Boxer Rising-The Price of Tea

“Not for all the tea in China” was an expression when I was a child. Also, “As far back as the Chinese.” These were Victorian echoes and they are gone now. All the tea in China indicated colossal wealth. As far back etc indicated the lack of modernity in China. Gone are the days.

In the 19^th Century the British working poor were greatly immiserated. Only one thing brought any comfort. It was tea. Tea was great, it soothed the masses and didn’t inflame or excite them. Gin had been tried previously and hadn’t worked at all.

The Poor had a discerning taste in tea. We are told they would not accept inferior product. A small price to pay you might think for peace of mind of the Rulers. Alas, it was not so.

The Chinese would only sell tea for Silver. This is where the seeds of the Boxer Rising take root.  We must tell the tale if we are to understand the Righteous, Harmonious Fists and the like.

The British didn’t have sufficient silver to sustain the trade. Suspending the trade was unthinkable. The Poor were pacified give or take Transportation and Starvation. They might, denied tea, revolt. Something had to be done.

With some skill and a great deal bribery the British managed to smuggle tea plants out of China to India. All very well but it would take time for production to meet need.

Bengal Opium looked like an option. Enjoying opium was a well-known international recreation. The Chinese Government was well aware of its dangers. Consequently while a senior Mandarin might puff away a peasant farmer couldn’t, save as a pain killer or a rare treat. Importing Opium into the Celestial Empire was forbidden.

The British needed to flood China with cheap opium to break the Tea for Silver paradigm. This they did in a series of wars. The French joined in and the victors got inventive. The Chinese would pay for the cost of the British and French military actions. Also, territorial concessions would be made. Free Trade including opium would replace Chinese Regulations. 

The destruction to Chinese society was truly immense. Should you ever have lived or worked in an area with a serious drug problem you will understand precisely what happened.

At the top of Chinese society sat the Manchu providing Emperor and aristocracy. Below sat the Han Chinese and various minorities.  It was from the Han that the Boxers arose. The last great conflict to wrack China had been the Tai Ping. Mainly a non Han enterprise.

By the time of the Rising China’s predators had multiplied and the future looked bleak. As is the way of things the cost of paying off the predators fell increasingly on the common folk.

Enter the Boxers. 

TMWWBK British in 15mm

 

My British Collection for the Sudan is very nearly painted . Fortunately my uniform choice fits the infantry for the North West Frontier too. Here is the core of the Field Force.

If you squint a bit at the flag we can call them the Royal Irish who were in the Sudan.  

All from Peter Pig, 36 Regular Infantry, and very pleasing figures.

How about some support? 

Here we have a Gatling and a Gardner Gun. 

The gun crews are also from Peter Pig.

From the Lead Pile I exhumed some bags of Minifigs British Sailors. A little slighter than the Peter Pig figures but otherwise compatible.

  Here are another bunch from Peter Pig.

What with the Sailors, I thought I should paint some of the Regulars as Marines. 

They should not have puttees but I rationalised that they would improvise them. Sharp thorns, snakes and scorpions, in the Sudan you would want puttees. 

By way of variety I thought a unit of Bashi Bouzouks would add a splash of colour. These are intended to represent Mounted Irregular Infantry. With Obsolete Rifles and rated Unenthusiastic the unit costs 4 points. 

I have done the mixed mounted and foot Dan Mersey suggests. Peter Pig figures with all the strengths of that brand. These fellows are likely Circassians or Albanians.

I had hoped to add some Sikhs from Lancashire Games Archive range. Alas, I cannot. They are giants.  As are the Gurkhas I also bought. They would do well enough with Blue Moon I think. For this Collection they will not do. Oddly the Ansar foot from the same range will do.

You have seen my British Cavalry before but here they are again for the sake of completeness.

I do have a pair of Heliograph Teams, Peter Pig figures and Scenario friendly. Not only that, another smallish box of figures turned up. It produced a pair of Naval Brigade Gatlings and crews, another unit of British cavalry and one of River Arab spearmen. There are 4 Baggara riders but no horses! The horses must be somewhere. 

I really need to sort out what I have and sell what I no longer need.  Ebay now doesn't require a fee to sell. I could do that.

At this point I realised I could do 3 British Field Force variants. These will appear here eventually as British Columns 1, 2 and 3. 

Column 1, will comprise of two units of Regular Infantry, a unit of Regular Cavalry and a "crewed Weapon" in this case a Gardner Gun.

Column 2, will comprise of two units of Sailors and one of Marines and a Gatling. If I rate the sailors as Irregular infantry I might add a unit of Dinka/ Ethiopian Scouts or one of Bashi Bazouks. Or a half unit of each.

Column 3, will comprise of two units of Regular Cavalry, one of Bashi Bazouks as Mounted Infantry and a Gatling. 

I keep thinking about Hicks Pasha but really I mustn't go there. Some quite interesting units all the same. He wrote that his officers were a rum bunch and TMWWBK does that well. Hicks worked very hard to good effect and no ultimate avail.

In fact, a gun and crew, Bashi-Bazouks mounted and foot and a unit of Sudanese Regulars and one of Egyptian Regulars and I would be good to go. For Hicks that is.  That would require 6 new packs from Peter Pig.  Tempting.

And, that’s it for the moment. Fun to paint and the promise of entertaining games.

 

Revolutionary War British - Part 2

 Let us start with the Guards. These ones are from Peter Pig. I nearly painted this unit in full fig. It is a striking uniform and I was strongly tempted. Instead, I followed the historical record.  The Guards were ordered to remove the lace from their uniforms and were issued with brown trousers.  Brown covers a multitude of sins so I opted for a light shade.  

Turning aside from an insistent Clio I decided that they would carry their colours. Wrong, I know, but it looks nice. As they say, even Homer nodded.  David at Not By Appointment kindly provided the flags.  I have a second Guards unit to do.  The Guards were used as attack troops throughout the war.

All in I have 3 units of elite attack troops, 4 once the second Guards unit is done. I had thought this perhaps too many.  Seemingly not my reading indicates.  The nature of campaigning meant that the line regiments often arrived worn out on the battle field.  Much depended on the elite units.

Tarleton's British Legion next.  These are from Polly Oliver. Ray at Don't Throw a 1 tells me a lad he knows has bought the range.  When it becomes available I will add another 2 bases to this unit.  I mentioned Indian allies of the British last time.

Above and below these Indians are from QRF with 2 Essex figures in the mix. I have had them since Pontius was a Pilot.  Or so it seems. It is good to see them ready for use at last.  Note they are small units.

HM 4^th Regiment. Mostly, and appropriately, from Essex. I chose this one because David (Not by Appointment) has a nice pair of flags for the 4th. You see them here.

HM 5^th Regiment and the Royal Highland Emigrants are to do next. A tartan challenge for sure.  A battery of guns is needed too.

That should have been it.  However, an ebay bargain intervened and I have enough Peter Pig for 2 more battalions.  Ever the way it seems.  Happily so.

Revolutionary War British-Part 1

 

Combined Grenadiers here.  All from Peter Pig. I have learned that such units could be bigger than the normal British unit strength. I might manage another two bases. Lovely figures I think. Grenadiers, as ever, were the boys for dangerous jobs.  Martin at Peter Pig originally produced charging British Grenadiers.  He thought it more appropriate given their role.  Quite so.  Yet in due course the marching Grenadiers were added.  These are they.

British Dragoons, you have seen these before.  Shortly they will be joined by Tarleton's British Legion Cavalry. My British cavalry will be comprised of two units only.  Essex figures above.  I have 2 more of them.  With the strategic deployment of a gabion or a stricken foe I could add another base. In Land of the Free terms that would raise them from a small unit to a medium one. I might do it.

Combined British Lights above. During the revolution these formations were used as attack troops.  Often engaging with bayonet alone.  Very much elite troops. They could fire very effectively too.  What they couldn't do, I was surprised to learn, was operate as Light Infantry.  The British skills in that regard learned in the French and Indian Wars had been lost.  My Lights are all Essex and Polly Oliver.

My first line regiment.  The 42nd, AKA "the Black Watch".  These ones are mainly in trews,/trousers so the challenge of painting tartan was limited.  A mixture of figures, Polly Oliver, Peter Pig, QRF and Minifigs.  Still to come The Royal Highland Emigrants, lots of tartan to do there. Below, QRF's Highland Light Infantry.

Why so many Highlanders? Simply, it is  what I accrued over the years, Likewise, so far, all of my British units have blue flags and facings. It wasn't planned it just turned out like that.

The Welsh Fusiliers, bear skin caps and all. Mostly from Polly Oliver.  A few years ago I found out that "Welsh" was what all Migration Period Germans called any and all inhabitants of the old Roman Empire. I had thought it an insular thing but the name "Vlach" indicates otherwise.  The Vlach were notably fierce. If I ever do a very Late Byzantine Army I will have some Vlaches.

I think I have another 5 British infantry units to do.  I'm also going to give them some Indians. 

I came across a quote from an AWI clergyman explaining why he was a tory. He said he preferred one tyrant who lived two thousand miles away to two thousand tyrants who lived one mile away.  

That's why Indians turned out for the British.

Part 2 of the Revolutionaries next.

Crimean War 15mm- A Few More

 

I have begun the mopping up, painting wise, for the Crimean War.  Above, all from Irregular, French gunners, guns and gabions.

The British Guards final battalion of three. This one from Irregular.

Poking about in the unpainted box I realised I could do another British Brigade.  So I did.

HM 88th, latterly the Connaught Rangers.  All Minifigs save the two Irregular standard bearers.

HM 68th Durham Light Infantry all from Irregular.

HM 97th The Earl of Ulster's all Irregular figures.

I had the opportunity to ask Barry Hilton about the release of his Crimean War rules.  He hopes to release them at some point in the future. 

Next for the Crimean War I will finish painting the British and French artillery.  The Russian artillery are done so we might see them next. 

A British Army for the Anglo-Sikh Wars

My Anglo-Sikh War collection began in the last century. Consequently this post will remind me of what I have and what I might need to add.  Above, the Rifles.

I also need to rate my forces for the Anglo-Sikh Wars.  It has occasioned much thought and some revisions to my previous thinking.  Research will do that.  A good thing and of course the thinking doesn’t stop.

Mostly the British liked a 2-1 combination. That is two native units to one British one.  The latter could be Company or HM.  Apart from the irregulars all were trained in the British manner. Drilled seems a reasonable category for all of the Regulars.

There is the question of superiority of British units.  In fact there was little observable difference in performance or staying power. Yet, the British commanders thought that there was. To model this I’m trying out the British units as Drilled Elite and the Sepoys and Sowars as simply Drilled.

A second question is what of the vaunted British Fire Power?  Experimentally I intend to limit the potential +D3 result to British Infantry units. Sepoys will not benefit.

The cavalry also followed the 2-1 model

Another Brigade.  Note the Governor General's Body Guard in the back rank.

The final Regular cavalry Brigade. It could do with another unit of Bengal Native Cavalry.  Or, maybe I will just attach the Horse Artillery.

The Indian irregular cavalry were a key component of the Army.  You see three such units below.

The British fielded a lot of artillery often of lighter calibre that that of the Sikhs.

You see all of my British artillery below.

I realise I have no Bengal Native Artillery.

No shortage of guns though.

Various British Commanders below including two versions of Sir Hugh Gough.  Governor General Hardinge's there too.

You can see my entire Anglo-Sikh War British Collection on this page. It has been quite a journey. We will see the Sikhs next time. 

An Anglo-Sikh Wars Appendix for Republic to Empire

 

Here are some suggestions to enable you to use Barry Hilton’s Republic to Empire to game the battles of the Anglo-Sikh Wars.  These deal with Sikh Gorchurra, Akali, Matchlock men, Artillery, British infantry fire-power and more.

You can find the rationale for much that follows in my various articles on the Anglo-Sikh Wars posted on this blog.  Should Republic to Empire not be your cup of tea I hope you will still find the following of interest.  

Above, my final unit of Khalsa Regulars. The following pic's are the newest and last ones of my Anglo-Sikh Wars Collection. Yes, it is really finished-apart from some artillery elephants.

Traitor Generals

Should the Sikh General prove to be a traitor double cost of all MPs for Sikh Brigade Actions.  Roll a D6 on a score of 1 the General is a traitor and is removed from the Battle Field. I see a possible application here for India 1857 in respect of Sepoy units without a General Officer Commanding.

Cold Steel Assaults

Senior British Commanders liked to assault with cold steel.  Roll a D6, on a score of 6 two British Brigades enter the battle unloaded.  On a score of 5, one British Brigade does so.  Such brigades can only fire after their first attempted charge home.

Cavalry v Cavalry Broad Strokes

British and Indian regular cavalry fight Sikh regular cavalry as written in Republic to Empire.

Gorchurra and Indian irregular cavalry fight each other as written in Republic to Empire.

The Gorchurra

Gorchurra move as light cavalry in column of march and fight in column of squadrons.

Gorchurra are never disordered by melee.

Before melee they shoot, throw a D3 the result is the number of shooting dice.

Range is point blank.

Any casualties caused make opponents do an officer casualty check.

Armoured Gorchurra count as cuirassiers in melee.

British and Indian regular cavalry will pass through the Gorchurra post melee regardless of the combat result.

Gorchurra may then turn to face at a cost of 1mp.

Add Resolve Check minus to Gorchurra if under artillery fire.

Indian Irregular Cavalry

Indian Irregular Cavalry move as light cavalry in column of march and fight in column of squadrons.

Some Indian Irregular Cavalry shoot, if so equipped, throw a D3 the result is the number of shooting dice. Measure for range.

Indian Irregular Cavalry are never disordered by melee.

Add Resolve Check minus to Indian Irregular Cavalry if under artillery fire.

 

British regular cavalry

British regular cavalry, except charging Lancers, fight as disordered against Gorchurra. 

Post melee British regular cavalry measure their outcome move from the point that they passed through the Gorchurra.  That is, immediately behind the Gorchurra and facing the same direction of their initial charge.

Indian regular cavalry

Indian regular cavalry count, -2 on the Resolve Check Procedure if ordered to charge Gorchurra.

If an Indian regular cavalry unit refuses to charge, but holds position, they may shoot, throw a D3 the result is the number of shooting dice. Measure for range. 

Indian regular cavalry, except charging Lancers, fight as disordered against Gorchurra. 

Artillery

The Sikh regular artillery outperformed its British counter parts.  Rate Sikh regular artillery as veteran. British as trained.  There is good evidence from 1857 that Sepoy Artillery outshot and were more accurate than their British equivalents. So perhaps British Native Artillery should be rated as the Sikh artillery.  Sikh Irregular artillery as trained or recruit.

Matchlock Men

Sikh irregular foot using matchlocks or jezails shoot as Recruits.  This reflects the slower loading and various ranges of their firearms.

In combat they gain the “Pike” bonus and, as they are never disordered by melee, keep it.

British Regular Infantry

British infantry fire power was impressive.

Conditions in India often were not ideal.

The heat was hard upon the British infantry. Forced marching doubly so.

Sometimes their Generals threw them into combat without adequate rest and refreshment.

After deployment throw a D6. 

On a score of 1,2,3 the British infantry gain a D3 result of extra shooting dice as written in Republic to Empire.

On a score of 4,5,6 they do not.

I'm not applying this to Sepoy units.

Khalsa Infantry and Artillery

Khalsa Infantry and Artillery gain a D3 result of additional dice in the first round of melee.

Akali

Akali warriors should be Guard or Veteran.

They may shoot, throw a D3, the result is the number of shooting dice available. Measure for range.

In combat they gain the “Pike” bonus and, as they are never disordered by melee, keep it.

Where next on this?  We are going to see both armies and then a try out game.