Compagnies Franches de la Marine-Muskets and Tomahawks

 

Muskets and Tomahawks V2 Redcoats and Tomahawks has an interesting feature. a side comprised of the same troop type enjoys certain advantages. 

It so happens that I have sufficient Compagnies Franches de la Marine figures to enjoy this. I should say this is not by design. I was never that gamey. More it is the consequence yet another Ebay bargain. I got a lot for a good price. Matchlock Miniatures no less.

Anyhow, here is the haul. The eagle eyed among you will probably spot a couple of Minifigs and a Blue Moon.

Units 1 and 2 with their officer.

Unit 3 and 4 and their officer. I have all 4 units in Skirmish Order as befits the Scout Trait they enjoy. Should I wish they could deploy in Close Order. Yes indeed, I have a suitable movement tray.

Matchlock offers some officers for the Compagnies Franches de la Marine. I have these above and below. 

All in all a formidable force for a French and Indian Wars game of Muskets and Tomahawks. Of course this level of concentration of Compagnies Franches de la Marine was seldom seen. Mostly they would be in smaller numbers supporting Canadian Militia and/or Indian allies.

Ascherson Miniatures Longhouses above. I have another two. You might note the different colours of bark panel as new replaced old. What I need is a stockade in the Indian style like in the film Black Robe. I will have to make one with wooden cocktail sticks. Khurasan make something very suitable in one of their Japanese ranges. Alas shipping and taxes preclude that option.

I'm continuing to experiment with the multi-bases. I'm starting to get them looking right.

Muskets and Tomahawks Progress

 

As I paint I’m listening to people playing Muskets and Tomahawks and Shako and Bayonets. I found I’m absorbing quite a lot. Anyhow, to the progress.

 

British Regulars, HM 44^th. Gandamak, if memory serves. Certainly Monongahela. They earned their wages. These are Blue Moon and are depicted skirmishing.  I’m going to add the 60^th Royal Americans. We will see them soon.

The Pennsylvania Provincials with their green coats. Blue Moon again.

The New Jersey Provincials ditto. I have drummers to add for these and the 44th.

Rogers Rangers at the top of the page. The first of three Ranger Companies. Butler’s and Gorhams to follow. I think Gorham’s should wear black coats and blue bonnets. An abiding memory. I must check.

More to come.

The French and Indian Wars

 

A long term interest of mine. With a deep and rewarding reading list. Fascination lies therein. Not just the tribes but also the colonists. The French method concentrating on the Fur Trade.  The English one on land acquisition. It all played out with Global consequences. A painters paradise too.

The first decision of a F&IW Project is just what are you trying to model? There were big battles (relatively speaking)  formal lines and all.  They were important too. All the same the most common combats were not like that at all. No, they were like  Monongahela (where a British Army died)writ small. European methods didn’t do well in the woods. Innovation was required. The French excelled in this and the English steadily improved with Ranger companies and Light infantry. Most engagements were small scale affairs that defined the Wars. Most gamers opt for that.

Delightfully very few figures are needed to play This Very Ground or the famous Muskets and Tomahawks. In both cases a unit can be 6 figures plus a Leader with 8 being normal and 16 the dizzy heights. Rebels and Patriots might run a few more but it needn’t. This is a project that can be done with great economy. Except you probably won’t do that.

The reason being the sheer diversity of troops involved. Thus the figure count begins to grow. Which French Militia? The Montreal or the Quebec? Do they look different? Sort of. Different skills? Arguably. Better have both.

It is no better with the English. Take Ranger Companies. Roger’s, Gorham’s. Others too? Oh yes. Do they look different. Of course they do. Different skill levels? Naturally.

There are some core troop types. Indians obviously. Also American Frontier Militia. These are raiding games. The Militia are the defenders mostly. Supporting the Militia were the Provincials, trained as European Regulars-sort of. It varied a lot. Civilians are required too. They can be captured or rescued or simply protected. Sometimes actual British Redcoats were available. A Regiment or a Company.

For the French the Colonial Marines are an essential. Formidable. Also Regulars were available now and then. For counter raids you might get some Indian civilians. And so it goes. Cabins or Longhouses? Both, I’d say. The cabins you see here are from Red Vectors WW2 Russian Village.

Is it worth it? Very much. It is a wonderful gaming experience. Of course you need not wait to begin gaming. The figures you see on this page will do for a game of Muskets and Tomahawks or This Very Ground.

You might guess a significant number of Blue Moon F&IW figures have just come my way. I anticipate about four posts on this topic.

Yellow Ribbon Variants- Apache and Seminoles

 

Yellow Ribbon justly found fame as the Plains Wars gaming experience. The sections on Mountain Indians (think Chief Joseph and the Nez Peirce) and Apache are often overlooked.  Less showy I suppose. Yet the Yellow Ribbon touch is just as sure in these theatres.

Without much of a stretch you can use the Apache rules for the Seminole Wars.  Simply replace mountain and desert with the Everglades. 

As you have doubtless guessed I have some Apache and have bought some Seminoles.

These fellows did not fight like Plains Warriors. Although horses could appear.  The individual style of fighting was not for them. No counting coup, no emphasis on  warrior heroics.  Rather the aim was to collectively kill the foe.  All of the foe.

Truth to tell I have had the Apache for decades. They are from mostly QRF with a few Minifigs and a Hovels Mexican. 

The Apache and the Comanche constantly raided Mexico. They burned, killed and took prisoners. Depending on their age the prisoners became slaves or were adopted and brought up as Indians.

The Mexicans responded by putting a price on the head of every Apache. Man, woman and child. Scalp hunters assembled like Carrion Crows.

The Comanche also waged a war of near extermination against the Apache. It wouldn't make much of a game. The Comanche rode up out of nowhere and killed every Apache they could find. Then they went home. 

All very bleak. 

Here are my Apache on foot.

 

You really don’t need many figures for a good game. Here are my mounted Apache.

 

That’s it.  A transfer of my US Infantry from General Crook to General Miles and it is game on. May be a section of cavalry too, mules also. 

I already have Wickiups. Mine are from QRF, the smaller ones. They do big ones too. I bought the smaller ones because young Plains Warriors used to build and use them.  To avoid vexing the adults no doubt.

I feel the need to buy some Cacti.  Irregular or Peter Pig can provide them.  Scene setting. I have an excellent Geek Villain Desert Mat and there we go-Apacheria in miniature.

Florida terrain is going to be more of a challenge. My uncle told me that while he was golfing there an Alligator shot out and ate someone’s dog.  Irregular make an Alligator or maybe a Crocodile. In 15mm it won’t matter which. 

I may need one. You know the sort of thing throw triple ones and the Alligator appears.  Hungry. Throw a 6 on a D6 and you are lunch.  Throw a 5 and everyone does a full move in the opposite direction. Throw 1 to 4 and everyone blazes away at the Alligator.

QRF has two packs of Seminoles.  They include Africans who had escaped slavery. A nice touch.

The Chief pack above and the Warrior pack below.

Here are the Black Seminoles.  Good for Maroons I think. 

In fact the turban wearing Seminoles would make good Maroons too.  

The Seminoles favoured a sort of Mohican cut. You can see it in the Catlin paintings. QRF give us a 3 figures like that. 

Unless you think Maroons looked like the A Team's Mr T, that disbars those 3 poses. You could always add a turban with green stuff.

Between the two packs there is sufficient variation. I have not bought any Seminole civilians and probably won’t.  However many Plains types women and children could do.  A bit of translocation will do the job if I need them.

I did need to buy some US Infantry due to leather shako requirements.  I also bought a gun and crew that I have yet to paint.  

Here are the infantry, QRF once more. I have painted some of them as "Red Leg Infantry" that is to say Gunners deployed as infantry.

In pretty much any American conflict armed civilians turned up. These could be local settlers, formal or informal militia, or just the sort of fellows addicted to carnage, rapine and loot.

 

Once again note the small number of figures required for an interesting game. I'm minded to give it a go with Musket and Tomahawk too.  

The light was a bit tricky when taking these pic's. Hopefully it doesn't spoil your viewing pleasure entirely.

Somewhere I have additional Seminole figures for this. I'd like to find them.  Their exceptional field craft not withstanding, I will-eventually.