A Highlander Host- League of Augsburg

These figures have seen more bases than some real military formations.  This, I believe, is their last basing iteration.  Beneath the Lily Banners style.  Those rules, I note in passing, capture the abilities and otherwise of Highland Caterans better than most.  

 

I had a look for unit size tips in Barry Hilton's three books War Of The Three King’s, A Taste of Victory and Every Bullet Has It’s Billet.  Barry mentions 2 stand Highland units in the first and second books and gives us a sample Highland Host in the third.  There, we see both 2 and 3 stand Highland units.  Good enough for me and as you can see, I’ve followed the example.

A word about figures.  I’ve used lots of different manufacturer’s offerings mixed in each unit.  That includes Minifigs, Khurasan, Essex, Lurkio, QRF and Matchlock and some others I forget.  The overall effect pleases me and I hope you like it too.

The Highland Gentry were likely to possess firearms and be very proficient in their use.  It was aimed fire with the Highlanders, De Saxe would have approved.  That was it though.  The average Cateran didn’t possess a gun although many knew well enough how to use one. 

Consequently, a Highland unit was armed with a mix of weapons and that is what I’ve tried to represent here.

This is my Highland Host so far. I need to add a couple of Clan Campbell flagged command bases. It was instructive to read recently that Argyle's support of William did not command universal approval within Clan Campbell.  

 Highlanders were at their best on the attack on good ground.  They could also nip about a bit regardless of terrain.  Soon, I’ll show you my re-based Scots Regulars.  Note the heather, a special purchase. All of my Scots units are getting heather, let's hope it's lucky for them.

Irish Foot- League of Augsburg

It's the Irish today.  The Lord Grand Prior’s regiment above with their burning town "fruits of rebellion" standard and motto.  The JR and crown flag is from David at Not By Appointment.  It is an incredibly useful flag for Jacobite armies.

 

The first battalion of Foot Guards.  The second battalion below.

The Earl of Antrim’s Regiment was raised early and fought often.  

The Earl was the leading McDonnell/McDonald of his day with many of his clansmen in the regimental ranks.

One of the O’Neill regiments, Cormac’s in this case.  I will be fielding two, maybe three of these.  

 

This one is pretty much pike and shot as you can see.  Rather old fashioned but handy enough in melee.  The next one will be more up to date-"Regulation" under BLB.  The final one, if I get that far, may be quite poorly armed.

Irish uniform infantry coat colours were either French supplied white or red.  The older the formation the more likely they were to have a red coat.  I mused on having more figures in civilian coats, that would be accurate.  Then again, if we really wanted accuracy many of the Gaels would still be wearing trews.  No one makes such figures. If I seriously engage with Monmouth's men there will be civilian coats galore.

There is also the period possibility of swapping out central stands to create entirely different units.  Thus Irishmen in French coats could become French men under French Colours or whoever.  A good option to have I think.

I'm currently wresting with the idea of providing horse holders and horses for all my dismounted Dragoons.  I have the horse holders but would need a fair few more horses to one for one it.  I think I'll do it.

Once again the toys are mainly Essex and Irregular with a smattering of Dixon.

There are a three or four more Irish battalions to come.  It's either the Scots or the Dutch next depending on which box I locate first.

English Foot- League of Augsburg

 

The grand re-basing continues apace.  Today we have some English Foot battalions.  We have already seen Kirke’s but as they were the most experienced English formation, I have no hesitation in showing them again.

Next, we have Hanmer’s.  As you will see there are quite a lot of yellow facings with the English.  It makes for a striking contrast I suppose and, a fairly cost effective one.

Here,and above top, is the Earl of Bath’s.  It’s hard to resist doing a blue coat English regiment.

Trewlaney’s is the final one of this batch.  Unlike most of their fellows the soldiers of this regiment had seen action before, like Kirke's, in Tangiers.

Fusiliers, all armed with Firelock.

Still to come two more battalions also with yellow facings. The toys are mostly from Essex and Irregular with a Dixon here and there. 

General poorly armed civilians next, could be Monmouth's, could be Jacobites, could be anyone really.

My general idea is to complete enough contingents for a game or two and add more at leisure.  

It was Williamite standard practice to brigade English battalions with Dutch or Danish ones. This was because the latter were far more experienced and also because William distrusted most of the English commanding officers.  Consequently, I need to field my Danish or Hugeonot units alongside my English ones.  This makes for an interesting mix of quality in the resulting brigades. 

I now have sufficient re-based Williamite Foot for a game. 

League of Augsburg- The War in Ireland in 15mm

 

Sometimes you get it wrong and then you put it right. My League of Augsburg basing system in this case.  I've moved from 4 figures on a 30x30 base for foot to 6 on a 40x30 base. Cavalry have gone from two figures on a 30x30 base to three figures on a 40x40 base.

Here is the new take.  If you play Beneath the Lily Banners you will recognise the style as the one Mr Hilton commends to us.  I’m very happy with the result.  To my eye the battalions now look more like battalions and the squadrons more like squadrons.  Above are the first battalion of King James’s Foot Guards-solid troops.  Below, Piercy Kirke's rather fierce Lambs.

Here we have Lord Galmoy’s Horse in two squadrons.  A crack Jacobite regiment.

A Huguenot battalion with one flag from Warfare Miniatures and one from Ray at Don’t Throw a 1.  Speculative in both cases, informed speculation mind you.

Two regiments of Danish mercenaries in Prince William’s service.  King James would have done well to hire them.  Perhaps King Louis was reluctant to advance him the required?

The Danes were good troops armed with Flintlocks and no pikes.  Fine for firepower, not so good against cavalry.

More Jacobites in the form of Lord Abercorne’s Horse, once again two squadrons.

A useful squadron of Gentlemen and their more prosperous tenants.  They will do for Irish Jacobites or Williamites, Monmouth's fellows, Scots Gentlemen or any number of amateur bands anywhere.  I will add two command stands with distinctive but very non specific cornets.  A castle keep on a black background and one of red and yellow bars should you be intrigued.  Castle keeps were everywhere and red and yellow combo's likewise.

I intend to rebase my whole collection.  As more batches are done, I will post the results here.  I'll likely do them by nationality.  The toys, should you be interested are mainly from Irregular and Essex.  There are a couple of Gladiator Grenadiers with the Danes.  All nicely compatible.

Did it involve extra expenditure?  Well, new bases and more infantry figures certainly, but not  more cavalry.  A mere bagatelle dear reader, a mere bagatelle. Have you seen the price of a pint?