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.

TYPHOON

The fall is when we get typhoons. Typhoon Wipha  hit us on the night of October 15/16.
Tokyo area usually doesn't get hit, despite being on a huge bay.
As such, the city I live in and the city I work in closed all their schools as a safety precaution.
My wife wasn't so lucky and had to go out.
Unfortunately for her, she was delayed about 30 minutes while the fire department had to deal with flooding at the bottom of our hill.

 

 

Most of the casualties were in the Izu islands chain, south of Tokyo. Our area saw some localized flooding. My neighbors field flooded.

Once the wind and rain stops, everyone goes outside and starts to clean up.
Pictures to follow.

The British Army in North America 1775-83

After 20 years, I have finally been able to put together my British Army.
, , , , ,  (plasticsoldierreview.com)

Most of the regiments I have put together are for the Monmouth Campaign, which could also be used for most of the campaigns in the entire war.

(plasticsoldierreview)



Many of the units can also be used in the Seven Years War/French and Indian War
Painted shots of my enlarged British army over the next several weeks.

My French army in Canada 1755-63

After 20 years, I finally have been able to put together my French army.  (www.cmhg.gc.ca)      Louis-Joseph de Montcalm, Marquis de Montcalm (1712-1759)
(plasticsoldierreview)         Gunner, Cannonier-Bombardier (cmhg)
France sent 7 metropolitian regiments to garrison Canada.

(www.cmhg.gc.ca)  Soldiers of the Compagnies franches de la Marine of Canada, 1757-1760 (www.cmhg.gc.ca)

 

 They sent 4 regiments to Louisbourg.
Regiment Artois
Regiment Bourgogne 
Regiment Cambis
Regiment Volunteer Etranger

The garrison of Quebec

 régiment de la Reine  (red)
 régiment de Languedoc (blue) (www.cmhg.gc.ca)


Grenadier of the French Guyenne regiment (left) and a corporal from the Béarn regiment (right), circa 1756 (www.cmhg.gc.ca)
 

Regiment Du Bearn

Regiment Guyenne (www.cmhg.gc.ca)
Regiment du Berry


(plasticsoldierreview)

Additionally, this Soldier with regimental colour, Montrevel Regiment, circa 1762 took part in the attack on St. Johns Newfoundland.  

RIP Tom Clancy

I was a big fan of Mr. Clancy's work. I read most of his works. I even had a copy of The Hunt for Red October game.
Unfortunately, I took issue with one of his dedications to Ronald Regan. Having studied what happened in the late cold war, and seeing the world from Canadian eyes, I couldn't bring myself to keep reading his works. The stuff I had, I kept, however, he was a good writer, and his books were great. Just his politics is what I couldn't agree with.

Matsudo Festival 2013

I believe this was the 40th anniversary. Once again, my kids took part in the dancing parade.

I also have a video clip on my youtube channel japanesehighlander

Canadian thanksgiving in Japan

I was finally able to make a shake n bake chicken dinner, with a Duncan Hines devils food choclate cake with milk choclate frosting. Try finding that stuff in Japan!

I unfortunately didn't get any pictures, but I do have shots on file.

This is a shot of my daughter playing with her cousin back in Canada. We used to eat Thanksgiving out at this house.

Ian's future hunting rifle, a muzzleloader which is unloaded.

I'll put him on a hunter safety course when we go home to live. The rifle is a .32 calibre percussion cap squirrel rifle. It was given to me when I was 11. I asked my father to sell it as I didn't think I'd be able to shoot it. He got it back in a trade and my son will now get it, but he won't be shooting it until he's done the hunter safety course.

 

 

I was able to go to Costco in Chiba-New-Town and got a pumpkin pie! My wife loves pumpkin pie as do most of the rest of us.

(Yes I know I've put the turkey up before, I saw some turkey breast for sale at Costco but will have to wait for my own payday to get some for Christmas)