1837 Rebellion in Lower Canada - Part I: British Army

British Army on Parade - Lower Canada, 1837

This 15mm 'mini' collection has an interesting back-story.

I had first thought of digging into the mountain of unpainted 15mm Napoleonics that I've managed to accumulate in order to create a 1st Afghan War collection. I went so far as to paint-up the poor HM 44th Foot, and to get the Osprey campaign book. But when I realized how much I would be taking on, to say nothing of the terrain and the hordes of camp-followers that would be needed, I lost heart.

Somewhat later, after reading a book on the 1837 Rebellions, it occured to me that what I had would suit this campaign just fine, plus give me chance to try creating a 'winter' collection. I was also partially motivated on seeing the army list for this campaign in Osprey's Rebels & Patriots.

Assembling this collection will consist of three parts, the first of which is completed and you see pictured here:

• British Army (two command elements; four battalions of foot; regiment of horse; two sections of guns)
• Rebel Army (five 'battalions' of Patriotes; two sections of guns)
• Appropriate Terrain.

1st Royal Dragoon Guards

These Dragoons are obviously not in their winter campaign kit, but what the heck ...

Four Battalions of Foot

Gen. Sir John Colborne

General Sir John Colborne -- our Gallant Conquering Hero.

Lt-Col Wetherall

Second-in-Command Lt-Col Wetherall.

1st Foot

1st Regiment of Foot (Royal Scots).

34th & 66th Foot

The 34th & 66th Regiments of Foot.

71st Highlanders

The 71st Highland Light Infantry. All right, they're kitted out as Highland Foot, not Light Infantry. And they're not wearing winter uniforms appropriate for North America! But I was going with what I had on hand and didn't want to get too precious about the thing.

Artillery

Two sections of guns limbered up. I'm substituting Prussians, because that's what I've got.

Next up will be the Patriotes, which should be fun to paint. I also need to create some additional bases for groups of figs. Rules will be 'Rampanty'; based on either Rebels & Patriots or The Men Who Would be Kings.

It could be said that this bit of Canadiana doesn't offer up much of a fair fight. But it seems to me that the Patriotes in Lower Canada gave a better account of themselves than the Metis, and at least as good as the Fenians!

Cheers! 

Stuggle at the Money Pit

I don't post to this blog as often as I should, but a kind gift of a dozen Crusader figs by fellow gamer Doug H. inspired me to come up with this gem, which I took into our gaming club on Friday (June 2nd 2023).

The promotional blub which I posted to our club's website was as follows:

GAME:  ​Struggle at the Money Pit

SCALE:  28mm

PLAYERS:  2 - 3

RULES: ​Ronin, Osprey (heavily modified)

SCENARIO:  The time: Anno Domini 1315. The place: Oak Island, in what will become the Province of Nova Scotia. Knight Templar Commander Guido de Mal Direcionado along with a handful of his fellow Templars has sailed across the North Atlantic, escaping the brutal suppression of his Order by King Philip IV (the Fair) of France. Their mission? To conceal the Order's most precious treasure, the lost Ark of the Covenant, deep beneath the soil of the New World. Trouble is, there are several hundred Mi'kmaq warriors in the vicinity who don't take kindly to funny looking tin men burying their junk on private property ...

Fellow gamers Colin U. (as the disguised Templars) and Craig M. (as the Mi'kmaqs) were good enough to volunteer in this somewhat one-sided sword-swinging fest, which turned out to be a combination of Thermopylae, Little Big Horn, Last Stand of the 44th at Gandamack, and the end of Durin's Folk in Moria.

The disguised Templars gather for a final prayer before lowering the Ark into the Money Pit.

 The local Mi'kmaqs are working themselves up into a lather. This is half of them.

Rather than taking their chances by making a run for the boats, the Templars choose to form square at the Money Pit. This proved unwise.

The locals close in ...

The attack is underway, which included the Templars being pelted by swarms of arrows. The poor padre (middle of group in black) was done in by three arrows in the back. 

In spite of inflicting four-to-one loses on the Mi'kmaqs, the Templars have been whittled down to just two men, Knight Commander Guido (in red) and one brother Templar. 

Rather than slay the last two Templars the locals decide to capture them instead, and to bring out the stakes for a barbeque. The Ark of the Covenant itself is unguarded and ready to to carried off as spoils.

Whoops! This warrior was foolish enough to lay his hands on the Ark incorrectly, and like poor Uzzah in 2 SAMUEL 6:3-8, got instantly zapped by several thousand volts of static electricity.

For purposes of the game, I'm assuming that the Ark is in fact a capacitor, which carries a charge sufficient enough to zap the first couple of figs who rub up against it the wrong way. This necessitates a Moral Check (well, wouldn't you check yours?).

The Mi'kmaqs failed their moral, going from 'Steady' to 'Wavering'. 

This was enough to compel them to release the two Templars, who, even though they lost the game, hoodwinked the Mi'kmaqs enough to go on to do a medieval Danny Dravot & Peachey Carnehan, perhaps becoming men who would be Kings. But that's another story ...

Thanks to Colin and Craig for playing, and to Doug for the figs!