Dragoon basing tryout..

Trying out my basing for the new larger dragoon units, just plonked the figs on the new bases without gluing;  I think I'll change the command stand to single bases - otherwise a bit clunky.

Additional dragoon figures ..

To add to each regiment of Drgoons that I have I ordered two packs of Sash & Sabre skirmishing dragoons and some Drabant Swedes; shown below is one pack of S&S dragoons plus a Drabant officer and ensign ...

ECW Unit Compositions

In the process of planning my expanded dragoon units, I whipped up some ECW unit compositions sourced from 'Junior General' . These represent the basic units I use for my ECW gaming.

1. Regiment of Foot: 5 pikes + ensign; 10 musketeers + drummer + officer

2. Regiment of Horse: Officer + Cornet + 7 troopers

3. Dragoons (my new organisation): 

On horseback: Officer + Ensign + 9 mounted Musketeers; the mounted version is representational (purely for cost reasons), as they will mostly be deployed on foot.

On foot: Officer + Ensign + 14 Musketeers + 2 Horseholders (may reduce to total of 15, still thinking about this)

The quest for storage space...

Had a tidy up of my ECW figs storage cupboard under the gaming table; by purchasing some larger boxes I was able to store my infantry and cavalry more effeciently giving me

• one empty box, for new additions
• a box each for dragoon regiment - allowing space to sort out horse holders and get the dismounted dragoon numbers up a bit
• the larger boxes used for the infantry mean I also have room for another regiment of foot (hoorah !)
• I also have some room at the front for single figs and smaller units

using appropriate boxes I think now I have space for most of my projected additions

ECW Cupboard all neat and tidy

Chirton - Sir Warwick Hunt - rescue attempt ....

Sir Warwick Hunt the parliamentarian commander in Wiltshire, having been cpatured, is currently under detention at Chirton manor house; his brother Herrick is about to make a rescue attempt ...

 ---oXo---

Early in the morning at Chirton, some of the manor house garrison is up and about and the front gate has been opened; an officer is checking out for activity in the camp behind the tavern - some of the men there are up getting horses ready...

Herrick Hunt leads his small force of volunteers (dragoons, horse and some commanded shot) into the fields near Chirton ..

The dragoons have dismounted and are coming up into the village, while the horse with Herrick Hunt taking lead try to rush the gate house ..

Having failed to get into the gatehouse the horse move to ride round the side of the manor house ...

At the same time the dragoons catch the encamped horse by surprise and cause heavy casualties, the remaining horse without their mounts take refuge in the village - a sharp exchange of pistols and musket fire  follows ...

Herrick hunt leads his mounted men round the side of the manor house, as the garrison move to defend the perimiter ..

Horse discharge pistols at the garrison over the wall who respond with musket fire ..

Meanwhile the dragoons, who having failed to get into the houses fall back, some taking cover - the exchange of fire with those in the tavern and other buildings continues ...

The commanded shot try and gain the gatehouse wall, while a party of dismounted horse move up from behind the manor house; some dragoons have worked their way round and exchange fire with the garrision..

The commanded shot are across the wall and have pushed back the garrison, the dismounted horse are trying to get over the wall ...

The garrison take casualties and fall back to the servants quarters at the far side of the courtyard, they still hold the gatehouse. Some dismounted horse and commanded shot break into the manor house and after a brisk fight in the hall make their way upstairs and release Sir Warwick Hunt. Sir Warwick and his rescuers get ready to mount up and make their getaway..

The rescuers have succeeded and Sir Warwick is safe, however his brother Herrick was badly wounded in the rescue attempt.

A success for Parliamente

---oXo---

A lively and enjoyable little game; I had no specific ECW skirmish rules so we used my 18C skirmish rules which worked ok with appropriate categorisation of 'unit types' to match, so perhaps a small addendum may have to be added for ECW use.

Sir Warwick Hunt detained ...

The commander of Parliamentarian forces in Wiltshire, Sir Warwick Hunt (in blue coat), having been captured while trying to retrieve a gun near Upavon, is now under escort...

The escort of horse is tasked with taking Sir Warwick to Devizes and then further north to Wallingborough. It is late in the day and the escort stops at Chirton for the night ...

Sir Warwick will be held under the watch of the local garrison in the manor house, while the escort of horse will camp out behind the tavern.

---oXo---

Sir Warwick's borther Herrick has assembled a small force of volunteers and intends to make a rescue attempt .....

Buildings get a facelift ...

I recently got some extra Conflix buildings, these have had repaint as I didn't like the grey/brown half timbering, they've been redone in lighter colours...

and the two I already had, redone as well

These now fit in with my existing building stock much better than before.