Gettysburg part 2

Ok it was mentioned in one one of my earlier posts was that all I had to show of my trip to Gettysburg - half a dozen photos? Well the simple answer is no I have loads of photos on various devices (battery death on ipad and phone)  which I'm currently collating and putting in order.

In the meantime however here's a few more with where I can remember some notes on location etc.



This was just onto Cemetary Ridge having passed the Barn at Meade's Headquarters - the woodline in the far distance is the Confederate line.

We spent quite a bit of time here this is the area of the Union line that was to receive Pickett's charge again their jump off point was the tree line in the distance - when we walked it from the Confederate side it was noticeable that there was quite a bit of dead ground en route but also not noticeable from this side theres quite a bit of a slope for the Confederates to climb on that last 100 yards or so,

The copse - this was the group of trees on the high point behind the Union Lines that Pickett's men used as their point of reference on the advance.

Whilst we still looked fresh :) the name of the farm behind me escapes me at the moment but Pickett's men advanced either side of it and of course it was safe haven for many a wounded man.

Walking down Cemetery ridge in the far distance Big Round Top

The Union did manage to get some guns onto Little Round Top again the tree line in the distance is where the Confederates moved along before they began their attack on Devils Den etc.

Looking out over the slaughter pen

A couple of shots looking up onto first the extreme left of the Union line held by 20th Maine and then up towards Little Round Top - some interesting lectures and talks make you realise just how close this action was and that in Wargames terms the Union had quite a bit of luck with some Brigade and Divisional commanders using their initiative.

The triangular field - allegedly the most haunted part of the battlefield! and the right flank of the Confederate army. There are a couple of good talks on the NPS Gettysburg site re this location.

General Longstreet's monument at the right flank of the Confederate line did his disagreement with Lee and tardyness in attacking Little Round Top cost them the Battle???

Hopefully once I get the rest of the photos sorted I will do a part 3 :)


Finally can I commend the following - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yulcQakhRAY&t=5s

One of many great talks, this is about General Sickles and the fight for the Peach Orchard and Wheatfield.
As a minor item Sickles was allegedly the first man to successfully  use the defense of Temporary Insanity when he shot and killed his wifes lover near the Whitehouse (but there again he was a lawyer!! :)

Salute a brief review

Well last weekend saw me travel to the Excel with Gav to trade with my figure range and his Blood and Plunder stock from the shop.

As always I take my hat off the the Warlords for organising this event it's no easy task for sure.

We were almost fully set up by 4.30 on the Friday evening and I hoped that would give me some time to look around on the Saturday morning. 

I should realise by now that a significant number of gamers and traders don't arrive until the Saturday morning which means in the houir I had to move around the show not a lot was finished!!

Of those games I did manage to see these were the ones that caught my eye

Gringo 40's Tonkin rebellion was very impressive

Thirty Years war action not fully set up but it looked good

These were models on the Mierce Miniatures trade stand - not my thing but they looked impressive and the terrain board they had for their game was pretty damn good as well

28mm Command and Colours  Napoleonic - think it was Vimeiro

that was it - I know there were lots of other nice looking games but they weren't ready for photos.
Big Lee at http://www.blmablog.com/2019/04/salute-2019-photo-report-part-1.html does a really good 3 part review with lots of good photos.

Was it a good show? It's Salute and I always think it's pretty awesome and a really good way to gauge where the hobby is at.

I did think there were noticeably more younger people there ( or is that just because I'm getting older) and certainly more ladies, which all bodes well for the hobby.

I know there were complaints on TMP that there were fewer historical games - I certainly didn't get that impression if you look at the list of demo games there are a lot of historical. However as a general rule of thumb I do feel that the scifi/fantasy lobby generally put more effort into their games in terms of display etc.

Big Lee says he felt more of the historical games looked like good club/ home games which he found as a positive because it made you feel that it was achievable rather than just looking at something knowing you could never hope to replicate it - an interesting view and probably a good one.

Anyway its all over for another year - maybe next year I can find two helpers so I can have a real look around :)

Gettysburg and getting ready for Salute

Well Back home from America and as always it was  hard saying goodbye to my son.
The weekend saw us walk a big chunk of the Gettysburg battlefield 15 miles we clocked up during the best part of the day.
It was one of my 'biggies' on my bucket list and the ten hour drive each way was well worth it. The town of Gettysburg not much bigger as it was back then and we found some awesome places to eat and drink.

So as to the walk itself well as with most battlefields being there brings another dimension, you really begin to appreciate lines of sight, understand how troops can remain unseen in certain areas and in some cases how CinC's would have to rely on good intelligence as to what was happening

Lydia Leister Barn - Meade's HQ

Pickets charge from Union lines

Looking down from Little Round top to the Slaugher pen

looking up towards 20th Maine location behind low wall

Devils Den - big Dave looking not so big!

A most awesome day and the stay in Gettysburg was pretty damn good to.

Two small talks that are very interesting to listen to 

https://youtu.be/Myoj2hntbdg

So this morning it's now off to Salute!

Horse Guards finished and all ready for departure

Pleased to report I got the Horse Guards finished today so upon my return from America it will be the turn of the 6th Regiment of horse.

I'm pleased with how they have turned out but next I really need to get Kingston's light Horse done for Culloden - we shall see.

I also managed to get 6 of Keith's Highlanders (87th foot) converted and 6 Freytag Jaeger together with a couple of running British Grenadiers all destined to appear in Charles' book on small actions in the SYW I will get these in the post to Griffin for a master mould and upon my return I will do a few more pieces - mainly Jaeger command and Grenadiers for the 87th.

So with that little lot done just had enough time to pack my case for the trip, all I have left to do is sort the reading material and with a trip to Gettysburg lined up I think I know what I will be reading.

Landing soon

I know some visitors here don't visit my Crann Tara blog and most of the time I try to keep things separate between the two, however on this occassion it's a repeat post.

The one good thing of having your own figure range is that you can effectively get whatever you want, the downside is the commercial aspect and not everything I get made is done to be a commercial success 🤣 Of course if I was a talented sculptor like John Ray et al then the world would be my oyster!

Any way ages ago I decided I wanted Naval landing party there are loads of small and large scale engagements -minicampaigns where ships crews were sent ashore. It's taking me a long time but I've eventually got what I wanted and taken a bit of a financial risk in doing so.

Richard Ansell has sent me photos of the 16 figures coming my way, plenty in bare feet to act as crew on ships and the four open handed figures are designed to act as gun crew or take the melee weapons we've made.
Exciting times ahead.

Work in Progress

With the oncoming trip to America in two weeks to see my son, the preparations for Salute then as always time is limited however I'm determined to make the most.
So this last week I finished the horses and basing for the Horse Guards they are awaiting the issue of the standard and the Matt varnish to complete.
I then need to do the 16 horses for the 6th horse whose troopers are patiently waiting for their mounts.
On the bench I have started on making the Freytag Jaegers, the project with Charles on his next book on small scale actions of the Seven Years War see the requirement of quite a few new troops. With sculptors time limited some of it is down to us.
I did the Von Luckner Hussars and Charles did the Mounted Freytag.
Now it's pressing on with the foot Freytag and some Keith's Highlanders who apparently feature quite heavily in some of the actions. Hopefully I will get these off to Griffin before I leave and will do Grenadiers and command upon my return
The joys of a busy life.
Just nosing in is a knight from the Lannister faction of A Song of Ice and Fire, with the last season fast approaching it would be remiss of me if I didn't try to finish the army.

An excellent weekends gaming

This weekend saw my travel up to Scotland for my first game of the year at Charles Grants.
As usual my opponent was John Dougan and on this occasion Charles managed to get involved.

The game was part 1 of the Battle of Wilhelmstahl, part 2 to be fought in May.
Only a couple of teaser photos as the game will feature in Charles' next refighting. History books

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This was taken at the end of Saturday's fighting with a lot more to happen on the Sunday.

It was another hard fought action with some real challenges.

As usual the evening was spent discussing our wargaming lives 🤣 Yet more plans for Crann Tara and a discussion around Ferdinand of Brunswick compared to Frederick. My own view being that Ferdinand was a better General than Frederick, he was normally outnumbered had to command an army of diverse nationalities and generally took the offensive.

At least that's my thoughts.

For those that want to know more -
https://www.britishbattles.com/frederick-the-great-wars/seven-years-war/battle-of-wilhelmstahl/