Patriots Rebellion - the British and the Patriots

The Patriots Rebellion was an uprising in1837-38 by discontented french speaking Canadians who wanted to maintain their heritage and culture in the face of anglicisation and who sought a wanted to restore a French speaking Canada or a least part of it. As the uprisings were dealt with in Canada, some of the leaders crossed the border to the US and, pushing on an open door, managed to recruit support which led cross border incursions into Canada between American sympathisers and the British army. Now that's a greatly condensed and simplified attempt at a summary that leaves out a lot of details, politics and subtlety. But this isn't a history lesson it's just an introduction!

The British deployed elements of several line and militia regiments to deal with the situation. As many of the actions were fought in cold weather 1830's British in greatcoats from Iron Duke from Empress and Studio, now from Bicorne can be used. The Militia are a bit more difficult, but as they tended to follow regular uniform or wore civilian clothes, some assumptions can be made. The European figures in Empresses various 19th ranges are a good start. 

Below is a picture of the British Troops I'll be using.

Artillery, Scots and Militia still to come.

The Patriots and their American allies are more difficult to represent and ranges for the SYW, War of 1812 and Alamo have to be plundered to come up with figures. Happily though these ranges have some great sculptors and similarly scaled figures. I used North Star Musket and Bayonet figures and some Artizan Texans. The blanket coat was a popular and practical winter garment and the hunting shirt was commonly worn too. The only thing I tried to avoid was Indian style leggings. The only thing which I've not been able to find -and my modelling skills are too poor to allow - is the folk who didn't have firearms and were armed with pikes and agricultural implements. 

Below are my Patriot figures. 

These were painted for me by Stuart Foley and rather good they are too. 

Scenery and terrain are easier - stone or timber buildings from the AWI are perfect. Rail fences common and north American scenery in general is spot on. I'll be picking some fences up from Emperor Toad who makes some nice winter scenery.  There is one iconic building which I need though and that's a large, tall stone windmill. I may have to get that custom built - we'll see!

19th Century....some Mutinous Chaps....and a familiar Character

I've finished basing my mutiny figures now. A mix of Iron Duke and Foundry - the latter on a cardboard shim to lift them just a little bit higher to match the slightly taller Hicks sculpted figs. 

These are a unit of the Iron Duke mutineers - with  flag I found online. They'll take the field on Tues evening at a club game.

I also came across a 19thC civilian who reminded me of a well known whisky logo.... Meet Sir James Walker, Her Majesty's Agent At Large and commander of the Moray Militia in the recent unpleasantries with Russia*. Also known as Johnny to his friends. 

*more of this to follow at a later date!

Feud - 2 more local battles - Tillyangus and Craibstane

Following work to finish off my shared article with Angus Konstam on the Marian Civil War and the Battle of Corrichie I had a chance to review my existing notes and maps for two other encounters between the representatives of the factions fighting to control the throne of Scotland and settling their own scores into the bargain. 

At Tillyangus Black Arthur Forbes tried to stop a band of Gordon's from getting to Edinburgh by blocking  their route south - it didn't go well for them. 

At Craibstane, the Forbes family with professional troops tried to drive Adam Gordon from Aberdeen, which he was holding for the Queen. The fight took place at the edge of  the town and once again it didn't go well for the Forbes family. 

What makes these two battles interesting is that neither is a pitched battle. At the former the Forbes's tried to physically block the road and destroy the Gordon's against their position. At the latter Adam Gordon's men were of variable quality but many were defending their homes, fighting amongst the gardens and plots that made up the towns unfortified boundary. Tillyangus is fought hand to hand whilst Craibstane has lots of firearms and bows. The area around Clatt near which Tilllyangus was fought is still mostly open farmland, however Aberdeen has long since overrun the area over which the Gordon's and Forbes's fought at Craibstane - even the stone itself has been moved. It is possible to trace the line of the original road into town from the medieval Bridge of Dee. 

So earlier this week I drew the maps for each game and had a chance to test one scenario which seemed to go ok.

As a wee taster, here are the maps for the two games.

Holidays - Leeds Armouries

On holiday in York for a week. Very relaxing. Visting old haunts as this was the first place my wife and I went on holiday together before we were married and it was our 30th Anniversary this week.

The weather has been wonderful and we have been out and about. York is a wonderful city and there is plenty to do, but we also made time to go a little further afield, to Leeds, as I wanted to see the Royal Armouries. 

Plenty of excellent exhibits all both well labelled and contextually described too. I sat through a talk on Flodden (hmm well not much about the battle just a bit on being in the fighting, and from a archers perspective - I think a missed opportunity there!) and a rather more lively swordplay demonstration. The Medieval and Renaissance galleries cover tournaments and battles and have lots of shiny gear to see. Upstairs the Oriental gallery covers the Ottomans to Japan with some North African material too. The Indian displays and most especially the Samurai armours are the most spectacular I have to say. Such craftsmanship!

I was, of course, particularly interested at the moment in the 16th Century gear.

It's well worth a visit. I took lots of pics. 

English Equipment 2nd half of 16thC

Foot - although the Jack could equally have been worn by mounted types.

Horse

Some Updates

 Sugar Islands and Against Spain 

Prices for these have gone up, as mentioned previously. Details are on the Buy my Books table at the top of the page and now of course you can also get them from Caliver Books and also from On Military Matters in the US.

Feud 

If you're a follower of the blog you'll know I've done some stuff for the Marian Civil War and more specifically the Gordon Forbes Feud in 16th Century Scotland. I have been working on this on and off for a while and it will form the subject of my next book. 

However prior to that some of it will hopefully be popping up in a well known wargamers seasonal book as part of an article with a gentleman from the northern isles. Watch this space for more details.

Feud will be released in January 23. 

19thC Indian Mutiny, etc

I have been building up a collection of Indian Mutiny figures as the extension of my Afghan and Sikh Wars collections. I swapped my seldom used ACW collection for some lovely foundry Mutineers and British infantry to which I will add a few more units to bring it up to TMWWBK sized forces. I've added some pictures below. To lift the foundry figures to the height of the ever so slightly taller Iron Duke figs I slipped a shim of card under the formers bases, I think it does the trick. 

I've really liked painting up more baggage units - this time a dhoolie and a bheestie. 

Finally and staying on the 19th C I have also acquired some lovely Retreat from Kabul figures. Now that the old Studio Miniatures range is available from Bicorne Miniatures, together with the Empress Range,  I can add a good variety of cold weather clad figures to my Afghan war stuff....and use them for the Patriots Rebellion in Canada. 

It's all go' round 'ere.😁