Sunday, 11 October 2020

Avon River estuary, New England Planter site














 

Covenanters Church, Hortonville Nova Scotia

this church is 200 years old, having been built either with the New England Planters arrival or after the American Revolution 

 and as the plaque mentions, this dates almost to the War of 1812. The site has been used as a movie set for the film Mary Sillimans War back in 1992. 


in in the 1920s, smaller protestant churches merged into the United church of Canada.

 

Sunday, 9 August 2020

Port Maitland Encampment August 2020

 Probably the only military reenactment we will be able to do this year


Lunch with Mary-Jane in raviln at Fort Anne


















Sunday, 31 May 2020

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.



Monday, 27 April 2020

Talons, Claws and Rotten Dice, Great Northern War battle from Wargames Illustrated 386 Battle of Pole Krwi July 1705

While I was living in South Korea, I picked up 2 Osprey Books on Peter the Great's Army. When I moved back to Nova Scotia in 2015, I had to jetison some of my libray in order to buy food. Both books I sold to a used book store in Dartmouth.
However, I have 18th century figures which were marketed for the Great Northern War which I have painted as 18th French and English for my conflicts here in Nova Scotia.
I have enough troops as Russians and Swedish. The fun bit of this conflict is that the figures will be a mix of nationalties.

Swedish Army:
13 Squadrons Horse blades (cavalry armed with swords)
4 pike and shot regiments (flintlock muskets)

Russo-Saxon Army:
5 dragoon squadrons swords, pistols
1 squadron of Cossacks
7 Regiments armed with muskets
2 field guns
1 light gun

The Russians have to stop the Swedish Army advance.
Picture courtesy of Wargames illustrated July 2019, issue 381