Tigers

Our new rules require a minimum of eight troop stands per unit so I have just painted up an extra stand of Louisiana Tigers to bring them up to strength. Trying to blend in new figures with others painted over 15 years ago (and with completely different paints) was a bit problematic so no prizes for guessing where the new boys are. The figures are a mixture of Frei Korps, Essex and AB.

Major Rob Wheat’s Louisiana Tigers were a hard fighting unit originally drawn from “the sweepings of the New Orleans waterfront”. The Tigers are one of those must have units for an ACW wargame army and introduce a bit of colour into the sea of rebel grey and butternut. Painting the stripes on the trousers was a bit of a fiddle but I stopped short of adding the ‘Tigers win or die!’ motto around their stocking caps!

On the skirmish line

Just to prove that Dave's not the only one busy sprucing up the armies at the moment here's a shot of the lastest additions to our 15mm ACW forces.

Rebs and Yanks on the skirmish line - 15mm Old Glory figures. The fence was made by Dave from matchsticks over 30 years ago and amazingly is still in one piece!

The 15mm armies were originally created for use with the Fire & Fury rule system which doesn't allow for skirmishers (one of the reasons we're not keen on them) so during the lull in combat I have added these individually based figures. The boys are busy popping away at each other softening things up ready for the full battle to resume.

AWI British Commanders

Another bit of re-fitting, this time a make over of the British command figures in the same style as the American command base I did some years ago. This involved me painting one extra General (the one in the middle).

The figures are all from the personality packs by Frei Korps 15. The new addition is actually General Gates I think, but I liked him as he is reading a map (useful when you're an invader) so he has switched sides.

The British command group seen reconnoitring here, represent Brigadier Grey and his staff. They are the advance guard of General Howe's force and have been ordered to seize the bridge over the Hawk River at Chesterfield.

Rebellion in the Colonies

General Washington has received reports that the British are moving on his position and he has ordered a concentration of the Continental Army in response.

The reports suggest that Cornwallis has received substantial reinforcements by way of a Regiment of Hessian Musketeers and a squadron of Loyalist cavalry led by Banastre "Bloody" Tarleton.

Tarleton's Legion - the figures are converted Frei Korps ones painted specially for the coming game.

Our next game will feature our old 15mm American War of Independence armies and our own rules "The Kings Shilling". Neither the figures nor the rules have seen action for fifteen years, should be interesting!

Reinforcements

The first new additions to the armies for over fifteen years - an artillery caisson and artillery command stand for each side.

 The new Rebel & Yankee artillery caissons and command stands

We are introducing a new rule creating an artillery reserve for each army and will be testing it for the first time in the Chancellorsville game.

Rule 4 – Artillery Reserve
a] Only these order modes apply: MARCH = move to location and await further orders. ENGAGE = move to location, deploy and bombard target. RETIRE = Limber up and retreat to location. (ATTACH) = MARCH to the HQ of a specific Union Corps / Rebel Division and then operate under the orders and mode of that unit until further orders. When attached, the Reserve may disperse its batteries throughout the corps or operate as a grand battery.
b] If the Artillery Reserve Commander receives an order he functions like an Infantry Corps commander. If he fails his command test then the order execution is delayed one turn. When the order is executed, a half move penalty is incurred by any batteries 12" from Reserve HQ.
c] Grand Battery rule – a minimum of 3 positive-strength rifled guns deployed together under the command of the Artillery General, form a grand battery. Units losing casualties from grand battery fire must test morale (the grand battery may not split its fire).

Each caisson will designate a wagon park and wagons will move the ammo forward to the firing line.

Rule 6 - Ammunition

a) Ammunition rules apply to batteries only. They hold a maximum of 6 Aps and expend one AP per turn of firing. A battery with no ammunition may not fire.

b) The Artillery Commander must designate a wagon park, choosing any physical location he currently occupies. All wagons must deploy initially to the wagon park and this location is fixed for the rest of the battle. 

c) At any time wagons may leave the wagon park with enough ammo to re-supply ONE battery, and when empty they return to be refilled. Every turn that a player wants to despatch any full wagons from the wagon park, the Artillery Commander must first pass a command test.

d) Wagons move during the courier movement phase – they must move by road where possible. Wagons are eliminated if they come into contact with any unbroken enemy unit. Artillery may fire on wagons – 5,6 to hit. – the wagon is eliminated. 

Finally, I just had to show a picture of this signal tower that a built nearly 20 years ago. The logs are made from pins and the planking is tiny strips of plasticard. I don't think it will be of much use in the dense woodland of the Wilderness but I though it looks good all the same.

All the figures we use are Heroics & Ros 1/300th scale and are still available today - click here.