierce): 4 points.
6. Chinese Artillery (Well Drilled): 6 points.
Total: 24 points.
72 figures and 1 gun.
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