I Did It Anyway

A long while back, I bought a bunch of MY Miniatures Sedgemoor 15mm figures.  They were lively and characterful and no damn use at all in terms of compatibility with my, then, ever- growing Essex and Irregular Williamite War 15mm armies.  So, I went through the classic stages of denial-they don’t look so bad, I’ll paint them and they’ll blend in!  Finally, I thought bugger it, I’ll stick one of them on an Essex horse and say he’s Sarsfield (for Patrick was a big lad) and put the rest away-which I did.  Resentfully.

Then, The Pike Man’s Lament appeared and I liked playing it.  A thoughtful gander at a LOA size comparison post on the spendid 

http://warsoflouisxiv.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/15mm%20figures

revealed that Donnington’s Wars of Louis XIV were lively and characterful and likely a size match for MY Miniatures.  

There is a very sound military maxim about not re enforcing failure.  I havered as the Scots say, surely, I’ve done the LOA. I don’t need to order more biggies that won’t fit with everything else.

I did it anyway.

So, Royal and Rebel Companies for The Pike Man’s Lament will appear on this blog.  When they do, the figures will be lively and characterful biggies and it won’t matter at all.

The catalyst for all this was, of course, the lovely pics and illustrations in Stephen Ede-Borrett’s Army of James II.

Here we can see some of the MY Miniatures looking big, lively, characterful and unfinished-but not for long.

You can see some of the Donnington’s, look for big hats, if you click the link below to Ray’s Don’t Throw a 1 blog.  Characterful and lively, aren’t they, and big.  

http://onelover-ray.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/nyw%20french

If you are interested in MY Miniatures here's some of the mounted figures, note the small horses, good for Dragoons.

The Army of James II 1685-1688

Many of us have Stephen Ede-Borrett’s excellent little booklet on the Williamite Wars.  It was published about 30 years ago if I recall right.

Stephen has now written The Army of James II 1685-1688 recently published by the prolific Helion Press.  He is an author who does his research and tests the evidence.

As you might expect it is absolutely first rate and so if you are interested in the genesis of the British Army, Monmouth’s Rising and the background to the Williamite War you will want a copy.

Project Round Up

You will have noticed I have a few small projects on the go.  I thought I’d do a quick round up to remind myself where I’ve got to.

French and Indian Wars

All done apart from two bases of abatis.  Though I’m tempted to add some French standard bearers in full uniform as opposed to waistcoats.

Jacobites ’19 and ‘45

A lowland/ English unit, the Irish Piquets and another unit of Highlanders to paint.

Boxers

I have a Russian force to paint and I want some of the new Blue Moon Tigermen and Jingals.  I have enough ready for a game of The Men Who Would Be Kings.  I’ve also got a lot of Chinese scenery planned.

Chariots Rampant

Two Syrian chariots to paint and we are game ready. 

Nap' Rampant
Awaiting figures but a good start made.

Romans Rampant

I’m finessing the stats which is proving straightforward and searching out what figures I have to hand.  The latter is good reflection of later Roman realities-you field the army you can rather than the one you’d like to.  Luckily, I found an unpainted legion, well 12 figures, it wouldn’t have been a show without Punch.

Zulu War

Both sides are now done, cattle have been bought, painted and based.  I’ll stick some pics up shortly. 

Most of this is Dan Mersey's fault and I thank him for it.  Lots of lost projects revitalised there.

More Jacobites

Roundway make a pack of Royal Ecossaises for the ’45, well I couldn’t resist, so here they are.

This probably means I’ll be doing the Irish Piquet’s too, Baggot’s Hussars and Fitz James’s Horse.

I now have three units of Highlanders based for TPL and intend having a fourth.  They are almost all from Roundway Miniatures (A venerable manufacturer of quality 15mm figures).

I thought they could do with some flags so I could tell them apart so I added some to the last bunch I painted.

I intend to try out big TPL using 36 points in three commands of 12-like brigades really.

Aftermath

Another Spanish volley downs three more of Hamilton’s men but the tough regulars stick to it.

The Highlanders and Sir John stop to drink a toast (failed their movement test).

All of the patrol is now moving but it’s really too late.  Hamilton’s unit down a Spanish Grenadier.

The Spanish volley into their much - reduced foes killing three and routing them.  Pleasingly Colonel Hamilton survives, still surprised that the damn French turned out to Spanish.  What a world.

As for Sarsfield he is Fortuna's blessed child.

The Jacobites begin to move off as the Highlanders with Sir John disappear over the horizon . When the patrol arrives it can bury the dead.  

Game over.

So that’s TPL, a fast-moving, fun game with lots of uncertainty.  The outcomes and the story told were plausible to me so I’ll be playing more of it. As it happened my Highlander adjustments never got an outing and I’ve now re thought them, more of which anon.

In TPL terms Hamilton was characterised pre game as old wound and Sarsfield as lucky.

Sarsfield’s luck was uncanny but did not extend to the actual fighting where the results for both sides were less spectacular. His ability to roll successive sixes was another matter, the Jacobites positively bristled with newly minted heroes. Still, strange things happen in combat as the late General Flashman often noted.

Hamilton’s patrol never saw action neither did Sarsfield’s re-enforcements.

My post first game verdict on TPL?  A lot of fun and loads of potential uses. I halved all distances as I use 15mm figures.  My next TPL game will be from the French and Indian Wars but I’ll be returning to 1715.

I'm already painting Sir John Wauchope's Horse comprised of Cumbrian and Northumbrian gentlemen and their tenants.  Algernon Percy will doubtless be wearing his French coat. 

Here are the re-thought Highlander stats.

Unit:  Clan	12 Models inc’ 1 Hero	Points	5
Attack	5+	Attack Value	4+
Move	5+	Defence Value	4+
Shoot	4+	Shoot Value/Range	Only half the unit fire Hit on 4+ Max ‘9
Morale	3+	Maximum Move	‘4
Stamina	3+	Special Rules	Ferocious No firing post charge Counter charge v foot, wild charge, fleet footed

Gang aft agley...

Sarsfield receives re-enforcements his luck is becoming proverbial (He threw three sixes in a row).

The patrol continues its progress but the new men cannot (poor dice) keep up the pace.

Sarsfield continues his advance into range as he does so he notices among the grenadiers the heroic Gonsalvo (another three sixes) and gives him a gallant halloo.

Hamilton’s dragoons press on while his grenadiers wait (poor dice) for the new men to catch up.

The Jacobite cavalry can now see Hamilton’s dragoons, one them, Algernon Percy, reminds his comrades of his French service (another three sixes) which is well received.

Hamilton’s grenadiers volley the Highlanders dropping three of them.  A cry of Claymore goes up.  Hamilton’s foot volley into Sarsfield’s unit killing three but, naturally enough missing the man himself.

The Spanish grenadiers down two of their opposite number.  The Spanish foot shoot three of Hamilton’s men but the Colonel is unscathed. Clan Mac Iain charge the grenadiers killing four and forcing the rest to retreat-but at the cost of three casual casualties.  

The Mac Iain frees Sir John Wauchope.

Meanwhile Hamilton’s dragoons press on while the patrolling foot pause (poor dice) to re-organise themselves.  

More soon.

The Best Laid Plans

Sarsfield’s plan is to use his regulars to pin the foe in place while his irregulars attack them. If necessary he will commit the infantry while the grenadiers effect the rescue.  He will then execute a fighting retreat covered by the regulars.  He knows Hamilton may be reinforced but will deal with that if it happens.

Hamilton intends to hang on until help arrives he relies on the devastating volleys of his well- trained men to buy him time.  He will therefore fight in the open hoping to discomfort the enemies less experienced troops and even the odds.  White coats he muses, the rustic was right-Frenchmen!

Sarsfield’s grenadiers step off but the rest of the regulars aren’t ready, he does some tri-lingual swearing to help things along.

Meanwhile the new men of Hamilton’s patrol have taken a wrong turn.  Hamilton draws up his men so the cottages protect their rear.  

Sarsfield has got everyone moving and the war pipes are skirling. All quite inspiring he thinks.  The Highlanders are moving fast in a three- deep formation.  He didn’t know they could do that.

Hamilton’s patrol is now in good order and marching homewards.  There's everything to play for.

Highlanders For The Pikeman's Lament

I did a blog on the Highlander way of war a while back and now I’m using The Pikemans Lament (TPL) for an imaginary 1715 Rising series of games.  Highlanders are represented in TPL as Clansmen with high melee and movement factors but no firepower.  No chance then to practice a provocative volley from the gentlemen of the clan before the charge goes in.  I wanted to do that so I did a bit of tweaking to Mr Mersey’s opus.

Here’s Clan Mac Iain Mhor ready for TPL action. Two units in TPL terms the gentry in front -naturally.

The Mac Iain, a big lad from Mick Yarrow Miniatures, (Hero at 1 point) and the gentry from Roundway. Rated as Forlorn Hope but note the specials and the increased movement.

Unit:  Tacksmen	6 Models	Points	6
Attack	5+	Attack Value	4+
Move	5+	Defence Value	4+
Shoot	4+	Shoot Value/Range	Hit on 4+ Max ‘9
Morale	3+	Maximum Move	‘4
Stamina	3+	Special Rules	Ferocious No firing post charge Counter charge v foot, wild charge, fleet footed

The men of Clan Mac Iain. Rated as TPL Clansmen.

Unit:  Clansmen	12 Models	Points	3
Attack	5+	Attack Value	3+
Move	5+	Defence Value	6+
Shoot	-	Shoot Value/Range	-
Morale	4+	Maximum Move	‘4
Stamina	2+	Special Rules	Ferocious Counter charge v foot, wild charge, fleet footed

Here’s the thing, the two units of the clan will always move as one as determined by the actions of the Gentry.  I'm about to find out if this will work on the table.

The Pikeman’s Lament (TPL) for The ‘15

Encouraged by my experience with TMWWBK I thought I might have a go with TPL from the same stable.  Questions arose like mist off a lake, which armies to choose?  Can I avoid rebasing?  Will I have to buy more stuff?  The last two were particularly important.  I hate rebasing and I have too much stuff. Time for a big intake of breath and a look in the Bits Box.  

Opening the Bits Box is a TARDIS like experience, its small but there’s loads in there.

First out were some British dragoons (Roundway 15mm Marlburian) already painted! Then some Highlanders ditto on all counts.  Next came some Lowland horse still in the packets. Then from the Cupboard of Lost Projects a full Spanish battalion in yellow coats and two British ones, in red naturally enough.  

Things were looking good for the 1715 Jacobite Rising.  Albeit with the Spanish four years premature  and in the wrong uniform.  A bit more poking about and I had enough figures for both sides. With a little painting I had enough for options too. Mainly, for initial forces it was just a bit of basing and rebasing required.

I rather fancy an Anglo-Scots  border based campaign. Perhaps accompanied by a wistful hum of Derwent Water Lament.  You can see some of the units on this page.

Some Thoughts on the Highland Way of War

Every now and then there is a discussion on the Highland Charge.  Ethnic tropes and bad history are given an airing, quotes are used without context and people pick their side and dig in for the duration.  Much heat and little light is generated.

I’ve been thinking about the Highland Charge and Highlanders at war in general. Let’s start by considering this view from a military man who saw the real thing in the ‘45. 

“(people) that knows the Highlanders…whose way of fighting is to go directly sword in hand at the enemy…any man who has served with the Highlanders knows that they fire but one shot and abandon their firelocks thereafter.  If there be any obstacle that hinders them going on the enemy all is lost.”

O’Sullivan here is talking about the Highland charge. Should the Highlander make contact he crouched behind his targe, brought his sword edge into play and pruned his opponent by lopping off extremities. The heavy basket hilts and a circling motion brought additional weight and velocity to the blows.  The impact was of course horrific for those on the receiving end.  

The charge was delivered in formation, three ranks deep with the leading men covering the followers, and at speed.  The spacing was important both to reduce casualties from incoming fire and to allow each man enough space to fight effectively once the charge went home.  As Jim comments below care was taken to maximise the advantage of ground.

The charge failed at Culloden not least because of the unsuitable ground and resulting overcrowding of the clansmen.

So we can see that the Highlanders actually needed good ground to deliver their particular brand of martial magic to good effect.  Significantly a generation later and a world away Highland charges in the Mohawk Valley always failed.

Little attention is given to missilery despite it being an integral part of the Highland military doctrine.  The hunting Highland gentry tended to be be good shots with lots of practice behind them.   When facing formed regular troops they liked to try and provoke an early volley from their opponents by potting a few. If they succeeded they could charge in relative safety.  What they could not do was match the rate of fire of regulars and wherever possible they tried to avoid such contests.


Why men so famed for their close fighting should emphasise missilery is interesting to consider.  I take the view that it stems from the Viking influence on the Isles and adjoining mainland Scotland and that it was an integral part of the Highland military tradition. 

Troops from the Highlands and Isles on the evidence of records of their battle performance in the Nine Years War in Ireland were bow and sword armed high quality assault troops. Like the Irish they quickly took up firearms which pretty much takes us to the popular image of the Highlander.

I'm minded to model the foregoing by giving the Highlanders a high fire effectiveness but a low rate of fire and once a charge has taken place no firepower at all. 

Scotland Is the Key

Or so many of King James the Second’s commanders believed.  Certainly, had he secured Scotland and struck for Newcastle to indict the Coal Trade Prince William might have gone home to think again.  As it was James didn’t concur and William conquered the islands.  It is a great ‘what if’ though and one I intend to get around to next year.

All the regular soldiers here are from Irregular and the Highlanders are from a wide range of manufacturers. 

A Williamite Regiment above and a Jacobite one below.

The pics are taken in artificial light with a flash and honestly don’t do justice to the figures. The flags are a mixture with at least two of them from Ray at Don’t Throw a 1.  If you are interested in the Wars of the League of Augsburg check out his blog.

Coming up next

Ancients was my first gaming love other gaming interests came later. I'm enjoying renewing my acquaintance with the end of the period via the development of At the Ends of Empire.  Consequently, there will be more posts on the Picts, British, Angles, Irish and Saxons in no particular order.  I hope folks find these interesting but the prime purpose is to help me clarify my own thinking about warfare in Late and Post Roman Britain.

There is also the third play test for Have a Heart which only needs player availability to take place.  Hopefully this will be sooner rather than later.

I have now got my copy of Sidhu’s The Second Anglo Sikh War and it’s a massive tome.  When I’ve read it I will report back, his first volume was met with much deserved acclaim-so I’m expecting a treat.  

I’ve a piece written about Highlanders at war that currently needs some photos so that will appear too.

More soon and thanks for reading.

What’s Next?

I mentioned last month that I’m finishing off armies bought, it seems, aeons ago and now it’s the turn of the Jacobites and Williamites.  I began painting these in 1997.  Most of the figures are Essex or Irregular and they match nicely.  Since I needed to put them on the table to see what needed doing I thought I might as well take a couple of pics so here they are – Jacobites first.

And Williamites.

If you are interested in the Williamite War there will be more here on both armies shortly. 

My current focus on Mexico continues and next up will be an examination of an extract from Bernal Diaz concerning the first Spanish encounter with the Maya. It’s by way of scene setting for the second play test of Have a Heart.