Friday 11 May 2018

War of 1812

A deputation from the Funny Little Wars group visited recently in the form of Paul and Jack, looking to try out some ideas for smoke, confusion and subterfuge in the age of Napoleon. Keen to get a recently acquired collection from the War of 1812 on the table, I thought this would be an ideal scenario to try out the new ideas.

Setting the scene, a company of British infantry picquetted in the outlying town, across the river from their stockade, are surprised by a raiding party of American regulars, militia and native scouts. A firefight breaks out but the company are quickly overwhelmed and forced to flee for the safety of the fort as the Americans overrun the village.

Troops in the fort stand to and give supporting fire to the hard pressed company. Guns fire every other move and puffs of smoke indicate they are reloading. Similarly blankets of smoke are laid down for each infantry volley, with each successive volley more smoke is laid and begins to role away but has the effect of obscuring aim, it also gives irregular troops the opportunity to slip away unseen, only to reappear elsewhere.

At this point the forlorn Company find their way to the fort blocked, pinned on three sides they decide to try crossing the river.  At this juncture a band of natives, allied to the British emerged from the woods to the right of the stockade, their musketry forces the American Militia across the footbridge to fall back but it is too little too late to save the beleaguered company across the river.

A salvo from the American guns dispersed the native allies, while our gallant Company, caught in a crossfire, were unable to cross the river and surrendered to the Yankee Regulars.

The action concluded with the American Militia snipping on the stockade from the safety of the woods while their Regulars formed up for a frontal assault which they carried despite fearful casualties.

The new rules were easy to administer and worked very well, the scenario itself made for an interesting game which could have gone either way.  A very pleasant way to spend a midweek afternoon with old friends and it's great to be getting more gaming in.

10 comments:

  1. A splendid looking table Brian! Nice to see your lovely Deetail figures in action again-I look forward to acquring more myself tomorrow at the PWS. I shall be giving Mike a lift so we will hopefully bump into you there. Best wishes, Anthony.

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    1. Nice to see you yesterday, hope you had a good time, I'm still recovering!

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  2. Hurrah! Good to see the boys in action.

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  3. Another great looking game Brian! Always a joy to see your efforts, please keep them coming!

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  4. Looks like a fun little game. (Also looks like the Upper Canadian militia have gone over to the enemy! It was always a concern.)

    I'm not sure what sort of plastic was used for those Marx recasts in the '90s but I've never met a less paint friendly plastic.

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    1. I'm confident the militia will return to the fold. The Marx plastic May be unfriendly but your paintbrush certainly licked them into shape!

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  5. Delighted to hear that you are getting more games played. Thanks for sharing your photos with us.
    Have a splendid day at PW tomorrow.
    Alan

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    1. Have returned from the fray that is the PW show and discover I have taken more money than I spent, that's not necessarily a good thing!

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