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

Battle of Lake George, 1755

 Baron Diskeau's force made up of Regiment La Reine and Regiment Landeauc

 the Anglo-american force of Sir William Johnson's force

half of the Amerindian and Colonial force

and the other half

the French advance towards the Anglo-american camp

the French fire

and the British Artillery fires back

the French regulars begin to take casualties 

The French continued to fire into the camp and unlike the historical outcome, the Amerindian force rushes the camp for a chance at the spoils of war. 

The English Colonial militia, loose faith and flee towards their boats in the lake. The colonial regiments charge into the woods to clear the right flank, but may have doomed their position as when the Amerindians rushed the camp, the defense collapsed. Sir William Johnson was able to flee with a portion of his force.

King Phillips War 1671-76

August 1999 Issue of Minature Wargames
Had an excellent article on a colonial north American war.
The article describes the basic history of the conflict as well as both sides.
There are 3 scenarios set up. The first  Governor Winslows attack I played and did an article on in my blog about 5 years ago while still in Japan.
Scenario 2 is Benjamin Church's March to Tiverton. The Scenario is for Church's men to reach the river or the town without being attacked.
Scenario 3 Warriors attack (originally named Indian attack)
So once the weather stops being sub zero, battles will commence.

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.

Loyalist Arms Brown Bess Musketoon, 1728 model

My wife allowed me to buy a musket both for reenacting, and hunting, but also as a bit of home defense (use of bayonet on bears if they ever try to come in)
The "musketoon" is a 42-46" Brown Bess cut down to 32" with a bayonet lug and no nose cap.
The rammer is wooden. It is designed to be a musket to be used either by rangers, Light infantry, sailors, common people/militia.
I wanted to get something shorter which my wife and son could use.
This is the first musket I have owned. The previous one I used was owned by my father.

Gearing up for event at Fort Anne.

I must say I am very blessed. My wife was asking what I had in the freezer recently and I said my father had given us some deer meat. She asked where we can buy and I said you can't buy but must hint. So she said why don't you buy a musket for hunting. I asked if I could get two and she said yes. So I have put down funds for a misketoon, a cut down long land brownbess and I will be getting a long land pattern once I pay off the first.
I also got a 1742 pattern infantry sword for my son or I to use. So I can now portray a sailor, a militiamen, ranger and highlander.
Pictures to follow

 the bottom musket is what I have decided to buy, photo courtesy of Loyalist Arms

my new sailor/privateer clothing

my daughter in her new clothes

More Highlanders and rangers

I have just made an order from Redbox for additional units of Highlanders and Ranger/Militia types. So my 18th century Jacobites, Crown forces and various Ranger, militia types can be filled out.
Update 7/6/2018:
Package arrived, painting shall commence once I have a rain day on my days off
7/9/2018:
I've begun to cut the figures off their sprues. I should have enough figures to field at least 4 Highland Regiments
4 Ranger companies
4 Jacobite battalions
2 English provincial regiments, one the 71st Regiment.
I'm consulting my Osprey publications to paint these up. I will be unable to mount then for some time,
7/15/2018
I've painted up my bonnet and breeches types as Lowland infantry and or rangers. My Highlanders I will paint up as Campbells, Sutherlands as independent companies while the others will be Jacobites. Pictures will shortly follow
7/25/2018
Highland regiments
42nd  (Buff), 77th (Green), 64th (white), 84th (blue), 74 (yellow), 71st (white).

Fort Sackville, Bedford, Nova Scotia

Prescot house, built adjacent to Fort Sackville

where we set up our camp 

Back in the early 1990s, my regiment, 2nd Battalion 84th Regiment Royal Highland Emigrants had several encampments on this site. It was an interesting place to be and one of the few 18th century historic sites in the Halifax Regional Municipality.

The site is now a park, the ruins of Fort Sackville unfortunately were built over by a condominium complex. 

Edward Cornwallis 1749

This statue may be removed soon. I got a chance to take pictures before it was removed.

When i have more of a chance to put up some historical information, I will do so.

Due to the change of public perception and the wishes of the MikMaq people, this statue was removed and placed in storage. This will probably be an indefinite storage. 

King Phillips War 1675 Governor Winslow Attack on Connecticut River

This battle comes from a variety of sources. The inital idea came from the August 1999 issue of Miniature Wargames. In their Renaissance section an article by Simon Lee War in the Colonies: King Philip's War 1671-1676.

Roger Marsters Bold Privateers: Terror, Plunder and Profit on Canada's Atlantic Coast (2004) gave me some more ideas. The rules used were Slitherine/Osprey's 

Field of Glory Renaissance.

 New England troops, a combination of Pike and Shot with some ship guns, prepares to advance on the French and Indians who are blocking the river valley.

A large body of Huron warriors have rallied to try and drive the English from the Connecticut river valley. 

Winslow's force consists of several regiments of militia, most armed with pikes and matchlocks, a few with flintlock or doglock muskets

The French forces however all have flintlocks. They have barricaded their end of the valley with fallen trees and some basic earthworks.

The English artillery open up and smash some of the fortifications to bits. 

This enrages rather than discourages several groups of Hurons who charge out and engage the militia in impact charges.

The miltia pike and shot blocks are unable to make much headway towards the lines.

More and more Hurons rush the militia who are stalled in their advance.

One group is broken apart and slowly cut to pieces.

The first line of militia pike and shot blocks begin to fall back. 

The militia units with more advanced firelocks begin to open fire holding back he surge of warriors

However, it proves to be too little too late

With a broken line and no clear way to break through, Winslow orders a withdrawl. New England may now be open to invasion!

King George's War: French attack on Gorehams Rangers camp 1748

I'm not sure if I've played this battle before but one of my co-workers wants to get together and try some gamming.

This seems like a good start.



The game will be French troops from Quebec, and Acadia, with Mik Maq support,

The Crown forces will be made of several companies of Rangers.

The ranger base camp. 

 Le Compaigne Franche de La Marine form the right flank of the French,

Canadien Milice advances to support the French right.

A ranger company awaits the attack

Compaigne Frances in forest kit

 in garrison kit

MikMaq on the French left

Rangers deploy to their defences

the MikMaq maul the rangers on the right,

Alex catches on fast after loosing a milice group. He quickly advances his units to pour fire into the camp. Not even the camp followers survived. Total loss to the British. 

Saratoga Campaign 1777: Battle of Freeman's Farm

American army begins advance on the British Army, far left

centre position of both armies

American right

New Hampshire Regiment

The British Army advances

Pickets of the 21st mixed in with Loyalists

Canadian Militia, RAFM figures

New York Regiments

The Battle begins

The Americans decided to try and smash the Crown forces in one battle. The American right advanced quickly to block the crossroads while the American left attempted to flank the Crown right. The American centre then advanced straight at the British and Loyalist troops in the centre.

The Canadien milice were initally scattered, but recovered and with Loyalist support, used their old tactics to smash apart the American lines. The Brunswick troops pushed down on the American left and were able to surround General Arnold! 

Despite their best efforts, Morgan's Rifles were unable to push back the Loyalist Rangers, or Canadien milice. The Mohawks, gave a half hearted attack due to the fact they still were low on supplies from their attack at Fort Stanwix and Oriskany. 

The Battle ended with the Crown sweeping around the American left flanking the entire Patriot line. Seeing that they would be unable to push ahead, the Americans withdrew, but not before smashing the British regulars.

So a historical replay, not by plan, I was actually trying to see if the Americans could win.