Event this Friday

This Friday after school I am having my first wargaming event.  It looks like we'll  have a great turnout.  There will be two games, one a SYW game that some of my experienced student will run and then an ACW game that I will oversee. 

I handed out over 25 permission slips today at our weekly meeting, so I could have my hands full.  I'll be sure to take some pictures and post them over the weekend.  It seems that there is a future for our beloved hobby.

ACW fences and upcoming gaming night

A couple of news items for the old blog today, this Thanksgiving Eve.  First, I have been busy making scores of snake rail fence sections.  It has been said you can never have too much fencing for the American Civil War, and I took that to heart.  Most of the sections are 9cm long and 2.5 cm wide.  I also made some corner sections, broken down sections, and other odds and ends.  Once I got the hang of it, I was able to make 20 at a time using only match sticks and white glue.  I'd then spray paint everything black.  Once dry, I'd apply a dark brown, then dry-brush with snakebite leather and then cadet grey for weathering.  Half way through I got the idea to apply some Woodland Scenics ballast to the stands before I spray painted them.  On the others I added foliage once they were flocked.  Here are a couple of photos:

The other news item is that I have started a military history in miniature club at the school I teach at.  At our first meeting I had 32 kids show up.  We have planned an after school event for Friday, December 2 that will go into the evening.  I'll have two games going, one a ACW game and the other SYW.  I have a few kids from my summer class that will be there, so I am hoping they can help the other kids with the mechanics.  I have purchased eight 2'x4' light boards to put over the desks in my room to use as playing space.  I'll put gaming matts over those and see how it works.  This way we can use my room and not have to try to reserve a larger space at the school.  At least 20 kids have expressed an interest in attending, so it should be a full house.  I'll be sure to take some photos and post a report.

End of Crisis at the Crossroads

I wrapped up the recreation of the Quatre Bras game I was playing.  In the end, the allied left was able to drive off the French, inflicting very high casualties on each battalion.  Even the Belgian dragoons came through against their French counterparts.  On the other flank, the Nassau battalions in the woods were able to hold their ground, but two Dutch militia battalions were destroyed when they were caught in the open by French lancers.  The Dutch foot battery was also overrun by lancers.  Despite these losses, it appeared that the Prince of Orange would be able to hold on with the few reserves he had on hand, partiularly the unblooded Dutch hussars.

The decimated French battalions can be seen trying to regroup in the background

The cavalry meles

The French high water mark in the center.

The Nassauers stubbornly hold on to the woods.

All in all it was a fun game.  Several charges turned out to be surprising and a couple of double sixes had an inpact on the overall outcome.  The big Nassau battalions were tough in firefights having so many figures.  The French columns were not successful in punching through them.

To my Camp VIP alums

This morning the president of our local wargaming group, HMGS, called and said that he had a member donate about 50 plastic model tanks and asked if I might have any interest in them.  Many of you have asked about World War II types of battles, so I thought some of you might be interested.  These will be sent to me in the near future and I'll probably keep them at school, so if you are interested, let me know and I'd be happy to pass some of them on to you.  You can let me know of your interest by posting a reply on this site.

Crisis at the Crossroads

Using the book The Battle of Quatre Bras and some magazine articles, I have put together a battle that takes place at about 3:00 during the battle of Quatre Bras.  The scale isn't quite right, but it gives the general idea of the situation faced by the Prince of Orange at that time.  His lonely Dutch/Belgian division was trying to hold the vital crossroads.  The French had gotten off to a late start, but were making up lost time quickly.  Here are some shots from the first three turns.  To summarize, the French columns of Bonaparte's division jumped off and were quite successful in pushing back the Belgian jagers.  Their initial artillery blasts were also very effective (double sixes), but alas, no officers were hit.

Soye's brigade pushes back the Belgian jagers.

Bonapate's other brigade deploys to attack the wood.

French chasseurs a cheval threaten the allied left flank.

Lancers prepare to attack the crossroads.

From behind the French right

Sharp Practice Part 2

I did a few more turns of the game and I think I am getting the hang of it.  The Indians finally drove the red coats out of the blockhouse and then went on to capture a portion of the wagon train and slew the civilians that were with it.  Rogers Rangers drove off the company of marines, but then took a number of losses when fired upon by Canadian trappers.  A company of the 42nd Highlanders has arrived to try to help Rogers' men break through to the fort.

The grenadier company of the 28th drove off the war party threatening the farmstead, but another group of warriors has arrived on the other side of the table trying to capture yet another farm.  More than half of the wagon train is now in enemy hands.  The braves are trying to hurry the booty back to their village where it will be easier to defend.

On one turn I got the entire way through the deck before the Tiffen card showed up.  That was a fun turn!

All in all, I can see that this is going to be a fun set of rules to capture the thrills of the French and Indian War.

Sharp Practice battle

I have been dallying with the rule set Sharp Practice for a while now.  I am using it for the French and Indian War.  I have about 225 Blue Moon figures for each side, making up about 15 companies per side.  I used the rules, though modified, for my summer class.  Now I am trying to use them as written for a solo battle.

The setting is an obscure valley on the western reaches of the colonies.  There is a fort and several farms along with an Indian village.  A blockhouse stands guard over the village to keep the natives in line.  But the French have been up to mischief and have stirred the Indians into action.  With the help of some Canadian trappers and a company of elite marines, they will rise up and attack an unsuspecting wagon train headed for the fort with a new group of settlers.  Two companies of militia provide the protection while the second company of the 28th Foot mans the blockhouse.  The rest of the 28th garrisons the fort along with a gun and a company of militia.

Things got off to a vicious start as Indians and marines concealed in the woods sprung the trap.  The wagon train was cut in half and Hunter's militia took losses.  Col. Chevalier revealed himself and quickly led another war party and a company of trappers against the blockhouse.  It was a great start for the French.  But things quickly began to unravel.  The Tiffin card showed up early in the next three turns and the dice were not allowing the French and Indians to move into contact.  Despite sufferning some losses, the second company of the 28th Foot fought off three attacks.  Most of the wagon train was able to move toward the fort and out of danger, but the other half is most likely lost to the Indians as Hunter's militia has run away due to too many shock points.

On the fourth turn the British reinforcement card turned up and a company of Rogers Rangers arrived behind the wagon train and fired a terrible volley into the marines, killing three of the 14 men.  The 28th's grenadier company left the safety of the fort to rescue a family at a farm nearby being attacked by the French reinforcements of a war party of Hurons.  The pictures below show some of the action.  Just click on them to enlarge.

The Indian village.  Things are deceptively normal.

The battle for the blockhouse rages near the village.

The Rangers arrive just in time, but will be facing some challenges of their own.

Hurons attack a farm, but the grenadiers of the 28th Foot are coming to the rescue.