The Battle of Germantown 1777 - Rebels and Patriots.

Club game from a few weeks ago and the Battle of Germantown, the scenario is taken from a old edition of Wargames Illustrated. Played using Rebels and Patriots and the first outing for the Germans.

British forces under Howe face off against Washington's continentals. We had to scale the table down to 10mm which left a little bit of room to place the units on the table.

The US player attacks on multiple fronts hindered by the fog one brigade approaches Luken Mill securing 4 victory points if they can seize it. Additional bonus points are awarded for each unit destroyed or routed and -1 point to the owner of the lost unit.

On the far right the main force approaches Chew House also defended by British regulars.

The Crown forces defending Crew House awaiting the advance of the Americans. The British and Hessian main force is in Germantown will need to gather their forces to support the defenders.

The Continentals reach the outskirts of Chew House and line out preparing to assault the building if they can secure it, it will be worth 6 Pts. 

British reinforcements crest the hill and poor fire into the advancing mounted militia, driving them backwards.

Back at the mill the massed ranks of the militia succeed in driving back the original defenders, but fresh troops in the shape of 2 companies of Light Infantry start to make their presence felt. The Americans press forward.

Meanwhile in Germantown the Hessians advance towards Chew House as the attackers are making slow progressing in forcing the British out.

Finally multiple bayonet charges forces the British to withdraw, but casualties are mounting on the American side making activations more difficult.

Chew House is finally in the Hands of the US and in the same turn the Mill is seized. The victory points are balanced at 10 points each (10 for Germantown firmly in British hands.

But the Crown forces are now fully deployed in front of the Crew House and it feels only a matter of time until it is back in British Hands.

As the game draws to a close it's a victory for the British 16 points to 14. The US simply lost too many units in their assault on the main house.

A cracking afternoons gaming with some real back and forth between the two sides. You really need to prepare your attack stepping into close order and preparing a volley to break the British line, all to often the US opened up at long range which did limited damage to the Brits with the advantage of hard cover in the buildings.

We added in chits for each brigade which gave a random element to activations which made for an interesting challenger for each commander.

Next up.... Lexington and Concorde hopefully over the Christmas break....

17th Light Dragoons - AWI Cavalry.

A couple of take nights but I was determined to get these finished whilst the calendar still said September :-)

The last of the core troops for the AWI project and the 17th Light Dragoons from Pendraken Miniatures. Based 3 to base for Rebels and Patriots.

Given most of the cavalry of the period seems to have been deployed in small detachments 3 units of British cavalry should be fine for most engagements of the war.

A little bored of the mass of scarlet, I thought I might sneak in a unit of British Legion in green. I know the head gear is wrong, but it's 10mm so I can barely make out which way round the infantry are so head gear is not a major concern.

Really pleased which how these have come out.... Now to get them on the table....

AWI Logistic Corps....

Another batch clear the paint queue for the American War of Independence Project, these could be used for both sides of the conflict and will be useful for ammo markers or niche scenarios.

Two supply wagons and 4 mule trains should be enough for now.

Continuing the mounted theme I dug a few dead horses from the spares box, these will be perfect for extra shock/pinned markers for Rebels and Patriots.

Two days of the month to go, just enough time to finish the last of this project and the British cavalry..

No pressure....

American War of Independence - Hessians

Later into September than I would have hoped for and a determination to complete the last of the 10mm American War of Independence project.

First up Hessian Grenadiers whilst their are lots of choices amongst the German regiments deployed in the colonies, I opted for the classic feel of German Infantry. Painting up the regiment pack from Pendraken gives you for units for Rebels and Patriots, together with an officer base.

I threw in a couple of casualty/shock markers to make them a standalone formation. The flags are from Maverick Models to complete the formation.

Painting all four units in one go was a stretch, but 2 colours and night picking out the rifles, straps or boots and suddenly they are done.

Next up the British cavalry.... assuming all goes to plan.....

Timecast Terrain 10mm - Return to the AWI.

After a brief detour to the New World, back to the last AWI and a concerted effort to clear the last of the AWI elements to crack the project before the of the month...

I felt the AWI battlefield lacked a little bit of colonial structure tucked in box was a bunch of trees from the guys at Time Cast perhaps some of the best trees on the market in this scale if you don't foliage shedding over years of gaming.

I opted for nice tidy rows so they could be used as an orchard or to line the roads on the approaches to towns or farm lands.

Also some poplar trees on make up sticks with some rounded edges to mirror the troop bases. 

Not really sure why it's taken so long to get them on the table but in the spirit of getting Sh*t done. On to the next unit.

The Battle of Princeton 1777 - Rebels & Patriots.

The 250th Anniversary of the birth of America tempted me give the AWI forces a roll out. I picked up a copy of the Live Free or Die rules on PDF, the scenario's are great, they come with detailed maps and force breakdowns they need a little bit of work to convert to Rebels and Patriots.

Borrowing directly from the scenario with a slight tweak on the number of turns given the potential for commands to fail within R&P.

The game begins at 7am and lasts 10 turns, until mid morning. 

The British earn a victory if they can maintain control of road exit to Trenton or Princeton and inflict higher losses than they sustain at the end of the turn limit. This would delay Washington long enough for Cornwallis to react. Any other result is an American victory. 

The British deploy first on the left of the table with the US and Mercer command opposite on the main approach.

Washington begins on the table with Cadwalader’s brigade on the far right flank.

The British Light companies and Grenadiers advance knowing the they have to strike an early blow. They advance swiftly taking the fight to the American militia.

Cadwalader’s Brigade starts to take casualties before they had a chance to line out the first militia unit fell back disrupted. 

On the left flank the Mercers small militia brigade was under pressure from the German Jaegers pushing through the wood. 

Reinforcements for both sides start to flood the able the “Recruit/ Convalescent” regiment arrives on Turn 3 for the Brits together with the 55th Foot arriving on Turn 5 crossing the creek/ 

For the US Hitchcock’s brigade arrives from a logging trail on Turn 3. Fermoy arrives in column from Turn 5, and Mifflin arrives in column on Turn 7. 

Things were starting to get interested in the centre as the US pushed forward only to be countered by the experienced British every time the Militia lined out they were brought under fire by the thin red line.

Fermoy's mounted militia rushed forward on the left flank, driving the British backwards.

A vicious fire fight amongst the dense woodland, slowing the Americans gained the upper hand but at a great cost.

The clock was winding down, the British held the field, their Light Infantry and Grenadiers were being whittled down but a numerous American militia units were broken or down to half strength,  History was not to be repeated and the road to Princeton or Trenton would remain closed.

A fun battle the Rebels and Patriot rules flow really quickly, with 4 times the points recommended in the book, but still fought to a reasonable conclusion in under 3 hours. Each brigade was a drawn randomly to to decide who activated and in what order, this created some interesting challenges beyond the risk of activations within each brigade. 

HISTORICAL OUTCOME Heavily outnumbered and surprised to find himself facing the entire Continental Army, Lt. Col. Mawhood put up a tremendous fight. He was unable to defend either road exit, and the broken remnants of his command reunited with Cornwallis that night, at a cost of 400 men, or 30% of his brigade. The Americans pressed on to take Princeton and earned Washington his first victory over British regulars in the field. Remarkably, American losses numbered just 100 men, but famously included Washington’s friend.

10mm Native American Tribes - AWI

The last post of May another batch of troops for the American War of Independence Project, I had a pack of Native Americans which might come in handy as scouts etc for campaigning North of New York.

Based for the Rebels and Patriot rules, Natives come in a unit size of 12 figures as a warband, they are not slowed by difficult terrain and may counter attack if charged by Infantry.

They only have a fire range of 12" in the rule set and my only Skirmish, not using the Fire action.

At a cost of 4 base points there is an option to increase their number to 18 for an extra point, you can also make them aggressive for a further point or taking them down a point by a point making them poor shots. So plenty of choice depending on the tribes.

Heading into June.... it might have to be yet more Crusaders as I still have around 7 units to complete the backlog, but with reading material for the Chinese in WW2 or Aztecs it might be time for a switch.... 

10mm Terrain - Time Cast Models

It's terrain week, I had hoped to get a game in for Lexington and Concorde back in April but needed some more fields, walls and buildings to flesh out the table. But real life has conspired of late seriously hindering both game and painting time, so some quick wins sprucing up some of the Time Cast latex fields and marshes to day.

First up another obstacle for the British to cross a light bridge surrounded by swamps.

I had a bunch of static grass which when added to the swamp pieces gave them some density to the terrain piece.

US militia cross the bridge, by pure coincidence the basing for the units for Rebels and Patriots are fit the width of the bridge.

Next up a whole bunch of fields, two packs from Time Cast, some of them have plough rows whilst others are plain, I picked up some super sticky crops/grass from Geek Gaming Scenics these bring the fields to life a little and are not to high when compared to the figures. 

Not a bad afternoon's effort and some good extra's to bulk out the table and the extra buildings currently being undercoated.

A few more weeks and I should be game ready.

Amercian War of Independance Month - Maryland Regiments with a little help from AI.

It's nice paint something else that's not in desert yellow.

This months focus is AWI and the backlog of 10mm items amassed over the past few months.

First up 4 units representing Maryland Regiments for Rebels and Patriots.

Short on time this week, I thought I would ask ChatGTP to write this blog, lets see if AI is any good :-)

It feels like it might have some way to go.....

Here you go.....

Painting the Brave Maryland Regiments in the American War of Independence As an artist and history enthusiast, my journey into painting the regiments from Maryland who fought in the American War of Independence has been both inspiring and enlightening. The stories of bravery, resilience, and sacrifice of these soldiers have deeply resonated with me, and I feel compelled to bring their legacy to life through my art. 

Now for the regimental history.

The 1st Maryland Regiment: Smallwood's Brave Soldiers The 1st Maryland Regiment, also known as Smallwood's Regiment, was formed in early 1776 under the command of Colonel William Smallwood. This regiment played a crucial role in several key battles, including the Battle of Long Island and the Battle of White Plains. Their distinctive dark blue coats with red facings, white waistcoats, and tricorn hats symbolize their unity and discipline. Painting these soldiers allows me to honour their courage and the pivotal role they played in the fight for independence. 

The 2nd Maryland Regiment: Resilient Warriors The 2nd Maryland Regiment, authorized in January 1776, was known for its resilience and effectiveness in battle. Commanded by Colonel Thomas Price and later Colonel John Gunby, this regiment fought valiantly in major engagements such as the Battle of Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, and Germantown. Their contributions to the Continental Army's efforts are a testament to their unwavering dedication. Capturing their spirit on canvas is my way of preserving their legacy and sharing their story with future generations.

The 3rd Maryland Regiment, formed in September 1776, participated in significant battles like Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth, and the Southern Campaigns, including Camden and Guilford Court House. Commanded by Colonel Mordecai Gist and Lieutenant-Colonel Nathaniel Ramsey, these soldiers demonstrated remarkable bravery and resilience. Painting the 3rd Maryland Regiment allows me to highlight their contributions to the war effort and honour their sacrifices. 

Why I Paint These Regiments Although no major battles of the American Revolutionary War occurred in Maryland, this did not prevent the state's soldiers from distinguishing themselves through their service. General George Washington was impressed with the Maryland regulars (the "Maryland Line") who fought in the Continental Army and, according to one tradition, this led him to bestow the name "Old Line State" on Maryland. 

Under the assumption that paid soldiers furnished with rations and suits of clothes would be better soldiers, on January 18, 1776, the Maryland Provincial Convention established the Maryland Line as a regiment of uniformed regulars. What distinguished the Maryland troops from other colonial levies was the time they spent drilling before joining the ranks of the Continental Army. This resulted in a disciplined, cohesive unit. Not all Continental infantry regiments raised in a state were part of a state quota. 

On December 27, 1776, the Second Continental Congress gave commanding General George Washington the authority to recruit and raise sixteen additional Continental infantry regiments at large. Forman’s, Gist’s, Grayson’s, and Hartley’s Regiments were partially drawn from Maryland. Other Continental infantry regiments and smaller units, also unrelated to a state quota, were raised as needed for special or temporary service. The "Maryland Line" was assigned a quota of eight regiments in 1777, which was reduced to five in 1781. The regiments of the line were: 1st Maryland Regiment 2nd Maryland Regiment 3rd Maryland Regiment 4th Maryland Regiment 5th Maryland Regiment 6th Maryland Regiment 7th Maryland Regiment German Battalion (counted as half a regiment against the quota) Maryland and Virginia Rifle Regiment (counted as half a regiment against the quota) 2nd Independent Maryland Company The Maryland Line protected the evacuation of Washington's troops across the East River to Manhattan at the Battle of Long Island. 

On August 27, 1776, members of the 1st Maryland Regiment under the command of Major Mordecai Gist repeatedly charged a numerically superior British force, allowing General Washington to successfully evacuate the bulk of his troops to Manhattan. Of the approximately 270 men of the so-called Maryland 400, fewer than a dozen made it back to the American lines. Two months later, at the Battle of White Plains, William Smallwood's 1st Maryland Regiment, along with regiments from New York and Delaware, reinforced Chatterton's Hill, covering the retreat of other troops across the Bronx River. According to popular tradition, Washington expressed his high esteem for the Maryland Line after their heroic stand at the Battle of Long Island. 

Because of the long service of the high-quality regiments, General Washington referred to the Maryland units as his "Old Line," giving the State of Maryland one of its nicknames as "The Old Line State." 

Next up buildings for Lexington and Concorde all written by myself..... Honest.