I recently finished painting these rather charming 30mm British Lancers from the Spencer Smith Classic range. The lance arm is a separate casting, so it would be a simple task to create sword equipped cavalry, something that I might try.
Elsewhere, I have been very distracted by other projects. I recently received a heap of plastic Samurai figures and I have been working through those. the infantry are from the MB board game 'Shogun' and the cavalry are by Zvezda:
Last weekend I finished a second Sudanese unit which now joins my growing colonial British army. The figures are by Barry Minot and were part of a large group of 25/30mm figures that I bought a couple of years ago:
Just before Christmas I asked Peter Johnson at Spencer Smith Miniatures if he would be able to do some conversions on his ACW 30mm classic range. He has done this and some samples arrived yesterday.
From left to right there is a Zouave wearing boater hat, Zouave in kepi, standard bearer in soft hat as well as a drummer and bugler. Next there is an officer with raised sword arm in kepi and finally a riderless horse for dismounted cavalry. Not shown here, but Peter has also produced standing and kneeling dismounted cavalry in kepi.
These figures are not listed yet on the Spencer Smith site, but Peter assures me that they are available on request.
These small additions will greatly expand the uniform options for the range and, along with the new limber and riders, provides a good range of ACW figures.
The main differences are that I have four horses rather than two, I have used larger gun wheels on the limber and have added some hand rails. Peter has also sculpted some outriders, which I have added.
Overall, I am quite pleased with the results and these limbers (I have to construct five more) will add interest to games.
Peter Johnson at Spencer Smith Miniatures has very kindly produced some ACW dismounted cavalry figures wearing kepis. In addition he has converted a kneeling figure, which will be very useful.
I have a regiment of cavlry for both north and south, but I wanted to depict them in the dismounted role on the wargames table. I also wanted them wearing kepis. The other requirement is to have horse holders, so I have used the standing figure with three riderless horses in the role, while the kneeling chaps form the firing line. I had to use horses from Irregular Miniatures, although I would have preferred something from Spencer Smith, if it were available.
Here are some test shots of some samples recently received from Peter:
I am also working on some ACW limbers from Peter, which look very promising too.
I got these figures out to do a little touching up and thought I would post some pictures. These are charming, solidly made figures from the Spencer Smith range that are very easy to paint:
Many have observed the similarity of this game to the demonstration game set in the Plattville Valley by Donald Featherstone. Those observations were correct. I was going to refight this battle, however, given the size of my table I had to adapt it somewhat. Also, the troop levels were completely different.
All that said, the battle kicked off just after lunch, both sides having deployed on to the high ground on each side of the river. The CSA forces decided their position was strong enough to defend, while Federal General Smith realised he was going to have to assault and force the rebels off Mole Hill and the features dominating the bridge over the river.
The Federal plan was to attack on the left across the bridge to fix the rebels and try to draw off the resrves and put in the main attack on the right flank against Mole Hill and its farm.
The action began with the Iowa Regiment rushing the bridge in the face of artillery fire and musketry from the Texans. They got off lightly, only losing one figure, while Union battery 3 engaged the rebel guns taking out a gunner:
The Iowa Regiment made it to the fence line OK and attempted to shake out into a firing line:
But, now they were in range of the Texas veterans who poured volleys across the wheat field, as did the rebel gun:
The Iowa's colonel fell and their morale broke causing them to rout back over the bridge, where they were decimated by fire from the Alabama Regiment on Warren Ridge. Their rout continued off the table despite an attempt by General Reeves to rally them:
The Federal attack on the left had failed and action was reduced to an exchange of fire over the river between the Alabama Regiment and the New Jersey boys, that caused casualties on both sides.
Federal General Smith, decided that further attacks on the left would be futile and he sent orders for Parson's Brigade to take Mole Hill. This action began with the Federal Sharpshooters advancing towards the corn patch where they ran into the Mississippi Sharpshooters. A brisk fire fight developed between the two groups of skirmishers. Initially the Federal sharpshooters were forced back after taking light casualties:
However, having rallied the Federal skirmishers saw off the Mississippi Sharpshooters, who doubled away to the rear past the Kentucky Regiment::
The Federals now concentrated their fire on the Georgia Regiment holed up in Mole Hill farm and the combination of musket, skirmish and artillery fire caused several casualties:
Meanwhile, having been tangled up amongst the snake fences around the Wheatfield, Parson's brigade shook out and began its move towards Mole Hill:
Taking some fire from the Georgians, the new Yorkers and Illinois Regiment pushed on. With a final charge, the Illinois Regiment stormed into the farm and a furious melee ensued:
Realising that the Georgians in the farm were in danger of being overun, CSA General Johnson orders the Kentucky Regiment to advance, while he heads off to shore up the defences of Mole Hill.
Unfortunately for Johnson, the Georgians are all but wiped out and the farm falls to the Illinois Regiment, who continue their rampage by charging into CSA Battery A, wiping that out too. In the Melee General Johnson is pulled from his horse and dies:
The collapse of the Rebel left begins. With the loss of General Johnson, the Georgians and the artillery, the Kentucky Regiment must take a morale test. They fail and rout from the field.
On the other side of the field the New Jersey Regiment on Twin Buttes continues its exchange of fire with the Alabama Regiment, eventually forcing the latter back off Warren Ridge:
At the same time Federal artillery Battery 3 scores a direct hit on CSA Battery C, wiping out the crew:
With the demise of the CSA gunners, the Vermont cavalry decide to make a charge across the river bridge:
This is a mistake as they run into a hail of fire from the Texans, losing nearly half their number. However, this small victory cannot save the CSA army and General Spencer gives the order for a withdrawal, covered by the Texans and Virginia cavalry. The battle is over leaving the Federals in control of the field, but they are exhausted and unable to pursue.
For this game I used Featherstone's rules. I found that they could be very cruel when it came to a firefight, especially when followed by poor morale. Infantry volleys are devastating when they hit home. That said, this was a fun game and an excellent way to give these lovely old soldiers a try out. It was certainly enjoyable and spectacular. I think the Texans deserve a battle honour for this one!
My newly painted and reorganised Spencer Smith figures have deployed for their first action - the battle of Rabbit Run.
1861, CSA General Spencer's Division has been detached to rapidly move forward to seize and hold the high ground overlooking the crossing of the Rabbit Run river. The Union has a similar idea and General Smith is rushing up the Turnpike with his division, with a very similar Mission. The forces of Generals Spencer and Smith are about to collide.
The battlefield is shown below, looking from the North (Union side), with Rabbit Run snaking from North around to the east. Key features are Warren Ridge, Twin Buttes and Mole Hill, with its farm on top:
The organisation of the two forces are:
Spencer's Division CSA:
Buller's Brigade
Texas Regiment,
Alabama Regiment
B Battery Artillery
C Battery Artillery
Johnson's Brigade
Kentucky Regiment
Mississippi Sharpshooters
Georgia Regiment
Virginia cavalry
A Battery Artillery
The Texans have deployed forward and are defending a wheat field on the east flank, amongst some trees, with C battery in support:
The Alabama regiment are working their way onto Warren Ridge, with B battery in support:
On the West flank the Georgia regiment holds Mole Hill, with A Battery and the Virginia cavalry in support:
Meanwhile, the Mississippi Sharpshooters hold the Corn Patch, with the Kentucky regiment in Reserve:
General Smith's Union Forces consist of:
Reeve's Brigade:
Iowa Regiment
New Jersey Regiment
No 3 Battery Artillery and Vermont cavalry in Support.
Parson's Brigade:
New York (Zouaves) Regiment,
Illinois Regiment,
Berdan's Sharpshooters
Nos 1 & 2 Artillery Batteries in support.
The Union have pushed the Iowa regiment up along the Turnpike, while the New Jersey regiment advance up the Twin Buttes:
On the west flank Parson's Brigade is deployed facing Mole Hill, behind the snake fences of the Wheatfield:
I haven't posted for a while, largely because I have been head down with a new project. This came about quite unexpectedly. Some may have read the Wargames Odyssey blog, which back in early October announced that David (DC) had decided to shed his collections and focus on naval actions and land games based on the WoFun 2D plastic figures.
Part of this process involved selling off his figures to raise capital for his new projects. One of the items going was his Spencer Smith ACW collection. Some will also know that I painted all of the figures in the collection over a period of around two years. I had become very fond of the figures as I was painting them, so jumped at the chance of acquiring them. So, a few weeks ago a big parcel arrived containing the collection, loads of movement trays and some unpainted figures. It was fun unpacking them and seeing these lovely figures once more.
Over the last 3-4 weeks I have been painting and basing the existing collection as well as two units of skirmishers and a further CSA regiment. Last night I finsished off this work. My unit organisation differs from DCs, going for 20 figures per regiment. This entailed painting four new command groups too.
My plan is to fight an old school style battle in the coming days. In the meantime, here is a picture of the completed confederate army: