Canadian War Museum early Canadian war exhibits

My visit to the Canadian War Museum 

Ottawa warrior

Ottawa-Huron village 

European armor and matchlocks

Huron and Canadien raiders

Kings Colors, Bourgogne, 58th Regiment 

Mortar

Fragments from siege of Louisbourg 1758

The colours

Loyalist uniform

Camp colours Royal Highland Emigrants 

Back in 1986, we made a reproduction of this for our encampments 

RHE broadsword 

 

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.

1755 Campaign: Nova Scotia Part 3. The Final Attack

One of the projects I will try to work on to get back into the 18th century gamming is the Campaign to capture Fort Beausejour.
This will be a work in progress.

cannonier-bombardier training in the fort

The campaign begins in April, 1755. After a long winter, the French garrison begin to repair the walls of the fort. Local MikMaq assist in the defense by patrolling the area. Acadian farmers stop by to collect powder and shot for hunting and to report the activities of the British garrison at Fort Lawrence. (April 5, 2018)

local MikMaq take post under cover of a wood close to the fort, denying a position to the British.

another group of warriors take up position on the banks of one of the tidal streams.

the New England infantry begin their attack, with the objective to be to drive back the warriors

the local Acadians rush about to collect any supplies still left from their farms.

a group of French gunners bring up guns sent down from Quebec, landed at Fort Gaspeaur and March them overland protected by some Canadien militia.

Gorehams Rangers use the barn as cover to try and flank the French.

5/11/2018

The 43rd Regiment along with the Second Massachusetts Regiment landed with support from the Royal Artillery and colonial militia. Pushing forward, the Royal Artillery began to bombard the position held by the MikMaq and Compaigne Frances. The initial artillery volley shook the Amerindian warriors but they rallied and would not be pushed. The artillery then switched to fire on the Canadien Milice who were annihilated. The 43rd believing that they could push off the MikMaq and French colonial troops rushed across the bridge but we're halted by heated musketry. Withdrawing, the 43rd withdrew to a new trench line the militia had dug while the guns kept the French at bay.

Gorehams Rangers then led a party of militia to push forward and dig new trenches and gun emplacements. By nightfall, the French gunners were unable to fire on the militia. The trenches were pushed forward. The fort and it's defenders held off another day. 

6/2/2018

Finally the Anglo-American force was able to push through and bombard the French position. With counter battery fire, the Royal Artillery was able to knock out several French batteries and destroyed a bastion and blockhouse. 

With the English advance, the French commander asked for terms.  

King Phillips War 1675 Governor Winslow Attack on Connecticut River

This battle comes from a variety of sources. The inital idea came from the August 1999 issue of Miniature Wargames. In their Renaissance section an article by Simon Lee War in the Colonies: King Philip's War 1671-1676.

Roger Marsters Bold Privateers: Terror, Plunder and Profit on Canada's Atlantic Coast (2004) gave me some more ideas. The rules used were Slitherine/Osprey's 

Field of Glory Renaissance.

 New England troops, a combination of Pike and Shot with some ship guns, prepares to advance on the French and Indians who are blocking the river valley.

A large body of Huron warriors have rallied to try and drive the English from the Connecticut river valley. 

Winslow's force consists of several regiments of militia, most armed with pikes and matchlocks, a few with flintlock or doglock muskets

The French forces however all have flintlocks. They have barricaded their end of the valley with fallen trees and some basic earthworks.

The English artillery open up and smash some of the fortifications to bits. 

This enrages rather than discourages several groups of Hurons who charge out and engage the militia in impact charges.

The miltia pike and shot blocks are unable to make much headway towards the lines.

More and more Hurons rush the militia who are stalled in their advance.

One group is broken apart and slowly cut to pieces.

The first line of militia pike and shot blocks begin to fall back. 

The militia units with more advanced firelocks begin to open fire holding back he surge of warriors

However, it proves to be too little too late

With a broken line and no clear way to break through, Winslow orders a withdrawl. New England may now be open to invasion!

King George's War: French attack on Gorehams Rangers camp 1748

I'm not sure if I've played this battle before but one of my co-workers wants to get together and try some gamming.

This seems like a good start.



The game will be French troops from Quebec, and Acadia, with Mik Maq support,

The Crown forces will be made of several companies of Rangers.

The ranger base camp. 

 Le Compaigne Franche de La Marine form the right flank of the French,

Canadien Milice advances to support the French right.

A ranger company awaits the attack

Compaigne Frances in forest kit

 in garrison kit

MikMaq on the French left

Rangers deploy to their defences

the MikMaq maul the rangers on the right,

Alex catches on fast after loosing a milice group. He quickly advances his units to pour fire into the camp. Not even the camp followers survived. Total loss to the British.