Redoubt ACW Union Army Ammunition Wagon

This Redoubt ACW model was painted for me by Frank Patterson. The model itself is a little on the large size but is a fun model and the canvas top is modeled in resin with a nice textured finish.

Crann Tara Miniatures

I have recently discovered a very nice range of 18th Century metal figures by Crann Tara Miniatures. These are beautifully sculpted in 1/56 scale by Richard Ansell and are compatible with Fife and Drum and Minden Miniatures.

http://www.cranntaraminiatures.co.uk/index.php?route=common/home


I was sent some very nice sample figures by proprietor Graham Cummings who has been great to work with. The animation is excellent and the poses are a little less formal than the Minden range. Graham is focussing currently on the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745 and the War of the Austrian Succession.

I highly recommend these figures and hope that Graham will expand his products to include the Seven Years War which is my personal favourite.

British Infantry 'at ready' -Regulation dress 

British Line Charge Bayonet - Regulation  

Irish Piquet/French Infantry marching

Royal Ecossais Advancing and Command

Savoia Infantry Fifer

Savoia Infantry Fifer

Spanish Line Infantry - stood to attention

Spanish Line Infantry - stood to attention

The Lace Wars: Prussian Commands and Positions

My good friend, Bernd Fischer, kindly gave me an interesting book recently entitled:

"Die Kriege Friedrichs II"

This was published in communist Berlin in 1981. The front and rear plates contained some excellent images of the various positions taken by an infantryman of the 18th Century, most probably from the years prior to the War of the Austrian Succession.

Black Hussar Miniatures has tried to follow these positions in its recent SYW range as has Crann Tara Miniatures with its Wars of the Austrian Succession and Jacobite figures.

New Rebs:: Wheat's Louisiana Tigers & 3rd South Carolina Infantry

Here are some new figures: Redoubt Miniatures painted by Frank Patterson and based by myself with  GMB flags and 2" metal bases. These are the first of my new wargames figures based and intended for Fire & Maneuver rules.

Wheat's Tigers

Major Chatham Roberdeau Wheat

Wheat's Tigers

3rd South Carolina Infantry Regiment

3rd South Carolina Infantry Regiment

Naseby Fight: 370th Anniversary

On my latest trip to England, my brother Clive and I spent several days at Naseby, participating in and viewing the 370th Anniversary of the battle of Naseby, June 14th, 1645.

We arrived in Naseby on the evening of June12th and stayed at an excellent Bed & Breakfast in the centre of Naseby, the Old Post House. 

I am a member of the Naseby Battlefield Project. The organisation's mission is to preserve the heritage of Naseby. The 370th Anniversary celebrations were organised by the Naseby Battlefield Project and the Sealed Knot. Although Clive and I are not re-enactors, I did volunteer myself, Clive and my nephew Peter for duty on the first day of the event on June 13th. The three of us had a great time, despite the steady rain that fell through much of the day. I warmly recommend the Project to anyone who loves history, the English Civil War and the preservation of such important historic sites as Naseby. Please consider joining the Project.

I would like to start a United States chapter of the Naseby Battlefield Project. If anyone is interested, please contact me.

The Royalist army marched to Naseby from their bivouacs at and around Market Harborough. These photos were taken at dusk on the first day of the celebrations, not dawn as they should have been. 

The Old Grammar School, Market Harborough

St Dionysius Church, Market Harborough

After the re-enactment and dinner in Market Harborough, Clive and I took a reflective and rather solemn look at the historic battlefield at dusk. Although the farmland is much changed since the Enclosure of the old great fields, much still remains. Dust Hill, Broadmoor and Mill Hill are clearly visible.

The map provided by the UK Battlefields Resource Centre is very useful.

Here are some images taken from various points around the battlefield.

The re-enactment started with a skirmish between a Royalist picket in Naseby village and the advancing New Model Army which quickly chased off the Royalists.

Please excuse the time-stamped images, clearly my mistake. Lord Arthur Hazelrigg, the President of the Naseby Battlefield Project, personally greeted the volunteers in the morning and gave us our assignments. My team took traffic patrol in the morning and parking duty in the afternoon.

The afternoon events began with a re-enactment of the the fight between Okey's Dragoons and the Royalist Right Wing cavalry along Sulby Hedges.

The main battle was re-fought during the afternoon by the members of the Sealed Knot.

After the final defeat of Rupert's Bluecoats, which was movingly performed by the Sealed Knot, the two armies formed up and saluted each other, The Royalist regiments then marched past the victorious New Model Army, which then itself marched off the field.