Sash & Saber Kickstarter Arrives!

Sash & Saber Kickstarter contents

Early in 2018, Sash & Saber announced a Kickstarter project to jump start a proposed French & Indian War range of figures in 25mm.  Being a fan of Chris Hughes' work from his 25mm Napoleonic and ACW ranges, I knew the figures would be to my liking and that the risk of non-delivery was low.  Throughout the process, Chris provided frequent updates including photos of newly sculpted greens as they emerged from his workbench.

Fast forward to May 2019 and a big box from Old Glory (who casts Sash & Saber figures) arrived on my doorstep.  In the box were several dozen figure packs, all neatly hand labeled along with two resin buildings.  While I had ordered three buildings, the third was not far behind after a quick email to Chris.  It seems the resin building supply chain was having difficulty keeping up with demand.  

Selection of blockhouse and small cabins

Having a FIW collection already completed (yeah, "completed" is a famous last word) and relatively dormant (when did I last game or add to this project?), why commit to a Kickstarter project?

As noted earlier, one reason to commit to the project was to help in getting this low-risk project funded.  If my small contribution might push the bar towards fruition, why not?  

Second, the Kickstarter promised a number of figures not among the ranks of my troops at present.  Here was an opportunity to add provincials, British in cut down coats, British and French militia, casualties, and a number of Natives.  If response was great enough, even troops on snowshoes would be added.

Third, the Kickstarter offered some enticing incentives including a bonus of a resin blockhouse and a small cabin.  The temptation was too great.  I really wanted to add the buildings.  The ability to fill in some missing troop-types sealed the deal.

While figure delivery stretched out beyond the projected timeline, never was there a concern that the figures would not arrive.  Status updates were frequent and informative.  As for Kickstarters, this one from Sash & Saber presents a model for all others to follow. 

I look forward to sifting through the packs of figures and picking a few to add into the painting queue.

French Command - SYW in North America

Well!  A project that had not seen action at the painting desk in a very long time.  How long?  Almost exactly three years.  The 25mm French and Indian War collection has remained dormant with no new units being mustered in three years.  For a project having reached maturity and not often getting to the gaming table, long periods between additions is expected. 

Why now?  Rummaging through The Lead Pile to pull a few odds and ends for the 28mm WWII project, I came across the remnants of the FIW project.  Only one or two handfuls of figures remain unpainted and these are miscellaneous figures with no set purpose for building cohesive units.  There was enough figures to field a French command stand.  One can never have too much command, right?  With only a handful of WWII British and Germans needed to round out their platoons, adding three more figures into this tranche would hardly be noticed.  A quick little diversion.  

The three figure command stand shown today sources from a mix of manufacturers.  The mounted officer and the foot officer with spontoon are both from Dixon.  The foot officer in front is from 1st Corps.  Nice figures all.

Having mounted this French command on a round base, I am very tempted to go back to the FIW project and remount all of the command on similar round bases.  Previously, command was mounted on the same size rectangular base as the infantry.  While rework, it should not take much time.  Another quick, slightly larger diversion.

Linear Obstacles - Fences and Walls

In the historical Battle of Bunker Hill, a stone wall and rail fence played a prominent role in the battle.  For my recent replay of this famous battle, I wanted to include similar linear obstacles.  The problem for me was that I have no walls or fences in 28mm!  Most of linear obstacle type terrain pieces are sized for 15mm or smaller.  So a day or two before the Saturday game, I whipped out a few sections of both rail fence and stone wall from bits laying around the house.

First, the stone wall sections are built up from a Litko 120mm x 30mm base using a bag of talus from a model railroading supply store.  Using tacky glue, rocks were piled one on another, allowed to dry, and then hit with a spray of flat black.  Later a dry brush of light gray, a Minwax stain, a spray of Dullcote and voila, finished.

Second up was the rail fence.  This took some thought on how to build and later store a worm rail fence.  Using some old, surplus balsa laying around, I built five sections of three rail fence.

Each section is designed such that they interlock to create a hinge at the join.  A tight fit allows the sections to remain interlocked.

The sections can then be positioned anywhere from a 90 degree bend to 180 degrees.  Sections, when disassembled can store flat yet pieced together to make a worm rail fence.   Five fence sections are a start but not nearly enough for frontier battlefields. 

Both of these linear obstacles will work well on the North American frontier in either 28mm French & Indian War or American War of Independence games. These items provided a quick, inexpensive, and relatively easy addition to the gaming table.

Montcalm & Wolfe - Battle for Fort Carillon

French Ready for Attack

When we last checked in with the campaign, the British under Shirley had stolen a march on the French and interrupted the construction of the French fort on Lake Champlain.  Knowing the importance of the fort and in an attempt to restore the balance, Rigaud quickly countered by preparing an attack on the British.

Operational Situation SEP 1755

For the action, Shirley had two militia regiments and one regimental equivalent of rangers.  The French, under Rigaud, brought to battle two regular French regiments and one militia regiment.  Shirley held the fort site which, at this point, only had modest defenses constructed.  With the fort on higher ground, the French would be attacking uphill but would hold a qualitative advantage.  While the area surrounding the fort had been cleared of most vegetation, woods were not far off to the west of the fort site.

Shirley deployed his militia in and around the fort site with the rangers taking up positions in the woods to prevent the French from outflanking the entrenchments.  Having disembarked his men, Rigaud advanced on the British positions from the north and northwest. 

Having little regard for the quality of the enemy opposing him. Rigaud closes on the high ground in serried ranks for a frontal assault.  As the French close, militia musketry disrupts the steadiness of some of the attackers.

Choosing not to waste time with softening up the colonial militia, French regulars attack the defenses

and are quickly thrown back down the hill with casualties.  Cheers from the colonial militia echo against the woods.

Rigaud rallies one unit while other attacks are launched against the breastworks.  The French regulars are determined to press home the assault

with adjacent attacks going in against defenders simultaneously. 

Colonial muskets ring out as the French attackers waver.  Some attackers are turned away through musketry alone while others press on even as casualties mount.  Another French wave of attacks breaks against the entrenchments and the French tumble back down the hill.  Another cheer from the defenders of the crown.

Shirley steadies his militia and awaits the next French assault

as another assault party forms up on the west and north approaches to the British positions.

This time, however, Rigaud, tired of having his assaults checked, halts within short musketry range and pours fire into the defenders.  Success!  Some of the colonial militia have had enough and they fall back to the rear to escape the firefight.

Attaching himself to one of the French regulars, Rigaud guides his troops around the entrenchments in search of a weakly fortified position.

While the French left is turned and infantry are in retreat, Rigaud makes a last attempt to wrest control of the fort from British hands. 

Colonial militia await and brace themselves for the assault that appears imminent.

Under Rigaud's guidance, the regulars are eager to make one more attempt against the fort.

Rigaud's attack is successful in driving the militia back.

Success! But is it too late?  Erupting from the woods, rangers attack the militia holding the French right.  

The militia panic, turn tail, and run.

With the loss of four of his six units and adversaries pressing in on both flanks, Rigaud gives the order to retreat and preserve that which he can.

The battle of Fort Carillon ends with the British in control of the site.  For the French, the loss of battle poses two immediate problems.  One, no fort will be built on this site in September and, two, the remaining French must forage.  Also, one French regiment of regulars was destroyed in the contest.  Rigaud was counting on defeating the colonials so that the construction could be completed and stores could be brought up from which to supply his troops before the onset of winter.  Now, Rigaud will be forced to make his way back to Isle aux Noix for the winter.

Jake was victorious in the role of Shirley while Kevin went down in defeat as the French commander, Rigaud.  The game was resolved using Le Petite Guerre and took only about three hours to play to conclusion.  Thanks to Jake and Kevin for their assistance in resolving the battle.

Montcalm & Wolfe Campaign

 The campaign game begins in May 1755 with dispositions as outlined in the initial campaign post.  After bolstering the French by two more irregular regiments, I am ready to step off on campaign.

May 1755: 
Wanting to seize the initiative, the British, under Johnson, strike out with forces to garrison Fort Stanwix.  Johnson brings along two regular regiments in bateaux up the Mohawk River and reaches the fort.  Similarly, Shirley leads the rangers and two militia up the Hudson valley to Fort Edward.  The British attempt to recruit the Cayuga in order to push a garrison into Fort Oswego but fail to coerce the natives.

The French erupt from Fort Niagara with Contrecoeur and two regular regiments in an attempt to steal a march on the British and take the ungarrisoned Fort Oswego.  Traveling by boat, Contrecoeur reaches the fort and after a skirmish, the French take Oswego.  Political Track shifts one in favor of the French.  

May 1755

June 1755:

British roll for activation and get three points.  One more militia marches up to Fort Edwards.  Leaving Fort Stanwix garrisoned, Johnson departs and heads to the Cayuga settlement.  Even with his presence, Johnson cannot persuade the Cayuga to join.  In the west, Braddock marches out of Baltimore to Alexandria with two regulars and one militia.

French roll on the activation table and receive no activations.  Tuscarora join the French and successfully raid Wilkes Barre.  Another Political Track shift for the French.  

June 1755

July 1755:
British choose to automatically activate one force only.  With this one activation, Braddock moves his force to Fort Cumberland.  Johnson still has no luck in convincing the Cayuga.

French roll on the Activation Table and get four activations.  One militia moves by boat from Montreal to Oswegatchie.  A second militia moves from Trois Rivieres to Isle aux Noix.  Rigaud and one militia move down to Isle aux Noix.  The rampaging Tuscarora move on to Easton but fail in successfully raiding the settlement.  Finally, one regular is transported by boat from Quebec to Montreal. 

July 1755

August 1755:

British roll for activations and receive two.  One activation is spent moving Braddock's force into the wilderness towards Fort Duquesne.  The second activation is used to send one militia from Albany to New York City.  Johnson still cannot convince the Cayuga to join the British cause.

August 1755

French roll on the Activation Table receiving three. One point is spent moving the militia in Oswegatchie to Fort Frontenac while a second point is spent sending the Tuscarora natives on a raid to Carlisle.  This the natives do successfully.  One more Political Track shift in favor of the French. Trying to get the Oneida to ally with the French was a bust.

August 1755

With Braddock out in the wilderness, his forces must forage.  One regular and one militia disappear into the wilderness never to be seen again.  Disaster along the Monongahela and history repeats itself.

August 1755

Thus far, no large actions have occurred but the British have definitely been pushed back on their heels.  September will likely see action along the banks of Lake George and Lake Champlain as both forts William-Henry and Carillon become active.

French & Indian War Irregulars

After another week away from the painting desk, I returned Saturday morning to finish a couple of units in progress before my departure.  Needing more French militia or irregulars for my upcoming French & Indian War campaign, these two 12-figure units will add the necessary man power to begin.

The figures are all 1st Corps from the SYW range and comprise a mix of French regulars in campaign dress and coureur des bois.  I have a number of figures from 1st Corps' range already in the project and, to me, they have a certain charm.  The figures are on the larger side of 25mm and most have faces that even a mother might have difficulty admiring.  These 24 figures are in a mix of dress including regulation and campaign modifications.  A number of the figures are in waistcoat, pokalem, and and leggings; perfect for the de la Marines.

Irregular #1

Irregular #1

Irregular #2

Irregular #2

Irregulars combined

Montcalm & Wolfe Campaign Begins

A few weeks' ago, I began laying down some thoughts on conducting a wargames' campaign (Thoughts on Selecting a Wargame Campaign). Keeping the operational/strategic aspects of the campaign simple was key in selection.  A second key criterion was that the scope of the campaign should remain small.  Finally, I needed to have a majority of the troops required already in hand and battle-ready.

After some time spent in contemplation, my choice for this trial will be the French & Indian War.  To govern the operational activities, the DTP effort, Montcalm & Wolfe will be utilized.  Luckily, there is an excellent VASSAL module available and in many ways provides a much more handsome tool than the original game.  Oh, the module is free as well!

The campaign begins in May 1755 with monthly game turns.  All units begin deployed in set positions with the exception of three French regular regiments.  These variable regiments are placed, one each, in Fort Duquesne, Fort Niagara, and  Isle aux Noix.  With these deployments, Fort Duquesne can be defended from a possible stab north from Braddock, the upper reaches of Lake Champlain can be protected, and allows a possible strike against the British garrison at Fort Oswego at the start of the campaign.  Only the larger engagements will be transferred to the game table for resolution with miniatures.  Hopefully, this exercise will generate a few interesting encounters to play out on the table. 

Situation May 1755

Looking over the OBs for both sides, the number of militia units may outstrip what I have painted.  While I have a number of colonial units that can be pressed into service for the British, only a handful of militia units for the French are service-ready.

To remedy that shortfall, I placed a small order to 1st Corps.  Now, I have not purchased from 1st Corps in several years but I do field several of their British and French units in the FIW collection.  The 1st Corps figures come in at the larger end of model size compared against Old Glory and Dixon.  Painted and deployed on the table, most of these size differences vanish.  

What I ordered were two dozen figures from the Coureur de Bois and French in Campaign Dress SKUs.  The order arrived within two weeks and are primered and ready for the brush.   Painted, these will provide the foundation for two more French militia units wearing a mix of dress.

French militia from 1st Corps

French & Indian War Action - Part Deux

The game reconvened on DEC 08 and we picked up where we left off on Thanksgiving.  After a prolonged clash at the stream, the natives scatter the survivors of the frontiersmen.  With the frontiersmen eliminated, three of the warbands begin working their way through the woods to envelop the British right.

Earning their moniker, the coureur des bois make a wide sweep around the British left and prepare for a rear attack.  Ever vigilant, the British lights spot the trappers and turn to engage.

The 1st Royals advance to the stream bank and begin exchanging fire with La Reine.  To anchor the British right, one coy of militia advances into the woods unaware of the dangers lurking, therein.

With a whoop, the natives strike into the surprised militia cutting them to pieces.  Massacre!  

Failing to stem the panic, the remaining two coys of militia fall back upon the Royals.  As the militia retreat, only the rangers stand between the Royals' flank and the natives.  Despair grows among the colonial commander.

Continuing volleys between the Royals and La Reine witness bending but no breaking of the lines.  The Royals are able to cycle fresh troops into the firing line while exhausted companies regain their cohesion.

With the sense of catastrophe mounting, the British lights attack and then scatter the courer de bois.  Having eliminated the threat from the rear, the light infantry hustle to counter the native threats.  Failing to surprise the militia, the natives are repulsed and then counterattacked by the light infantry and rangers.  All natives on the British side of the stream are scattered and the immediate crisis is averted.
  

The light coy retraces its path back to the stream and then crosses to threaten the French right.  Order is restored to the regulars and the advance upon the French positions is resumed.

Climbing the hill on the French right, the lights catch one of the La Reine companies in the woods.  Better able to operate within the confines of the woods, the lights eventually succeed in scattering the French.  Victorious, the British commander joins the lights from their vantage spot to direct the advance.  Remnants of the French withdraw back into the safety of the woods.

Thus ended the game.  

The French held the upper hand throughout the early and mid game while the British were completely frustrated by the natives in the woods.  Once the close-order troops pulled back into the clearings, native surprise attacks diminished.  Using the rangers and light infantry in the woods against the natives turned the tide in the game.  Had the French pressed the attack across the stream with their regulars while the Royals were wavering and militia encircled, the game may have ended with one hard push. 

This scenario produced a hard fought battle with both sides believing they were winning one turn and then losing the next.  With terrain dominated by woods, the irregulars become quite powerful when used to their best advantage.  Rapid movement through woods, ability to thwart surprise attacks, and their prowess in woodland close combat all combine to produce tough adversaries.  As the British player discovered, militia in woods are no match for natives.  Likewise, the French player discovered that natives in the open are no match for regulars.  

Although I didn't count the number of turns played, we must have completed at least a dozen turns.  Le Petite Guerre rules worked well and allowed a smooth running game with few questions.  I did make some notes during the game for later consideration and possible adjustments.

While I only moderated this game, it was great fun to deploy the FIW collection on the gaming table and watch the battle unfold.  With very little pre-game preparation needed, hopefully, we'll return to the frontier soon.