Amherst attacks Fort Chambly 1759

After discovering all of my metal 18th century figures, Ian has gotten back into wanting to do black powder games. This game is a what if game, of Amherst advancing towards Montreal and taking on Fort Chambly

The metal figures are from RAFM Flint and Feather and All the King's Men collections. 

In the action, Amherst was hasty and advanced too quickly towards the French lines. Rather than using his artillery to blast away the French, he used them in a supporting role. Consequently, the French still held the fort, and Amherst was forced to pull back. 

Battle of Bergen April 1759

I finally got a black powder game going again. This action is a small scale version of an allied attack on a French battery outside the main action of Bergen

Combat of Saundershausen July 23, 1758

One of my more popular postings was on a Seven Years War raid. This is another one,  a French raid.
The forces are French battalions with Light troops, aka Hussars attacking a Hessian force.

 A Hessian regiment, 

(Osprey Publishing)

 (Lace Wars Reenactment group, UK)

This will be the new blackpowder game I set up for today. The dynamics are from GOFF, so that Ian can quickly make decisions.

I got Ian to play with me after an afternoon of badminton in the park.

 The French, Austrian and Bavarian force advances on the Hessian right flank.

 The Hessians are in their fortified camp, with the officers in the local inn.

The Hessian horse, quickly deploy but are slowed up by the thick woods on their right.

 Cossacks in Prussian pay rush into the camp to lend support with a battalion of Hessians coming up in support.

The Irish Regiments prepare to advance into the centre of town.

The French and allied horse are also slowed up by the woods on the Hessian right. The Hessian storehouse is within easy reach of the French.

Ian ties down my Hessian troops, meaning that the storehouse is at the mercy of the French.

The battle is still being fought. Since it's being played in the living room,  while my wife and daughter watch TV, Ian goes, then I go. 

The Hessian storehouse falls victim to a concentrated attack. 

View from the French lines. Steam rolling into camp.

Hessian horse take on a French gun, taking out the crew. One of the high points the Hessians had.

The Cossacks attempt to flank the French troops on their right. The Hessians pour volleys to try and stop the flood of French into their camp.

My final move was to try to drive off the French allied horse from stealing the livestock.

 While I had to step out, Ian then made a large attack, and destroyed my Hessian force.

A fun game. Ian wanted to "help" me buy setting up my forces. I wanted to have put a guard force on my storehouse, but oh well. Maybe next time.

Siege of Louisbourg 1745 & 1758 - Living History Reenactment

 I was at this reenactment in 1995. Thanks to Folkart Films for posting this

Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site

 This is the biggest historical reconstruction in North America. I have visited as a child and a reenactor. Worth the 6 hour drive from Central Nova Scotia.

Fort Beausejour June 1755 Part two, the second attack.

This battle in June of 1755 was where a Anglo-American army under General Monckton attacked the French fort of Beasejour on the disputed Acadia-Nova Scotia border. The fort was held by a company of Les Compaigne Franches de La Marine, augmented by MikMaq warriors and impressed Acadian milice.

my older children playing on the ruins of Fort Beausejour, October, 2003.

Acadian militiaman, 1755-1760

Not all Acadians were deported in 1755. Some escaped into the wilderness of present-day New Brunswick and from there, staged such a relentless guerrilla-style warfare on British areas that it took great numbers of British and American provincial troops to guard, with variable success, the western borders to Nova Scotia. Following the surrender of the French army in September 1760, the Acadians partisans would not give up to the British and it took French officers to finally convince them to lay down their arms and respect the capitulation.


Sorry for the enlarged shots, my phone is giving me some grief today with uploads. However, they do give some more detail then usual.) This is the second attempt to game this action, and once again, the Anglo-Americans are driven off.

 The Massachusetts Regiment took the Anglo-American right, with 

 a ranger battalion in support.

 The French defenders inside the fort await the Anglo-American onslaught. 

Close up of a RAFM 8lb gun with a Revell-Germany SYW Austrian Artillery gun crew painted as Cannonier-Bombardier. The MikMaq chief is wearing a French uniform coat given as a present for his assistance to the French.

 The British regiments made up of the 28th, 40th and 45th attempt to break into the fort. The Royal Artillery and Boston Artillery company breached the walls, allowing the composite Grenadier companies from the three British regiments to storm in. They did so, only to be then cut down by concentrated musketry. The hat companies then attempt to break in again.

On the Anglo-American right, the rangers have been driven off by French artillery fire, while the Massachusetts's troops move forward. The French guns are too much for the Anglo-Americans. Having lost most of their artillery to French counter battery fire, and the British assault driven back, the Anglo-Americans withdrawal leaving the French in possession of the fort. The French have held on for now. 

Attack on de Vienne house, Beauport, Quebec 1759

This is a fictional battle, but could have happened if the British had been able to ford the Montmorency river further up from the French defences. (All images courtsey of www.cmhg.gc.ca)

Men of the Compagnie des canonniers-bombardiers of Canada move an artillery piece into place

Shown are various ranks of the Canonniers-bombardiers during the mid-eighteenth century. The men serving the cannon are wearing their waistcoats so that they will not be hampered by their coats and equipment. Sergeants and corporals can be recognized by the silver lace stitched to their cuffs, double lace for the former and single lace for the latter. The drummers are wearing the king's livery with buttons of white metal. The officers' uniforms are identical to those of their men, but of better quality. Reconstruction by Eugène Lelièpvre.


The British deployed against the French defences. The British right took some casualties from the French gunners. However, with counter battery fire, and bayonet charges by the grenadiers, the French guns were taken out.The Ottawa warriors then broke, leaving the Canadien milice to hold them back.


In the centre, the British and French guns fired on each other, the French guns held out, but were then threatened by the grenades of the British Grenadiers.

Grenadier officer, 60th (Royal American) Regiment of Foot, 1757-1767

The 60th (Royal American) Regiment of Foot was raised as part of an effort to create units of the British army drawn from the American colonies. The successor to this regiment is still part of the British Army in the 21st century, although it has not recruited in North America for hundreds of years. Grenadiers wore the distinctive pointed cap shown here until these were replaced by fur caps in 1768. The officers and drummers (but not the ordinary soldiers) of the 60th had their uniforms trimmed with lace. Note that grenadier officers carried muskets, unlike most infantry officers. (Library of the Canadian Department of National Defence)


On the French left, the Huron warriors attempted to hold back the British brigade. Eventually with a combination of musketry duels and bayonet charges, the warriors slowly fell back. The Compaigne Franches then came from reserve to hold the line.
Finally, the entire British army bayonet charged the French centre. Knowing the battle to be lost, Montcalm surrendered. Quebec fell, without a direct assualt.

Osprey Publishing - Cities of Gold

Osprey Publishing - Cities of Gold




This was the first FOG volume I bought. It lists all the information I needed to build armies for all the civilizations of North, Central and South America.

Luckily for those of us who may be on a budget, or who have bought figures but had no rules to use, this system fits perfectly.

Enjoy

British advance off beach at Louisbourg 1758

This little game involved the British regiments in the Louisbourg campaign advancing towards the Fortress of Louisbourg.
The French sent out detachments of Bourgogne, Artois, Volunteer Etranger, Les Compaigne Franches de La Marine along with gunners from Cannonier-Bombardier. Additional support was provided by milice du Louisbourg.


The British advanced with the 1st, 22nd, 28th, 35th, 40th, 48th, 60th, 78th, with Gorehams, James Rogers and Danks rangers. 2 guns of the Royal Artillery were also in support.


The French attempted to ambush the collum but were unsuccessful. The rangers and grenadiers were able to break open the French ambush while the 78th advanced straight onto the French. Eventually with brisky musketry taking out the French gunners, the French pulled back to the safety of the fortress walls. The British were then able to establish their camp.

Osprey Publishing - Louis XV's Army (5)

Osprey Publishing - Louis XV's Army (5)




The final volume in Chartrand's work looks at the Colonial and Artillery of Louis XV's  army forces.




This covers for the Seven Years War, as well as the conflicts in the 1740s the Compaigne Franches, the colonial milice as well as the Amerindians who allied themselves to the French.




An excellent addition to a collection on the 18th century.

Compagnies Franches de la Marine

 This Quebec group is made up of University and high school students from Quebec. It is a student summer employment program affiliated with The Stewart Museum in Montreal. I have participated with this unit at the Louisbourg Grand encampment 1995 on the 250th anniversary of the first siege of the Fortress of Louisbourg.

History of Canada - Episode 4: Battle for a Continent (Documentary)

 Thanks to All History Buff for posting this. The film was made by the CBC. It gives a very balanced view of what happened in North-eastern North America from 1750-1774.

Battle of Hastenbeck 1757

This battle was where the Duke of Cumberland led an Allied force against a French force. However, the French completely defeated him, forcing him to disband his army and retire.

This battle, is the first one whereby I have used all of my 18th figures. It made quite the table.

At first, the French deployed with their Grenadiers and horse to the front, leaving their guns and infantry to follow. The French decided to try and smash the allied line by striking at an angle. However, the angle they choose to strike at was right at the main allied gun battery!
Upon losing many grenadiers from cannon and musketry from the Highland brigade of the 87th and 88th Highlanders, the Grenadiers fell back. It was then that the French brought up their artillery to silence the battery.

The Allied horse charge into the French left flank.

 

The Prussian, Brunswick and Hessian charge into the French. By this point, the French had brought up sufficient guns to halt the Prussian Hussar charge, but were unable to stop the infantry from forming. The battle then degenerated into a musketry duel which the French infantry were ground down.

 

So not a historical win for the French, a win for the Allies. The Duke of Cumberland saved his reputation this time.

 

British Raid on the Beauport lines 1759

This action is not the frontal assualt which took place in July but rather, a small action whereby the British raid a battery to destroy the guns and steal the supplies.

Ian seems to be praying that his army will not get blown apart. In this shot we see the battlefield. The French Compaigne Frances on the lower right are advancing along the waterline to try and flank the advancing British. The Canadien milice are providing support. The French centre position is being held by more companies of Compaigne Frances, while a small band of Hurons are holding just in a small wood. The upper left if the French gun battery. The British are a mix of Grenadiers (whats left of them after the last failed attack), Fraser's Highlanders, and regular British infantry.

Ian was the British player while I was the French. The French troops were made up of a small contingient of Hurons, a large amount of Compaigne Frances de La Marine, and a few detachments of the French metropolitian units. The British were made up of Grenadiers, 78th Frasers Highlanders and Rangers.

The French goal was to repel the attack, or to destroy the attackers. The British objective was to spike the guns, and capture as many supplies as possible.

The French guns made tough work on the British assault. Eventually, the British were able to smash into the French lines. The French broke, and the British helped themselves to French supplies.

King George's War 1744-48 Part 4: Siege of Louisbourg 1745

The Siege of Louisbourg in 1745 is one of the most remarkable incidents in military history. A colonial force, raised, equipped, transported and paid for by English colonists to besiege and capture a French fortress.

The Swiss and Irish troops in French service generally wore red uniforms. When the régiment suisse de Karrer was raised for service in the French colonies by the Ministère de la Marine in 1719, it followed this tradition. This is the uniform worn by the unit when it was first posted to Louisbourg in 1722.

Drummer of the régiment suisse de Karrer, around 1745

As in all the Swiss regiments in the service of France, the drummers wore the colours of their colonel's livery (blue and yellow in this case). Swiss regimental drums were generally decorated with a flame design of the same colour as the regimental flag. The 1744 garrison mutiny at Louisbourg began when the drummers of the régiment suisse de Karrer began beating 'The Assembly' at dawn. Reconstruction by Francis Back.  Reconstruction by Michel Pétard.  (chgh.gc.ca) 

Soldier of the Compagnies franches de la Marine in New France, circa 1740

This man of the Compagnies franches de la Marine wears the grey-white coat of France with the blue facings of the Troupes de la Marine. He is armed with a musket, sword and bayonet. Note the anchor decorating his cartridge pouch. This was appropriate given that these troops belonged to the Ministère de la Marine, which was responsible for the navy as well as for France's colonies. This is how the men of the Compagnies franches would appear on parade or in garrison in one of the larger forts. Reconstruction by Michel Pétard.

New Englanders and Rangers assault the King's Bastion. 

Soldier of the Nova Scotia Rangers, around 1750

The Nova Scotia Rangers were the very first British regular corps raised in North America. Also known as Goreham's Rangers, after their commanding officer, the men were mostly Amerindians and Métis. Reconstruction by Gerald A. Embleton. (cmhg.gc.ca)
 The New England Artillery failed to make much of a breech here. The French simply shot them down. 

British Marines, 1740s

British Marines, 1740s. Detachments from ten British marine regiments took part in the capture of Louisbourg in 1745. These elite troops wore mitres with rounded tops on their heads. (cmhg.gc.ca) 

New England troops land at Louisbourg, 1745

Militia from New England, supported by the British Navy, land at Louisbourg in May 1745. After a short siege lasting 48 days, the French defenders surrendered the fortress. (National Archives of Canada)

New England militia charge the Dauphin Gate. At this gate, they didn't do much better. The New Englanders concentrated their guns on the wall to make a breech. However, upon assalting the forward trenches, they were likewise shot down in droves.

More New England Militia await to attack. These troops were then subjected to intense artillery fire from the Cannonier-Bombardier. The French then advanced from the King's Bastion and flanked the New England line. Louisbourg was safe for another day.

European armies 1740-83

Back home in storage, these are the sets which I have painted as French, British, Prussian etc.

, , These hussars have been painted as French, Prussian, Hessian, Brunswickers

, My French army units have come from these sets

La Sarre

La Reine

La Sarre

Bearn

(photos courtsey of Kerry Delorey)

, My Cannonier-Bombardier back home were painted from these,

(courtsey of Louisbourg militia group)

 these have been painted as Austrian, Irish,  French and some British.
Thanks to Plasticsoldierreview.com for the box images.

Fitzjames Horse, 1745

(courtsey of Lace Wars group UK)

 (plasticsoldierreview.com) My Prussian, Hessians and Brunswicker's are painted from these.