Lancers forward!

Some Imperial Mexican lancers looking to skewer any poor republicans that happen in their way. First Corp figures converted from their Rush's Lancers packs. I will eventually field three of these.

Chasseurs d'afrique

Another unit assembles for the Imperialist force in Mexico - this time a unit of Chasseurs d'afrique (foundry figures). I just need two more figures to finish the unit. A nice unit to add to the French ranks!

Austrian Red Hussars for sale

6 very nicely painted and based Austrian Red Hussars for Maximillian in Mexico. Foundry figures painted, varnished and based ready to go. All sensible offers considered as these beauties are only available from Foundry very rarely. Email me at tenticrawl7@gmail.com

Red Hussars Muster!

Finally got around to finishing off the Austrian Red Hussar unit for my French in Mexico collection. Fine figures from Foundry, painted by a friend and touched up and based by myself. Ready to fight for Maximillian against the Republican upstarts!

French command base in Mexico

                              So where are your fellow rebels?

I also managed to complete another command stand for my French in Mexico collection. This is a French command stand 'interviewing' a rather unfortunate local. I really like the feel to this stand. The figures are Foundry - with the three French figures plucked from the Franco-Prussian range and the peon from the Western collection. I am waiting for someone to produce cloth flags for this period so that i can replace my printed effort!

Battle for San Pedro Junction

The Muswell Militia mustered its largest gathering last night (six players) for a French Intervention game using the black powder rules. The figures were from my own 28mm collection (which i am just finishing off basing) and from variety of manufacturers (Foundry, 1st Corps, Renegade, Helion etc). The game was based around the French/Imperialist trying to send supplies via the railway and the Republicans trying to stop them!

The Imperialist supply train is stopped by disrupted tracks at the small town of San Pedro. Mexican light troops try to clear the way before the Republicans arrive!

The Belgian Imperialist commander waits nervously by the supply train as his men work desperately to clear the tracks.

To the north of the town dustclouds announce the arrival of a Republican cavalry force - several units of irregular lancers and a unit of state line cavaly.

To the dismay of the Imperialist supply train commander the republican cavalry are supported by infantry and a few artillery pieces. This could get nasty! Where is the relief coumn? The two republican infantry commanders wasted no time and pressed their attacks on the train defenders and the town of San Pedro. Artillery fire managed to disrupt several of the Imperialist units gaurding the train - much to the annoyance of the Belgian Commander Major Hayeoux.

The north side of the battle field - the Republican troops (several units of state militia - yes with confgederate volunteers! and a unit of irregulars) press home their attacks under their Commander Major Lynnz and manage to take the northern part of the town. Their cavalry support (led by their commander Major Milla) is to their right - attempting to block any Imperialist relief force arriving from the west. The Imperialist forces have yet to repair the tracks!

But wait....whats this in the distance? more Republican troops? No its General Nottereaux leading a flying relief column of French and Imperial Mexican Cavalry. But will they make it in time? Where is the occompanying French Infantry led by their commander Moraitis ? Having failed three turns of leadership it has failed to appear as yet!

Meanwhile the Republican Infantry push further forwards and now threaten the Imperialist train. The train escourt try desperately to contain the situation in the hope that their cavalry (seen in the background) can regain the advantage and scatter the Republican rabble. The Imperialist skirmishers flee from a massed charge - leaving the way open for an exchange of musket fire!

....but hold on to your hats...General Nottereaux personally leads the Imperialist cavalry (a unit of Austrain 'red' hussars and an Imperial Mexican Lancer unit) into the fray - will it be enough! After a tense melee the Austrian cavalry break 'my' unit the 'white' republican militia unit but are themselves broken! In the confusion General Nottereaux is swept away by the fleeing cavaly! The Mexican lancers do some damage but with a lucky morale roll the second republican militia unit stands its ground!

At this point we had to call it a night. But it was an enjoyable game (even though George didnt manage to do much as a result of failing his command in the first three turns). It was nice to get all my toys out on a lovely looking table. Over the next few months, all the bases will be finished and unit identification given. I will be making some casualty markers and be producing my own lists for The French Intervention for the Black Powder rules!

Thanks for looking

Simon

Its been too long.....

Unfortunately various events have conspired against my time to post over the last few months - but with gritted determination i am making some time to add to the blog once again! Apologies for the absence.

                               French in Mexico
First up we have a game of the French Intervention in Mexico, played at the Muswell Hill Militia (home of my fellow gamer Simon AKA big red bat (http://bigredbat.blogspot.com/). We used Simon's terrain boards (some of you might recognise from our ZAMA salute game from 2010), a mix of mine and his terrain and my figures (28mm from a whole host of companies) and the Black Powder Rules. We've played four games using these rules now and we are slowly getting to grips with them. There were four of us for this battle. We decided to play out a republican raid on an Imperial Ammo dump. Simon and myself were to play the brave Republicans, while Ian and Matthew were given the cruel oppressive French backed Imperialist troops.

The republicans were divided into two columns - one led by simon (see his blog for more details (http://myveryownspanishulcer.blogspot.com/) which was charged with taking the supply dump (consisting of some irregular lancers, 2 battalions of militia and an artillery piece) and the other led by yours truly (made up of some line cavalry, some skirmishers, 2 battalions of state militia and a band of irregulars) to try and act as a blocking force to stop any relief forces.  Watching over the supply dump was Matthew's Mexican general with some skirmishers, an artillery piece and some loyal local indians - all supported by a battalion of French Turcos. Ian commanded the French flying column sent out to protect the vital supplies - Ian's French commander had a squadron of Mexican lancers, 2 battalions of French Infantry and a unit of Foreign Legion. He also had soem dreaded 'bluecoats' or  Chasseurs d'Afrique.

My Republican column enters the scene - the Imperial Supply Dump can be seen in the background.

My general coaxing his troops into action.

My troops deployed to screen Simon's column as they assaulted the village. My plan was for Simon to seize the supplies before the French had time to punch through my positions. I sent out my skirmishers way ahead of my main force in an attempt to disrupt Ian's french advance. The plan worked better than i thought as a tentative charge by the French Chassuers was driven back by accurate skirmisher fire - hurrah!

    My bold skirmishers - revelling in the fact that the 'bluecoats' turned on their tailcoats.

Behind me things were not going so well - Simon's irregular lancers failed to show the Imperialist allied Indians the error of their ways - in fact it was the lancers who pulled back against heavy melee fighting. Meanwhile the Imperial artillery was keping the heads of the republican militia down and they were making slow progress.

                            The Imperialist Supply Dump

My general gritted his teeth as the French units entered the table - then watched in amazement as they stopped. Whether the French commander was assessing the battlefield or emptying his confiscated cognac collection his troops failed to advance. My skirmishers continued to put on a good show and i advanced a unit of militia to support them.

                                Hold on were coming boys!

More disaster behind me - Simons lancers retreated off the table (whether due to the embaressment of their efforts or the advance of the enemy is still being debated). The imperialist skirmishers were adding insult to injury to their artillery fire and it was taking longer than we had hoped to launch an attack on the enemy positions. When it finally came off - while the skirmishers were defeated - but the enemy artillery and the French Turcos resisted efforts to wrestle the supplies away. Not even a 'follow me boys' from the Republican commander had any effect. To add further insult the allied Indians took up a position to pour fire into Simons flank. It didnt look good.

Simons troops stopped in their tracks......they can smell the supplies.....

Back in my sector, the French came to life (obviously the alcohol had run dry) and Ian ordered his infantry to form line. My heroic skirmishers took some withering fire - but by some miracle stood their ground still! The militia sent up to support them also caught some lead and wouldnt advance any further.

                             The French advance!

Simon's remaining Republican troops were now a mixture of shaken and disorded due to the fire they were taking and just wouldnt advance any further. The French were now moving and looking to swat my holding force aside with European distaste.

      Imperial Mexican line lancers support the French advance!

At this juncture we called it a night - an Imperialist win it was. Boo hiss! Another fun game - we quite like Black Powder - or we are getting more used to it. We are finding it a little frustrating flicking backwards and forwards through the pages to find stuff as the rules could probably be better presented from a reference point of view. But they offer a fairly realistic run of events. We will play another game next tuesday.

Maximillian game.....

On one of the other members of the Muswell Milita club (simon)....
battle pictures

The 'Mexican adventure'....part 1 the Imperial Forces

Though called an adventure it was more of a nightmare for the French and Maximillian!I thought I would add some pics of this very colourful and eventful period in history. The Muswell Militia are having their weekly game tonight - hosted by Simon - and its going to be another Mexican Adventure game. We are currently testing some house rules that I have cobbled together. I have dusted alot of my figures out (I have both sides - Imperial and Republican forces) and thought i'd take a few pics for the blog. Picture above is one of my French command bases. The mounted office is from the Foundry Franco Prussian range, while the infantry are from the Redoubt ACW Zouave range.

Next up we have a unit of French light infantry forming up behind a wooden fence. These figures are all Foundry. I have based my infantry 4 to a 40mm square base - with 4-6 bases representing a unit. I think they look good as larger units.

The second pic is the unit in more detail. As you can see this period offers lots of vibrant and varied uniforms!

Then we have a light field piece to give some supporting fire. Again foundry figures from the Franco Prussian War range. As you can see adding the odd piece of vegetation/battlefield debris can bring the units to life.

Lastly to provide some mobile support and heavy hitting power we have some Imperial Line Lancers moving through a pass. These are actually 1st Corp Rush's lancers that I have converted. I like the vibrabt green uniforms of these and the added red lance pennants add some flair!

I have added a second pic so you get those uniforms in more detail. The cavalry look quite dramatic massed up - and those lance's would make any enemy think twice about messing with them!

This period saw an Austrian installed by the French as Emperor in Mexico. French, Austrian, Belgian, and Egyptian troops saw action against Republican Mexicans who opposed the European 'intervention'.

Last up for this entry is my Belgian command stand - figures are from Eureka . I  like these figures, particularly the advancing standard bearer who looks very determined to keep up with his commander.

I will endeavour to take some action shots from tonights game to add to the blog.