Garden Wars = Quatre Bras

A while back, last month actually, I did a garden game with my son using the newly painted British Troops and some French.

I was not ready with a large lot of red coats (which my son really likes) so I chose to set up a "Quatre Bras" like scenario...

First I mowed the lawn back very short in most areas, with a 'taller' section, that you can see has a 'brighter green', it was under a trampoline that shades the area and concentrates the moisture, permitting the grass to grow tall and bright green.

So we laid out the map, I cut out the road and water pieces and my son got to lay them out on the lawn. He chose to place Gemioncourt on the opposite side of the river...


That is our dog off to one side to give an impression of how big the area is.

We than laid out our forces...


That is yours truly setting out my cavalry.
Again just so that you have a clear idea of how large the 'playing area' was.

So NEY, had two Infantry Divisions, a Dragoon Division and a Chasseur Detachment. Along with three Foot Batteries and two Horse Batteries.


NEY and his ADC planning their actions...

Wellsley had two British Infantry Divisions, a "Dutch" Infantry Division and a mixed Cavalry Force. Along with the British were two Royal Artillery Foot Batteries and the Dutchmen had a Horse Battery.


My son placing his troops in the 'trap' he had planned for the frenchies...

The view when 'up close' has a different feel than when looking at the troops on the game tabletop. We used SHAKO rules (version 1) with a 'double scale' option so that the troops could move and fire double their normal distances (allowing us to walk between them more easily).


Some French Infantry seen closer...

The first part of my son's 'trap' was to launch his Dutch Cavalry across the bridge in an effort to 'stop' the French columns moving quickly along the road...

Dutch Horse rapidly crosses a bridge to 'get at' the head of the French column.

Meanwhile, over on the French far right, the Dragoon Division was rushing towards the other river crossing near Thyle. The British and Allied force had not deployed any men to cover this crossing...

A French Dragoon Division in column of squadrons.

The French column did deploy the 'head' into a fighting line, by having the troops on the 'road' move into line, while the following forces broke out to the left in columns.

A 'wide view' of the column, the measuring stick you can see is 9" long.

The Dutch horse, Dragoons & Hussars, engaged the French on the road, directly. The Hussars were entirely routed, while the Dragoons managed to get a French Battery entangled in its own train and close with an Infantry column (forcing it into square) before smartly retiring back across the river.

Here the French line delivers fire, then managed to break the Dutch Hussars without going into square!

The Dutch Horse were apparently the 'cheeze' in the 'trap'...

The backs of the Dutch Dragoons as they recovered to their commander
(yes the one sporting a Vile Stagonia flag!).

Meanwhile the French Dragoon Division had started the river crossing near Thyle...

French Dragoons compress down to a single file as they press across the river.

In the French Center, a force of Chassuers A Cheval had arrived and taken post as NEY's new 'reserve'...

Taking post in reserve are a squadron of the Imperial Guard Chasseurs a Cheval.

British forces near Quatre Bras had yet to see action, but were now being informed of the need to prepare to defend against marauding French Cavalry...had the 'trap' not worked?

The Allied high command, sending out riders to inform brigades to ready defences against French Dragoons...

The 'trap' has failed...
French Dragoons were now pouring across the river at Thyle and massing along the roads heading towards the Allied left flank. The Dutch Infantry were starting to move to cover that flank, however it was becoming clear that they would not get 'into position' before the French would be ready to start charges.

A wide veiw of the developing battlefield. French Dragoons are on the 'road' in two columns in the center of the image. Quatre Bras is up near the 'top center'. The darker green of Bossu Wood can be seen stretching across the top from center to left.

The French pour across on the left near Gemioncourt.
Now that the 'trap' was sprung, the French did not hesitate to press across the river and along the flank of Bossu Woods. Two great columns raced in the gap between the woods and the 'river' start. Another double-quick-time marched along the road driving hard to pass the now 'turned' Dutchmen.


Artillery Barrage:
"Drive them back!" comes the order to the gunners of the Royal Artillery, whom were placed near the crossroads, now seeing the long dark lines of French Infantry columns racing towards them.

A Royal Artillery Battery in action.

Unfortunately for the Dutchmen the French batteries were also in action...directed at their backs!

The Dutch Infantry collapsed after three salvoes, they lost heart in the battle and confidence in themselves as they fled the field, leaving only the Dragoon remnant behind as the sole Dutch 'allied' force.

With nothing to hold them back the French Dragoon commander ordered an immediate charge into the nearest red coated unit...the 71st Highlanders!

Seen from oblique above the Highlanders are taking a charge in the flank while in line, since they are also engaged in a musket duel with advancing French Infantry.

Just as the French Dragoons were charging, so did the Dutch Dragoons. Straight into a French Foot Battery, scattering the gunners and cutting down the draft teams leaving the guns in a jumble.

Dutch Dragoons take one more action!

Unfortunately the situation was not good for the Highlanders, since their flank was now wide open to the French Dragoons!

French Dragoons strike the 71st Highlanders in the flank after Dutch horsemen move off to charge a gun battery.

Dire consequenses:
The situation from the British position now looked bleak.
With all the Dutch Infantry now gone and a French Dragoon Division moving in from his left, Wellsley was not in any position to even hold his ground.
French Columns were moving up the main road into Quatre Bras, with only the guns to slow them since the Infantry was not yet in position to cover the right flank.
On his left the Dragoons were slaughtering half of his remaining infantry. His own light Dragoons were too far away to engage the forward Dragoons, but were ready to take on the other two formations that were now moving into charge positions further on his left.

The wide view looking south. Again the 'long grass' of Bossu Wood is clearly visible, lying within the wood is a 'yard stick' used to measure 'command span'

The battle done:
With the flanks in collapse and the 'trap' failed, Wellsley wisely ordered a general retreat. Quatre Bras came out the same as its historical counter-part, a modest French Victory.

Seen looking from the south-east, the Bossu Wood again stands out as the lush darker green. (with the same yardstick lying in it).

The Dutch Dragoons would have to fight their way out from the closing French 'trap'.

Dutch Dragoons would have a short celebration, as their charge to take the guns had left open the flank of British Infantry...now the battle was over.

A final moment.
British troops were ready on the far left flank, in squares, while the brigade in the center was not.

Here then can be seen the final die rolls for the last melee. The French total was 11, the British was 6.

A casualty.
We are often warned about using our toy soldiers on the floor. The warning is usually about them getting 'trodden on'.
Sadly for the Wellsley's ADC, this was true.
I came close to damaging the Chasseurs a Cheval, but only 'close'.

An ADC, squashed flat.

Battle of Vimeiro

or as the British came to call it "Vimera".

Wellsleys first real test of battlefield command in the Peninsular War.

His forces had advanced at Rolica, though he outnumbered his opponent by close to 3-1, ultimately the French did at least partially achieve their aim of slowing down the British advance, so that General Junot could assemble his forces.

The British did not advance at the same pace after Rolica, due to Wellsley learning of the impending landing of more British Troops. The decision was made to land them at Porto Novo, with the main body covering the landings near Vimeiro.

So it was that General Junot, intent on breaking up the British opposition to the Imperial plans in Portugal, advanced on the British...unaware that more red-coated infantry had landed and that he, Junot, would have to fight a larger force than his own...

So the field of Mars on this day, 200 years ago, was before the village of Vimeiro.

I hope to get in a game of this battle on the coming weekend.

By GENERAL ORDER:

On this day, 20 August 1808, General Wellesley issued a general order to the effect that:

"...queues were abolished and it was ordered that the hair should be cut short at the neck."

I have been about a long-haired experiment that is coming to an end. Not unlike the British soldiery, I have come to dislike the hair tieing exercise and this day will attend to the removal of my 'ode to the 18th Century'. Going back to a much shorter cropped hair, something that I have had most of my life.

Further that "...the use of hair powder and wigs was to be strictly an option for officers and senior NCO's."

For me: "Wigs? Not with the crop of thick hairs I have already!"
Further: "Powder! Why waste such a valuable store on your hair!"

*wink* I know, it was not gunpowder used in their hair!

The cheering in the ranks only slowed down long enough for the barbers to get about their business.

See Vimeiro 1808 and regimental regulations for details.

No game.

No players.

Family took all the available time to blog.

More later...much later.

British Troops land at Figueira da Foz

The landings take from the 1st to the 8th of August 1808 to conduct.

The troops commander Lieutennant-General Sir Arthur Wellesley takes over active field command of the troops he has sailed with from Cork, departing on July 12, 1808; and in time further forces sailing from Gibraltar and Siciliy.

By the 8th of August some 14,000 British troops would be in Portugal, along with 24 guns. The Portugese were present with 26,000 more of their militia and regulars mustering in the north. The Portugese had initiated a blockade of Almeida, thus securing the left flank of the British force in advance of an anticipated march south. These militia and regulars lacked all military supplies including food, though not (yet) an effective fighting force here they were to strike a blow at the French and thus save 'their' Portugal.


With such displays as Carnaval Buarcos, we here 200 years later are glad they did!

Evora's Terrible Fate:

Former Naval officer, Major-General Francisco de Paula Leite, commanded some 3000 so-called regular troops against General of Division Jean-Baptiste-Maurice Loison and his 7000 men sent to take Evora. 29 July marks the 200th anniversary of this 'red day' in the continuing saga of the French invasion of Portugal.

While the French may not have been the first or even second battalions of their regiments, they were all better trained, led and equipped than their Portugese opponents. After the battle, which the French reported losing 100 KIA and 200 wounded; while the Portugese/Spanish losses were 2000 to 4000 (KIA, wounded and prisoners - the exact numbers will never be known), the French sacked the town of Evora. Loison had before sanctioned cruelty to cow the people by sheer terror. Soon all of Portugal knew of Evora's terrible fate.

In Portugal to this day Loison, nicknamed 'Maneta', has his named cursed.

Day 5 DONE!

140 miniatures in 5 days!

I also managed to get the grass cut and the weather held out for the garden wars game!


Alex and I did a full afternoon recreation of Quatre Bras (well sort-of).

I shall have to post the pictures from the battle later, but the troops are presented for your enjoyment now.

Day 4 Done!


WOW what a great progress done today in such a short time!


The family needs lasted till mid-morning and I noted that the light rain would be continuing all day and likely into tomorrow. Meaning that the garden game is likely off...sigh. However this meant that as long as I could stay focussed I might be able to achieve the entire day's plans.

Focus lasted till lunchtime, when again family duties prevailed. In that time all highlight layers were done and all muskets were finished. All that was left was the immense ammounts of white everywhere, metallics and touch-ups.

Sadly from the perspective of the project my boys needed more face time in the afternoon. Then, friends came over...their friends! The two older ones took off for most of the afternoon and the youngest was content with coloring books and video playing in my office.

BLAZING brushworks resumed!

All needed works got done in time for dinner and all that remained was the touch-ups in the evening.

After boys to bed these got done.


Fourty minutes ago I finished the painting, then got into the seal-coating and final 'weathering' that I get in one step with Polyshades.

Now I need to wait for the gloss coat to set overnight, flocking in the morning and battlefield set-up by noon. Within 12 hours I will be gaming with minis that were bare metal only 5 days before!

Day 3 Done!


Once again I managed to remember to take a picture before blasting off into the progress for the day.

After taking care of the family in the morning, I was seized by the burning need to finish off the majority of the progress today!

Day 2 done


Okay so the photo did not get posted until today.

The Inks got done yesterday am, then went into face details and the pants.

Next will be the second/third layers on the rest of the clothing.

This evening will be belts and starting on details of muskets and packs.

IF all goes well then I will have only the highlights and touch-ups to do Saturday and by the afternoon I plan to get the gloss coating on.

That way on sunday morning I can flock them all...while the flocking dries I can set up the play area and have the fresh 'recruits' join the battle planned for that day!

Day one done.


All basic colours and flesh are done.

Provided I do not get taken away by a fast moving work file tomorrow I should have all major colours done and flesh inked and be ready for details on Friday.

WAVE 2 Redcoats are mounted to sticks...wave 1 are all flocked.

Here we go on the 140 minis in one week challenge!

First Wave done...time for a challenge

I have completed the 140 minis, tonight they are curing the PolyShades seal coating.

Now I have only a month to go to finish the British Forces for my planned Vimeiro game in August.

The current challenge is to put a major dent in the needed painting.

I plan to paint another 130 foot troops, including gunners and staff officers, also a British General figure that I have which will serve as Wellesley for this game (I have a nicer one of him in the famous blue civil coat but I want to 'lavish' some time on this mini similar to the Napoleon and staff that I did a few years ago). These forces are planned to be painted in the next 5 days.

I am hoping to put them into use during the garden game planned for July 27, whether they make it into the game or not the effort to get this many done will go a long way to having enough forces for the really big game in August!

Kilt Rush:

Few things beat the sensation when you realize that the last stripes to be crossed on the regiment of highlander kilts is just under your brush.

Whew! What a busy painting day...140 minis are one day from completion!

Garden War Rules:

A question was put about what rules I was planning for the coming garden battle.

My first thought was to press on with a new set that I have called Le Feu Sacre, while I have not yet fully read these rules and have not tested them on the tabletop...they do have some merits.

In the meantime I have reviewed my time available for playtest and understanding of the new rules, let alone being ready to run such a game in the yard.

What I realized was I needed a game that was mostly known to many players locally and could be run with simple supports. I would like that to be Napoleon's Battles, but I know that the system is just to 'busy' with modifiers and math for many of the players.

In the end I think I will go with SHAKO (version 0 or 1 whichever you fancy), but I will be running the game at DOUBLE SCALE. This way there should be more room between the forces when they start to get into action, and when we play we can get a little closer to the correct scale for the minis. I shall try a playtest (possibly solo since there is a convention meeting the same day) on July 27, 2008. Expect more information after then...

Until then I shall have to press on harder in seeking time to PAINT!!!

Another Garden Force:


In a test to see what my road and river materials looked like in pictures, I decided to set them out and lay out a few troops to compare.




Tell me what you think?


The road and river material is a non-slip matting meant for kitchen drawers etc.

Still seeing RED...


Loads more done on the British Forces for Vimeiro, now looking like it might be played out 'in' my back yard!

I still may do a segment using the tabletop and have it all ready on standby in case the weather is not good for the backyard game.

Today, the 6th of July also marks a dark moment during the middle phase of the French Imperial occupation of Portugal. A town of some 5000 people was taken and sacked by the French. They later retreated to Lisbon, as holding any of the outer provinces during the ongoing uprisings was not possible for the long term.

While this image by Goya is to represent the actions of the May 3 start of the uprisings, the actions and intent of the French may not have been much different on July 6, 1808. Enforcement of the 'Continental System' was essentially impossible and many had to pay the ultimate price before the situation was ultimately resolved.

Still greater and more lovely sunsets were to come for Leiria, like this one...

A garden force:

Just for giggles I decided to take some pictures of the newly finished Austrian Infantry (they looked a little short on firepower so my helper suggested the BIGGEST gun to support them).

The force is of regiments of Austrian infantry which were divided into two groups; 'German' and 'Hungarian'. The 'Hungarian' regiments were renowned for their fierce fighting spirit, and their grenadiers were best of them. The 'German' regimnts were the best trained and disciplned part of the infantry. "German sense of duty caused them to rally after lost battle to fight again."
Can you see them just near the base of the tree?

The 'German regiments' included:
- 11 regiments of Austrians
- 23 regiments of Czechs (Bohemians and Moravians)
- 5-6 regiments of Wallons
- 2 regiments of Croats
- 2 regiments of Tyroleans (46th and 64th, although in 46th the Tyroleans consisted only half)
- 1-2 regiments of Italians
In 1805 10 regiments (9th, 20th, 24th, 30th, 38th, 41st, 44th, 55th, 58th, 63rd) were recruited of Galician Poles and Ukrainians. The Poles had low morale and often deserted to the French or Polish troops fighting for Napoleon. All these units were dressed like 'German' infantry.

The 'Hungarian regiments' included:
- 11-12 regiments of Hungarians.

Perhaps the most important of the reforms carried out by Archduke Charles was the new Dienst-Reglemet. It aimed to humanize discipline and raise troop morale by better treatment. It sharply condemned brutality. The introduction of the code was accompanied by a shortened term or conscription. (Rothenberg - "The Emperor's Last Victory" p 46) The enlistments were 6 years for infantrymen and 10 for cavalrymen.

The Austrian troops were well supplied and equipped. Every soldier carried a fur-covered leather back-pack called Tornister. There was 1 tent for every 5 men, 1 wagon for each company, 4-6 carts and wagons and 30 packhorses with ammunition (on average 36 rounds for every soldier) for every battalion of 6 companies. Officers were also allowed individual packhorses. The senior officers and generals however brought excessive baggage, numerous carts and horses. It slowed down movements of the army. In 1809 regiment of infantry had 26 packhorses, while Grenzer regiment only 7. The Jäger battalion had 12 and cavalry regiment none. The supplies for infantry regiment were carried on 13 wagons (4 horses each) and 26 pack animals.


Although as an army the Austrians lost more battles than won, the individual line regiments were reliable and some fought with tenacity and bravery.

The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. Legal and historical meanings of militia include:
Defense activity or service, to protect a community, its territory, property, and laws.
The entire able-bodied male (women are usually called to work in munitions factories) population of a community, town, county, or state, available to be called to arms.
A subset of these who may be legally penalized for failing to respond to a call-up.
A subset of these who actually respond to a call-up, regardless of legal obligation.
A private, non-government force, not necessarily directly supported or sanctioned by its government.
An official reserve army, composed of citizen soldiers. Called by various names in different countries such as; the Army Reserve, National Guard, or State Defense Forces.
The national police forces in several former communist states such as the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact countries, but also in the non-aligned SFR Yugoslavia. The term was inherited in Russia, and other former CIS countries. See: Militia (Police).
In France the term "Milice" has become tainted due to its use by notorious collaborators with Nazi Germany.

While my top hat wearing militamen do not look exactly like the great Grenzers of Austrian fame...they may well get the designation in battles to come...


Border Troops - The Grenzers.

The Grenzers came from military frontier between Austria and Turkey settled by Christian refugees. During peacetime the Grenzers spent 7 months of every year guarding the frontier. They were raised as militia but were considered by army officials as something between light and line infantry. The Grenzers were given training in marksmanship and skirmishing and basics of linear tactics. When attempts were made to train the Grenzer as line infantry they turned out to be not as good in this role as the regular regiments.

There were 17-18 Grenzer regiments each of two or three battalions. During wartime one battalion of every regiment was left to guard the border with Turkey. The other battalion or two joined the regular army and were part of advance guards.

The Grenzers lacked weapons, uniforms and discipline. But despite the shortcomings the Grenzer battalions performed well in combat (for example at Malgaboreth, Eggmuhl, Wagram and others). According to many experts, including Christoipher Duffy, they were "the most enthusiastic troops" of the Austrian army. When many Austrian regulars fled at Austerlitz the Grenzers fought hard and lost 66 % !
During retreat after Marengo (1800) when all order broke, two battalions of Grenzers (Warasdin-Kreuz and Ottocac) fended off all attacks and allowed the grenadier battalions to march to the Bormida. Together with the grenadiers they fought one of the last rearguard actions at Marengo.


The French had good opinion about the Grenzers and considered them as the only ones looking warlike in the entire Austrian army. Napoleon had no hesitation in using these wild men. (After the defeat in 1809 Austria ceded some territories and the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 10th and 11th Grenzer Regiment went into French service. They served for Napoleon

So much for the history lessons, enjoy the eye candy and tell me what you think.

I feel a new inspiration coming on...

Austrian Infantry booster done.

The white coated infantry you have seen moving thru its progress over the past few months is now done.

69 more foot troops added to the Austrian forces I have already.

You can see some bare metal beside these militia troops (in top hats I love them, they look so very different from the 'Line' troops), they are the second wave of red coats that I need to get base coated this week and press on with the painting progress. The aim is to put brush to metal daily this month!

Significant Video

About two years ago I wrote elsewhere that it was the interpreters in Afghanistan who held the real combat action power as it would be up to the interpreters to be the most essential link between the military force and the ordinary people.

This video clip by Guardian Flims, from The Real News is the most significant piece of film documenting what is really happening on the ground there.



When you watch this clip, think of what the village elder is really saying with is allegorical story, then understand that the translator DID NOT TELL ANY OF THE ELDER'S STORY! The sergeant is angry with the old man because of what he thinks the man said, yet the translator was the power broker in the entire exchange and this most essential trust is totally broken.

In my mind the translator is lying, and if the sergeant knew this I think he might just break the translators nose, if not something more drastic and permanent.

If anyone seeing and reading this knows anyone of the troops in that clip from 'charlie company' then please forward all of this to them! Please, for the sake of everyone involved, the old man and his village, the military troops, the rest of the populace here in Canada, North America, Australia and the world, since this is a monstrous criminal mistake that is going on in the 'name' of us all through NATO and the UN.

Other Focus

This thing all things devours:
Birds, beasts, trees, flowers;
Gnaws iron, bites steel;
Grinds hard stones to meal;
Slays king, ruins town,
And beats high mountain down.

ANSWER:



Some of you may have been noticing a 'spotty' posting plan here.

You would be right in seeing that.

I have taken on many new projects right now and find that writing about them consistently is difficult...to say the least.

I shall be focusing on a few of them over the next few months and sadly blogging here may not be one of them.

Rest assured that I will post in from time to time, especially after the Vimeiro event, but time must be spent wisely from now till then and I plan to do just that.

Cheers

Good words.

A kudos has been posted elsewhere, but bears repeating:

"I don't want to start a stampede of gamers to Vancouver Island, but I'm just back from a whirlwind tour to the west coast and a marvelous OS game day hosted by Jeff of Saxe-Bearstein fame and want to publicly thank Jeff, Murdock and Pete for their hospitality and for their generous, relaxed, welcoming attitude and their patience as my friend Tom & I stumbled through the rules. (incidently, I trusted that if the rules were sound then I could just base my plan on what knowledge I have of the 18th C (drawing heavily on Minden for inspiration) then the details of the rules wouldn't matter and indeed the rules proved very sound as well as fun). Jeff has an illustrated account on his blog site http://saxe-bearstein.blogspot.com/

Oh and Jeff, I apologise for my gunners getting a little over entusiastic at the end of the day and shooting one of your men when they had sat so harmlessly all day staring at my brigade of raw troops being trained in manouevres on the hillside. Perhaps if I had stationed Keith's Regiment well to the rear your men may not have been so intimidated?

One couldn't ask for finer bunch of fellows to meet across a table.

-Ross Mac"

It was great to have such a thoughtful and well-informed opponent along with a 'newbie' to the tabletop.