Honour Is Restored

I start with a small apology. While I did take plenty of pictures I do not remember bouncing along on a pogo stick at the same time. The results on my camera show I clearly was.

I played the French side, consisting of 1 unit of Chassurs a Pied, 3 units of Line Infantry, a single artillery piece, a Mitrailleuse and of course, Corporal Tousan and his engineers, The Prussians were roughly double the size. The mission, to destroy the bridge over the River Pissoire at the village of Pot de Chambre.

The rules were an adaptation of Osprey's The Men Who Would Be Kings.

The furthest forward units, the Chasseurs took the brunt of the casualties and started to collect pinned markers from the first move.

Once Tousan gave the nod the French quickly advanced to the rear over the bridge.

This time there was no misunderstanding, the bridge blew in the faces of the enraged Prussians,

Having suffered less than 40% casualties (which would have resulted in a draw) Tousan had saved the day. His daring photograph standing by the destroyed bridge while under fire shows his steely determination to wipe the slate clean.

So impressed am I that I will actually paint his stripes on his right sleeve too!

Honour Restored?

 Since February I have been busy painting up troops for tomorrow's show, Broadside. It is a small Franco Prussian War encounter around the village of Pot de Chambre.

Here we see some of the central characters, Corporal Tousan and his squad of engineers.

Perry Plastic French Line with tools from Irregular Miniatures to look more "engineery".

Touson is from a long line of military engineers and hopes that tomorrow he will be able to wash away the stain of shame hanging over his family. 

You see, his grandfather Captain Jules Touson served the other Napoleon at a place called Leipzig. He too was charged with destroying a bridge but through an unfortunate misunderstanding earned the soubriquet of "Too Soon" Touson. 

And a reduction to the ranks for the Touson's  in perpetuum.

The Empire needs a new hero. Tousan needs redemption!

The Advance Guard Has Arrived

The next show game is coming up in a few months. This time we are putting on a 28mm Franco Prussian War bash. Here is a sneak preview of the French Chasseurs entering an apparently abandoned village...

Seems quiet enough...

The figures are Perry and I am particularly fond of the trumpeter figures, he looks like he has walked out of a Detaille painting. The release of the plastic French infantry next week is eagerly anticipated. My order went in within hours of news of the release.

For the moment I am wading through those coldly efficient Germanic troops. There are quite a few in the queue! 

Union Cavalry Finally Completed

 Originally I took this picture of my newly completed Union cavalry as a taster for the club's Cavalier Wargames Show game for tomorrow. Due to a family emergency I cannot now make it and have handed my troops to go on without me.

I am sure they will not let the side down as currently my Union forces for Rebels & Patriots have a 100% victory rate for the scenario being played. I am sure the war correspondent accompanying the troops will soon be waxing lyrical with tales of "valor (sic) and glory"!

White Knuckle Ride

Much as I like artillery on the wargames table I often wonder how much fun it would have been to turn up in the day. Dodging potholes in my daily commute is an art even with 21st Century technology. These chaps had no suspension at all.

The ACW wargames show figures continue to amass. This little group completes my artillery contingent for the upcoming show. From now on it is cavalry all the way.

Let's hope that La-De-Da Gunner Graham* doesn't get thrown off before he can give them effective support.

* Apologies this is a very British reference to people of a certain age. 

Oh dear. What a shame. Never mind.