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.

American frontier rifleman

One of the most annoying bits of history is the myth of the American frontier rifleman beat  British redcoats twice, one in the revolutionary war and then in 1812.

While sure, rifleman may have been good skirmishers, they were not effective light infantry due to their independent nature and lack of specific training.
By the War of 1812, the US army had 4 Rifle Regiments.
Their uniforms were similar to the British in that they wore dark colors to try and blend into their environment. The Americans chose either Green frock coats, black uniforms or a grey uniform.
So now I just have to get them out and take some pictures

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. 

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

Warlord Games Plastic Colonial Militia

As part of my subscription to Wargames Illustrated, I received a free sprue of figures or kit as a promotion. This month, is an 18th century spruce of American Colonial militia. This means I have figures for both 1775-84 & War of 1812. I could even have them for the 1750s.
I will try to build and paint them this summer.
I have a few heads from one of the WW2 sprues with bonnets, so I may see if I can paint a few as rangers/highlanders or as Brant's White Volunteers. (these eventually went to the Black Watch in Korea 1950s troops I built)
A few of the heads also have round hats with one brim up so I will also paint a few as Virginian troops.
The round hat types will be made into militia/frontier types which can be used from 1750-1820.
The package arrived on my son's 14th birthday, but he wanted an iPhone instead, so all is well.
So far I have built 3 of the figures
More to be done once I know my days off on new job.
As of July 2019, all the figures have been built and some basic paint has been applied. I shall have to get some pictures soon.

typical 18th century militia 1720-90

these will be used from 1775-1840

to be painted as North Carolina troops

2019 Plans, 17th century, 18th century, 1812,

Now, if I start out this year with a set out plan, I may actually get to doing them right? Sure, keep dreaming.
As far as some of my gamming periods go, I really should set out to do some interesting campaigns.

1. King Phillips War. Somewhere out in my library, I have one of the wargamming magazines which has an article about playing this war. I have begun following a Facebook page of this and should get about to do one.

2. King William's War: I'd like to put together a siege of Port Royal 1690s. I have figures to do this, just need to find a time to throw it together.

3. Seven Years War 1755-56 campaigns, including Battle of Lake George, Siege of Fort William Henry, and Montcalm's raids on Oswego

4. American Revolution, 1778 Monmouth Campaign. I've done a few of the battles but now that my British army has increased, I'd like to put together some more battles.

5. 1812. Summer 1813: get in some action with my American, Canadian and British troops.

With every second weekend off, and periods of the week when I have 3 days off, I might actually be able to get in some more gamming.

At present, the tempretures outside are around -25c so I don't feel like doing much out there. So any chance I get I shall be painting.
The first up will probobly be the American infantry I hadn't finished last fall.
I have also made a challenge for myself, not buying anything else for my collection for a year. This is mainly to try and claw back on spending and to work with what I have.

American Continental Units 1779

One of my other purchases recently was two boxes of Italeri American Continental Units. My goal is to paint up some more American units for the main campaign for the later part of the Revolution.
My British units could also use some extra but as a large amount of Highlanders and Light infantry were bought, the Americans need some recruitment and training.

So far with the two boxes of infantry I bought, I was able to make five infantry regiments.
One regiment I have painted in blue coats to be faced buff with white waistcoats and breeches.
The other regimental coats I will paint as blue faced red. The majority of the units I shall paint up for the Virginia Line, the Maryland Line and Pennsylvania

10/22/2018 update
I have taken a look at my units I have painted and mounted and have found I have about five brigades of infantry!

This means I can field an army for Saratoga, Philidelphia, and Monmouth.
As I paint up my units I shall of course be adding pictures.
I've found some of my resource books are all over the place on what the units wore, or the condition they were in.
I have reflected this in the choice of colour in the breeches in some units. I have also painted up a few units in captured uniforms or a mix of uniforms.

It's been fun to find the information, base and paint the units. Most will be of the blue faced red variety.

Eventually, I may build some more units for cavalry, Lights and such. I have enough artillery

Fort George, 1813, America attacks

the moose looks on 

Mohawk warriors being to advance on the Americans

a lone French looking American scouts out the small river

The American attack was successful in so far as driving the British and Canadians back into the fort, thus ensuring that they controlled the countryside. The Mohawks while brave were cut down. The British troops took casualties and Canadian militia were able to hold back the Americans from pushing into the fort. The fort was saved, but would need to be besiged in order for the British to be driven from the area.

1812 project in progress

Caldwell's Rangers were a light infantry unit with cut down shakos. Their alternative name was the Western Rangers. Need to paint their caps and trousers!

The Leeds Rifle Company were actually a militia company, and the Upper Canadian Militia were uniformed in green due to a shortage of red cloth. PAINT SHAKOS REDDEN!

The Canadian Fencibles I have modeled in fatigue caps just for the fact that I had no other figures and also in the ram charge position, you can't see that they are actually rifles. I'm not sure why I haven't painted their caps

The 49th Regiment are one of the few Regular British Regiments in Canada at the time. More shakos to paint

The 8th Regiment had lots of long service in Canada. Really? Still more shakos to paint!

The Glengarry Light Infantry are one of the most famous Canadian units in the history of the War of 1812. Ugh, I wonder how long my painting que is?

American 10th US Infantry. Paint paint paint

US 6th Infantry. Maybe done?

US 28th Infantry. Some more details 

US 11th Infantry.  I'll check my books

Various American militia units.

Canadian Light Dragoons. My militias look ok. My dragoons just need belts painted.

Updated on 12/6/2018

I finally have some vacation so I painted up the shakos and belts on the rifle companies and the shakos on the regular Canadian and British units.

Any other units fielded for the crown forces for the War of 1812 will come from some of the  Miniatures which I have for either the Seven Years War or the American Revolution which can coming into the War of 1812. In a pinch considering that they are wearing civilian type clothing.

I've also gotten some more Napoleonic British Infantry so I am going to do up the 100th Regiment of Foot. Plus additions to the Fencibles

Battle of Brandywine, 1777

My take on the Philidelphia campaign of 1777.

the centre of the American line being assaulted by the Crown forces

Americans push against the Hessians on the crown right.

Various American skirmishers supported by some Light Dragoons

The British composite Grenadier and Light Infantry battalions about to hit the American right.

and the British Left wing begins to hit the rebels

Crown lights and dragoons push through the woods

The American's eventually crumbled under the intense pressure on all their flanks.
The deluded subjects were forced to flee.
God Save the King!

Osprey publishing The Swamp Fox Francis Marion's campaign

My regimental history of the 2nd Battalion 84th Regiment Royal Highland Emigrants
Sent their Grenadier and Light Infantry companies to fight in the campaign. I shall see what they did.

I also remember the Disney TV series the Swamp Fox which was really annoying to watch for 2 reasons, first the actor who played Francis Marion was Leslie Neilson, a CANADIAN,  and the fact that Nova Scotia has a very large population of Loyalist descendent.
I have started to build a Loyalist, Light Infantry force with Light Cavalry with some additional Americans

War of 1812 forces

While I have a British and Canadian force, I'd like to try and build an American force. I have backwoods types, but I'd like to have American regulars plus some voltigers for the Canadians. Stay tuned.

I've been able to start on an American force. This will be a militia based force.
Now to start painting them
So far I have started to paint up the figures which can be used for 18th century gaming.
As of 15 January, 2018, I have painted up about 3 companies. Two are able to be used for late 18th century as well.
The force has been built using HaT Spanish gurilleas, and Strelets American Militia in cold weather gear 1812.
Once the weather permits gaming in my garage again, battles will commence
8/21/2018:
Additional troops being painted are two boxes of Italeri 95th Rifles who will beade up of 60th, 95th, and GLI with a British Ranger unit.