Siege of Fort Niagra July 1812

I'm continuing my actions on this fort. And this time the British and Canadian forces cross the river from Upper Canada

The Americans allowed the Crown forces to advance and proceed to blast apart the Militia wing on the right with their Artillery. This was a feint. The main thrust was by the Amerindians charging the left bastion. The British centre procecced to cut down the Americans as they advanced out of the main gate. At last, a clear British victory. 

Siege of Fort Niagra July 1779

I'm stretching history a bit. I'm going to have an action by General Sullivan contine from the Mohawk valley up to the fort.
Some British, mostly Mohawk and Canadien defenders
American units from the army

So I have begun to set up this battle. Main issue as my son noted is that the American force seems small to try and take on a British held fort. However, I will see about enlarging the American force, including potential Artillery.

Eventually the Crown forces were able to cut apart the Americans but not to the extent they thought they could. The Royal Artillery failed in their counter battery fire, and the Americans were close to taking the fort, however British musketry kept them at bay.

Siege of Fort Niagra July, 1759

So I've decided to do a Seven Years War based action whereby the Anglo-american army will lay siege to capture the fort.
As well this will also allow me to look at the battle of La Belle Famillie
I've built 2 stone bastions  a gatehouse and a fortified barracks.
If I cant reenact this summer, I shall fight some tactical battles.

Presently, June, 2020, I have set up the 1759 campaign. The Anglo-Americans are beginning to dig
trench lines.
The French are in the process of manning their trenches and walls. The Amerindians will see about sorties against les anglais

The first turn featured the French repositioning some of their field guns to a forward position while a massive demonstration of troops were used by the British to mask the militia digging gun positions and trenches.

 the French begin to deploy in the forward defences

 the Anglo-american left begin to build a siege battery

Le Cannonier-Bombardier begin to fire on the battery ensuring that it will remain silent

 the Canadien milice hold the bastion at the gatehouse 

 the Hurons and Courier de bois rush out and engage the Light infantry 

who despite trading volleys will be shot apart

French Artillery have kept the battery silent

the Colonial troops begin to mass for an assault 

while the British Grenadiers begin to assault the French gate.

the Highlanders are held in reserve

Then the Compaigne Frances de La Marine arrive

the American colonial troops suffer broken morale

and the French begin a general advance to clear away the dreaded Les Anglais

Eventually, the French Companies Frances de La Marine engaged the Anglo-american force at La Belle Famillie and flanked the siege lines. New France was safe for now.

Talons, Claws and Rotten Dice, Great Northern War battle from Wargames Illustrated 386 Battle of Pole Krwi July 1705

While I was living in South Korea, I picked up 2 Osprey Books on Peter the Great's Army. When I moved back to Nova Scotia in 2015, I had to jetison some of my libray in order to buy food. Both books I sold to a used book store in Dartmouth.
However, I have 18th century figures which were marketed for the Great Northern War which I have painted as 18th French and English for my conflicts here in Nova Scotia.
I have enough troops as Russians and Swedish. The fun bit of this conflict is that the figures will be a mix of nationalties.

Swedish Army:
13 Squadrons Horse blades (cavalry armed with swords)
4 pike and shot regiments (flintlock muskets)

Russo-Saxon Army:
5 dragoon squadrons swords, pistols
1 squadron of Cossacks
7 Regiments armed with muskets
2 field guns
1 light gun

The Russians have to stop the Swedish Army advance.
Picture courtesy of Wargames illustrated July 2019, issue 381

This Black and Fatal Day: Bloody Brook, Massachusetts, September 18, 1675

Another fun installment of my favorite era, New England Colonial forces against the First Nations people of the area, and I have the figures!

Once I get some time, I will do battle.
The idea for this game comes from one of the issue of Wargames Illustrated. Somewhere I have it, and I have the figures. Just finding the time, which I seem to have due to the Covid 19 pandemic and some time off, that is if they don't call me in to work.

Capt. Thomas Lathrops company

12 figures armed with muskets

Teamsters: 4 musket armed farmers

Capt. Moesleys company

12 mounted figures 

Major Treats company

2 units x10 muskets

Mohican war party: 12 musket armed warriors 

Amerindians

Nipmuck: 30 warriors

Wampanoag: 18 warriors

Pocumtuck: 6 warriors

Amerindian victory is to inflict 66% casualties on the English colonists. 

18th century Rangers rethink

An article in the August 2019 issue of Wargames illustrated points out something that I had picked up from the Osprey publishing book on Colonial American Rangers.
Not all rangers were created equal. Gorehams in Nova Scotia and Roger's Rangers in New York.
Other colonies attempted to raise Ranger companies but they were met with limited success.
I'll add more to this on my own research in a bit as well as shots of my own Rangers

My take on some Colonial Rangers

Double Dutch! UK invaded 1667 and 1688

Another fun idea from Wargames illustrated August 2019 edition.
Bonus use of my pike and shot units to mix in with my early 18th century kit.
Me thinks an attack on Languard fort is in order. Just need to find the time to do so.
I have a castle which can fill in as the coastal fort.
The Dutch can be in blue coats from my 1640s style while the English will be in Red.

Over the hills and far away: UK assault on South Africa 1807

Inspiration from my favorite author and the old osprey publishing book on the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
This project I plan on doing during 2020, I got sidetracked in 2019.
My research will be to fill out units for the Dutch, the British are mostly ready to go.

The Dutch troops will be a mix of my blue coated American's who wore a similiar uniform to the dutch, and adding in some AWI militia types as I'm sure that the Dutch settlers were not up on the fashions, having spent most of their time trying to farm to survive.

My British force will be a mix of the 1790s and 1800 troops that I still have.
more to come hopefully shortly

The descent on the river Plate 1808

The unsuccessful campaign in South America by the British inspired by my favorite author
This was my other project which fell by the wayside for a few reasons
1. I traded most of my Napoleonic French to a fellow collector and
2. I changed jobs and had little time off
However 2020 is looking good so far and I will be doing this one.

My Spanish troops are from those of Spanish gurriellas which I have plus some French painted up as Spanish a la 1780s-90s.
and just for colour, I may add in some native auxilliaries.

My British force will be the same as that for my South African adventure, as in reality, they came from the same source.

Roddy Mcourlly 1798 Rebellion

I've been interested in gaming this conflict as my ancestors are from Ireland and I share the name of a song. As well, my late great Uncle Fred sang the wind that shakes the corn.
I have sufficient figures for both sides
Just need to get them on the table

Roddy, who I've painted as a highwayman 

My British and Loyalist Irish will be made up of AWI types with the late 18th Century Light infantry 

The Rebel Irish will be made up of AWI civilian militia types 

There may be a few French types thrown in for colour, 

The British/Loyalist units will be made up of AWI British as well as the 1790 types I've been able to paint up.

Fort Chambly 1776

Now I know that Chambly was not besieged by the British against the Americans but it could be an interesting battle
Inspired by the Osprey publishing book on the Quebec 1775 campaign
As well, one of the back issues of Wargames illustrated gave me an idea via their invasion issue, and the Quebec 1775 Osprey publishing book gives some ideas as well.
The main thing is to build Fort Chambly with the bricks I have.

Once it stops snowing in April, I can try to knock together some stone towers.
All pictures courtesy of Wargames illustrated July 2019 Issue 381.

Georgia 1740s actions between the British and Spanish

 Osprey Publishing books on Colonial American troops in the Southern colonies against the Spanish
The Spanish troops in question will look slightly French, but will have Plains Indians from Airfix and Revell kits as their allies. One Regiment I have painted as Bourgoaine which were a French Regiment at Louisbourg but whose colours are Spanish
My go to French Canadian militia without the snowshoes will act as sailors off of ships or militia with Spanish guerrillas  to fill out.

The Anglo-American troops are made up of some Colonial units I have painted, and some of my Jacobites which can fall in, as many Highlanders migrated to the Southern Colonies.
Should be fun in the sun, mozzies, aligators and swamps

French counter revolutionary actions 1790s

One of the articles in Wargames Illustrated lists this scenario as an interesting game idea. More to follow.
I have several civilian type figures which could become counter revolution French. It makes for an interesting side project along side my Irish Rebellion actions I am also working on.
I plan on modeling the French counter rebels in a mix of SYW French in blue coats and civilian French militia in the knit caps minus the snowshoes, and the Revolutionary French in the National coats of blue faced red (AWI Americans moonlighting as French)

And I have to find what issues this was in, ahhhhhh

As of 2022, I found the article and have a scenario on the table 

The Battle of Carrickfergus 21 February 1760

As mentioned in the previous posting Battle of Carrickfergus was a French invasion of Northern Ireland during the Seven Years War one of the most interesting aspects of this action was that three of the regiments involved had actually been involved in operations in British North America on the French side we had the Regiment going and going to be both of which had served in the Garrison of Louisbourg during the siege of 1758 and the 62nd regiments which is served in the siege of Quebec in 1759 furthermore this campaign is very easily adapted to the wargaming table due to its small size and also to the fact that I have most of the figures already in order to fight the battle within Wargames Illustrated magazine (July 2019) the figures used are from the author's collection however within my own collection I have better suited civilian type militia figures for the Seven Years War. Which at 1/72 scale it really doesn't matter the style of clothing however the Caps being worn or probably better than Irish Rebels have 1798 where the newer style clothing started to come in at the end of the 18th century as well there are several armed civilian types I have in my collection in metal from rafm miniatures.

The French force for the battle

Carrickfergus with castle and garrison

The Irish Loyalist Militia man the walls.

Defending their homes against a foreign invasion 

French begin  advance

They begin to try to breach the walls

My son Ian and I played out this game as we hadn't had a Black Powder game together in some time. In this game, he acted as the British-Irish commander while I took the French.

The French troops attempted to bombard the town. In the process, they were successful in taking out most of the Royal and Royal Irish Artillery. However, as the French Infantry advanced, the Irish militia held firm better than their historic counterparts. The British Grenadiers actually broke morale several times! Quite the scandal! 

However, in the end, despite the French breaking over the forward wall of the town, they could not overcome the defenders. They quickly departed the area before being defeated in detail.

Another new idea, Hudson's Bay vs Northwest trading company Battle of 7 Oaks, 1821

One of the interesting scenarios and conflicts which I have read about was the violent rivarly between these 2 fur trading companies.
The Northwest Company had been built by investors in Montreal, and may have had a prevelance of French speaking members while the Hudson's Bay company were an English speaking company, and who had a longer established relationship with the first nations peoples in the region.
I have several metal and plastic figures which could be used as fur traders.

Battle of Lake George, 1755

 Baron Diskeau's force made up of Regiment La Reine and Regiment Landeauc

 the Anglo-american force of Sir William Johnson's force

half of the Amerindian and Colonial force

and the other half

the French advance towards the Anglo-american camp

the French fire

and the British Artillery fires back

the French regulars begin to take casualties 

The French continued to fire into the camp and unlike the historical outcome, the Amerindian force rushes the camp for a chance at the spoils of war. 

The English Colonial militia, loose faith and flee towards their boats in the lake. The colonial regiments charge into the woods to clear the right flank, but may have doomed their position as when the Amerindians rushed the camp, the defense collapsed. Sir William Johnson was able to flee with a portion of his force.

The collection I have is to stand as is.

I have come to the realization that I may have to not increase my collection of my main hobby collection.
Around 2004, I took a count of my collection and came up with the figure of 10,000 figures and about 1000 vehicles for my others.
I have to be satisfied with what I have and game and play with what I own now.
That or I need to get my spending in control.
As of July 2019, the collection is roughly 7120 figures however this may go up when I take a more accurate count.
The only new additions have been either through trade, or by my subscription to Wargames Illustrated which are providing a free spruce of products this year.

So far, I have been able to get a few figures from Wargames Illustrated which fit my Black Powder Era gamming. I am also going to tackle painting up some of these as the summer turns to fall here in Nova Scotia.

Barrosa 1811 will now be New Orleans 1815

As some blog viewers may have noticed, I had a rather large blog posting about an upcoming battle I had planned to do. However, over the last few months, I have been reconsidering my collection.
A new friend I have met has been trading parts of his collection for bits of mine. One of the latest bits he asked for was a Napoleonic French force. So, after consideration I traded my Napoleonic French force for several modern/cold war and WW2 kits. If I want to get back into Napoleonic, I can always buy newer kits.
I had taken the collection with me to Japan for 11 years, but my heart has always been in North American conflicts between 1620-1820.
So, when I can find some time, I will be doing up the New Orleans campaign.
Or, this book could be sold, most of my interest for the War of 1812 is confined to the Canadian side of the operations.
But it seems that no one is taking me up on the offer of my book, and after my tax return came in, I may be able to weather the storm.

Warmer weather coming, so garage will be back in business

I was puttering around in my garage between work, sleep, shoveling snow and slush and then water issues.
I should be able to get two tables going this year.
Stay tuned.
I spent the day airing out and sorting off both my gaming tables. I'd like to try to run both, one for large games, the other for smaller skirmish ones.
However, with the influx of new kits, and reductions of my other collections, my project table will stay cluttered for a while.

La Belle-Famille, 24 July, 1759 Niagara,

One of the books I got for Christmas 2018 was Ospreys Combat North America 1755-63 British Redcoat vs French Fusilier by Stuart Reid.
The great thing about French and Indian war battles is the small scale they were, but the outcomes were so huge in the history of both Canada and America.
British Forces
De Lanceys Light Infantry: 44th, 46th, and 4/60th light companies
44th Regiment
46th Regiment
New York Regiment
Farquhar Grenadiers made up of the grenadier companies
Mohawks

French Forces
Companies Frances de La Marine 6 companies
Militia and Amerindians