The Cameron Highlanders

After many lengthy sessions, by my standards, at the painting desk over what seemed like eons at the time, the Cameron Highlanders have mustered into GHQ ready to join their fellow regiments in the Highland Brigade for my Crimean War project. When I appealed for information on the issue of hose, sporans and plumes I got two really good replies from Stephen first, then from Aly Morrison. The image below is from Aly's Almark on Scottish regiments and confirms my choices and Stephen's information are mostly correct, though perhaps the red on the kilts might have been broader!

It is strange, but I thought these 24 figures would take me the best part of a month but they are done in about 12 days. The figures are from Great War Miniatures , the flags from North Star and the bases from Warbases of course. Here they are anyway without any more waffling on ~

As a bonus here is a period photograph of my Highland Brigade in action at the recent Battle of Bugerov ~

For now though it's back to painting Roosians in the form of the fourth Jaeger battalion to complete the regiment! Their first base of figures is completed already and just needs texture and vegetation while the second base's figures are all ready to face the brush!

The Battle of Bugerov 1854

'History' tells us little of this long forgotten encounter; few eyewitness accounts have come down to us, perhaps suppressed by Horse Guards wary of unwelcome news? It is however rightly remembered as a 'Bloody Affair'! Now, Dear Reader we may finally discover why in the following annotated photomontage assembled from the lost papers of the late General Flashman, a survivor of the battle it transpires ~

No doubt the blaggard survived by taking timely refuge in St Olaf's church, perhaps even helping himself to the silver along the way?

Meticulous research in the recently rediscovered tranche of Flashman's papers seems to suggest that the battle was not planned or even really desired by either side, simply occuring when two arms of the respective armies were surprised to encounter one another in the vicinity of the small village of Bugerov where pigs and chickens seemed to outnumber villagers ~

Despite the unwelcome encounter both commanders hurried to issue orders to their Division and Brigade Commanders. For the Roosians Grand Duke Gornellevic was not prepared to see the invader despoil even this collection of hovels ~

While in the British ranks the orders of General E Useless were awaited with equal parts of anticipation and trepidation ~

Enough of this waffling on, let's cut to the chase and get the AAR on the road! The Battle of Bugerov awaits!

Elements of the Rifle Brigade skirmish on the outskirts of Bugerov awaiting the arrival of supports from the Highland Brigade.

Roosian infantry from the Rifle Battalion exchange fire with the Rifle Brigade in the village while ominously large numbers of Roosian infantry advance slowly in their support.

The Ligh Division fields three battalions on the British right, supported by the small Light Brigade of cavalry. Useless hopes to use the Light Division to pin the Roosian left flank while the Light Brigade moves around and in their rear.

Elements of the Rifle Brigade have worked their way into Bugerov as the Highland Brigade and supporting foot artillery reach the outskirts.

Fighting for the village intensifies as Rifle Brigade and Battalion exchange fire at close quarters and massed columns of Roosian infantry reach the village's outskirts.

On Useless' right the Light Brigade of cavalry with it's supporting battery of the Royal Horse Artillery, advance in support of the Light Division.

Away on Useless' left flank parts of the First Division find themselves at a disadvantage as massed Roosian infantry close with them.

The 23rd find themselves assaulted by massed Roosian columns which their close range fire failed to mark at all! {At this point we made a fundamental mistake with the rules which with hindsight altered the game's development.}

Back on Useless' left the regiments of the First Division have formed line and delivered devastating close range volleys which Disorder the Roosian columns! Hurrah!

But on Useless' right the 23rd are Broken and flee! Oh the shame!

All along the front now the action is intensifying. While the columns of Roosian infantry faltered the Cossacks and Hussars sweep forward. The 13th are caught in line and put to the sword. Their morale crumbles and they flee Broken to the rear.

The Grenadier Guards though stand firm against the Hussars who are Disordered by a Close range volley! Their charge fails to break the British line here, but the Cossacks' victory sees the 13th's supports also broken!🎲🎲

In the centre the close quarter fighting for control of Bugerov swings first one way, then the other. Sadly though on the right the 33rd follow the 23rd in rout, having Broken as their supports. Their loss breaks the Light Division and leaves the Light Brigade unsupported.

Bugerov remains contested in the centre, but Useless' left is beginning to crumble as weight of Roosian numbers begins to tell while British firepower proves uncharacteristically ineffective. The Quartermaster General may have questions to answer it seems!

With his right and left flanks defeated General E Useless' finds his army is Broken and despite success in holding off the Roosian attacks on Bugerov he is forced to concede the field to Gornellevic. The fundamental rules error we made probably hastened this defeat we agreed the next day, when chatting over the game by text, but the failure of Useless' left to deploy and move decisively really handed the advantage to the Roosians by limiting their time advancing under fire. Nevertheless we now have several good ideas for rule adaptations in the next game to hone the feel of a Crimean battle, so keep an eye out in a fortnight's time for the next run out.

A Bloody Affair?

Otherwise the little known Battle of Bugerov and a chance to get most of the painted part of my Crimean War collection out on the tabletop battlefield here in GHQ. Paul, as Grand Duke Gornellevic, commanded the Roosians ~

Leaving me, as General E Useless, to command the British forces ~

'History' tells us that the Battle of Bugerov was fought almost by accident rather than design when both opposing forces found themselves approaching the small collection of hovels which made up the village of Bugerov, where they hoped to find sustenance and rudimentary shelter from the rigors of the march. The two opposing armies drew determined up to contest control of those few hovels ~

The Roosian army of Gornellevic enjoyed a small advantage in units, especially in artillery which begin the battle already deployed for action ~

General E Useless deployed his army confident they would sweep the Roosian hordes from the field without difficulty ~

The battle will be fought as usual here in GHQ using Black Powder 2 as the rules, with some suggestions from the first edition scenario. The game was scheduled to last twelve turns as is our habit here. There will of course be a fully illustrated AAR later in the week...

The Bikelburger Raid

Just one week late Phil and I gathered in GHQ for a small SYW game. Small as Phil says he is still a tad wan following his illness. The scenario is a raid on the Bikelburger farmstead by both Allied and French all arms forces. 

Bikelburger farmstead, a tranquil scene of rural idyll, soon to be shattered by the roar of musketry and the clash of steel on steel!

The Comte du Merde entrusted with a command once more. His force is a motley assemblage of foreign infantry regiments in French service, supported by artillery and small elements of Dragoons. Oh, and the Hussars de Bykli! As is my wont now an anotated photomontage which I trust will carry the gentle reader into the heart of the action ~

Lead by the Royal Deux Ponts regiment the German regiments, supported by the Hussards de Bykli advance briskly on De Merde's right flank.

In the centre the Voluntaries de Fischer cover the advance of the Scottish regiments, while on the left the Irish advance supported by the Royal and Colonel General's Dragoons.

On the Allied right the Duke of Brunswick brings his infantry brigade into position supporting his sole battery of artillery.

The Hanoverian contingent of the Allied army is very slow by comparison to rouse itself for action. It looks very encouraging for the French with their bold strike forward in Turns 1 & 2!

The Duke's ADC consults the rule book with glee, the French have Blundered again and fall back. 

Meanwhile the Voluntaires de Fischer find their progress under the cover of the flock of sheep has not gone unnoticed and Hanoverian musket volleys Disorder them. Suddenly things look less rosy for the Comte!

Having decided on a policy of bold assault the Royal Dragoons clash with Hanoverian Hussars, unsuccessfully as it happened. Defeat is suffered due to lack of support and they Rout!

The Brunswick artillery fail to hit the proverbial barn door! Jubilant German infantry smashes into the improvised redoubt without losses!

As the infantry overrun the Brunswick battery position the Hussards charge home against the supporting Grenadiers! If the French are victorious the Allied right will be in disarray and might be turned!

Alas the Hussards are repelled and Rout ensues. For some inexplicable reason the victorious infantry do not occupy the redoubt. The Deux Ponts are in disarray too, caught in column by a Blunder!

Musket volleys from the Brunswick infantry break them and they flee to safety! All the promise on the French right has evaporated in one Turn!

On the French left the situation has stabilised allowing the leading Irish regiment to crest the low rise and pour a volley into the Hanoverian infantry! All is not lost for the Comte despite the defeat of his right flank 

In the centre though things are unravelling rapidly. The Voluntaires de Fischer have absorbed all the punishment man can take and their morale breaks resulting in a Rout!

The Scots Dance but are halted by Disorder from massed volleys and artillery fire, while a second regiment has retired as a consequence of another Blunder! The second German regiment has broken in Rout leaving the right vacant and the remnants of the centre open to a flank assault!

The French army is Broken, it's morale shattered by a series of dismal losses and defeats all across it's front!

The Comte de Merde concedes the field to the Duke of Brunswick's Allied army as he takes to his carriage to depart in some comfort to his estates in the south. Rather that than face the wrath of the king!

All up in Turn 7 from the planned 12. The Allies were slow to move initially and for four Turns the French were pressing all along their front. When it all changed suddenly the Allies could do little wrong, the French almost nothing right! A proper trouncing and no mistook! But great fun of course with Black Powder and grand to see Phil feeling well enough to make it to GHQ and administer a chastening thrashing!