Favorite AWI Blog's 2014

VolleyFireVSFwargames

New for 2013 new adventures 1895 and Beyond
http://volleyfirevsfgames.blogspot.com/

Henry has introduced me to a new set of rules look here for new tales of these adventures.
IHNM - In Her Majesty's Name by Osprey

Volleyfiresupplydepot

My newly updated blog for supplies and painting tips gleaned from the web and my general surplus miniature selling page click on the link to take you to the new blog.
http://volleyfiresupplydepot.blogspot.com/

I now have joined the electronic age and have paypal and EBay auctions.

VolleyFireOverseas

This is a blog I set up to chronicle my adventures in wargaming overseas in Scotland in 2011 and to continue following particular games overseas that I enjoyed with my new friends in Edinburgh. I look forward to finally updating this with more pics soon.

http://volleyfireoverseas.blogspot.com/

Napoleonic Campaigning in Italy

Napoleonic Campaigning in Italy
Les Grognards Blog "The sabre that Napoleon used at Marengo"

Napoleon's Drum and his Marshals

Napoleon's Drum and his Marshals
Napoleon Mulling over his battle plan

Napoleon reflecting by Iron Mitton

Napoleon reflecting by Iron Mitton
Quiet before the battle

Napoleon the morning of waterloo

More Iron Mitton Cartoons

More Iron Mitton Cartoons
Knock - Knock

Iron Mitton Cartoons

Iron Mitton Cartoons

Civility in wargaming

Civility in wargaming

Monday, May 25, 2009

Big Muddy Napoleonic Campaign

Big Muddy Historical Game Alliance, St Louis, MO hosts 2 conventions a year, plus several monthly game days on the St Louis area. Website: BMHGA.org
The spring convention, Barracks Battles was held May 15/16/17, 2009. The following is the after action report on the Napoleonic battle that took place over the span of several sessions:

BATTLE OF KULM

After the defeat at Dresden, Coalition forces fell back, up the mountain valley, through Kulm and beyond. The area west of the town was the Russian field hospital, and open mass graves. The road through the Kulm Valley was littered with debris, abandoned equipment, and wreckage. The French objective was to brush aside any enemy rear guard, pursue the enemy’s withdrawal, and capture the area around the windmill beyond the ridge at the west end of the Kulm Valley.
The day opened with the French advancing into the Kulm valley from the east. Russian rear guard forces were positioned south of the village, behind the Kulmbach, a stream that ran south from the mountains. Only a pair of small Cossack detachments covered the withdrawal of ambulances and wagons that sought to evacuate the wounded from the field hospital in the open fields around the town. The Russians did manage to evacuate almost half of the wounded, but most were over run by the French, and were subsequently caught in the midst of the battle to follow.
Beyond the ridge to the west end of the valley, the Russians had a massive, well prepared defensive position, centered around Windmill Hill. The hill provided an excellent observation point for the Russians to observe the French advance. However, the Russians advanced from their prepared position to meet the French in Kulm valley. Instead of the Russian rear guard drawing the French into the teeth of the fortified position, the battle raged in the open areas around the town. Both the Russians and the French attempted to force their way across the Kulmbach. Wild cavalry melees between the outnumbered French, and an Austrian cavalry division plus the Russian cavalry raged across the open spaces, forcing infantry into defensive squares. Thunderous artillery exchanges reduced both sides’ batteries. Infantry firefights blazed away across the Kulmbach ravine and the hill beyond. Although costly to both sides, this fight was largely inconclusive.
Meanwhile, in the canyon to the south, two massive Austrian infantry divisions pressed inexorably forward. For two long days, outnumbered French infantry sacrificed themselves to prevent the Austrians from falling on the south flank of the battle in the Kulm valley. Only the presence of a few small detachments of French cavalry slowed the Austrians, and enabled the French to survive the fight and hold the flank position.
A Prussian Division arrived on the field from the east on the second day. This force effectively sealed the French in the valley. With unyielding Russians to the west, Austrian forces pushing up from the south, and Prussians blocking the French rear in the east, the French appeared to be in dire straits. The small brigade of Prince Emil de Hesse and the Corps Reserve were thrown against the Prussians with one order: Clear the road, and secure the means of escape. Furious attacks struck back and forth between the French and Prussians in the east end of the valley, and the French and Russians at the west end of the valley, at the Kulmbach. French cavalry of the reserve disposed of the Prussian horsemen, and later swept the Prussian infantry and artillerists away, opening the escape road to the east.
Finally, with superior numbers of Coalition allies crushing in on the French position, the French withdrew from the field. The French rear guard inflicted some damage, and slowed the Russo-Austrian pursuit force. But overall, the French goal of chopping up the retreating Coalition force was foiled by determined counterattacks, a major Austrian commitment, and the surprise of Prussians arriving in the French rear areas.
But things could have gone much worse for the French. If the Russians had drawn the French in on the prepared position, the Russians would have had the advantage of fieldworks. If the Austrians had pressed harder and chewed up the French flank detachment, the massive Austrian infantry force would have crashed into the French south flank. And if the Prussians had held their blocking position in the east, the French force as a whole could have been trapped and virtually eliminated. This is what happened historically – the French corps was almost entirely wiped out, with only scattered, fragmented units being able to hack their way out of the Kulm valley, or disperse into the mountains, to rejoin the French Army days or weeks later.

Friday, May 15, 2009

CLS preservation society link and local games



























http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/CLS-Column_Line_and_Square/
this site contains rules access and pics of games in Jacksonville, FL
as well as pics of local games held here in June 2009 - pardon the clutter
I will work on that for future pictures of our games.
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/CLS-Column_Line_and_Square/
This particular scenario was supplied to me by the jacksonville garrison
It has a couple of interesting twists, Andy and I have played it twice
in one night. Austrians vs French the Austrians have a tough road to hoe
but adjustments to both force ratios and terrain features may give them a better chance
next time. More pics of the second fight will be posted soon.
The third refight is scheduled in mid August.








Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Napoleonic wargame slideshow of Texas 28mm Napoleonic battle

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pilum40/sets/72157615783074910/show/

this is a great slide show of a wargame in Texas from March 23, 2009
click on link for access to the slideshow

Monday, May 11, 2009

May 10 Highlights of 15mm ACW battle of Mechanicsville

Here are the photos, minus commentary by photographer Yours-Truly who usually slept through history class. As usual Spike did an excellent job of taking pics of the battle. Intial deployments saw AP Hill attempt to attack on the left and center, the only real success was in the center and right flanks where Union gunners were eventually driven off their guns by a determined Confederate Brigade. The Confederat artillery in the center hunkered down in the shadow of the bridge and finally suceeded /after being augment by a 12 pd napoleon section in causing some damage to the Union batteries deployed next to the zouave battale in the first pic. The attack on the left faltered and eventually a general withdrawal was ordered. Without out proper scouting prior to the battle it was assumed the river was swollen from recent rains and therefore was unfordable. this proved not to be the case. As the brigadier on the left finally sent word to AP Hill but the decision to withdraw had already been made and orders dispatched.


Others may feel free to fill in the details of what happened. AS can be seen in the last photo the Confederate left is in full retreat while the center brigade has been decimated and had few effectives left to support the artillerys withdrawal. The Confederates lost 8 guns and 3 caissons, and suffered 2500 casualties, while the Union division suffered a similar level of infantry casualties, but they lost only 2 guns and no caissons. Battery A died to the last man defending the Confederate left as the Army retreated. Although the Battery at the left of the Zouave regiment did suffer a morale failure at the end of the battle. Too little too late.

Friday, May 8, 2009

Map of South Cobb High School Pirates game 05-08-2009 25mm Pirates battle description and Capt Radzig




South Cobb High Wargame pirate map Stonehaven village St. Pryces Island 05-08-2009
There were 9 units of 10 pirates each with 5 ships at anchor.
The objectives of the pirates was to pillage the town and escape before
the garrison woke up to catch them. The available ships were only enough
to carry 5 groups of the pirates to safety including treasure.

During the Raid Capt Radzig faces off against Redbeard after a broken Parley
Govt troops are close on there heels and the natives are restless

Native tribal cannibals were roaming the island.

The natives were extremely troublesome to the pirates.



One group of pirates did escape on two ships but with out any treasure.

The Colonial garrison's artillery kept targeting the pirate's treasure wagons/carts and destroying

the treasures the Garrison was supposed to be protecting.

Guess the only good pirate was a dead one.





2 small boats escaped Pirate Mara Cobb and Pirate Lori Cobb, the female high seas threats, took loads of Chinese silk back with them.





A third small boat sank when it hit a sand bar. Lack of good navigation will do that.



Scattered in the town waiting for the pirates were groups of colonial militia.

Isolated units of regulars delayed the Pirates long enough to allow the Marines and

the three commanding officers to muster out for a reckoning of the pirate raid.



also one isolated garrison unit commandeered one of pirate sloops and set off after the

fleeing pirates. Marines were a 20 figure unit with a sailor contingent of another 24.



Pirate figures were Old Glory, Eureka and Foundry. Buildings included Dan Fox Miniatures as

well as docks and fountain by Miniature Building Authority.

Pirate artillery was by Eureka, Garrison artillery included a warhammer fantasy siege gun.

Marines and sailors were Old Glory and Connoisseur