6th Rheinbund Regiment

 Here are a few photos of the Waldeck fusiliers that made up 3 three companies of the 2nd battalion of the 6th Rheinbund regiment.

 From Perry miniatures Confederation of the Rhine range, suitably scruffy looking for the Spanish peninsula.

 I will post up some photos of the other half of the battalion tomorrow

Perry Miniatures Napoleonic Peninsula War British

Sometimes a range comes out that makes you feel as excited as a fat kid in the queue at Krispy Kremes. This is it for me but with fewer calories. Luckily for me a got to paint these my business, next i'll be painting some for plain old fun!
 At the weekend I will be researching for an interesting OOB circa 1810, to give me a nice mix of battalions and a regiment of light dragoons wearing the tarleton! To face these I will be planning on finishing off my Confederation of the Rhine regiments backed up with some French combined grenadier battalions and light infantry. 

From the Perry Miniatures website

This range is being extended back to 1800. The codes up to BH 67 have been designed for the Waterloo campaign, but can be used prior to that particular campaign. These include Highlanders, Riflemen, Light Infantry, Light Dragoons, Royal Horse Artillery and named Staff officers.
The extended range will encompass the British troops who served in Egypt, India, South Africa, Denmark, Hanover, Italy, North and South America, the West and East Indies as well as the Peninsula.
Remember the plastic British Infantry (BH1) and Hussar set (BH 80) cover the whole 1808-15 period, whereas the plastic Light Dragoon set (BH 90) covers the entire period.
There will be a separate range for the auxillaries who fought alongside the British during the early period.

2nd Nassau Usingen Regiment

   The second battalion of the 2nd Nassau Usingen regiment were one of the first units to make contact with the French in the 100 days campaign. At the village of Frasnes just before 6pm on the 15th of June 1815, a lone horseman was seen approaching their position. He turned out to be a trooper belonging to the Prussian 4th (1st Silesian) Hussars, who was separated from his regiment during their retreat from Gosselies. He was unarmed, covered in wounds and blood. He told Captain Wirths of the Nassau Usingen regiment, that the French would probably break through to where the battalions picquet was standing very soon.

   Not long after parties of Uhlans were seen approaching, they failed to satisfy the challenge of the sentries and were peppered with musket shots from the marksmen, hidden behind hedges and walls.

A combat ensued and with the help of a battery of guns the Uhlans were kept at bay for a while. After around half an hour of fighting the Nassauers were still holding their own against the lancers of the Imperial Gaurd. They still had some men in the village, the main body of the battalion was on the heights, with the gun battery overlooking Frasnes.

   Before long however it looked like the main body of the lancers were preparing to bypass the village altogether, across open fields to the west of the Charleroi road. As they closed The Uhlans were pushed back with heavy losses by musketry and canister from the heights.

   Fearful of being cut off by a flanking movement Major Von Normann decided it was time to pull back to where the remainder of the brigade were hopefully taken up positions at Les Quatre Bras.
  As they were withdrawing the French made an impetuous charge, which was stopped in its tracks by more canister.

  As they retreated towards Quatre Bras, the artillery remained on the road with the battalion in two halves on both sides of the road, which was in a deep cutting. They marched in closed columns harassed by swarms or guard lancers. The guard lancers encircled them and executed many charges which were repulsed by the battalion. The lost no men during the retreat, but 39 were killed, wounded or missing durinf the fight in Frasnes including Captain Von Muller,

General Pack

After losing last weeks game due to my roll of a double 1, causing command confusion. Which led my brigade of Scottish veterans to bug out of the town they were holding, instead of reinforcing the melee they were involved in. I decided it wasn't my tactic nous that failed, it was the fact that none of the figures I was commanding were mine. They are all owned by my good friend John. Who risks the car journey with thousands of nicely painted troops in his boot to my house for the game. 

So I have decided to start rectifying this one small step at a time. The first step is a new commander (the last one was obviously cashiered). And what better officer to lead your force than Major general Sir Denis Pack. Pack got around, He was commander of the 71st foot during the capture of the Cape of Good hope, which at the time was a colony of the Batavian Republic (a French Vassal). He was in the Peninsula 1808, and the disastrous Walcheren Expedition, 1809.
Pack was back in the Peninsula in 1810 and fought at Rolica, Vimiero, Coruna, Bussaco, Ciudad Rodrigo, Salamanca, Vittoria, the Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, Orthez and Toulouse. His Peninsula medal held seven clasps coming second only to Noseys nine clasps.
During the battle of Waterloo he commanded the 9th Brigade under Picton, which consisted of 3rd/1st Regiment of Foot (the Royal Scots). 42nd regiment of foot (the Black watch), the 2nd/44th (East Essex) regiment of foot and the 92nd regiment of foot (Gordon Highlanders).

its not much, but its a start..... 

next will be some of Perry Miniatures new plastic light dragoons wearing the Tarleton!

the battle of Waterlooville 18th June 2015

Well its 200 years since the battle of Waterloo, John and I were planning to go along to the bicentenary events, but sadly could not make it for one reason or another.

So instead of sulking we played a game! not quite Waterloo as we decided to keep it to a manageable size for an afternoons gaming.
    So here is the battle of Waterlooville

We used General de Brigade rules and points system. I was leading the British defending the town against the French trying to take it. The British had 550 points to the French 700 point army. We also limited the amount of cavalry to 1 regiment per 4 infantry battalions.
One  thing i noticed straight away when selecting my force was. You don't get a lot for 550 points!
after throwing away my first draft of my force i settled for this

1st brigade
4 battalions of Scottish infantry
2nd brigade
3 battalions of British infantry
3rd brigade
a regiment of 12 light dragoons

Waterlooville in the British centre

The French had

1st brigade

4 battalions

2nd brigade

3 battalions

4 8 pounders

3rd brigade

14 cuirassiers

as the sun rises the French appear in the distance

 turn 1
The British get the initiative but hand it to the French, The French march on in force heading straight for the town. as the 79th take up positions in the buildings ready to repel any assault.

the opening move

the 71st send out 2 companies to harass the oncoming enemy

 Turn 2.
French continue to advance and the British light dragoons take position down the hill to face off against the cuirassiers.

the British right flank

Light dragoons stand ready 

Turn 3. 

the French win the initiative and continue their advance as the British steel themselves.

from the British right

the French tide

 Turn 4.
The action heats up on both flanks!
the cuirassiers charge the light dragoons, who counter charge but get the worst of it and fall back losing 25% of their number. the Cuirassiers fail to pursue, retiring behind their lines with blown horses. On the other flank the 90 ligne charge the 71st who give a well aimed volley which fails to stop the French, before retiring behind the 92nd.

the victorious cuirassiers

 Turn 5.
Sensing victory the 90th charge again, this time their luck runs out as the veteran 92nd hold their fire to the last moment and let rip causing many French to fall as their surviving comrades falter and take what cover they can behind the wall.

the assault begins!

 Turn 6.
In the centre the artillery opens up on the 27th causing 2 casualties. as the 26th charge into the town trying to drive the defenders out. they put up a stiff defence and the combat is drawn, to the west of the town a musketry duel starts with the French receiving the worst of it.

John moving his boys in to position

the musketry duel

 Turn 7
after giving a good volley the 92nd see off the French by the bayonet, this routs and disperses the 90 ligne who had taken nearly 50% casualties.
The 19th ligne reinforce their comrades assaulting the town but find it to hard to kick in enough doors with the wily Scots fight on, although out numbered and hold the French off.
the cuirassiers again aim for the light dragoons and hit them with enough impetus to see them off. this would of left the British right flank open and easy pickings for the heavy horse. But they obviously had worked to hard, blowing they retreat again behind their lines to recover.
  With the dispersal of a battalion from the French 1st brigade, the rest of the brigade assaulting the town has to test for brigade morale. Luckily for the French they are far to concerned with whats going on in the streets to care.

waterlooville as the heat turns up

 

its all over

Turn 8. 

The British win the initiative and believe the time is right to see off the attack by the now weakened brigade. Jubilant in their victory the Gordon highlanders are chomping at the bit to get involved in the street fight and look on with blood lust in their eyes as they see the generals ADC galloping over to the colonel.

  So imagine the surprise when they have the order to retreat just as victory was in their grasp! there must be some mistake said McDougal to McCloud?? As the British start an orderly withdraw, as the French take the now empty townhouses and the field of battle.

 

yes i rolled a double one when trying order the brigade to assault and see off the French. This caused command confusion which resulted in the my brave Scottish laddies retiring to the rear, with much cursing and gesticulating towards their hated foe. i guess with all the noise of battle the order "see them off lads" could easily be missed heard as "let's be off lads"  

A great fun days gaming was had, and even though I lost, it was just to funny to get upset about.

bitter me? nah.... 

I believe as they are all Johns miniatures that there must be some kind of conspiracy, so i best get cracking with my huge pile of lead. Then i'll have no excuses!

28mm Bavarian Napoleonic Caissons and limbers

These are from Perry miniatures fantastic range for Napoleonic Bavarian army. 

Time consuming pieces to paint, but well worth the effort in the end. 

here is a great reference pic.

Bavarian high command

just another pic of the new Bavarian high command I painted for Perry Miniatures

I have these to do for myself now as part of my future little army!

28mm Napoleonic Bavarians by Perry miniatures!

Well i must admit i've been eagerly awaiting this release and here it is. Or at least the first 16 packs of what will be an extensive range!

My initial plan is for Deroys 3rd Division in the VII Corps in the 1809 Danube campaign. This unit consisted of the 5th, 9th, 10th, and 14th Infantry Regiments, the 5th and 7th Light Battalions, the Taxis Dragoons and Bubenhoven Chevau-légers, and 18 pieces of artillery. So 8 line and 2 light battalions, 2 cavalry regiments and 3 batteries of artillery. So a pretty well formed wargames army in its own right. and what with the very colourful units in the 3rd it should look great on the table top. 

28mm Napoleonic

My good friend John brought his toys round last weekend. So we finally christened my enlarged table.

12'x6'

 We played David Browns General de Brigade rules using the points system. 1000 points aside plus command. To add a bit of suspense, The commanders abilities were rolled for. Luckily we both rolled high giving us the much needed excellent CnCs. The scenario was basically seek and destroy. I was intending to write a detailed battle report, but as its been at least four days and my notes didn't make it past round one. This will have to be an overview with lots of pretty pictures.

French left

British Right

Scots march to their positions as the French roll forward 

6th Hussars and Polish lancers

more French 

British centre 

awesome figures those lancers

British heavy brigade

The battle opened with John lighting the fuses on his rocket troops, then he must of fallen over them. As he rolled DOUBLE ONE!! resulting in the whole troop disappearing under the smoke, which panicked the Household cavalry regiment standing next to the rockets. They shouldn't of stopped running until they reached the sea. But after we'd stopped laughing (or more rightly i'd stopped laughing) we decided that was a little unfair to lose so much with the first roll of the game. So we allowed them to roll every turn to rally and come back on at the base line.

run away!!!

The first two turns so the armies maneuver towards each other. both trying to occupy the small town on the French right whilst trying to gain the best position for their artillery. On the other flank the generals were a little less cautious and immediately  sent the cavalry to see off their opposite number. 

Against the odds the French light cavalry out fought the British heavy cavalry forcing them to retreat, The Polish lancers eagerly chased them down refusing to stop and leaving the battlefield in their dust. Luckily the 6th Hussars managed to keep their discipline and return to their lines. This left a huge gapon the British right so i brought on my cuirassier brigade with the intent of rolling up the British thin red line. 

 The battle for the town heats up with the French taking mounting casualties form musketry and artillery fire whilst the 95th rifles take the buildings.

  In the centre the French chasseurs supporting the main infantry brigade, begin to get whittled down by accurate musketry from the British lines.

The infantry form square aware of the danger of the victorious French cavalry. Whilst now recovered from the firework display the Household cavalry try to fill the large gap left by the heavy brigade. 

As the day draws to a close, the French cuirassier brigade marched forward to outflank the British right only to be blocked and then smashed by the Household cavalry regiment! 

Well it was a great game and i'm sorry i didn't take more notes. We decided to call it a day after six hours of battling and i claimed a small French victory (it's my blog after all ;). 

lessons learnt

1. Do not brigade your elite cavalry with a troop of rockets! 

2. Do not park your chasseurs a cheval in front of a British line

3. If the enemies elite guard cavalry flees in the first turn DO NOT feel bad about, just laugh and mock until your ribs hurt. Then go on to smash the rest of their army without quarter! otherwise it will come back to bite you in the butt (see last pic). 

We are now hoping to do a campaign, so i best paint some of my own figures steadily climbing the mountain as all these figures you see in the pictures are from Johns collection.