Quo Vadis ?

I've been busy painting up more figures for my Garibaldi period project inspired by the recent games I and 'A' have been playing . But I'm now think I've got enough and there is no need to go further buying and painting more figures . I have 4 units of 'Redshirts plus a gun and crew, 2 units of Sicilian 'Picoloti' and this is about all I need for Garibaldi . The Neapolitan's will have 6 units of infantry a battery of artillery and 2 squadrons of cavalry which seems enough to give a good game to take on the revolutionaries . I've always found it easier to start projects rather than to finish them and call a halt !.

Been doing a lot of reading up of this fascinating period of history and am tempted to enlarge on it . But which protagonists to pick next ?  - Austria , France , Piedmont or the Papal State ? , each has its virtues , but having done a French army for the FPW they are the least likely candidate . The Austrians would be different and Irregular do some very cute figures , the Papal States have a quirky little army and both could fight the Piedmontese . Hmm !? this will take some thinking  of ! . 

Attack on the Mule Train (Parte the Seconde)

Originally posted 4/12/12

The Scheither Carbineers suffer heavy casualties and are easily driven off by the French rearguard.

The Allied attack on the centre also is roughly handled !

The Grenadiers take hits from the French line infantry and the Chasseurs and with the Hussars forming up to their rear they decide discretion is the better part of valour and retire !.

Colonel Scheither rallying his Jaegers decides to call off the attack as casualties are mounting and the French are almost untouched by his attacks .

Voltaire is triumphant !. The Allies put up a rather poor show overall , their attacks were poorly coordinated and the French drove each one off easily . In fairness to Col. Scheither I diced randomly for the position of the attacking units and these probably lead to the trap being sprung to early and the French being easly able to cope with them . Scheither retires to lick his wounds and plot his revenge !.

Another Artillery Limber And Team

Originally posted 27/11/12

Having cast up and painted a limber and team for the French several weeks ago I thought it was time the Allies got one as well.

This gun is manned by Scheither's Frei Korps and there seems to be no information on the gun and limber carriage colour - so I decided to paint them a dark red.

To get the wheels to cast right I have had to do extensive work on the mold, drilling air holes were the spokes are as these frequently miscast.

Normal Service Is Resumed - Or Back To O.S. SYW.

Originally posted 25/11/12

After my deviation into killing Zombies (damned hard as well it was, played 6 games and did not win one !) I am returning to a 40mm SYW  game , the French column is moving a mule train carrying the pay chest for the local garrison . It is protected by 3 Companies of the Regiment Du Roi , a Company of the Chasseurs De Sombreuil and the Hussars Bercheny. They have to reach the village in the top left hand corner of the above photo . The Allies have dispatched a raiding force of cavalry and light infantry to capture the mule train.

The precious bullion on mule back carefully guarded .

 Voltaire and his faithful manservant 'Wee Jocky' are accompanying the column . Here he is lecturing his servant on the correct method of moving through enemy country.

However the Prussian 'Black' Hussars have other ideas !. Too be continued ......

Test Run For OS Table .

Originally posted 14/11/12

Having got the table painted up I thought I would try it out with a 40mm SYW 'Charge' game.

The French Regiment Du Roi advances encouraged by its Major.

The French gun deploys to support the Light infantry fight off the Allied Jaegers.

The French cavalry reform to counter the Allied cavalry's flank attack.

The British 20th Regiment of Foote march for the exposed French flank covered by the hills . The figure bases don't quite match the table but are close enough for now. Just for the record I counted up how many figures I have cast up so far ( I know this is a bit sad !) and came up with a total of 132 foot and 54 mounted plus 2 guns and limbers. 

The Lead Regiment.

Not a illustration of the author as a young man ! . Rather dated and a bit twee , but I like a poem that rhymes !.

The Invasion of Sicily 1860 - or How to Kill off Garibaldi .

I decided to set up a game to play with my newly painted toys , it was to be an meeting engagement between the invading force of Garibaldi and his 'Thousand' and a force of Neapolitans sent to intercept them . The Garibaldini will come on at the point marked with the red arrow and the Neapolitans the white one . I took the part of Garibaldi (well I have a beard - and a red tee shirt !) and 'A'  took control of the Neapolitans .

The forces moved quickly down the road and Garibaldi deployed his Sicilian skirmishers and then a series of failed command rolls meant they would not leave the shelter of the stream bed . 'A' started to move aggressively down the road .

Although the Neapolitans had a poorer command system they got lucky and deployed into line and brought their artillery up to support it .

Trying to save the situation Garibaldi called on the first Battalion of Redshirts to follow him and charged the enemy line - in a protracted melee they lost heavily and I managed to get Garibaldi killed ! - sigh ! - it went down hill from then on .......

To make things worse the next Redshirt unit was shot to pieces as it tried to cross the bridge  and its Commanding Officer was killed as well .

The Sicilians finally move forwards and halt further Neapolitan advances - but it was to late !.

A Neapolitan eye view of the conflict .

The Author removes yet move of his troops to the 'Great Filing Box in the Sky' , 'A' took great glee in handling the camera at this point ! .

The Blogger puts a brave face on it !. Well a disastrous day for the Unification of Italy - but a good wargame ! , the 'Black Powder' rules worked well and the game was played in about 2 hours . I believe Garibaldi was only wounded and is now trying to muster his depleted forces to have another go at the Neapolitan oppressors .