British Grenadiers AWI

Figures are by Front Rank. Flag courtesy of my friend Bill Nevins. Yes, I know that British Grenadiers did not carry flags, but I have the standard bearers and needed a figure to fill out this small unit of 12. So please forgive the historical inaccuracy!

17th Regiment of Foot

Here are some photos of the finished regiment. Figures are Perry. Flags are GMB.

AWI Game

Alex and I played a small game today to try out (or re try) the Patriots and Loyalists rules by Scott Holder, with some modifications created by Alex. They're an interesting set of rules and certainly can give a fast game. I'm not completely sold on them though as they have some unusual features too. Here are some photos from the game.

Continental Command

Continental command. Front Rank figures. They are "generic" (i.e. not for any particular regiment). I assume that if any of the Continentals were well-uniformed it would have been the officers. So this unit has command in regimental uniforms while most of the rank and file have only hunting shirts. The flag is courtesy of Warflag. www.warflag.com

17th Regt. of Foot (WIP)

Perry Miniatures British Infantry in cut down coat and slouch hat. Appropriate campaign dress for 1777. This is part of the 17th Regt. of Foot. They've got white facings with yellow lace, so it's a bit hard to see. I really like Perry's figures, but these haven't turned out quite as nice as I had hoped. I'm starting to think that I enjoy painting Front Rank most. But they don't do British in campaign dress, so...... More to come.

An Action in Germania

The local tribes had recently been restless, culminating in the plunder of a merchant's caravan and the murder of its Roman traders. The local Governor ordered Tribune Gaius Phillipus to lead a vexillation to punish the tribe by burning one of its villages to the ground.

The Romans approach the village:

Alerted by some children playing in the fields, the men of the village array themselves to defend their homes while sending a messenger to summon help from a nearby chieftain:

The Germans foolishly sally outside of the walls of the village to engage their enemies.


But are charged themselves by the disciplined Legionaries.

And are defeated.

And pursued through the village and slaughtered by the advancing Romans

The Romans rush into the village and put the meager huts to the torch.

The local chieftain, Hrulfgar, nears the village, leading a force of warriors enraged by the sight of smoke pouring from the village.

While undoubtedly brave, the Germans lead by Hrulfgar are no more clever than their fellow tribesmen and dash themselves on the unshakeable Roman line.

Hrulfgar's band is defeated in its turn and the great chieftain is captured and lead away in chains to the local Roman outpost.

Daunted, but not disheartened by their loss, the Germans even now plan their counterstroke.

To be continued.........................

Front Rank Continentals

A Continental Regiment, Front Rank figures. I intended it to be a Virginia regiment, with a mix of regimental coats and hunting shirts. I'm waiting for the command figures to arrive with another order. I'm not sure how I feel about the Front Rank Continentals. I know that I didn't do as nice a job as I have on some other figures.

Continental Infantry Regiment

A brown-coated Continental Infantry Regiment. American uniforms are so confusing that instead of trying to paint a specific regiment's uniform I've decided I will instead paint "representative" uniforms. American infantry, to the extent they had regimental coats, seemed to be most commonly clothed in brown or blue, with facings of various colors.

The figures are by Old Glory. They're nicely animated, but not as detailed as Foundry/Perry or Front Rank. They also seem to all have the same face (and not a handsome one at that!). I don't know what it is exactly, but I find them more difficult to paint and I'm not as satisfied with the results that I get from the other manufacturers.

55th Regiment of Foot

55th Regiment of Foot, completed. These are Front Rank miniatures. Shorter and stockier than Foundry/Perry, but just as nicely detailed.

AWI Continental General

This is an Old Glory figure. I think it's supposed to represent a historical general, but I can't remember which one. If you know, drop me a line!

Battle of Reichenberg, 10 April, 1757

The opening battle of the Prussian invasion of Bohemia in 1757 was fought today. The campaign starts in April 1757. The game was played as part of a campaign we are playing using Might & Reason, rules by Sam Mustafa for the War of Austrian Succession and Seven Years War.

In the opening move of the war, a Prussian army lead by Prince Henry (me) advanced from Zittau and attacked an Austrian Army commaned by General von Browne (Phil DeMara) located at Reichenberg, just over the border. The Austrian army included 6 brigades of infantry, 2 cuirassier brigades and 1 dragoon brigade and one unit of artillery. The Prussian army consisted of 6 infantry brigades, 1 brigade of cuirassiers, 1 brigade of dragoons and 2 artillery units.

The Prussians' superior leaders and advantage in maneuver and firepower combined with inept Austrian commanders and bad luck resulted in a severe defeat for the forces of the Empress.

Here is the Austrian deployment.

And the Prussian deployment.

The Prussians moved quickly to the attack and were able to mass their force against the Austrian right flank.

The Prussians were able to gain local superiority due to the lackluster performance of the commander of the Austrian center, General de Ville, who remained immobile as the Prussian infantry, led by General von Bevern, closed to the attack. Here the Prussians shake out of march columns and form up for the attack. DeVille's command, which included 4 infantry brigades, is to the right, out of view. apparently oblivious to the impending Prussian threat. (Phil's poor rolling resulted in this force being inactive in a number of pulses)

Meanwhile, the Austrian cavalry force attempted to envelop the Prussian right flank, which was held by the armies Grenadier brigades.

The Austrian cavarly managed to flank the Grenadiers while a brigade of Cuirassiers charged the Grenadiers to their front. The Grenadiers were able to repulse the attack however through the intercession of General von Winterfeldt who steadied the Prussian line.

On the other flank, the Prussian initial assault drove the Austrian's back, but they were finally able to form a line of battle when General de Ville's infantry command in the center of the line finally activated and moved up.

Utlimately however, the Prussians' superior commanders, greater firepower and bad Austrian luck allowed the Prussians to break several Austrian brigades, poking holes in the Austrian line and allowing the Prussians to force the Austrian line back on itself, with the cavalry, which had been repulsed on the Prussian right, Austrian left flank with heavy casualties taking refuge behind the Austrian infantry.

The only bright spot for the Austrians was the death of General Count Bevern, who was killed leading a charge against the Austrian line.

As night fell, the Austrians were utterly defeated and streamed from the field in disorder.

Their retreat was cut off, however, by Field Marshal von Schwerin's force at Munchengratz. Trapped between the victorious army of Prince Henry and the force of von Schwerin, the remaingin Austrians were forced to capitulate.

The troops were given parole, but General von Browne, one of the best Austrian commanders, was lead off into captivity for the duration of the war.