Saturday Paint Table - Yet more Haitians.

Just a short post today as pressure is on to venture into the loft for the numerous Christmas boxes. Deck the Halls etc, etc....

These are the latest releases from Trent Miniatures more rebellious slaves armed with knives, swords and axes. They come with a number of extra limbs so you can vary he weapons.

Some nice poses and very useful to bolster the masses that can do some much damage in hand to hand within the Sharp Practice rules.

Meanwhile prep continues on the Fingoes from Perry Miniatures Cape Wars range. A couple of tweaks, largely removing feathers and the like and they should be able to double up are more insurgents for Haiti.

Will they get completed before the start of 2020?

I have started cleaning up a couple of other extra units purchased from e-bay over recent weeks.
More on those in future posts.

Haiti - Spanish Officers

Finally managed to get these off the paint table, they must have been hanging around since the summer. Having painted up a couple of Spanish units in recent months, these two Front Rank officers will represent Brigadier Joaquin Garcia y Moreno and one of his senior commander in the campaign. 

Whilst browsing the web I spotted this plate the other day.

I quite fancy a unit of Dragoons with a couple of head swaps to create some of the black forces but honestly can't face any more cavalry right now.....

Haitian Shock Markers and other ramblings....

A couple of items that have been in the queue for quite a while.

First up Haitian Regular shock markers, as the games have got slightly larger the need for more shock makers has reared it's head, these started out as British Militia from Trent Miniatures, but paint up reasonably well for the Haitian loyalists.

I have opted for two dice spaces to try and reduce the number of counters on the table.

They still need some static grass, something for Warfare tomorrow.

Next up a Warning Beacon from the Too Fat Lardies it fits nicely into the campaign and can serve as a jump off point or simply table clutter. 

The cage needed a repaint as in a moment of madness I painted it as if made of wood, that would not have lasted long once it was alight.

I used real twigs which did not look right so resorted to painting them, how mad is that.

The Insurgents below show the size comparison.

It's the annual trip to Warfare tomorrow as the Wyvern's lend a hand to Paul at Kallista with the Battle of Mohi. Another Hungarian adventure as the Mongols look to take on the might of King Bela IV and his heavy cavalry... More on this in future posts.

Reading is always a very relaxed affair, plenty of room to get around the table and the ability to wander off and make those purchases that you convinced yourself you did not need in the morning but felt the need to buy at 3.00pm

Meanwhile I have decided to have a clear out in the man cave and off load some of the periods that have had little game time over the past couple of years. I have been reasonably focused of late trying to expand existing projects or merging games e.g. V in Africa or Modern Russian - Sci-Fi.

The Spanish Civil War Collection is one of those that has lacked game time and the urge to expand the numbers to a second faction. A shame really as they are probably one of the best paint jobs and include a mix of Empress, Rif Raf and NorthStar, with unique head swaps.

If you can give them a home they are on E-bay now see the link below.

Spanish Civil War - Chain of Command

 

 

Napoleonic Haitian Cavalry.

Finally..... After what seems an age the Haitian Cavalry are finished. 

In my reading of the battles in Haiti there are scattered reports of Haitian cavalry, Osprey's book on Napoleon's overseas forces depicts Colonial Dragoons but I wanted some line cavalry to bolster the forces of the native Haitian forces.

As usual great service from Steve at Arcane Scenery who in addition to the packs of French Cavalry from the Trent Revolutionary Range a bunch of extra heads from the Haitian range, this gave me plenty of variety in the unit. I quite fancy a Maroon unit eventually but am struggling with mounted civilian types perhaps ACV Bushwacker's might do?

These will be a useful addition to a number of the factions, as they can be used for the French forces, the Haitians or the freed slaves perfect timing as the campaign starts to pick up again.

Next up something a little different and definitely not on a horse.....

The Pearl of the Antilles. - The Haiti Campaign - The Battle of the Sugar Field - 9th August 1791

Jean - Charles a name given to him by his plantation owner peered out from the sugar field looking across the estate, an estate that had for so long been his home if you can call 25 years of slavery and imprisonment home. But free he was now and he was not going to let the Spaniards return him to a life of slavery.

Having been beaten a few days before the next engagement in the Pearl of Antilles Campaign is a further engagement between the Spanish and the slave army of Princess Amethyste in the north of the Island.

The battle is a fighting withdrawal with the Slave forces seeking to delay the Spanish by giving them a bloody nose before falling back.

The Spanish had learned much since their last encounter with Jean - Charles one of Princesses Amethyste's most trusted lieutenants. They knew the freed slaves would be waiting for them anywhere on the table, with numerous plantation houses and slave quarters. The enemy could ambush them from anywhere, but the Spanish had a one advantage they had recruited a local man who was able to show them the primary jump off point and a lightening strike would surely win this battle before it had started?

Using their exploring officer the Spanish are able to skirt the secondary deployment point generating a fixed deployment point on the flank of the slave army. The local man being able to lead the Spanish through the Sugar fields to within a stones throw of the primary deployment point.

Jean-Charles was forced to unmask his musket men to stop the colonial troopers now massing to his front.

The slaves fired a ragged volley at long range but were unable to stop the cavalry who charged into the defenders.

Jean-Charles could only watch as his 2nd section was swept from the field running back towards the tall grass and undergrowth.

Meanwhile the cavalry reorganised and edged forward, now within a few feet of the primary deployment point and victory. Jean-Charles called forward his remaining forces but with the cavalry so close many of his fighters were forced to deploy behind the main jump off point.

Finally some luck for the slave commander as he was able to call out a string of orders without Spanish interference. He ran from man to man urging his people to fight for their freedom rushing in front of the firing line, his troops fired catching the cavalry at close range and forcing them back from their so nearly captured prize.... But whilst securing a minor victory was rewarded by a shot in his rear.... charming..... His force morale slipped down to 4.... ouch.

Meanwhile aid was coming his way in the shape of the locals rising up and grabbing clubs, knives and any other improvised weapons to set about the on coming whites. The initial ferocious attack took out a section of colonials who were caught unloaded. The Spanish morale took a serious knock.

Whilst taking a number of casualties the unarmed slaves gathered their remaining men for a further charge only to be faced by a another full regiment of infantry all primed and ready to fire. Round after round was poured into the slaves as they were forces to fall back, their force morale slipping still further. Their issue compounded by Spanish artillery fire.

Sensing a minor panic in the Spanish ranks with the main body masked by the shattered cavalry.
Jean-Charles rushed forwards a large body of men each with barely a weapon between them but all keen on taking a Spaniard with them, but luck was not with them. Turn after turn would pass within a commander being triggered and without flags in the bag they had no opportunity to make their final charge.

Meanwhile the Spanish artillery was tearing holes in the slave ranks, the slaves morale waivered and then finally broke before the big choppers had a chance to set about the Spanish command.

A close run thing.....

Post battle report.
Casualties were very similar with the Spanish losing 17 to the Amethyste losing 18.
The difference of two on the force morale chart returns to men to the Spanish ranks they also capture a sack of supplies from the slave forces and seize the initiative.

However the Spanish have far superior medical facilities and manage to patch up all but 1 man who is killed and 5 walking wounded who will miss the next battle.
The insurgent forces see 7 dead and a further 2 wounded and are forced backwards.

Yet more Spanish - Trent Miniatures Black Militia

With the varnish just about dry the Spanish Black Militia make it to the table top for the battle between the Spanish regulars and the rebellious slaves of Princess Amethyste.

The full battle report should be up this weekend.

Some great castings from the guys at Trent, at the moment only enough to make up an Irregular skirmish unit, but eventually I will paint up the remaining 14 to give me a couple of militia stands.

Let's hope the curse of freshly painted figures can be broken... :-)

Next up.... something a little more modern.

The Spanish Army in Haiti - 1790 - 1802

With a change of job just around the corner, I seem to have a little more time on my hands in the evenings, which is good as the Spanish won't paint themselves, with a self imposed deadline of Thursday evening I wanted to ensure these were off the paint table.

Within the campaign setting they will be regulars in sections of 8. I have a couple of Big men to bolster the ranks with a couple of mounted figures to come later. As usual the Infantry are from Trent Miniatures, with Officers and drum from Front Ranks Spanish Range, they are a good match once painted and based.

The Spaniards whilst a major player in the region seem to be somewhat overlooked in terms of history and documented accounts, I suspect because they seem to be on the losing side in a number of the encounters. There may be some Spanish text but I have not been able to track down much.

Here's my take on events pulled from a couple of different sources for those interested.

Once the French Revolution reached Haiti shores it's impact was bound to spread across into the Spanish part of the island. As early as 1789 the governor of Santo Domingo, Don Joaquín García y Moreno, put his troops on alert when news of the revolution broke. Despite the events across the border there was no significant incursion into Spanish territory. The Spanish undertook a policy of watching and waiting hoping that the mutual destruction of the warring factions would allow them to regain their lost influence and power in the region.

When Spain and England declared war on France in 1793 the Spanish colonists stopped cooperating with the French. They supplied arms to the likes of Biassou and Louverture as well as offering asylum to rebel leaders, before to long Spanish troops were fighting the French alongside the rebel slaves. 

The Spanish abolished slavery to win over the black majority. However Louverture abandoned the Spanish and went over to the French as he believed they were more genuine in their desire to free the black majority. With the loss of the black rebels the Spanish started to lose territory to the French and Haitian loyalists. The Spaniards abandoned the frontier posts of San Rafael, San Miguel, and Hincha, and to regroup in the towns of Las Caobas and Bánica in the center of the island, and in Dajabón, Bayajá, and Montecristi, in the North. 

Las Caobas und Bánica fell to Louverture when news of the end of the war in europe reached the island in 1795 just as the Spanish were starting to fight back.

Peace was to be short lived once again Louverture crossed the border in 1801 and captured the city of Santo Domingo followed quickly by the rest of the island. Despite the promise of ending slavery to incite the local blacks to support him, he was to break this promise. 

Louverture only left Spanish territory when a newly arrived French expedition landed to retake the island.

So there you have it a potted history of the Spanish in Haiti - Let's see if they can do better in our campaign.

Here come the Spanish - Spanish Colonial Troops in Haiti

Just a short post more for reference than anything else.

With the Spanish being one of the more aggressive factions I need to move them up the painting queue to bolster their forces before their second engagement next week.

Trent Miniatures have produced a small selection of Spanish troops but finding additional reference was proving rather hard, I came across these useful uniform guides whilst trawling the web.

The first troops should be leaving the paint table this weekend.

If anyone can give me any further pointers please let me know.

Yet more Haitian Line....

The start of another Haitian line Regiment. 

As the campaign moves on it gives me the push to get more of the backlog of unpainted metal on to the table top.

Finding a formal reference for uniforms within Haiti is difficult but that does give you some latitude with the choice of uniform.
To separate these from the existing regiments these will have green Pom Poms and canvas top hats rather than black.

8 down, 16 to go.

These go straight into battle this week under General Toussaint Louverture and his push to subdue the slaves under Georges Biassou.

Sunday morning paint table - Bn Guyane Regt - St Domingue 1790-1792

These seem to have been on the paint table for such a long time but finally they make an appearance, just in time for the latest campaign outing. I knew there was a reason why I was running it.

They represent troops of the Guyane Regiment garrisoned in Saint Domingue from 1790 - 1792

To separate the Royalists from the Revolutionary French, I gave them the round hats I could always paint in a tricolour cockade if they switch sides later in the war.

I wanted these to have a far more "lived" in feel to them, perhaps out in the mountains for several days or those who have been garrisoned on the island just a little to long.

The figures were from Trent Miniatures again originally from the Polish packs but with colonial cavalry heads added in.

This is the supporting plate. Its the gentleman in the background on the far left who seems to be far less formal.

 

Next up more early French, I have a hankering to paint up Pondichery Regiment on the right....

Hammerhead 2019 - The Battle of Croix-des-Bouquets 1792

A fantastic day yesterday at Hammerhead, great to meet up with some old friends and fellow bloggers who stopped by for a chat. We managed to sneak in a couple of games between conversations and hopefully converted a few people to explore Haiti and Sharp Practice.

 

The games were pretty evenly balanced, to adapt to the participation theme of the day, players were tasked with lowering the enemies morale on the basis they would have to withdraw from the field.

Players could drop in at any time so people got a flavour of the period and the rules, my wife helped out by adding in the unit cards to help people identify who they were and to link the game back to the historical scenario.  

 

The set up. This side of the table sees the French Whites deployed with Colonial Cavalry, elements from the Artois and Normandy regiments, a Company of Africans and Spanish War dogs.

 

The Dragoons of the National Guard and Artillery bolsters the ranks of the French Forces.

Holding the high ground at the Church of Croix-des-Bouquets the forces of Beauvais, Rigaud and Yacinth.

 

Yacinth was only 21 and the vast majority of her troops were rebellious slaves armed only with
knives, spears, hoes, and iron poles.

Onlookers at the Church gather to watch the ensuing battle.

The view from across the battlefield, the terrain is some what undulated which gave for some valuable dead ground to shelter from the French Cannon fire. The plantation field gave partitial cover but did not slow movement.

The first battle was a confused affair with the Mulattoes and free coloured people advancing down the left flank whilst the bulk of the Slave forces faced off in the crop fields.

Rigaud a significant leader of the rebellion fired a volley into the war hounds reducing their number but not enough to stop the dogs tearing into them driving them from the field. However victory was short lived as the Witch doctor of the slave army urged his people forward catching the remaining dogs and handlers in the flank.

 

The French line infantry let loose a volley looking to drive the slaves back.

A highlight of game two as the Colonial Cavalry finally make their mark, having been subjected to skirmish fire for most of both games, they are determined to get revenge on someone, anyone, burning 4 flags they charge down the centre of the table, catching the skirmishers who are unable to run fast enough.

Not content with that, the next round they push on into the flank of the defending mullato militia driving them backwards, until they are finally brought to ground by a slave unit who pull the riders from their horses and reduce them to less than 3 figures.

The French line cheer on the cavalry as they charge forward.

In the final moments of game Two Yacinth is killed by a member of the Artois Regiment pulling the insurgent morale down by two valuable points. 

Game two draws to a close with another French White victory by a single point.

It was nice to get some of the new toys on the table, with a number of the club players holding commands in the campaign there is something to learn on forces and tactics, each force was around 70 points in Sharp Practice, everyone is now thinking cavalry.

I am considering making a minor tweak to forces available on the encounters to give people some local forces to bolster the games or we might have some very small encounters.

The dates for next year are already out.... Saturday 14th March.

We are already down for another game next year, espically given our Flash Gordon game from last year is on the flier :-)