Battle of Lake George - Camp Attack - May 14, 2022

Last Saturday my mates Ezio and Jimmy dedided to play an historical scenario using Rebels and Patriots printed by Osprey.

It was a battle fought during French-Indian wars in September 8, 1755. The battle was set in the north of New York province and it was part of a the British campaign to expel the French forces from North America.

This is the battle field my friends prepared ... 

... this is the picture that inspired them

A French, Canadian and Indian of 1,582 men under the command of the Baron de Dieskau attacked 2,932 men including 200 Mohawks under Major General William Johnson.

General Johnson with his forces advance via Lake George and Lake Campalain against the French Fort St. Frederic. Johnson, camped 25 km north to Fort Edward (an English fort), sent a messager to Fort Edward garrison to ask reinforcement  ... unfortunately the messager was intercepted and in this way the French commander obtained the position of enemies.

On September 8, William's column marched directly straight into the trap prepared by Baron de Dieskau. It was knonw as the "Bloody Morning Scout". After a short battle the English were forced to come back to their camp.

My mates decided to play the assault to Johnson's camp. 

After the success of the first attack Dieskau ordered to his Canadians and Indians to charge the enemy till the camp. Unfotunately the Indians and the Canadians, shaken by the loss of their leader during the fight before, attacked the camp without energy so the French commander formed a column of 222 grenadiers directly against Johnson's camp.

The English forces hurriedly constructed defensive barricates using wagons, overturned boats and trees. 

Once the grenadiers were out in the open ground the British gunners crewing Johnson's three cannond loaded them with grapeshot cutting the French ranks.

Baron de Dieskau was hit by the cannons and died during the fight. After the dead of the Baron and the  loss of the Canadian leader in the previously fight, French were forced to retire. 

In our battle the cannon was destroyed by the Indians ...

... that in this opened the way to the Canadians

After a long fight the English troops pushed away the enemy and won the battle

Colonial wars British Sudanese troops against Zanzibar's scum - April 9, 2022

Last Saturday my mates played another scenario set into the Africa ... my friends used English Royal troops against the Zanzibar's scum.

All minis are 28mm. British men are painted by Antonio ... 

... while the Africans are a Giancarlo's work

It was an easy scenario in which Giancarlo's men have to reach the opposite table side 

Antonio used all his power to avoid African's advance ... 

                                                                         ... a gatling gun of the Naval Brigate ...

... a 7 pounder ... 

... and the cavalry regiment 

But Zanzibar men and their allies are strong enough to continue their path

At the end ... the African tribes manage to break the English line even if they have suffered a lot of casualties

Zulu army structure - Zulu wars March 2022

My friend Ezio painted a lot of miniatures for Anglo-Zulu war ... I took some pictures of his fantastic minis.

The organization of the Zulu army was profoundly different to its professional British counterpart. The army was a part-time citizen militia.  Its structure was based on a system of age-based regiments called amabutho (sing. Ibutho).  

Every two years the King summoned all the young people of the county who had reached eighteenth or nineteenth years age and created with them an Ibutho. Each Ibutho had a different name, a different uniform ... a combination of feathers and furs with a specific shield color scheme. These young men would remain in the King's service until their marriage.

After the marriage the soldier entered directly into the service of the royal family.

By the time of the Zulu War the number of regiments were (probably) 34 divided between married and unmarried ... Around 40,000 .... 50,000 men.

Skirmishing skills were extremely good.

Unlike the British forces, the Zulu army required few transports. Three or four days’ provisions consisting of maize or millet and a herd of beef cattle accompanied each regiment.

The standard Zulu battle formation resembled a crescent shape with two flanks moving to encircle the enemy. This formation, called "horns of the bull" had been developed over hundreds of years when hunting large herds of game.

Anglo-Afghan war - Feb, 19 2022 TMWWBK

Last Saturday my friends played a battle of the Anglo-Afghan war using Osprey's TMWWBK rules set.

Miniatures are 28mm. Afghan troops are painted by Alberto while English forces are prepared by Ivano. 

Below two pics to anticipate the high painting quality level of my mates

Ezio prepared the scenario. The objectives are easy. English troops receives a point for any units will go out of the north border while Afghans must block them. Rebels gain a point for each units they eliminate.

The initial set up

Ivano, English commander, starts to move his units on the right flank under the cover of a cavalry detach but ... 

... Alberto's Afghan warriors are in ambush and, after a few turns, they launch themselves against the lancers

The Afghan forces the cavarly to retreat.
English advances ...

Alberto launches his men in quick attacks that wear down the British while his cavalry is waiting for the right moment

The rebel forces destroy the last Lancers and after they tries to take the Union Jack but they are repelled

After ten turns ... only few units are deployed on the table

The English commander tries to reach the north corner of the table with two units while another one attacks the enemy cavalry

The English men are destroyed and Alberto used is artillery, his remaining infantry men to slow down while ... 

... Afghan cavalry arrives breaking down all last possibilities for the English commander. 

At the end of the day the Union Jack is down into enemie' hands