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 1812

I'm continuing my actions on this fort. And this time the British and Canadian forces cross the river from Upper Canada

The Americans allowed the Crown forces to advance and proceed to blast apart the Militia wing on the right with their Artillery. This was a feint. The main thrust was by the Amerindians charging the left bastion. The British centre procecced to cut down the Americans as they advanced out of the main gate. At last, a clear British victory. 

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.

The British Rifles in British North America 60th and 95th Regiments

For my War of 1812 project my Rifles are taking shape.
The 95th took part in the New Orleans campaign and I believe that they were in Canada during 1813-1815.
From my research, the 95th Regiment served in Louisiana during the 1814-1815 campaign.
However, the 7th Battalion of the 60th Regiment served in Nova Scotia and Maine from 1814-1817.
I have them painted I just need to take pictures of them. Once the weather cooperates and I remember to

Bosworth 1745

Charles Edward Stuart has invaded England. Rather than what actually happened,  the French have sent a stronger force consisting of more Elite troops and cavalry and infantry.

part of the French force

Languedoc Dragoons 

Bombardier du Marine

Volontaires de Hainaut

Regiment Karrer 

Next up will be the Jacobites 

Over the hills and far away: UK assault on South Africa 1807

Inspiration from my favorite author and the old osprey publishing book on the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
This project I plan on doing during 2020, I got sidetracked in 2019.
My research will be to fill out units for the Dutch, the British are mostly ready to go.

The Dutch troops will be a mix of my blue coated American's who wore a similiar uniform to the dutch, and adding in some AWI militia types as I'm sure that the Dutch settlers were not up on the fashions, having spent most of their time trying to farm to survive.

My British force will be a mix of the 1790s and 1800 troops that I still have.
more to come hopefully shortly

The descent on the river Plate 1808

The unsuccessful campaign in South America by the British inspired by my favorite author
This was my other project which fell by the wayside for a few reasons
1. I traded most of my Napoleonic French to a fellow collector and
2. I changed jobs and had little time off
However 2020 is looking good so far and I will be doing this one.

My Spanish troops are from those of Spanish gurriellas which I have plus some French painted up as Spanish a la 1780s-90s.
and just for colour, I may add in some native auxilliaries.

My British force will be the same as that for my South African adventure, as in reality, they came from the same source.

Roddy Mcourlly 1798 Rebellion

I've been interested in gaming this conflict as my ancestors are from Ireland and I share the name of a song. As well, my late great Uncle Fred sang the wind that shakes the corn.
I have sufficient figures for both sides
Just need to get them on the table

Roddy, who I've painted as a highwayman 

My British and Loyalist Irish will be made up of AWI types with the late 18th Century Light infantry 

The Rebel Irish will be made up of AWI civilian militia types 

There may be a few French types thrown in for colour, 

The British/Loyalist units will be made up of AWI British as well as the 1790 types I've been able to paint up.

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

The Battle of Carrickfergus 21 February 1760

As mentioned in the previous posting Battle of Carrickfergus was a French invasion of Northern Ireland during the Seven Years War one of the most interesting aspects of this action was that three of the regiments involved had actually been involved in operations in British North America on the French side we had the Regiment going and going to be both of which had served in the Garrison of Louisbourg during the siege of 1758 and the 62nd regiments which is served in the siege of Quebec in 1759 furthermore this campaign is very easily adapted to the wargaming table due to its small size and also to the fact that I have most of the figures already in order to fight the battle within Wargames Illustrated magazine (July 2019) the figures used are from the author's collection however within my own collection I have better suited civilian type militia figures for the Seven Years War. Which at 1/72 scale it really doesn't matter the style of clothing however the Caps being worn or probably better than Irish Rebels have 1798 where the newer style clothing started to come in at the end of the 18th century as well there are several armed civilian types I have in my collection in metal from rafm miniatures.

The French force for the battle

Carrickfergus with castle and garrison

The Irish Loyalist Militia man the walls.

Defending their homes against a foreign invasion 

French begin  advance

They begin to try to breach the walls

My son Ian and I played out this game as we hadn't had a Black Powder game together in some time. In this game, he acted as the British-Irish commander while I took the French.

The French troops attempted to bombard the town. In the process, they were successful in taking out most of the Royal and Royal Irish Artillery. However, as the French Infantry advanced, the Irish militia held firm better than their historic counterparts. The British Grenadiers actually broke morale several times! Quite the scandal! 

However, in the end, despite the French breaking over the forward wall of the town, they could not overcome the defenders. They quickly departed the area before being defeated in detail.