The Drums are Beating

 They speak of war on  the Mohawk.

And, as we gently move away for now from the Boer War, another old favorite heaves into view. I speak of the French and Indian War. I shan't go into the whys and wherefores, I think the back pages of this blog will do that well enough.

Refs by Blandford

So, references to hand (Blandford, Osprey et al) and with some miniatures in the lead pile, others painted, others resurrected from a grim corner of the painting table and others ordered as a Christmas present, I think we're ready to go.

No Willie jokes this time, please

I am building units for Bill Protz's entirely charming ruleset, "Drums of War Along the Mohawk" - surely due for a reprint with a new layout, pretty pictures &c, &c...

You will already know that the figures will be organised in a modified "Charge!" standard. The French in two grand divisions of 16 privates with a drummer, NCO and Officer. Companies of Grenadiers and Piquets of five privates and an Officer with a battalion staff of the Colonel, two Ensigns, a drummer, ADC and a Regimental Sergeant Major.

The British are similar although with the addition of a 3rd Grand Division and larger Grenadier companies (8 Privates and an Officer), smaller Light Infantry Company (only four and a Sergeant). Highlanders benefit from a fourth Grand Division and extra Grenadier and Light Companies.

I am currently building my first pair of French Units - La Sarre and Berry, each of which is quite a long way along due to past efforts; then it will be on to the first British units, probably the 44th, 46th and 48th Foot, each of which had a very busy time in North America in the 1750s.

And a prettier picture than that above...

Some of the brave lads of the La Sarre Regiment

Prototyping Terrain for the Boer War

So, I've painted 33 Boers and a dozen British in a rush and it's time to do something else for a bit. 

I have comparatively little terrain for the Boer War. This weekend, I tried an experiment to see what I could do with what I had. What you are looking at is a kind of layout I might use if the garrison of Ladyking or Himberley might have sallied out one moonless night to see what mischief they might wreak on a Boer gun position.

You're looking at one of my two 90 by 150 centimetre tables. The ridge-line or kop is made from layers of 30cm square cork tile. I faced them with grass matt paper on one side and left them in their natural state on the other.

In the foreground are my imagined denizens of the bushveldt - anthills and acacia trees. The table itself is green on one side and au naturel on the other for a more arid look. I am making a few more anthills as I read so much about British troops taking cover behind them in the big battles of the war.

A Boer sentry stands guard while his fellows sleep in the farmhouse to the rear of the Kop. He will spot the English if he rolls a six and fire his rifle to wake his mates.

La belle Alliance standing in for a Dutchman's farmhouse; and not too badly either if the images of various Boer houses I have seen are anything like right.

An attempt at an entrenchment with a 25mm scale resin wall and a couple of old resin Gabions. The wall lengths are about 15cm.

Another shot of my Long Tom in it's emplacement with a sentry by it for scale. There are improvements that could be made - the addition of the artillerists impedimenta, a firing platform and perhaps a small tent for the ammunition.

Any feedback and suggestions are more than welcome.

This particular layout I imagine as one that I would use in a mooted rule set. I see this as being a stand alone skirmish scenario to be played in the context of a larger seige. A raid is planned. Two small parties go out each with a co and with a captain in charge of the whiole show. Move by move the creep forward, dreading the moment that the Boer sentry (rolling a 6) spots them. S small squad of his comrades tumble out of their tent and start firing wildly at the Khakis in the dim, pre-dawn light. Hit chances and movement all are reduced because of the darkness. The British scramble into the Boer Sangar, desperate to set of the gun cotton charges they have brought before the rest of the Boers scramble up the Kop from the farmhouse below...

Mounted Boers

 

A Few Mounted Types

I have been rather questioning the utility of mounted figures for my Boer forces. My reading leads me to believe that they virtually never fought from horseback. Rather they were mounted infantry, relying on their horses for strategic and operational mobility. Sooo, just one unit?

Oh, what a Boer

 A random sampling of the weekends' painting.

A few Willie Boers and a British cavalryman mounting up. Another splendidly useless figure, but too good not to paint.

Mr Long Tom

 

From TVAG..? Maybe..?

I forget where I got my Le Creusot "Long Tom". I bought it originally because I wanted some 19th Century "Siege Artillery" for my FPW collection, but with that on a long hiatus, I thought that my Boers might have a better use for it.

I have no idea whether the colour of the carriage is right, but I think it will do.

Rampaging around the 'net the other day, I note that Askari Miniatures do a very suitable Krupp 75mm gun and limber that I must pick up three of each to make up a Boer Staatsartillerie battery for TSatF. I note also Mr Askari has some Krupp mountain guns that wil do nicely for my Willie British.