Rebels vs Redcoats

Thursday night at the club saw Thom and myself dust down our AWI collections for a simple straight up fight. Can't remember the last time the figures were out of the box.

It was a simple scenario with the Rebels trying to block the advance of the Redcoats. I had 2 brigades of Continentals  and a brigade of militia of very dubious quality.  Thom also fielded 3 brigades, 1 of which was made up of some Loyalists. The other 2 were regulars with light infantry and Grenadiers. 

With orders to advance into the cover of the woods, I had an inauspicious start. Only the militia advance with the Continentals looking on. The Loyalist infantry came storming up the road with both brigades of regulars on the flanks.

It was first blood to the Rebels with the militia and artillery hammering the British legion, who quickly disintegrated. Meanwhile the regulars began to probe my flanks.

Eventually both flanks came under heavy attack. On the right my militia began to wilt under pressure and still my Virginian Continentals looked on. Over on the left the first clash routed 1 battalion and force my Marylanders back. This was not good. I threw in some cavalry to check the Redcoats. 

Eventually the Continentals got some motivation to engage. Just in time as the militia broke. The Loyalists had also ran out of steam and retired.

With hard fighting on both flanks, both sides started taking heavy casualties (we both rolled terribly for morale). It all came down to who broke first. Luckily my artillery got in the decisive fire to first disorder then rout some regulars forcing the brigade to break.

A great game and hard fought. Though a victory to the Rebels, it didn't leave much of an army left. Though I broke 2 British brigades to 1, both my remaining brigades were on the verge of collapse. Discretion would force both sides to retreat and recover.

AWI Militia

After struggling with the last couple of Danish regiments for the GNW I decided to take a temporary step into a different period and scale. I've had these militia figures sitting in a box for over a year so decided to give them a quick paint up. I've deliberately left off the flags so that I can use them as either Rebel militia or non-uniformed tories.

I kept to a limited palette for these, plenty of browns and yellows. They are not the best work, but I needed to paint something different. The figures are mainly from Front Rank with a couple of Perry's mixed in.

I also decided to put together a couple of wagons from Warbases.  All battlefields need a bit of clutter and I rather like these.

I still need to paint up the baggage that goes with the engineers wagon. It will have to wait as I push on with the last few Danes.

AWI 3rd Virginia Continentals

I'm making more progress on my AWI project. This time I've completed the 3rd Virginia Continental regiment. I picked these as I liked the idea of pale blue coats and dark blue turnbacks. Not sure if I got the pale blue right but I'm happy with them. The figures are a mix of Perry plastics and Some spare Foundry figures I picked up from EBAY. The flag is from Maverick Models.

To add a little fire power to try and hold up the British assaults I have added a second Artillery piece. This time a 3lb gun from Perry's.

Next time I will need to concentrate on adding some more militia and riflemen to the force. I have been looking at the Warlord Plastic boxed set, but want to see them in the flesh before i make a purchase. Luckily Tom has picked up a set so hopefully I can check them out on Thursday.

AWI artillery

Just remembered I hadn't posted about this. I eventually got around to painting up an Artillery piece for my American forces. I chose the 6lb piece from Perry's as it features in the majority of the scenarios from the rulebook.

6lb Artillery 

6lb Artillery 

I chose buff for the turnbuckles on the crew instead of the more common red. However I will revert to red when I get around to painting up the 3lb piece I've ordered.

AWI Kings New York Regiment

To add to my loyalists, I decided to paint up the Kings New York Regiment. I opted to go with red coats with blue facings. The figures are all from the Perry plastics. The flags were picked up from Maverick Models.

Kings New York Regiment 

Kings New York Regiment 

Kings New York Regiment 

I've also got enough plastic figures left to put together another Loyalist regime,  likely North Carolina. I can also put together a 3rd Base for my British Legion infantry to bring them up to full strength. After these it will be back to the rebels. I've another Continental regiment to complete as well as a 3lb Artillery piece and some mounted state troopers. All that will be left is to pick up some more militia.

AWI 2nd Virginia

Adding to my American forces I present the 2nd Virginia Continental regiment. The majority of the figures are metal Perry's in short sleeves. The command is from the plastic sprue as well a a single Foundry officer. The flag once again is from Maverick Models.

2nd Virginia 

2nd Virginia 

2nd Virginia 

I have also painted up a much needed Artillery piece but I'm awaiting an order of bases from Warbases to finish the model off. I've also had a go at making my own trees which I'll try and post tomorrow.

AWI Battle report

A bit delayed, but here is a write up of our club game last week using Black Powder. Tom took control of the British, he had 4 line regiments, 2 small units of light infantry and a 6lb Artillery piece. He organised is force into 2 brigades. George took command of a small brigade of loyalists of 2 small infantry regiments and a small unit of cavalry.

I took command of the Americans tasks with controlling a small village and a hilltop with a small redoubt on it. I had available 6 regiments of Continentals, 2 small militia units and 2 tiny units of riflemen. Splitting into 3 brigades, 1 defended the village, 1 the redoubt and 3rd brigade held in reserve. My lack of Artillery was to prove the Americans undoing.

American position

The game began with a rapid advance of the British while the Americans held position. There was minor skirmishing between some riflemen and the British light infantry. Then Emmericks Chasseurs blundered and charged into the wood occupied by the riflemen. It took a few rounds of combat before they managed to dislodge them.

Riflemen and light infantry skirmish

Chasseurs engage the riflemen 

Over on the British right flank, the 1st brigade began to exchange fire with American militia while their Artillery got itself into position and began firing at the 15th Virginia holding the village. The disorder in effect of the fire allowed the 2nd British brigade to advance and engage the village. Eventually the 15th capitulated and fled the field.

Militia come under fire

15th Virginia under fire

The British began their assault 

At this point I brought forward the reserve brigade to try and plug the game. Then the militia fell back under pressure from the British light infantry. The British infantry began to flood into the village while the loyalists began to attempt to outflank the redoubt.

American reserve committed 

British advance

American redoubt

The attempt by the loyalists to outflank the redoubt met with disaster as the 3rd Maryland about faced and poured a devastating volley into the cavalry, routing them from the field. The British legion met with better success storming the redoubt and forcing the militia unit back. Meanwhile the British infantry assaulted the 2nd South Carolina, unfortunately the Americans  were no match for the cold steel of a bayonet charge and we're quickly routed. With the Artillery now concentrating against the redoubt and with 2 broken American brigades we ended the game with a solid British victory.

Give them cold steel

Overall a very enjoyable game. The lack of Artillery hindered the Americans with the British able to inflict casualties at range before their infantry closed to the assault. The majority of my Continentals performed poorly on the day.

AWI 15th Virginia Continentals

With a game coming up last Thursday I quickly managed to get these guys finished off. I'm sure the bases were still tacky during the game. Needless to say they did suffer from the fresh painted unit syndrome. I painted these to represent the 15th Virginia. I chose these as they gave a second unit in brown coats. The figures are all Perry plastics and the flag from Maverick Models.

15th Virginia 

15th Virginia 

I have also put in an order with Perry miniatures for enough figures to put together 2 more Continentals in a mix of coats and shirt sleeves. I also picked up a 6lb Artillery piece.

AWI Commanders and Chasseurs

As I stated in yesterday's post, I have put together a couple more commanders to lead the troops into battle. First up is a second commander to lead my loyalists. The figure is from Perry's and the officer is in a cut down coat.

British Commander

British Commander 

Next up are 2 command bases that I put together using some spare command figures from the plastic Continentals boxed set. These guys will act as stand ins until I get some more mounted commanders. I'll probably the relegate them to act as poor command bases in Black Powder.

American command 1

American Command 2

After finishing the foot element of Emmericks Chasseurs, I finally finished a small mounted element. I used figures from Perry's mounted militia. They look suitably uniformed to act as loyalists.

Emmericks Chasseurs 

Emmericks Chasseurs 

Loyalists forces so far

This brings my loyalists up to 2 small infantry and 1 small mounted unit. I have enough figures to put together 2 more standard loyalist infantry units. Then I'll have to add the mounted component of the British legion. Then it will be back to add more militia and Artillery to my American forces.

AWI Patriots and Loyalists

With our first game coming up next Thursday to try out the Rebellion supplement for Black Powder, I decided to make so more headway. More troops the better. First up is some more Continentals, the 7th Virginia. This brings me up to 5 regiments. The figures are a mix of Perry metals and plastics. The flag is once again from Maverick Models.

7th Virginia

7th Virginia

I have also added another small unit of loyalist infantry. This time Emmericks Chasseurs. These are all from Perry plastic Brits. I have also been making progress on the mounted element.

Emmericks Chasseurs 

Emmericks Chasseurs 

Tomorrow  I'll be posting some extra commanders and hopefully the mounted Chasseurs.