European warfare comes to the New world 1600s

The Habitation of Port Royale 1604.
This fortified dwelling was built by Samuel de Champlain and his men in 1605. This was a replacement for an earlier structure at Saint-Croix, and was intended to take advantage of a slightly milder climate after a winter that had seen 35 of the 80 colonists die of scurvy. The building was destroyed in 1613 by English colonists from Virginia. (art work courtsey of www.cmhg.gc.ca)
This reproduction was built in 1941, now run by Parks Canada (cmhg.gc.ca)

 This is what the French colonists would have worn to defend their settlement. (cmhg.gc.ca)
(Petrand work, from cmhg.gc.ca)

French harquebusier in Canada, between 1610 and 1620

This reconstruction shows one of the rare soldiers found in New France during the first decades of the French Regime. Sent to the colony by one of the trading companies that obtained commercial monopolies, this man's costume and harquebus date him between 1610 and 1620. In 1609-1610, Champlain campaigned with a group of French soldiers who each wore a 'pikeman's corselet' for protection against the arrows of the Amerindians. This armour was normally worn only by pikemen in Europe. In Canada, between 1610 and 1630, French soldiers used harquebuses or muskets, and always wore armour for protection. Reconstruction by Michel Pétard.

1610 attack on an Iroquois fort

Champlain with his five French companions (at left) and Indian allies attacks a small Iroquois fort at the mouth of the Richelieu River in June 1610. Such Amerindian field fortifications could offer stiff resistance. In spite of the French firearms which had impressed them the previous year, the outnumbered Iroquois (probably Mohawk) warriors resisted stubbornly and Champlain was wounded at the ear and neck by an arrow. Finally, the place was carried by an assault ‘with sword in hand’. Print after Samuel de Champlain.
(www.cmhg.gc.ca)

Construction of the second habitation at Quebec started in May 1624. This model shows the stone structure featuring two corner turrets as it was circa 1625. It was abandoned in 1633 following a fire. (cmhg.gc.ca)

Champlain surrenders Quebec to English privateers, the Kirke brothers, on 19 July 1629

When Champlain surrendered it in 1629, Quebec was only a small unfortified hamlet and could not hope to resist the much stronger English privateers led by the Kirke brothers. There was no fighting.
(cmhg.gc.ca)

Danish Farm house reproduction in HC Andersen Park, Funabashi, Japan

I finally was able to see this little gem in Japan. It's a reproduction of a late 18th century, early 19th century farmhouse which would have been found in HC Andersens home area in Denmark.

I lucked in when taking the shots that I had no one disturb my shots.

A good looking 18th-19th century looking background for either Europe of North America

 

 

 A nice shot of the Windmill behind the farm.

Farm courtyard

18th-19th century central heating!

 

If there is Lego, Ian will play. After 45minutes I was able to pull him away. Then again, it was about 7c that day, so being inside was a good idea.

 

 

Battle of Hastenbeck 1757

This battle was where the Duke of Cumberland led an Allied force against a French force. However, the French completely defeated him, forcing him to disband his army and retire.

This battle, is the first one whereby I have used all of my 18th figures. It made quite the table.

At first, the French deployed with their Grenadiers and horse to the front, leaving their guns and infantry to follow. The French decided to try and smash the allied line by striking at an angle. However, the angle they choose to strike at was right at the main allied gun battery!
Upon losing many grenadiers from cannon and musketry from the Highland brigade of the 87th and 88th Highlanders, the Grenadiers fell back. It was then that the French brought up their artillery to silence the battery.

The Allied horse charge into the French left flank.

 

The Prussian, Brunswick and Hessian charge into the French. By this point, the French had brought up sufficient guns to halt the Prussian Hussar charge, but were unable to stop the infantry from forming. The battle then degenerated into a musketry duel which the French infantry were ground down.

 

So not a historical win for the French, a win for the Allies. The Duke of Cumberland saved his reputation this time.

 

More historical DVDs

Well... they may not necessairly be historical but they do look pretty good.
Game of Thrones Season 2 and Vikings season 1. With my new work schedule, I should be able to view these to aid in my rest.

Swords and Sandals, my collection of Roman DVDs

My good friend Tony brought me some DVDs from China. Of note were the series
Spartacus, Blood and Sand
Spartacus, Gods of the Arena
Spartacus, War of the dammed.

After six months, I was finally able to watch all of these. And I can sum up for me what they consist of

Romans and Gladiators like to say f..k, c...k, and hump or eat alot. And I mean A LOT.

The other little gem bestowed on me was Centurion, a British production about the Ninth Legion which was destroyed fighting the Pics in

Back to HC Andersen Park, Funabashi, Japan

On Friday January 3, 2014, I took my family back to this park. My wife wanted us to all have a day full of fun outdoors. Ian and Leena enjoyed the obstacle course. Leena has decided she likes zip lines, they call them tarzan ropes.

Danish Windmill at the entrance to the park

the kids heads poke out the top of the obstacle course

Ian and Leena pet the hamsters

 

My family and I had never been to HC Andersen park in the winter. It still had a fair bit of people coming to play in the grounds. We arrived about 9:40 and left when the park closed about 16:00. We had lunch and basically enjoyed one of the few days of New Years vacation that we had together.

Siege of Ft. Beausejour 1755 Part 1

Today, Ian and I played out the British advance on Ft. Beausejour. I posted the video on my japanesehighlander channel
Gunner, Royal Artillery 1755
Private, 45th Regiment, one of the British regiments used in the attack.
I have refought this battle in the Spring of 2018.

Ft. St. Jean 1775 refight number 2

I forgot that I had done this game back in 2011 so I did the game again, and made a video of it back on December 22, 2013 which can be seen on my youtube channel japanesehighlander.

1755 Campaign in Nova Scotia

 A typical British infantry soldier in garrison of Nova Scotia. This was also the uniform of the 47th Regiment in 1759. While the 47th was a white faced regiment, the 50th and 51st Regimentals were issued to the 47th as both regiments had been captured at the beginning of the war at Ft. Oswego. (www.cmhg.gc.ca)

Scene of daily life at Fort Beauséjour, around 1753

This view of the interior of Fort Beauséjour shows some of the activities that might be seen there during the years just before the Seven Years' War. In the foreground, men are moving supplies. In the centre, an officer talks with a missionary who is accompanying Abenakis. To the right, a detachment of French soldiers escorts an English deserter. Reconstruction by Lewis Parker. (www.cmhg.gc.ca)

 Grenadier of the 17th Regiment, 1750s while in garrison in Nova Scotia.
 The British force also consisted of Massassuchetts militia. The rank and file wore their civilian clothes while their officers would have worn a Blue coat faced red.

 Siege camp of the 43rd Reginent at Ft. Beausejour, 1755 (www.cmhg.gc.ca)
 Officer of the Royal Artillery which would have served the guns used against the fort.

The next few Seven Years War battles will focus on the situation in 1750s Nova Scotia.

 Acadian partisan after 1755. (www.cmhg.gc.ca)
 Colors of Les Compaignes Franches de La Marine
A Compaigne Frances soldier as they would have been in the Fort, 1750-55. (www.cmhg.gc.ca)
 and their uniform in the winter.

Quebec 1775: The American Invasion of Canada

Happy New Year! Japanese New Year is basically eating alot of mochi, rice cakes, which is sticky and sends the Japanese Fire Department all over the place helping old people and little kids from choking on it. Grilled fish and lots of other fishy things. But then again, they usually eat these.

Getting back on track. Ian and I played Arnold's Attack on Quebec on the night of December 31, 1775. We recorded our attack on video and have posted it on japanesehighlander channel of youtube.
The video is in 3 parts.
The art work comes from www.cmhg.gc.ca  These will include 1st Batallion Royal Highland Emigrants, 7th Royal Fusiliers and Quebec militia.

Quebec city militia, 1775. The English speaking militia.

1st Battalion,Royal Highland Emigrants (www.cmhg.gc.ca) However the officers would look like this
British soldier in winter uniform

American rifleman, a few of these made it to Quebec with Arnold's units.

American Army officer 1775

American soldiers trying to survive a Canadian winter. Not easy when it's usually -20c in January!
Daniel's painting of the British repulsing the Americans. (www.cmhg.gc.ca)