| American War of Independence 15mm British/Loyalists |
The new project for 2011 at Wally HQ was 'The American War of Independence' (or 'Revolutionary War' if you'd prefer) in 15mm.
The previous year we were eagerly eyeing up the new Peter Pig 15mm range for their 'Washington's Army' rules. These are in my opinion some
of the best sculpts available in 15mm. Martin Goddard has managed to really bring this period to life for me in a way that Don Troiani's
paintings have also done.
Lots of useful figures can be found in the various 'marker' packs that help to add a little character or flavour to each unit in the same way that I
did with my ACW.
Max, Paul and I have all decided to jump in with both feet. I decided to paint up the British and Loyalists first but soon added a huge Rebel
force too, with Hessians to support the forces of the Crown.
The plan was to finish the Brits by Easter, the Americans by the summer holidays and then to complete the Hessians before September.
However painting went much quicker than even I had anticipated and the almost the whole 1600 figures were completed by August 2011.
Rather than pick an order of battle and concentrate on that, I decided to just paint up what units I fancied based mostly on their facings, and
which ones I could find decent flags for.
I have two Guards units, two large converged Grenadier Battalions, three Light Battalions, 10 Infantry Battalions (4th, 5th, 9th, 10th, 16th, 17th,
22nd, 24th, 33rd and 55th), two Highland Battalions (Royal Highland Emmigrants in kilts, 42nd in breeches), a unit of Loyalist Militia riflemen,
Butler's Rangers, Queen's Rangers, King's Loyal New York Regiment and King's American Regiment plus three four-gun, and four two-gun,
batteries of artillery. I've also got a unit of 16th Light Dragoons as my cavalry component along with the Tarleton's British Legion. Quite a
sizeable force. My baggage and limbers are from Essex Miniatures as part of their SYW range.
I'm hoping to add 17th Light Dragoons and British Light Infantry in caps when Martin at Peter Pig finishes the sculpts.
All figures are by Peter Pig, painted by myself. Flags are Cotton Jim's available in the UK from QRF.
The previous year we were eagerly eyeing up the new Peter Pig 15mm range for their 'Washington's Army' rules. These are in my opinion some
of the best sculpts available in 15mm. Martin Goddard has managed to really bring this period to life for me in a way that Don Troiani's
paintings have also done.
Lots of useful figures can be found in the various 'marker' packs that help to add a little character or flavour to each unit in the same way that I
did with my ACW.
Max, Paul and I have all decided to jump in with both feet. I decided to paint up the British and Loyalists first but soon added a huge Rebel
force too, with Hessians to support the forces of the Crown.
The plan was to finish the Brits by Easter, the Americans by the summer holidays and then to complete the Hessians before September.
However painting went much quicker than even I had anticipated and the almost the whole 1600 figures were completed by August 2011.
Rather than pick an order of battle and concentrate on that, I decided to just paint up what units I fancied based mostly on their facings, and
which ones I could find decent flags for.
I have two Guards units, two large converged Grenadier Battalions, three Light Battalions, 10 Infantry Battalions (4th, 5th, 9th, 10th, 16th, 17th,
22nd, 24th, 33rd and 55th), two Highland Battalions (Royal Highland Emmigrants in kilts, 42nd in breeches), a unit of Loyalist Militia riflemen,
Butler's Rangers, Queen's Rangers, King's Loyal New York Regiment and King's American Regiment plus three four-gun, and four two-gun,
batteries of artillery. I've also got a unit of 16th Light Dragoons as my cavalry component along with the Tarleton's British Legion. Quite a
sizeable force. My baggage and limbers are from Essex Miniatures as part of their SYW range.
I'm hoping to add 17th Light Dragoons and British Light Infantry in caps when Martin at Peter Pig finishes the sculpts.
All figures are by Peter Pig, painted by myself. Flags are Cotton Jim's available in the UK from QRF.
| British Commander-in-Chief Base British haughty Generals are haranged by a woman who has just found her militia husband dead on the field of battle. His body lies behind her, with a Loyalist dismounted militiaman checking his vital signs, or is he infact looking for coins? Her daughter stares at her fathers corpse feeling the weight of his loss on their family's future. The wife is screaming curses at the General and is being restrained by an NCO with spontoon. An officer has drawn his sword and has grasped his General's bridle just in case.... ...or at least that's how I see it "Forward The Grenadiers!". Led by a Grenadier Brigade commander and ably supported by a converged Light Battalion. "Grenadiers, put on your caps; for damned fighting and drinking I'll match you against the world" (Lt Col William Meadows at Brandywine) British Artillery 16th Regiment of Foot advances whilst a Loyalist General watches close by. Close up of the Loyalist General with mounted scout and Iroquois bodyguard 10th and 55th Regiments of Foot, both sporting cocked hats for 1775-76 "Huzzah! At them with zeal and bayonets my good fellows" ..or something like that More Grenadiers. Notice the white Grenadier caps of the 40th Foot's Grenadiers 24th Regt of Foot. Green facings. 22nd Regt of Foot. Buff facings and breeches. 42nd Regt of Foot, the famous highlanders of the 'Black Watch'. These are mostly wearing breeches with the odd figure here and there in a kilt. Kilted Loyalist Royal Highland Emigrants (later 84th Regt of Foot) In 15mm their uniforms are almost identical to the Black Watch allowing them to be fielded as either with a simple flag change. Skirmishing Loyalist Rangers. I added a couple of native americans as apparently they frequently served together. Butler's Rangers Loyalists Loyalist Rifle Armed Skirmishers Loyalist Skirmishers Queen's Rangers c1780 Queen's Rangers c1778 Everyone seems to own a unit of the Queen's Rangers in their distinctive uniform of the later period. As my interest lies in the battles of 1777 and 1778 I decided to be different and paint up Queen's Rangers as they may have looked in this period. The rank and file wear round hats whilst the Officers and NCO's sport cocked hats. I included two British Light Infantry figures for the Light Company, wearing slouch hats, with a green feather, and cut back tunics. I also painted two kilt wearing figures for the Highland Company, added in 1778. Grenadiers will be added hopefully when I discover a suitable figure. I am still debating whether to paint a silver crescent badge on the figures hats as with the later caps. Iroquois Indian Allies. These are nice sculpts and lovely to paint. You don't need many Indians to add a splash of colour. British Foot Guards I decided to differentiate my two units of Foot Guards by giving one unit red feathers and the other white ones. From what I've read the Guards carried no standards in the colonies as each Company serving in Britain sent a detachment. British Foot Guards Light Coys. The Foot Guard Brigade Advancing 16th Light Dragoons Mounted Dismounted Artillery Limbers These are part of the Seven Years War range from Essex Miniatures. The figures are from Peter Pig's 'Happy Workers' packs. Guns are also by Peter Pig. Four horse limber Two horse tandem limber. 33rd Regt of Foot This unit seems to have fought as light infantry in several actions. I decided to mix firing and advancing figures so that when they operate in extended order on the table they will look more appropriate. Supply Wagons and Baggage Essex Miniatures and Hallmark British Legion Dragoons British Legion Dismounted Dragoons Foot Guards Brigadier This fine dashing fellow has his hounds to accompany him hunting out damned rebels. Out Clubbing With the Boys I leave it to you to decide whether the British Officer is encouraging the Iroquois allies or actually trying to save this, no doubt, rebel sympathiser. Loyalist Brigade Commander 4th (King's Own) Regt of Foot 5th Regt of Foot 17th Regt of Foot 'Bloody Ban' Banastre Tarleton Not a popular chap with the Rebels! Ferguson's Rifles 1777 A couple of weeks ago I saw a posting on TMP from a chap who had made this unit in 28mm. I had a hunt around in my spares box and found some suitable British light infantry. I filed away their shoulder wings and the above is the result. They were armed with the Ferguson breech loading rifle which could fire six to seven rounds per minute and be loaded and fired from prone. Indian 'Commander' More Woodland Indians NEW King's Royal Regiment of New York NEW This was one of the first and most active Loyalist regiments. It served in the Canadian Department along with Butler's Rangers and Native American allies particularly raiding in the Mohawk Valley. Also known as 'Johnson's (Royal) Greens', or the 'Royal Yorkers', they saw action at the siege of Fort Stanwix, Battle of Oriskany, and Carleton's, and the Schoharie Valley raids and were known for their vengefulness towards their former countrymen. The regiment is dressed as per the illustration in Mollo's 'Uniforms of the American Revolution' in round slouch hats. The unit was initially equipped in green tunics with various coloured facings but I chose to depict it with the white facings shown in Mollo which may have been in the majority, though there are references to blue facings too. The regiment wore red coats with blue facings from 1778. Most of the regiment is made from Peter Pig's pack 73. Continental Infantry in hat, though I also did a couple of head swaps exchanging command pack Tricornes for slouch hats. Flag is fictional, but available online at DMWS, so I thought I'd use it. NEW King's American Regiment NEW Another early Loyalist unit formed in New York in 1776 under a Colonel Fanning. It saw action at the battle of Forts Clinton and Montgomery 1777, Newport 1778, and raids in South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia and Florida 1780-82. The regiment always seems to have worn red coats with dark blue facings. Most of this regiment is made from Peter Pig's new pack 18. British Line Infantry (Tricorne) Firing. Flag is a fictional, but suitable NY, one again from DMWS. We are in the process of writing our own set of rules for AWI based largely upon Too Fat Lardies, 'They Couldn't Hit an Elephant', ACW rules. |
