French and Grenzer War - A New Beginning

ReCon! was held at Geek Partnership Society this past weekend and the War of the Jumbo Alliances got its name, The French and Grenzer War.   Offered up by the Jeff Knudsen Earl of Garfield (at least that is his title in the War of the Jumbled Alliances), the name has taken hold and I assume will last.  

This was the first ReCon! (roughly a quarterly gameday that has been on hiatus for the past year) at the Geek Partnership Society, for much of the past decade ReCon! has been held in Coon Rapids at the VFW hall.   The Building had ample lighting and considering I brought in four tables it had enough tables for the people who attended.     I am not going to beat around the bush when I say the rooms use provided enough space for the games that were played, but increasing the number of attendees is going to make the space tight.

After Action Report – French and Grenzer War

ReCon! – June 14, 2014

Fort St. Jimmy and the French Garrison



Forces

French Left (Fort St. Jimmy)
10 French Piquets
12 Canadian Militia
10 Ottawa Indians
2 6Lbs Canons




French Battle Line

French Center

36 - Bearn Infantry Regiment
36 – Languedoc Infantry Regiment


French Center-Right

30 – Croat Grenzers

French Right

36 - Colonial Compagnies Franches de la Marine
24 - Colonial Compagnies Franches de la Marine
16 – Canadian Militia


Compagnies Franches de la Marine

British Right

30 – Highland Infantry
24 – Provincial Regiment
10 – Gorham’s Rangers

British Center

48 – Von Mansbach Infantry Regiment
36 – Erb Prinz Fusilier Regiment
12 – Hessian Jaegers

British Right

British Center Left

24 – Colonial Militia
16 – Mohawk Indians

British Left
36 – Dunbar’s 48^th Infantry Regiment
24 – Amherst’s 15^th Infantry Regiment

British Far Left
24 – Colonial Militia
10 – Hazen’s Rangers

 

Hessian Jaegers

Orders

French Left – Hold Fort St. Jimmy
French Center – Drive the Hessians from the Field
French Right – Take the Blockhouse

British Right – Take Fort St. Jimmy
British Center – Hold against the French Center and assist in taking Fort St. Jimmy
British Center Left – Hold Farmstead
British Left – Drive the French from the Field
British Far Left – Hold the Block House

The Action

British Right moved against Fort St. Jimmy, quickly driving off the Ottawa Indian Allies, had some minor difficulty getting through the Chevel-De-Frise but by late in the game made it to the wall.  The Rangers finally cleared a section of the wall and storm the fort at the end of the game.

Hessian Brigade moves on the French Center.

British Center moved directly against the French Center which moved forward to meet them.   It was quick and bloody as the French Center pummeled the Erb Prinz Regiment.  Von Mansbach attempted to setup a defense against onslaught of the French Center and was defeated two turns before the Rangers stormed the fort.   The French Center was unable to move British Right fast enough to save Ft. St. Jimmy.

The Colonial Militia held the farmstead, as no one cared they were there.

Karlstädter-Szluiner Grenzer

On the French Right one composite battalion of Colonial Compagnies Franches de la Marine moved against the block house with Canadian Militia Support, while the second composite battalion of Colonial Compagnies Franches de la Marine held the link between the forests.   The Zolton’s Grenzers (named after the famous Grenzer Zolton who held an Austrian village by his lonesome for a turn and half against insurmountable odds) moved through the woods and fired on the Dunbar Infantry Regiment.   After most of the day the French and British forces were exhausted and for all practical purposes routed from the board simultaneously, leaving the Amherst’s 15^th Infantry Regiment on the field alone.

Strategic Redeployment of the Erb Prinz Regiment to the Rear!

View from above

The game was laid out for 8 players, with an option to expand to 10 players; however only 6 players participated.   While everyone had fun and was challenged by the scenario it would have been nice to have a couple more players.

The Units are for the most part full strength, or fairly close.  The game is  getting to the point of needing setup tables which I think will be a requirement upon completing the last view under-strengthed units.

The Erb Prinz Fusiliers in full retreat

In Batailles de l'Ancien Régime  aka BAR one of the unique aspects is awarding battle honors to units that performed beyond the level of expectation on the Table Top.   On this day no unit earned a Battle Honor.  The Provincial Regiment held strong but could not take Fort St. Jimmy was the closest unit to earn a Battle Honor. 
On the other end of the spectrum the Erb Prinz Fusilier Regiment unit is halfway to receiving a downgrade however.

It was a hard fought game, a minor British Victory that was extremely costly as 2/3 of the Regulars were pushed from the table or removed as casualties. 

British Forces storm Fort St. Jimmy

Rules Questions

Can a unit move full and Shoot?
What’s the penalty for crossing a Chevel-de-Frise?
Who can fight and how can they fight in a wall assault

Rules we got wrong

Fire Modifier for shooting at Chargers.
Who and when can a light unit shoot.

 

 

 

 

French and Indian War Era - Trapper's Cabin

 A couple images of a Trapper's Log Cabin that I am working on. 

The body of the house and roof are complete, I still need to fabricate doors and windows. 

I have already roughed up the surface so it is ready to be painted.

The roof as common in the era will be covered in dirt and sod. 

Once I figure out how to make a chimney it will be added to the back of the cabin.

In the background you can see some of the trees I worked on as well over the weekend.   I figure I need about 500 new trees or about 5 times what I made up this weekend.

French and Indian War Era - Trader Fort - Block House

The Terrain Board  is laid out so the Trader Fort will be constructed on rise, or small hill, above the surrounding territory.

The Block House will be situated at the highest point as indicated in the picture.   There will also be a Barn and a Storage Building located on the level to the left of the Block House.  

A Palisade of logs will in circle the remainder of the Fort.

Some additional detail work on the Block House.

Preperations for ReCon!

I spent the weekend looking at my preparations for the "Wars of the Jumbo Alliance" game for the upcoming ReCon!.

I decided I really need to focus on the Map.
The battlefield is 18' x 6', will be a single green sheet with terrain features put on it.   The North Side of the tabletops will be along the Mohawk River, the southside in state New York.
Near the center of the battlefield will be a Swamp/Stream with a bridge crossing.
Across the table will be a road network.
On The French Side there is a River Fortifications.   I theory the fortifications would be located on the opposite side of the river from the battlefield, but it makes a pretty boring game that way.
On the British Side of the things there is a Frontier Farmstead and a Trader Outpost. 

In theory there would be two additional 3' Tables one on each side.   I am planning on using my three 5' wide banquet tables for this as set up tables.   The British have the advantage of being able to move along the road on this fictional table to counter the French Strong Point at the Center of the Table.

I cut out the couple of pieces that I need for the road network, worked on painting the French River Fort and did the ground layout of the Trader Fort.  

So I have the all the buildings and road done short some ground work with the exception of the Trader Fort.   Shouldn't take more than a day or two to complete.

Now, how to make 400 to 500 trees.   

With the terrain all at least planned out I moved to looking at the Troops Required.

British - Assembling at the Trader Fort

• British Independent Company
• New York Untrained Militia
• New York Trained Militia
• Mohawk Indian Band

British - Assembling at the Farmstead

• New York Untrained Militia
• Ranger Company
• Ranger Company
• Mohawk Indian Band

British

• 45th Regiment of Foot
• 15th Regiment of Foot

British

• Highland Regiment
• Virginia Militia

French - Assembling at the River Fort

• Languedoc Infantry Regiment
• Artillery
• Ottawa Indian Band

French - Companies Marine

• Marine adhoc Battalion
• Militia
• Ottawa Indian Band

French

• Royal Rousillon Infantry Regiment
• Bearn Infantry Regiment

French - Companies Marine

• Marine adhoc Battalion
• Militia
• Ottawa Indian Band

What is surprising about that is how close I am to having all those figures painted, I have 36 to 50 figures left per side.   In addition I have a Brigade of Hessen Troops and Bougainville's Flying Column and the Swedes and the Austrians and .... 

Final gave some serious consideration on Rules.

• Decided to go with a completely different initative system.  Not totally happy with myself as it takes away from the BAR experience, but..   Each player will be assigned a set of chits, one +3, three +2, eight +1, eight -1, three -2, and one -3.   A player chooses a chit and than rolls a d6, adding the appropriate chit modifier to determine the final initiative.   Players move and shot from lowest to highest.

Christmas Break Figure Painting

Completed a few more 25mm French and Indian War Figures over Christmas Break, excuse me Winter Holiday Break.

British
12 - Rangers
12 - 15th Infantry Regiment
8 - Independent Company

French
12 - Canadian Militia - Languedoc Infantry Battalion

I anticipate finishing up some additional figures by the End of the Year.
I have the remainder of the 15th Infantry and Virginia Provincials primed and some first colors slapped on them.   I have another unit of British "Local" Militia primed, a unit of Rangers and a second Independent Company started.
For the French I have another block of 12 Canadian Militia which I intend to have completed for the Bearn infantry Regiment, a block of 24 Grenadiers, 12 Marine Piquets and another unit of Native American Indians already primed.

There is little question I cannot complete everything on my list.
I need to fill in the needs first.
15th British Infantry Regiment (two Divisions)
12 British Local Militia
12 Canadian Militia (Bearn Infantry Regiment)
24 French Grenadiers (Composite Unit)

Native Americans

Here's to my effort.

A Few more F&IW Figures

EDIT: COUNTS UPDATED DECEMBER 26, 2013

I finished up a unit of 12 Canadian Militia Piquets (Skirmish) with a command stand.

I also got a good start on a unit of 10 Native American Indians and it's command stand plus a over all Command Stand for my Native American Indians. 

In looking at what I have Painted:

British

• 45th Infantry Regiment (54 of 54)
• 15th Infantry Regiment  (12 of 54)
• Virginia Militia (12 of 44)
• Artillery (12 of 12)
• Highlanders (23 of 23)
• Highlanders (23 of 23)
• Highlanders (8 of 50)
• Rangers (12 of 12)
• Rangers (12 of 12)
• Rangers (0 of 12)
• Independent Company (12 of 12)
• Independent Company (6 of 12)

French

• Languedoc (38 of 44)
• Royal Roussilon (32 of 32)
• Bearn (32 of 32)
• Artillery (8 of 8)
• French Piquets (12 of 12)
• Companies Marine (44 of 44)
• Companies Marine (32 of 44)
• Marine Piquets (0 of 12)
• Canadian Militia - Formed (16 of 16)
• Canadian Militia - Unformed (14 of 14)

Native Americans

• Unit 1 (12 of 12)
• Unit 2 (12 of 12)

British Allied - Hessian

• Mansbach (54 of 54)
• Erbprinz (42 of 54)
• Artillery (8 of 8)

Saxon in French Service

• Graf Bruhl (20 of 44)
• First Lubomirsky (0 of 44)
• Artillery (8 of 8)

Austrian

• Artillery (12 of 12)

Swedes

• German Grenadiers (26 of 46)
• Jagers (12 of 12)
• Friekorps (12 of 40)
• Artillery (8 of 8)

I guess I am beginning to see the end of painting the figures I currently have mounted up and primed, scary thought.  So I started looking through the unmounted and unprimed figures...

• Two Battalions of French Marching
• One Battalion of French Advancing
• Three Battalions of Prussian Muskeeters
• One Battalion of Austrians
• 30 Native Americans

In addition I have some ungodly number of American Militia to remount.

My Goal between now and next week is get a good number (30 to 60) Native American Figures painted and remount at least two units of American Militia.

A Ford Too Far - Preliminary Discussion

The Irish historian Cornelius Ryan wrote several narrative histories on the Second World War; the most famous include The Longest Day, The Last Battle and A Bridge too Far.  Cornelius Ryan's writings and the films made based upon his books had a serious impact on my views and choice of hobbies.   I have slowly been painting up the figures to run Operation Market Garden using 15mm figures and "Spearhead" rules.  

Over the years the Centurions have discussed using historical scenarios in different periods; for example the Battle of Gettysburg set in 1779 between the British (Union) and the Continentals (Confederates), or Waterloo in 1870.   

However an intriguing idea was presented as Operation Market Garden set in the French and Indian War, dubbed a Ford too Far.   Would it work, can it be played, what rules, scale...

Obviously with a far number of 25mm Figures painted up already (even though not much is playable, see last post) the scale of the project was chosen for us.

As for rules, my love hate relationship with all rules is clearly in play, however we have been leaning towards Batailles de l'Ancien Régime (AKA BAR) locally and for now with nothing else peaking anyones interest BAR gets the nod.

So we have rules, scale, figures and now the start of creating a scenario.

To me the first step was breaking the game into playable areas or tables.   Specifically the space the table becomes the rivers/canals.   Between Table 1 and Table 2, the Rhine with Oosterbeek and Arnhem on Table 1.   Between Table 2 and Table 3 is the River Waal with Nijmegen located on Table 3.  Between Table 3 and 4 you have the Wilhemina Canal with Eindhoven located on Table 4.

The next step is locating whose where and how do you represent them.
The 1st British Airborne is located on Table 1 holding the crossing there in Arnhem.   The Polish Parachute Brigade is on Table two attempting to take the crossing from Arnhem.   The 82nd is attempting to take the crossing from Nijmegen on to table 2, and the 101st is attempting to take Eindhoven and the crossing onto table 3.
The Germans have a series of Kampfgruppe on each of the tables, including an SS Division, a Parachute Division, a Panzer Brigade and several unique divisions.  

The 1st Airborne - 80th Regiment of Foot
Polish Parachute Brigade - Allied Native Americans
82nd Airborne - American Rangers
101st Airborne - American Rangers
Guards Armored - Highlanders
Wessex Division - Regular infantry
Northumberland Division -  Regular Infantry

The question then becomes how many figures....
If you figure each player will command four units of 10/12 figures than ...
80th Regiment of Foot (Gage's Light Infantry) - Five skirmishing units of 10 figures.
Native American - Three Skirmishing units of 15 figures
American Rangers - Three Skirmishing units of 10 figures
American Rangers - Three Skirmishing units of 10 figures
Highlanders - Four Regular Foot Divisions of 15 Figures
45th Regiment of Foot - Four Regular Foot Divisions of 12 Figures
15th Regiment of Foot - Four Regular Foot Divisions of 12 Figures

Additional Figures
Grenadiers - 8th Armoured Brigade?

More later on all the Kampfgruppes

BAR Update - December 2

WOW!  Has it really been 9 months since I blogged on Miniature Gaming?   According to BlogSpot it has been, I just cannot believe it has been that long.

Any how...

Over the long Thanksgiving Weekend I spent some quality time with brush, paint and figures.   It seemed like I didn't complete much in the way of completed figures, twelve French Piquets (One Unit), four Austrian Artillerists, three command stands, half-a-dozen French Canadian Militia, and a solid start on another half-a-dozen French Canadian Militia.   That's 30 figures, plus 6 half-painted figures.   I shouldn't complain but...

I also spent some time looking over my French and Indian War / Seven Years War 25mm figure collection and attempted to decide upon some priorities.  I suppose that having the attention span of a six year old doesn't help me all that much; however here goes.

I think that creating playable forces has got to be the most important aspect.

On the French side you have Bougainville, Dumaz, Senezergues, and Montcalm's commands, Brigades if you will, however that is not the proper term, columns or lines is more of the vernacular for the period.
On the British side you have Wolfe, Monckton, Murray, and Townsend's commands. 
I also have two Saxon Regiments in French Service, two battalions of Hessians, and a number of Swedish units in the works for other SYW projects.

As I take a closer look at the French Side for the F&IW:
Bougainville Flying Column
Levis' Militia Cavalry - 200 Men - Don't own figures
French Piquets (IR) - 100 Men - Completed
French Piquets (CdM) - 100 Men - Figures Primed
French Piquets (Militia) - 120 Men - 6 Painted / 6 half-painted
Composite Grenadier Battalion - 240 Men - Not started
Native American's -

Dumaz's Column
La Sarre (II) - 360 Men - Not Started
Montreal Militia - 8 Figures Painted
Quebec Militia - 8 Figures Painted

Senezergues' Column
Guyenne (II) - 360 Men - Not Started
Royal Roussilon (II) - 360 Men - 12 Figures Painted
Montreal Militia - Not Started
Trois River Militia - Not Started

Montcalm's Column
Langdoc (II) - 360 Men - 24 Figures Painted
Bearn (II) - 360 Men - 24 Figures Painted

Levis' Brigade
Compagnies Franches de la Marine - 960 Men and 240 Militia - 48 Figures and 24 Figures 

The problem, even though I have 150 to 200 figures painted I haven't complete one command, what worse is that each of the commands needs about 50 figures to make it playable.   

On the British side I am even more in shambles as many figures are half-painted.    I have commands stands completed for four or five battalions but very few actual line figures painted.  

So what can I get completed to make pained playable forces.
Bougainville's Flying Column needs Militia Piquets and a number of Native American's completed.   arguably this is my closest to playable command.   One I should focus on in the short term.
The next closest to playable is Montcalm's Column of two battalions, I am short 24 figures and actually have these figures primed and based up.
Levis' Brigade is in practical purposes playable, but under strength, a couple of artillery pieces and some more Marines are in it's future.

The British, well since I cannot put what I have painted into any kind of semblance of order I am practically starting at ground zero.   I have two divisions of the 48th Foot done (24 Figures) and 24 figures primed I need to finish those before moving on to the 15th Foot.   I also have 30 figures of the 78th Highlanders started and well I also have the 60th (Royal Americans) and a Virginia Militia Battalion started, plus two Independent Companies, three Ranger Companies (basically done).   Wow are they a mess.   I guess that why I am focusing on the French.
Dumaz's and Senezegues' Columns are the furthest from playable.

BAR Update

A quick look at four of the sixteen Prussian Artillerists that I am painting up for Jim.    I actually have eight of them done and started on the other eight.

Jim is working on Prussian Brigade with a Musketeer Regiment (two battalions) and a Fusilier Regiment (two battalions) plus artillery.

For the Imaginations games of Jumboed Alliances I am working on a Swedish Brigade and a Saxon Brigade.   My plan is that once painted the Saxon's would be sold to someone locally.   Hopefully at some point I can get back the Royal Swede and Royal Bavarian Brigade for the French Army, but that is now on the back burner.

Speaking of the Swedish Brigade I have really given some thought on its organization and have decided to get back to work on it.   The brigade will have Narke-Varmlands, Dalanars as a single battalion of three small divisions of 15; two battalions of a Vavarde Regiment.   To be supported by one battalion of Grenadiers, more artillery than you can shake a stick at (It is a Swedish Command after all), plus a company of Jaegers.

AAR - Battle of Fort Schuyler

My Lord,

I wish to present to you a report of the action of March 30, 1758 between the Sarcastic Alliance and the 33 1/3 Coalition of Lunacy near Fort Schuyler New York [Utica, New York].

The Relief Column of the Dunbar's Infantry [48th Infantry Regiment] followed by our glorious allies of Hessen-Kessel's von Mansbach Regiment departed Fort Herkmer and marched to relieve the besieged forces of Fort Stanwix [Rome, New York].    On the morning of March 30th scouts of Brewer's Rangers reported French troop concentration along the banks of the Mohawk river.
The Brewer's Rangers under order to investigate used a farmstead called Cherry Point Hill as base of operation as it members moved towards the river to determine the make up of the French Force Concentration.
Without delay I ordered Dunbar's Infantry to form into battle line in the clearing between Cherry Point Hill and the Fort Schuyler.    I directed the commander of von Mansbach to do the same; however I believe a language barrier presented issues as the men of von Mansback decided to take a holiday and bath in the glorious sunny afternoon.
From my vantage point I saw a second French troop concentration forming near Fort Schuyler and begin advance on the Fort.
Dunbar's Infantry ran off to two battalions of French Marines and spent the remainder of the afternoon reforming.  After much coaxing and some language lessons I finally urged the soldiers of von Mansbach to form a line of battle and move towards the French troops assaulting the defenders of Fort Schuyler.   
The mass of French succeeded in breaking the defenses and have taken Fort Schuyler and now hold those heights above the Mohawk.
Unable to secure the Fort and lines of communication I have withdrawn to Fort Herkmer and await further instructions.
Your humble servant.

A weekend's work

It was a quiet weekend so I spent it working on a few figures.   I pulled out my French Army for Batailles de l'Ancien Régime [AKA BAR] and tried to finish up things I got started a while back.

I finished the first division of the Royal Suédois Infanterie (Royal Swedish Infantry Regiment) of 12 figures.  I had one figure completed before Friday, I did three figures Friday night and eight figures on Saturday.

I have been working on a variety of painting techniques using different color primer and seeing what effects work and don't work.   This weekend I think pretty much everything worked, except for the white primer.


I finished up both divisions of the Béarn Infanterie (Bearn Infantry Regiment) by completing seven figures and the Languedoc Infanterie (Languedoc Infantry Regiment) by completing four figures.   Both of those Battalions have two divisions of 12 figures.

I also got a started on the Royal Roussillon Infanterie (Royal Roussillion Infantry Regiment) by getting the remaining 12 figures primed, and finishing the first division of 12 figures and a very good start on the second division.   

In addition I spent some time finishing up movement trays and getting some bases flocked.
While not completed this "Battalion" of Compagnies Franches de la Marine has 1 division of Marines and a second division of Canadian Militia.   The bases have all be covered in medium ballast and will get some green flock in the next night or so as I also have to give the Color Guard their standards.

A close up of a random Royal Suédois Infanterie  figure.   Not sure this is the best example of the painting techniques I am using currently.  

In the end I also started working on the list of things to do before our first game of the Wars of the Jumbo Alliances.   The Wars of the Jumbled Alliances are our 15mm Koenig Krieg game, so bigger figures Jumbo sized..    Okay what ever it works for me.

I also sent out the invitations to the game.

Esteemed Gentlemen.

Upon great effort I have pinned the forces of that Irish Mog; for he is neither man nor dog yet the British have conferred upon him the title of Major General; Fitzgerald in the Woods of Berry.

 

With extreme prejudice I plan to launch a full scale assault against positions held by British Forces on the Thirtieth Day of March in the Year 2013 of our Lord when the Sun reaches its zenith in the Woods of Berry.

 

Your assistance in this nature is most assuredly needed as our forces skirmish with one another.   Undoubtedly we will have glorious repartee, humorous witticisms, tales of past glorious deeds, adult beverages, and failed dice rolls to mock and ridicule.

 

Please respond in kind.

Marquis de Bosinbaie

Jeffrey

Batailles de l'Ancien Régime - Seven Years War in 25mm

One of a few projects I am working on for 2013 is Batailles de l'Ancien Régime (AKA BAR) for the Seven Years War (1756 - 1763) in both Europe and North America.  You can find the link to the rules here: http://www.oldregimerules.com/bar_0.html

Originally I was planning on using Wilderness Wars for the French and Indian Wars; however a fatal flaw in the rules (and very questionable changes for a second edition) lead me to look at other options.   Thus a hard decision to use BAR was made.   I may be tempted to use Drums of War Along the Mohawk for the French and Indian War, but I am not sure I really gain anything with the additional complexity.   

With the decision made a year ago I had to reorganize my figures and yes it will take some additional figures to fill in.

For my French Forces I have 3 Battalions of French Line Infantry, 2 Battalions of Colonial Compagnies Franches de la Marine, 2 units of Canadian Militia, 2 units of Piquets (Light Infantry), a contingent of Woodland Indians, 2 Light Artillery Pieces with 8 Gunners, a mounted officer, and a number of figures to fill in the ranks.

For the British Forces I have 2 Battalions of British Line Infantry, 1 Highland Infantry Regiment, 1 Highland provincial infantry company, 3 companies of grenadiers, 1 Provincial Infantry Regiment, 3 companies of Rangers, and 2 Light Artillery Pieces with 8 Gunners, and a mounted officer.

In addition I have 2 regiments of Saxon Infantry in French service, 1 regiment of Swedish Infantry, and 1 company of  Swedish Jaegers.

Of those units I am at 52% completed painting, and virtually all those figures are primed and many have the basic block colors on them.  

I also have a metric long ton of unpainted figures.   Many of which have been bagged for units, but I want to get what I have primed painted.

A productive Saturday

I awoke on Saturday with a pretty massive head cold, thought about the 40 minute drive to Coon Rapids for ReCon! and decided that it was not in everyone’s best interests for me to share my cold.

I understand that the War of the Jumbled Alliances game went off and Tom Zwirn has decided that at the next ReCon! he will be running a double sized Thirty Year's War game using Field of Glory - Renaissance Edition. Tom also announced he has finished rebasing his Rally Round the Flag 15mm Figures for Regimental Fire and Fury and will be selling off three Brigades of figures.

Since I was not going to ReCon! I spent the day organizing, cleaning, priming and painting figures.
The organizing is probably my biggest accomplishment, I love to organize everything but my hobby stuff, and I broke down and did a pretty good job. I found 60 Dismounted Tarleton Figures, a number of 15mm Napoleonic figures, but failed to find the 25mm Courier De Bouis that started my organizing.
I got 60 British Highlander figures cleaned up and mounted on bases and primed that will become the 78th Regiment of Foot, Frasier’s Highlanders for the my Quebec campaign of 1759.
I also got a number of other lose figures cleaned up and mounted and in many cases primed. Cannot believe I need French Officers and Drummers and British Command for the French and Indian War.

When it comes to painting:
I completed for the Austrian Kaiser’s Infantry Regiment I completed the command section of 8 figures, one mounted officer, and the first company of 15 figures. I also got a good start in the second company of 15 figures completing the Officer and NCO, getting all the major color blocks done, leaving finer detail like cross belts.
I got a good start on the French Royal Rousilon Infantry Regiment, completing the command section of 8 figures, and 12 of the eighteen figures I was planning to paint at the beginning of the day, the group grew to 24 figures, but I need Command and Drummers.
For Bougainville command of French Grenadiers and Pickets I got the figures mounted up and ready to paint. His command will have 30 Grenadiers, 30 Courier De Bouis, 30 Canadian Militia and 30 Indians. I have 15 Militia and 15 Indians completed.
I also re-mounted my 30 British Rangers for the French and Indian War onto circular bases from their old square basis to be consistent across my collection for the period, I need to finish flocking these bases in the near future.
In total I got about 45 figures painted for the weekend and another 15 basically done.

I spent some time looking at my American War of Indepence Collection, but I will leave that for another post.

Swedish BAR

Yeah Yeah I know I am supposed to be Austrians, while I am painting those too.

I completed the LivCompany (16 Figures) for the Swedish Regiment Narke-Varmlands in 25mm for our BAR 1741 project. In addition I completed 4 of the 8 Figures for the Command Section, and the 8 Artillerists and 2 Cannons, plus the Regimental Officer and Brigade Commander.

For Narke-Varmlands this leaves 4 Figures for Command and 32 Figures for the Second Two Companies.

I also got all the Figures for the Dalarnas Reigment (2 Battalions) which is the mate Regiment in the Brigade. Plus just because I own the Figures every mad jack of the Swedish Jagers will be covered as well.

On the Austrian Front I completed the First Company of the Carl Lothringen Regiment only 120 more to go for them.

Okay so it's not 2011 yet.

I have spent some time preparing the Austrian and Prussian figures for Batailles de l'Ancien Régime (aka BAR).

I have decided to organize the troops for the First Silesian War (aka War of Austrian Sucession) for the Battle of Mollowitz.

Austrian
http://www.cgsc.edu/CARL/nafziger/741DAF.pdf

Prussian
http://www.cgsc.edu/CARL/nafziger/741DAA.pdf

BAR Games at the SYW Convention

I played in two BAR games hosted by Jim Purky and Bill Protz (the rules author) while at the SYW convention in South Bend, IN; the Prussian Assault on the Luethen Church and the battle of Mollwitz (First Silesia War).

The first game on Friday was the Prussian Assault on Leuthen Church. Yours truly had Rot Wurzburg and the Church, my orders hold the church. Special rules the walls are considered 8 feet high and only one battalion in the walled courtyard at a time. In addition to Rot Wurzburg, I had a battalion of Hungarian Infantry (YARK), two battalions of Austrian German infantry and two pieces of artillery, a 12# and a 6#. On my right flank was Rolf Running and his four battalions of infantry and two 6# guns, Paul (whose last name I didn't catch) had another four battalions of Austrians, including our Grenadier Battalion, on my left. On the right Flank Brent Olsen had a contingent of Austrian Cavalry and I forget who controlled the Austrian light Cavalry on the left.

Facing us was three brigades of Prussian Infantry (each of four Battalions and two pieces of Artillery) and Prussian Cavalry on both flanks.

The game opened with Cavalry actions on both flanks. I moved my battery up to a position I was told was going to be supported and deployed them out. Paul on my left became extremely aggressive and moved out of the Leuthen Village and started forward against the Prussian, to achieve balance in the whole thing Rolf dug in behind the village leaving my artillery high and dry.

I cannot give details of the Cavalry Battles, as both flanks worth of cavalry on BOTH sides ground each other into oblivion. On the Left flank in Turn 5 there was a grand total of 6 Austrian Light Cavalry figures left out of nearly a 100 figures on EACH side. On my right flank while the destruction wasn't quite as complete neither side was going to have a usable force left.

I am not sure why Paul launched his attack, the problem is because I was anchored in the Leuthen Church he had his right flanked exposed and took fire from Chris Combs Prussians who was straight across from me as well as the brigade directly in front of him. My poor unsupported Artillery Battery took 20 some potential casualties of fire and evaporated.

I realized on turn two when I started waving at Chris and Fitz we were doomed. The Prussian plan involved removing our cavalry than focusing on the two flank infantry brigades before converging on the my Brigade. Paul moving his brigade forward unsupported on my left allowed his brigade to get wrecked sooner than Rolf's on my right. After five or six turns the artillery started to fall on Leuthen Church and Rot Wurzburg was done for, Rolf began retiring from his position and the first wave of the assault finally came, a Fresh Battalion of Prussian Line led the charge. After the Referees changed the height of the wall, the first wave was defeated.

Suddenly there was a knock at the door, I sent Ensign Parker to see who it was, and more Prussians poured forward, my Second Line was engage in a fire fight to the rear of the Church and against Prussian Infantry deployed in the village of Leuthen on my right. Ensign Parker informed me the Prussian Garde Grenadiers wished to make a donation to my funeral arrangements all I need to do was open the door. I said no, poor Ensign Parker had to go tell them the news.

The next wave came and that damn knocking on the door continued. I held strong and still refused to let the Garde Grenadiers make a donation, they actually offered to double it.

In the end Rot Wurburg was compelled to withdraw, however we held, the reality of the situation was they were going to be ejected at some point allowing a Prussian Victory, my goal of delaying to night fall was almost achieved. In the end it was a costly piece of real estate for the Prussian resulting in a Swedish Victory.

TBC

Pictures by Jeff Knudsen and can be found on his site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/war_artisan/collections/72157623604512741/

Jim Purky comments and description of the action can be found on his site: http://altefritz.blogspot.com/2010/03/syw-assn-convention-update.html