Haitian Shock Markers and other ramblings....

A couple of items that have been in the queue for quite a while.

First up Haitian Regular shock markers, as the games have got slightly larger the need for more shock makers has reared it's head, these started out as British Militia from Trent Miniatures, but paint up reasonably well for the Haitian loyalists.

I have opted for two dice spaces to try and reduce the number of counters on the table.

They still need some static grass, something for Warfare tomorrow.

Next up a Warning Beacon from the Too Fat Lardies it fits nicely into the campaign and can serve as a jump off point or simply table clutter. 

The cage needed a repaint as in a moment of madness I painted it as if made of wood, that would not have lasted long once it was alight.

I used real twigs which did not look right so resorted to painting them, how mad is that.

The Insurgents below show the size comparison.

It's the annual trip to Warfare tomorrow as the Wyvern's lend a hand to Paul at Kallista with the Battle of Mohi. Another Hungarian adventure as the Mongols look to take on the might of King Bela IV and his heavy cavalry... More on this in future posts.

Reading is always a very relaxed affair, plenty of room to get around the table and the ability to wander off and make those purchases that you convinced yourself you did not need in the morning but felt the need to buy at 3.00pm

Meanwhile I have decided to have a clear out in the man cave and off load some of the periods that have had little game time over the past couple of years. I have been reasonably focused of late trying to expand existing projects or merging games e.g. V in Africa or Modern Russian - Sci-Fi.

The Spanish Civil War Collection is one of those that has lacked game time and the urge to expand the numbers to a second faction. A shame really as they are probably one of the best paint jobs and include a mix of Empress, Rif Raf and NorthStar, with unique head swaps.

If you can give them a home they are on E-bay now see the link below.

Spanish Civil War - Chain of Command

 

 

QH Miniatures - Havana Volunteers

I spotted these a few months back when looking to bolster the Spanish forces for the Haitian Campaign produced by QH Miniatures out of Spain. 

One of the benefits of playing one of those periods that lacks source material is you can be a little more flexible in the forces you field so why not draft in reinforcements from Cuba and Havana Volunteers, a black light infantry unit.

They are some way off others on the market in terms of sculpts, but they have a certain charm about them, they remind me a little of Peter Laing from the early 80's. 

An extra unit of light Infantry will help bolster the Spanish forces in their continued assault on the Haitian loyalists. 

Next Up Spanish Command.

The Pearl of the Antilles. - The Haiti Campaign - Day Eleven - 11th August 1791

After a delay over the summer the latest moves are in and the country is split between the quiet south and raging north.

In the Western tip of the island the British under Thomas Maitland remain encamped watching and waiting to see how the rest of the island plays out. Meanwhile Christopher Henry begins to stir the local slaves for the fight that is sure to come with any faction on the island print leaflets and calling out the Jacobin Insurrectionists in the East.

Packing up his headquarters his forces move west towards the small town of Baraderas.

Further to the east the Mulatto forces on the high ground over looking Port Au-Prince watch the Republicans go about their business with cavalry patrols roaming far and wide.

Neither side wanting to commit offensive forces in the area.

After the 2nd battle at the fort the French Royalists under Viscount de Blanchelande tend to their wounded behind the walls at Bahon, their medical staff worked hard to patch up the wounded. Their morale had taken a knock and with 7 dead and 6 wounded the next few days would be very dangerous.

Elsewhere the French reinforce their garrisons and barricade the approaches to the towns.

Dutty Boukman having gained a significant win yesterday had his own wounded to tend to with 5 casualties, his dead would have been higher but for the difference in force morale of 6 which allowed him to bolster his command.

His Slave forces watched the French behind their walls.

After the raid on the Spanish outpost Princess Amethyste heads back to their territory however the Spanish move to counter this and the two forces face off against each other each looking to strike a killer blow on the other.

Toussaint Louverture continues his drive for the capital of George Biassou, Biassou had spread his troops in the hope of leading the loyalists from their primary goal. He will need to regroup fast if he is to stop incursion.

So one major engagement to resolve with the Spanish and the Princess once again butting heads....

Napoleonic Haitian Cavalry.

Finally..... After what seems an age the Haitian Cavalry are finished. 

In my reading of the battles in Haiti there are scattered reports of Haitian cavalry, Osprey's book on Napoleon's overseas forces depicts Colonial Dragoons but I wanted some line cavalry to bolster the forces of the native Haitian forces.

As usual great service from Steve at Arcane Scenery who in addition to the packs of French Cavalry from the Trent Revolutionary Range a bunch of extra heads from the Haitian range, this gave me plenty of variety in the unit. I quite fancy a Maroon unit eventually but am struggling with mounted civilian types perhaps ACV Bushwacker's might do?

These will be a useful addition to a number of the factions, as they can be used for the French forces, the Haitians or the freed slaves perfect timing as the campaign starts to pick up again.

Next up something a little different and definitely not on a horse.....

The Pearl of the Antillies. - The Haiti Campaign - The 2nd Battle for Bahon 10th August 1791

After the first battle 4 days had past, the French under Viscount de Blanchelande starred out from the stockade, he had been bolstered by additional troops but was unable to stop the forces of Dutty Boukman as they surrounded the fort.

Dawn on the 10th August and French pickets rang the alarm as groups of armed slaves appeared from various points around the fort, the insurgents crept forward reaching the dead ground in the shadow the of the stockade. The slave army knew the French were in there but no soldiers were seen.

The slaves armed with sticks, knives and axes moved through the tall grass. As they reached open ground the French rose up from their positions and left off a round of cannister from the fort together with a volley from the Militia to deadly effect. The slaves retreated back down the hill as quick as they had come on.

On the far left Blanchelande unmasked his war dogs as the hounds strained at the leash they were sniped at by skirmishers from the under growth, the dogs set off in a deadly game of cat and mouse, some of the riflemen were caught and torn to shreads, but slowly the shock began to tell on the dogs and handlers.

To the right the main slave forces broke cover and advanced on the fort, the French called forward their regulars to stem the tide of insurgents. The first volley was not enough to drive back Dutty's forces but they had stopped and both sides began a long range exchange of musketry.

As it began to feel like the slave force were not going to make any headway and both sides were about to settle for a draw things were about to take a nasty turn for the defenders and the escaped slaves were about to have a day that would go down in history. Having seen off the first group of slaves, Viscount de Blanchelande charged forward to clear the second group of freed men.

The melee was a disaster the French failed to land a single casualty on the slaves but in return they lost 6 of their own including Blanchelande who was wounded. The French fell back and their force morale began to sink.

The Slaves with their confidence sky high rushed the flank of the firing line, the French unable to react turned and ran, a number of them falling to the blades and axes. The French force morale fell still further.

The French regulars continued to fire several ragged volley's even bringing their 4 pdr forward to even the odds but they were soon forced to give ground to the ever increasing musket fire. As the formation broke the French turned marched/ran back into the fort and slammed the gate shut. 

Dutty did not have sufficent forces to breach the walls but he had most certainly rattled the Royalists who now had to contend with multiple wounded to be tended to and a significant reduction to their fighting strength.

Will we see a 3rd battle for Bahon or will the slaves look to starve them out?

On to day 11 and fresh orders.

Drawing in the outposts - Pearl of the Antilles Campaign.

The summer months are always a testing time with campaigns as the lag between games can kill off peoples interests or the gap between games is extended the Pearl of Antilles campaign in Haiti is no different. There is also the risk that as the action hots up that the number of games makes the gap between moves to long to combat this the plan was to dice for some of the smaller games.

Within the Dawn and Departure campaign rules I adopted the simple dice mechanism with a couple of tweaks.

When attacked, an Outpost may elect to stand and fight, or may choose to retire.

If an Outpost elects to simply withdraw, it rolls 1D6.  

On a roll of 1 or 2, the troops from the Outpost will simply disperse and play no more part in the campaign. 

On a roll of 3 to 6, they may withdraw away from the enemy.

where they remain until give new orders if they are subsequently attacked they will automatically disperse unless reinforced with a larger detachment. (This should stop players constantly falling back.)

We have two such encounters in the north of the Island.

The forces of Gen Louverture continues to pursue the slave forces of George Biassou, Biassou has broken his forces up into small groups to try and slow the advance of Louverture as he advances towards the centre of the rebel controlled region.

Using a random dice generator.  - 4 The rebels slip away a mile or so having avoided Louverture's skirmish troops.

Meanwhile the Spanish were not so lucky. The Princess's forces on the back foot and falling back to Phaeton, looking to change the focus of the Spanish Commander an incursion across the border attacks the Spanish outpost.

With a random roll of a 2 - The Garrison are over run by the slave forces which number several groups and in excess of 60 attackers.

With one large encounter outstanding which see's the French under seige by the Slave forces of Dutty Boukman we should have this completed over the next fortnight which should allow us to get several rounds in over the autumn.

Cotswold Wargaming Day - 1st September

Next Sunday see's the Pearl of the Antilles taking a road trip down to Northleach, for the Cotswold gaming day. August is always a challenge on the gaming front with high days and holidays so this serves as a great kickstarter to the autumn and hopefully more hobby time than what I have been able to achieve over the summer.

I missed the event last year but Keith has done a great job pulling together a number of interesting games and with 30+ gamers booked in already it's sure to be a fun packed day.

The games cover a range of periods and rules sets so plenty for everyone.

• 19th century action in Mexico
• WW2 Battlegroup Panzergrenadier
• SYW
• Air Wargame, ‘Bombing Berlin'
• Crimean War, Bloody Big Battles
• ‘Liberdy’, a Wild West game
• 'Sawmill Village'
  

Players get the opportunity to experience the different games on offer with players encouraged to invite people into play, which is a great way of being tempted into a new period or experience a new rule set.

A 'wargames exchange' to sell, swap or give away to other gamers is available. It's the perfect opportunity to pass on things to other gamers that you know will appreciate the models or reading matter, items to good for your regular jumble sale.... Do people still have jumble sales???

I shall be hosting a Sharp Practice game featuring our old friend Claude Canard of the French Sloop "Le Vendeen" as he attempts a rescue women and children from the slave rebellion in Haiti.

Claude's had a make over and find himself shipped from Egypt to Haiti so lets see if he has more lucky in another of France's outposts.

4 commands are available on the day so plenty of room for people to dip in and out.

The event is being held at:

COTSWOLD WARGAMING DAY

The Westwoods Centre

Bassett Road

Northleach

Gloucestershire GL54 3QJ

Sunday 1st September 2019, 10.00 - 17.00

Looking forward to seeing everyone and a day of gaming.

The Pearl of the Antilles. - The Haiti Campaign - Day Ten - 10th August 1791

Day 10 and with a fresh player taking control of Henri Christophe in the south of the island things are starting to hot up.

The forces of General Jean-Jacques Dessalines (Gold) continue their expansion through out the region with another village - St Louis du Sud falling under his control.

The British hold firm at Pestel as the South West of the island starts to become somewhat crowded.

The Republicans continue to hold rallies and petition the people to show free will, but take no aggressive actions whilst on the other side of the mountain Rigaud's forces can be seen marching West along the coast from Jacmal.

Our new player Henri Christophe has sent out a flurry of orders, his men set about their new orders with great vigour with troops scurrying here and there.

In the North of the island Gen Louverture continues his advance into the territory of Georges Biassou, his skirmish troops push him hard. Louverture pushes his skirmishers forward keeping the pressure on Biassou. Biassou throws a shielding force to halt the advance of Louverture whilst he breaks up his formation in an attempt to slip the noose.

Meanwhile a body of men are seen advancing towards Louvertures forces.

The Spanish tend to their wounded with 4 men returning to the ranks. The Princesses forces retreat deeper into their territory falling back to Phaeton. However word reaches the Spanish commander of an incursion on the Spanish border by a group of slaves.

And finally after the attack at the fort a few days ago things have been quiet for the French, but reports are coming in from the pickets of Slave forces massing on the tree line around the fort. An attack is coming Dutty and his men are on the move.

Standby for round 2.

One major battle and 2 small skirmishes it's looking to be a busy month ahead.....

The Pearl of the Antilles. - The Haiti Campaign - The Battle of the Sugar Field - 9th August 1791

Jean - Charles a name given to him by his plantation owner peered out from the sugar field looking across the estate, an estate that had for so long been his home if you can call 25 years of slavery and imprisonment home. But free he was now and he was not going to let the Spaniards return him to a life of slavery.

Having been beaten a few days before the next engagement in the Pearl of Antilles Campaign is a further engagement between the Spanish and the slave army of Princess Amethyste in the north of the Island.

The battle is a fighting withdrawal with the Slave forces seeking to delay the Spanish by giving them a bloody nose before falling back.

The Spanish had learned much since their last encounter with Jean - Charles one of Princesses Amethyste's most trusted lieutenants. They knew the freed slaves would be waiting for them anywhere on the table, with numerous plantation houses and slave quarters. The enemy could ambush them from anywhere, but the Spanish had a one advantage they had recruited a local man who was able to show them the primary jump off point and a lightening strike would surely win this battle before it had started?

Using their exploring officer the Spanish are able to skirt the secondary deployment point generating a fixed deployment point on the flank of the slave army. The local man being able to lead the Spanish through the Sugar fields to within a stones throw of the primary deployment point.

Jean-Charles was forced to unmask his musket men to stop the colonial troopers now massing to his front.

The slaves fired a ragged volley at long range but were unable to stop the cavalry who charged into the defenders.

Jean-Charles could only watch as his 2nd section was swept from the field running back towards the tall grass and undergrowth.

Meanwhile the cavalry reorganised and edged forward, now within a few feet of the primary deployment point and victory. Jean-Charles called forward his remaining forces but with the cavalry so close many of his fighters were forced to deploy behind the main jump off point.

Finally some luck for the slave commander as he was able to call out a string of orders without Spanish interference. He ran from man to man urging his people to fight for their freedom rushing in front of the firing line, his troops fired catching the cavalry at close range and forcing them back from their so nearly captured prize.... But whilst securing a minor victory was rewarded by a shot in his rear.... charming..... His force morale slipped down to 4.... ouch.

Meanwhile aid was coming his way in the shape of the locals rising up and grabbing clubs, knives and any other improvised weapons to set about the on coming whites. The initial ferocious attack took out a section of colonials who were caught unloaded. The Spanish morale took a serious knock.

Whilst taking a number of casualties the unarmed slaves gathered their remaining men for a further charge only to be faced by a another full regiment of infantry all primed and ready to fire. Round after round was poured into the slaves as they were forces to fall back, their force morale slipping still further. Their issue compounded by Spanish artillery fire.

Sensing a minor panic in the Spanish ranks with the main body masked by the shattered cavalry.
Jean-Charles rushed forwards a large body of men each with barely a weapon between them but all keen on taking a Spaniard with them, but luck was not with them. Turn after turn would pass within a commander being triggered and without flags in the bag they had no opportunity to make their final charge.

Meanwhile the Spanish artillery was tearing holes in the slave ranks, the slaves morale waivered and then finally broke before the big choppers had a chance to set about the Spanish command.

A close run thing.....

Post battle report.
Casualties were very similar with the Spanish losing 17 to the Amethyste losing 18.
The difference of two on the force morale chart returns to men to the Spanish ranks they also capture a sack of supplies from the slave forces and seize the initiative.

However the Spanish have far superior medical facilities and manage to patch up all but 1 man who is killed and 5 walking wounded who will miss the next battle.
The insurgent forces see 7 dead and a further 2 wounded and are forced backwards.