The World Turned Upside Down - Rebel Militia Brigade.

 

The creation of my Rebel Militia brigade picks up the work I did over the Xmas of 2021 into 2022 using an idea from the Perrys to rapidly create multiple units of militia for an AWI campaign they had decided to run, and using the plastic continental miniatures suitably adapted to give a militia look to the new force. 

JJ's Wargames - Mohawk Valley Collection, American Militia

At the time I was focussed more on producing a large force of Tryon and Albany County Militia that figured large in the Mohawk River valley campaigns of Sir John Johnson and other British and Loyalist forces, raiding that area of the northern frontier with Canada.

JJ's Wargames - Mohawk Valley Collection, Albany and Tryon County Militia

With my attention recently turned to creating forces capable of representing larger battles fought during the American War of Independence, the creation of my three new battalion sized units simply required the addition of a few drummers, standard bearers and officers together with some suitable colours from GMB flags, and hey-presto, I present by new three battalion brigade of New England militia or any other militia, Rebel or Tory, simply by changing the colours as required.

My sabot based units also facilitate an easy quick change of colours, plus perhaps a few more uniformed characters, some with bayonets, and these units can quickly take on the appearance of motley Continentals if required.

To give these chaps more of a militia look, I purposefully only have them carrying muskets without bayonets and removed any hints of bayonet scabbards from the the rear left leg of each figure.

On masse the brigade looks quite formidable, until you appreciate their limited abilities as raw civilian soldiers.

The brigade had its initiation to battle in our recent game run at the Devon Wargames Group, where some of my militia posed as Continentals and the irregular forces they actually are modelled for, and also leaving some figures available to be brought over in service of the king, acting as Tory militia scouts.

Devon Wargames Group - Battle of Telegraph Hill

I have been away from my desk these last two weeks soaking up some glorious Ionian Summer Sun, swimming in warm seas, enjoying grilled octopus, red snapper and sea-bream for dinner, whilst also taking in the odd piece of ancient Greek and Roman archaeology, but am now looking forward to getting back to work.

Carolyn and I dining out during our two weeks in Kefalonia and Ithaca.

The view of the Ionian Sea from the Palace of Odysseus in Ithaca, identified in 2010, and likely looking from Penelope's former window

The exquisite remains of a Roman villa mosaic floor,
one of several such villas we visited during our stay.

As always, more anon.

JJ