Merry Christmas 2013

This year was very nice. My wife and children and I got up about 7am and opened our presents. I woke up about 6am and just plugged in the tree with the lights on. Just the tree lights on in a dark room reminded me of my childhood when I'd wake up before everyone and have that Christmas feeling only children can know.

We opened our presents, sampled some Christmas foods for breakfast. My wife went off to work, and the children and I built their presents. I am also making dinner. I've gotten the vegtables ready, just have to boil them. I also have the turkey breast to reheat, and make the gravy.

Emi was happy with her Katy Perry and Avril Lavigne CDs

and her favorite choclates

I got an Austrian fruit cake

My co-worker sent me Maple fudge!

Ian with his Nerf Shotgun

My favorite Tim Horton's coffee which I couldn't find when I was back in Nova Scotia

Our Christmas dinner. The flash caused a whiteout on my mashed potatoes and the turkey. I also had Maple-butter carrots, pumpkin pie and wild blueberry savory dressing.

It was tasty.  Everyone enjoyed my homemade pumpkin pie.

American Revolution Campaigns for the new year

For Christmas this year, I was able to get three book. Philidelphia 1777, Boston 1775 and Quebec 1775.

I've done most of the Philidelphia. The 1775 campaign will take up my Christmas vacation.

Today's action was The attack on Ft. St. Jean, 1775, part of the Quebec campaign which can be seen on my youtube channel irishhighlander.

Christmas baking 2013

Just a month ago, a new shopping centre was rebuilt in Kamagaya. One of the shops is Kaldi! This shop is a coffee, foreign food import shop which sells things you usually can't find in Japan.

I found Lyle's Golde Syrup, which my Grandmother used to have. Molasses, which everyone and his dog back in Nova Scotia uses in the kitchen, cornmeal, canned pumpkin and betty crocker pastry mix.

So today is my baking day. Shots to follow

The Johnny Cake I made went over well. The molasses cookies everyone liked. Even the molasses cake was tasty.

I'll have to see if I can bake more tomorrow.

Jack in the what?

In the Kamagaya AEON there is a new donut shot with the name

Jack in the donuts.

I kid you not.

Here is the picture

Nelson Mandela, Madiba

A great man has finally gone to sleep.
No matter what your politics, you have to tip your hat at the man.
26 years in prison, comes out, and rather than start a race war, he taught patience, and forgiveness.

I remember cutting out the headline of the day his release was made public in my home newspaper.

MANDELA IS FREE!

And in a way, he is now.

Attack on Dunromin Castle 1650

A quite Sunday afternoon means I have a small battle. This time, I dug out our Pike and Shot figures and put up the castle parts I've gotten via www.juniorgeneral.org and wizards of the coast.

Dunromin Castle in Scotland was being held by an English government force. A Royalist/Scottish force had been landed by Montrose to try and enflame Scotland for King Charles.

In the original campaign, The Earl of Sutherland withdrew to a stronger position. In this game, the scenario is that the Royalists/Scots attack the castle.

The video clip can be seen on www.youtube.com japanesehighlander

Battle of Whitemarsh 1777

The Battle of Whitemarsh-Edgehill December 8, 1777

 

 

Objectives:

 

CROWN FORCES: To drive Washington’s army out of their entrenchments

                  To surround Washington’s army and destroy it.

 

 

 

AMERICAN FORCES: To keep the Crown forces from breaking into the trenches.

                     Try and not lose the army.

 

 

 

TURN SEQUENCE:

 

1.    Impact phase: Make all of your charges this turn. Try to contact and break your enemy. Each side checks morale to see if they can charge, and withstand a charge.

2.    Manoeuvre phase: Move your soldiers where you want them to go. Reform any units which failed morale at this time.

3.    SHOOTING phase: Both sides shoot with infantry and artillery. Cavalry also fire at this time. Check morale of each side after all firing has stopped. Hits scored result in units being taken off the table. All units hit on a 4 and up. If a one or two is rolled, regular troops may rerole. Militia MAY NOT. It takes two hits to take out a unit.

Units inside the fortifications will need to be hit 3 times to be removed.

4.    MELEE phase: Bayonet and sword hand to hand combat. Roll dice to see which group wins. Higher roll wins, lower roll is removed from table.

 

THE BATTLEFIELD:

 

The battlefield is made from one of my camping tables. The terrain is made up of a plastic piece which is raised, giving the impression of a hill. The table top has rivers, roads, woods, grasslands modeled. There may also be some trees used. The Americans get fortification pieces which will be set up on their side of the board.

This battle was refought by us on Sunday, November 24, 2013,

The Americans were commanded by Trevor and Jessica. Jessica is actually from Pennsylvannia and was tickeled pink to read in my book all the places she went as a child. When she I had accidently shown her my wargamming shots in the summer coming back on the bus from my companies summer assignment, she mentioned that her old hobby was playing warhammer! Trevor was also a sci-fi gammer back in the day, hence my kitchen party this year was a chili feed and wargame.

I took the British as Ian decided he wanted to play video games with his older brother, and didn't know he could join us.

The Americans began their advance by moving their cavalry forward as well as their light infantry and riflemen. The British countered this by advancing their Jagers and Lights forward. The British then advanced by column towards the American defenses. The American artillery began to fire on the British units. The Royal Artillery had some guns with their advances as well as a massed battery.

The American position was well founded. Their trenches on Edgehill held their main guns. Washington had decided to meet the British head on. The American militia held fast suprisingly. The riflemen and light infantry however were eliminated.

The river in front of the American position acted as a barrier. Ian had set up the table terrian. There were three positions the British could cross. This channelled them into a killing ground. The Royal Artillery was eventually able to counter battery fire the American guns. All of their guns were lost. The British Grenadiers then began to charge across the bridge but were kept from crossing. The Hessians were able to cross and make a foot hold. However, after a two-and-a-half hour fight, the game was called as a historical draw.

Pictures to follow. Color plates from www.juniorgeneral.org

Siege of Tenochtitlan 1521

I've been so busy the last little while that I haven't put this battle up yet!

The Temple of the Sun with an Aztec army waiting for the Spanish Conquistador attack

Aztecs pour into the streets to keep out the Spanish.

The Conquistadors begin their assault.

 

This game I have wanted to play since I first stumbled upon www.juniorgeneral.org about 5 years ago. The problem was, all these figures were still in storage back in Canada except for a few sets I bought here in Japan.

 

At first, the Conquistadors began attacking the city on two streets. The pikemen on the Spanish right attempted to go up a side street but were pelted by Aztec missiles.

The Spanish then sent in their muskets which cleared the street. They then tried to flank the Aztecs on the next street but the sun had set.
The second Terico advanced up the main street only to get bogged down in the central plaza by a horde of angry Aztecs. The Spanish were then unable to link up together. Slowly, the Aztec spearmen and swordsmen cut down and beat back the Spanish.
On the Spanish left, this Terico was torn apart by Aztec arrows and slings. There was then a fanatical charge by the Aztecs which cut apart the musketeers until their commander was able to cut them down. By this time, the Aztecs had been successful in keeping out all 4 Spanish Tericos. The Spanish artillery were useless as they were hemmed in by the streets.
Battle 1 went to the Aztecs.

Battle 2 was played with Ian as the Aztecs and I as the Spanish. Once again, I sent in the Tericos to try and destroy the Aztecs. And once again, the streets broke up my advance. I sent in a Terico with artillery on the left, but were still frustrated with getting into the city. On the right, I sent in the musketeers to clear the way. I sent in a cavalry charge against the Aztec centre backed up by pikemen and crossbows. Unfortunately for me, Ian was still able to blunt my advance and slowly picked off my men. The city was a great defencive position for the Aztecs who could keep the Spanish musketeers from forming a line. Without the fire support, the Spanish could not hold them back.
Battle 2 went to the Aztecs again.

My new blog

I've decided to divide my wargamming interests into a new blog Know you Enemy NATO vs Warsaw Pact. I have a large collection of this stuff but it's all back in Canada in storage!

Cooches Bridge 1777

My son and I played this little skirmish battle last night. I've put the video up on youtube (japanesehighlander) Cooches Bridge 1777.

This action was where the British and Hessian Light Infantry and Jagers encountered Maxwell's Light Infantry Brigade.

We played the action twice using the Field of Glory Renaissance rules. As most of this action took place in the woods, we added the factor that shooting would take 3 hits per base due to the fact that the woods in North America are a bit more dense then Europe.

Both times, Ian was able to bring his American units up close and take me out. Despite rolling for morale, the Americans seemed really pumped to try and halt the British advance. They did so twice.

Oh well. Daddy will have to think of another way for British Lights to skirmish more effectively next time.

Colonial American troops of the 18th century

(plasticsoldierreview) These are Revell Austrian Dragoons but I have painted my set up as different units. One is the South Carolina Regiment of Horse. Blue coats faced red.

(plasticsoldierreview) These are Airfix Washington's Army. I've painted the prone figures as militia. The others are painted either as colonial or Continental Army units.
(plasticsoldierreview) These are Revell/Accurate American Militia. The uniformed types again are painted as Continental units while the others are also painted as colonial militia.

The French Army in The American War of Independence

As with my other collection, it has taken close to 20 years to finally put together some of the regiments which took part in the war.

 www.plasticsoldierreview.com 

Luzon's Legion is one of the units depicted.
I've painted one stand as two mounted hussars and two Grenadiers(plasticsoldierreview)

The other is Etranger Regiment de La Marine
I've painted one stand as two monted hussars with sky blue coat, yellow facings with red breeches while the Grenadiers have sky blue coats with yellow facings.


As well, the French army was involved in India. Some of the units portrayed in plastic are also from Bussy Army. I have one stand done up with 6 Grenadiers painted as Bussys infantry.
 These will also be fielded as Spanish for my scenarios of the siege and capture of Havana 1762

Plastic soldier review was MIA! now it's back

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO my favorite website has one of it's servers down!
I have checked their site and it should be up soon.
Now as of 11/14, they are back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Battle of Harlem Heights 1776

On Sunday, my son and I played this battle with our expanded 18th century British and American army in 1/72.

The scenario I built was based on the fact the British and Hessian troops assault the American lines.

 

 

Ian took the Americans. He first used his American riflemen to hold back my British Grenadiers. He then used his artillery to take out mine.

The 17th Light Dragoon attempted to clear off the militia but were dealt a mighty volley. For the rest of the game, they stayed put.

Undetered, I then advanced my British Grenadiers to try and flush out the American rifles. This didn't work. I then advanced my Light Infantry units. Firing them by Indian files, they were able to drive them back but the rangers and rifles were still able to hold their own. Added to the fact that their artillery support kept the British at bay.

On the American right, the British advanced and nearly broke into the defences. The Continentals came out but after some volleys, they broke and ran! The American militia then marched into the fray and kept up a brisk fire on the British. The American artillery kept them off.

Eventually, the Hessians began their attack, but with most of the British broken, and without anymore artillery, the Crown forces pulled back. Washington was safe yet again.

Japanese Halloween! 2013

My son really wanted to have a Halloween celebration. So we've put together a little something for the occasion.

Supper was a bbq pork and chicken sandwhich with kool-aid punch and Doritos

Ian and I dressed up as a Cow of Duty team, a play on Call of Duty

Leena wore her mum's Queen costume from our dance recital two years ago. I dropped his costume on the floor.

Happy Halloween from Japan!

Some inspiration from my history books and other blogs.

One of the blogs I follow, Wars of the League of Ausburg has a scenario entitled Pour le bouche du mon Cannons. This is the New England Army's attempt to capture Quebec in 1690.

This followed up from their initial success on capturing Port Royal, Acadie. I did most of my undergraduate degree study on the sieges at Port Royal/Annapolis Royal in the late 17th and mid 18th century.

This post will follow my attempts to refight this era of warfare, which my son will enjoy as we need to use his Pike and Shot figures to recreate the New England Army.
 I was able to post a video of the New England assualt on Quebec 1690 on my youtube channel japanesehighlander

The Château Saint-Louis and its fort at Quebec in 1683

The walls of the fort on Cap-Diamant were built from 1636 and stood until torn down in 1693. This contemporary print shows the first Château Saint-Louis in 1683. It was built in 1647 and demolished in 1694 to build a larger one. The second Château was where, in 1690, Sir William Phips’ messenger delivered his summons to surrender and received Count Frontenac’s celebrated answer that he would respond with his cannon’s muzzles. During the 1690 siege, the fort acted as the citadel of Quebec’s fortifications. The houses on the right side border the narrow way (now Petit-Champlain street) down to the Lower Town. Print after Jean-Baptiste Franquelin. (cmhg.gc.ca)

Officer of the Compagnies franches de la Marine of Canada

Although officers of the Compagnies franches de la Marine of Canada were not required to wear any specific uniform, during the 1690s many wore the same colours as their soldiers at the time, namely grey-white and blue. The sword and spontoon, or half-pike, were regulation armaments. Reconstruction by Michel Pétard. (cmhg.gc.ca)

Amerindian warriors, first half of the 18th century

These Amerindian warriors show some of the variations of appearance to be seen in the first half of the 18th century. Despite their adoption of many European weapons and articles of clothing, the first nations preserved a resolutely Amerindian look by integrating all this with their tattoos and body paint. The central figure is a chief. Reconstruction by David Rickman.

Massachusetts troops, around 1690

This reconstruction shows some of the defenders of the English colony of Massachusetts, circa 1690. On the left is a militiaman; at left centre, an ensign is carrying a company flag of the Boston Regiment; in the middle stands an officer with sword and spontoon; at right, a cavalryman is wearing a cuirass and helmet. Reconstruction by David Rickman.

(www.cmhg.gc.ca)  

Sir William Phips before Quebec in October 1690

Sir William Phips (1650-1694) is shown on the deck of one of the ships hired on credit by the New England colonies to carry an army of Massachusetts militia to Quebec. It is probably when they arrived in October 1690 that Phips and his officers realized what a formidable natural fortress Quebec really was.