Update

Sorry for the lack of posts as I've been heavily involved in other projects and my ACW forces have had to sit on the sidelines. This could all change as Mick is planning a large ACW game the back end of April. He will not say which battle as he doesn't want us swotting up on it. However it may provide me with the impetus to get the last of my figures painted, namely 2 union infantry brigades (these guys have sat half painted for about 3 months), a confederate cavalry brigade including dismounted figures and a union C-in-C diorama. After that I will need to purchase the extra figures I need to finish the union and Confederate 1st Corps.

Battle of Antietam

Well just got back from my holidays and now look forward at a re-fight of the battle of Antietam (bloodiest day of the civil war) at the end of the month at Mick's. Looking forward to this as never re fought this battle before, in fact only know a little about it i.e bloody lane. I'll be taking my current union troops and getting them re-organised into the Corps of Hooker and Mansfield. I've also purchased some extra figures from Peter Pig, namely Zoauves to add some more colour to the union ranks.

New page

I've just added a new page to track my painting progress for the Confederates at Gettysburg. I will eventually add a second page for the union forces. Hopefully these paint plan will help me keep on track, no doubt I'll get sidetracked. I see this as a long term project that will take a number of years to complete, but one i will endeavor to finish.

I've also had an invite up to Mick's at the end of September for a re fight of the battle of Antietam. Look forward to this as never re fought this particular battle.

Where next?

After doing the re-fight of Gettysburg I've been spending some time pondering on where I take this project next. For the Confederates I completed II Corps and have completed Hoods Division and 3/4 of McLaws' Division from I Corps. With a small Division of cavalry under Stewart this gives approx 24 brigades a fair size for club games. For the Union I have both III and V Corps support by Buford's cavalry Division giving me 16 brigades. The union is rather heavily out gunned. So to balance things out I've decided to complete the Union II Corps under Hancock, or at least a couple of the Divisions.First up will be Caldwell's Division as I got enough left over infantry figures to complete the 2 small brigades of Zook and Brooke. I'll post some pictures when they are finished and if the camera decides to work.

After this I'll need to make a decision. I'll either push on and try to complete both sides, a rather mammoth task or I can switch to some 28mm. I've got 2 boxes of the plastic Perry miniatures and 1 artillery piece. I may paint these up for use with Black Powder, got the rules but never done anything with it. So far the 28mm's are looking favourites.

Club Game

On Thursday at the club I'll be putting on an ACW game. It involves the Federal force digging in on a wooded ridge overlooking the town of Bakersville (made up) The Confederates have arrived with greater numbers and must drive the Federal force from its position before darkness falls. I've sent the orders to the 2 C-in-C's for them to divide their forces between their junior officers. Really looking forward to this and will definitely remember to take the camera to get some pictures.

Re organising

Following the re fight of Gettysburg, I've decided to re organise the troops that I had painted up for the Western theatre into suitable units for Gettysburg. For the union I have managed to just about put together V Corps under Sykes. All that I need to add is 1 Corps Leader stand, 2 artillery stands and 1 brigade at 7 stands. Once these are done and I combine forces with Jon, between us we will have the following Corps, III, V, XI & XII and Bufords' Cavalry Division. That would only leave I, II and VI Corps to complete the union troops. That's more than half completed.

For the Confederates I am trying to put together Longstreet's Corps, namely the Divisions of Hood and McLaws who fought on day 2. So far all the troops are done for Hood and only 2 brigades to paint for Mclaws along with the supporting artillery. That is not an insurmountable task. Best get the paints out again.

Gettysburg is upon us

Well the date for the large Gettysburg game is set for the 2nd and 3rd of July. I'm going to be one of the Confederate Corp Commanders with Dave and Andrew, with Mike being General Lee. Just have to wait for Mike to decide which Corps it will be and what our orders for the day will be. Not sue if Mike wants to try the historical attacks and see if we can do better or whether he has something else in mind. The weekend will see us fighting day 2 and 3 of Gettysburg, this will be fun.

Our opponents will be led by Darren and ably supported by Blenky, Jon, Harry and Nick. Quite a formidable group, especially Darren and Blenky who always work well together. No pressure then. Can't wait for it.

Update

Nothing much happening with my ACW project. I missed the big test game at Mick's, so didn't get to see the boys in action. Apparently they did okay and are now in storage at Micks in readiness of the Gettysburg re fight at the beginning of July.

I've still got 2 confederate brigades partially finished, just lost a bit of enthusiasm as they aren't required for Gettysburg. Also Mick has asked if each of the players can paint up a couple of extra artillery pieces as we forgot to designate the Union reserve artillery to anyone. I've got the guns but not enough crew. I'll shortly make a purchase from either Warrior or Peter Pig to remedy that.

Gaming Weekend

Well the troops this week get an outing at Micks for a play test of Fire and Fury adapted to hexes in readiness of our re fight of Gettysburg in July. Unfortunately I cannot be with them due to caring responsibilities. I'm hoping Jon remembers to take his camera and put some pictures on his blog along with a battle report.

Gettysburg refight

A practice game has been arranged for the 19th and 20th of March. A chance to get the forces onto a table with everyone elses'. Looking forward to seeing both full armies on display. We will be have a dry run of using the Fire and Fury rules but on hexes. I know Mick has been doing some work on such things as calculating Enfilade. Can't wait.

On the painting side, haven't done anything for a while. I've 4 Reb brigades I picked up off EBay that need touching up and re basing. I've also got 3 union brigades undercoated. Struggling at the moment, putting this down to completing the figures for Gettysburg and the rest are extras for club games (yet never had a chance to use them at the club)

Disaster

Disaster struck this week in relation to some of the scenery I've made. On Thursday night after the club finished at 10.30pm, the gale force winds that struck the north east swept the fields up and out of my hands, along with some movement cards. The cards I wasn't too bothered about, but it wasn't until I got home that I realised that one of the smaller fields was missing. Bloody typical, their were no street lights on in the car park and even with a couple of club members helping we didn't find the field.

For some good news I managed to pick up 5 buildings at Fiasco in Leeds, rather good value as total cost left change out of £15. They are currently being painted and I'll post some pics of the finished pieces. On the figure front, things a bit slow, currently painting the last cavalry brigade of Buford's division, then all done for Gettysburg. I do have a couple of extra union and confederate brigades to paint up, but these will be at my leisure as some other projects are needing my attention.

Progress report

After finishing the 2 Corps that I need to provide for the re fight of Gettysburg, I've made a start on the 2 cavalry brigades from Buford's division. I hope to have the first of these finished over the weekend. I've also constructed a smaller cornfield that is in the process of being undercoated along with 2 new buildings courtesy of Peter Pig. That will give me four set fields for any club games with 2 small farms.

As I've been enjoying this project I've decided that I want to expand my forces, however with the rest of the army at Gettysburg being painted by the others I don't want to repeat the units (these will most probably be my main opponents with these forces). To get around this I've started to paint up some of the units from the Western Theatre, mainly for the Battle of Corinth. This is a relatively small affair with only 4 union and 3 confederate divisions. So far I've already got the 3 brigades of Maury's division painted, just need to add the artillery. For the union I've got enough unpainted figures to put together the 2 divisions of Hamilton and Davies. Whether I actually go on to finish all the divisions will depend on how my enthusiasm holds for this project before the new new thing comes along.

worm fences

Been busy constructing some more worm fences. Did another 4ft using wooden toothpicks. I have also done 2ft using modelling matchsticks, mainly because I had a bag of couple of thousand of the things just waiting to be used. I was going to get them all undercoated a nice chocolate brown but just like the Ryder cup the weather is against me and I cannot get into the garden to use the spray. I'll post some pictures of the final models when I get a chance.

On the painting front, things have slowed slightly (decorating the bedroom, I have managed to paint the Corp Commander stand for Sickles to complete Union III Corps. There is also 1 further confederate brigade done for Rodes' Division. I have also purchased two units of painted confederates from a colleague at the club, who had them gathering dust on the shelf. I don't need them for CSA II Corps and so have used them to Start Anderson's Division from III Corps.

On the purchasing front, I received an order from Warrior miniatures, this gives me all the cavalry required for Buford's Division, enough infantry to do Caldwell's Division form the union II Corps and some accompanying officers.

On the painting table is the last brigade from Rodes' division and Ewell's Corp stand.

The road to battle

A picture of the road into Gettysburg where the fighting was to begin. You can image the soldier in the picture pointing and saying "there the enemy be"

Welcome

I've set this blog up to follow my creation of forces for the Battle of Gettysburg in the American Civil War. Between four of us, Mick, Mike, Jon and myself, we have split up the forces for Gettysburg. We will be creating the battle 15mm and using the original Fire and Fury rules.

The forces I have been allocated are the Confederate II corps under Ewell and Union III corps under Sickles. I will also try and complete Buford cavalry division. This should give me about 14 confederate brigades and 9 union brigades for the game.

For figures I will use a mix of manufacturer. I'll probable post some sizing details for compatibility. So far I have some Peter Pig and Old Glory infantry and about 12 Lanacashire cavalry (very old sculpts but use able)