35th Foot (the later Royal Sussex)

Raised in 1701 by the Earl of Donegall, later known as the Belfast Regiment, got their Regimental colours, quelle surprise, from William of Orange and up it went to the Battle of Cadiz under the control of the Royal Navy, then the defence of Gibraltar and the siege of Barcelona, aaand renamed "Gorge's Regiment of Foot" and after that to "Otway's Regiment of Foot" until 1751 they became a number.
In the French Indian War, they were at Fort William (ups, ouch!), but later made it onto the Fields of Abraham, they broke some old friends from Fort Williams, namely the Royal Roussilions. In the War of Independence they took part at Bunker Hill, Long Island and Harlem Heights and finally at the White Plains, by that time probably one of the more battle hardened regiments.

The penultimate British regiment, that is missing in my plans ... but as you know, you can get addicted to painting redcoats!

"Beware of the flowers, 'cause I'm sure they're gonna get you, Yeah!"
John Otway and Wild Willy Barrett, 1977
(http://youtu.be/uIymBH7VvGg?list=PL84r41kgu-Qs1EEzVux4pc8WeuXPGV8Yw)

Trenton, 26th December 1776

Happy new year, everybody! And a very happy ending for the Grenadiers of Colonel Rall.

We were re-fighting Trenton, yes –  a scenario most would deem futile, because of the odds.

Nevertheless, we tackled the strategic problem and tried to defend/capture Trenton with beverages in our hands!

Angus agreed to mime CinC Washington, while me and Bart played the sub-commanders/ division leaders Sullivan and Greene. Dougie and Andrew agreed to play the Hessians, outnumbered at least 4:1. The scenario objectives were for the American, to take Trenton and to destroy the Hessians completely, while the Hessians just needed to survive for 10 plus 1d6 turns.

The rebels would start and the Hessians could only move once the alarm was sounded, i.e. American units would be within 20" of the guards.

Well it didn't start too well for Washington, Sullivan's division took its time to arrive. Hence, and maybe the influence of a bit of Navy rum, Angus decided to march forward, thus giving the Germans time to get up! and run. Bart, as Brigadier general Greene, was the only one who was actually trying to outmanoeuver the Hessians position, but he blundered off the table for on crucial turn, he would later regret.

Then the American tide splashed over a half deserted village, Jäger, Dragoons and some dampened guns were the only defense of Trenton at this point. Lot's of skirmishing fights flared up, but in the end the snow and failed command rolls hindered the American to close in the Hessians effectively (they rolled a 1, i.e. it was 11 turns only!). (It showed again, that movement can be more important that combat!!)

Yes, Trenton was captured, and maybe some guns, but it wasn‘t the media event the rebel public relation management needed! – so even if it was a tactical draw, it would have been a desaster for Washington!

Angus' rap:

http://www.edinburghwargames.com/Journal%20101.htm

Bart's rap:

http://asienieboje.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/battle-of-trenton-bitwa-pod-trenton.html

Figures are mostly Perry's (plastic and metal) painted by me or Jack (who assisted with the supply of half of the American army, Thanks again Jack!) the terrain was Bart, me and the club.

Trenton at the evening, Rall and his Hessians are drinking Brandy

Brigadier Stirling is arriving with the 1st Brigade

More and more American brigades arrive and Washington orders the attack

Sulivan arrives late and crosses the "Petty's Run"

But the Hessians are already evacuating Trenton

Washington drives his column over the bridge

The American army pours into the village centre

Rally at the orchard, Rall said

The Hessians retreating further minus a few guns, but all their lines intact

The Delawares chasing the Hessians

The German commander censores the encirclement attempt

The 1st Virinia Regiment battles with Rall‘s Grenadiers

Too late too few, the Rebels watch the Hessians dissappear into the icy storm...

Intro v. Knyphausens!! and Trenton 26th Dec 1776

Merry X-mas everybody! Und Frohe Weihnacht'!

Finally (after a hell of other distractions ...) I managed to finish my Knyphausens (von und zu Regt.)!
You just have to love them for that name alone. Willi and his regiment was part of the Hessian mercenary deal from Gerge III and took part in many battles (Long Island, White Plains, Fort Washington, Trenton (Yeah! Stille Nacht!), Brandywine and Germantown, but that's another story.

And to raise the festive mood even further... what couldn‘t be a nicer X-mas idea, than to re-fight Trenton (26th of December 1776)!!! (Jingle Bells!)

So then, on 30th of December me and Bart will do a little BBC version of the battle, and of course will report duly next year!
Snow storms, Brandy and card games, damp powder, turkeys and a lots of bad hangovers in the middle of New Jersey! What could be nicer! Stay tuned!

The Three Musketeers are sailing at dawn!

The Landsknechts never marched as the French stayed home and Richelieu went to Florida for a ride!
Still a Renaissance of some sort on the seventh voyage – not on the seven seas, but in a village somewhere in Alsace near Ireland, d‘Atagnan and the three other knew about a Lady in distress who needs to made it over the bridge, what the Cardinal did not want – and so he sent his villains and the show started. Camera on!

Firstly and effortlessly, we slain the Bewlay Brothers and the pike holders. Applause came from the stakeholders, the dice were nice to me and thee reached nearly the river, but then, but then the script changed sour Malkovich took over, Sutherland arrived on the scene, Athos fell, Portas closed its doors and Artemis refused and the old flame of what was his name came together and Yoda shat on my parade.

"And Ezra Pound and T.S. Eliot were fighting in the village‘s tower. While Calipso singers laugh at them. And fishermen hold flowers. ... and nobody has to think too much ... About Desolation row."

Yes, you guess, a nice evening!

Marvelous Minis from Paul (the Irish), village and greens from the SESWC, rules by 7th voyage, script by Fortuna and Robert Zimmerman.

Athos is pointing at the Cardinal Enemy 

The Bridge is closed – and behind another Irish Giant

Athos is pointing at the dead 

D‘Artagnan with the Lady in Distress at the Bridge!!!!

But then she was snitched away by evil villains

Next Scene Athos and Aramis are flipping out and start to slaughter

More Villains are coming and dying while the Lady is taken away

Athos frees her! And Pointing! Out of the frame!

Athos dies, Porthos or the other one soon to follow

The second musketeer bites the dust and the rest go home and hit the pub.

Landsknechte are on the march again

Schultheiss and Feldweibel are recruiting again, some larger contingent of pikemen and arquebusiers have been sighted; rumors of a roll call to some lesser (poorer) South German nobility (always in need for cash) that has been going round for a while...
Feldschlangen and Culverins trains have been seen coming together form different larger cities,

Something is stirring in Swabia...

Sneak Preview "La Petite Guerre"

What I sometimes like to do, when I'm not painting ...

I‘m working on a boardgame at the moment which should simulate the aftermath of the New York campaign in the American War of Independence. It is a stand alone, but initially I developed this as a campaign aid for bigger group scenario. Weather, Supply, Movement, Combat, Morale and Command have all their role in this simulation. The British Player needs to capture Washington and or Philadelphia. The American Player tries to counter this. 

Being used as a wargaming campaign scenario, it takes care of the rationale storyline in-between the battles/skirmishers. Thats the plan.  Still cards to be designed ... I think I can be happy, if I got this year the 1st prototype in my hands.

Screenshot of map plus few units and tokens

Front and back of units and tokens

Map and time and some utility regulators

Reference sheet