French gendarmes 1808-1814

A "must have" unit for any peninsular wargamer should be the french gendarmes. Giving the huge amount of guerrilla actions that took part in that period, it's almost sure that those chaps would see a lot of action.
Scorting comboys, guarding prisoners, or defending outpost and communication lines are examples of scenarios where can be involved.

In Catalonia, there was de 6eme Légion de la Gendarmerie with several foot companies an squadrons.

When I saw the gendarmes designed by Paul Hicks and sold by Brigade Games I decided I needed them. The six figures (now 10 as they also sell command) are full of action and are a nice addition to my miniature collection. A unit of 6 is a decent number for a Sharp Practice unit and in addition can act as a tiny unit or a skirmish unit for blackpowder or general de brigade. The pictures don't really make them justice but are great miniatures.

Skirmish at McMartin's crossroads

Dear Lis,

Last week we had our baptism of fire. It was not a happy affair for the arms of the liberty but tnaks God I'm alive and with no injuries.
Our company was ordered to reconnoitre a place called McMartin's crossroads.
We departed in three groups. The biggest one under the command of our captain took the central road as they were on parade. The secondone, under my guidance went on the right and finally, a small group under Sgt. Charles, on the left of the road.
It wnt so fast. It seemed as the rebs were expecting us. They appeared in two groups from our flanks and a severe fusillade started. We stayed sharplly untill a strange thing happened: Our captain's hat was hit and flew some yards back. Believe it or not, He abandoned the fight and fall back to take his hat! and what was even worse, at the last moment, a severe stomach pain atacked him making us to loose some precious time. Fortunatelly, the groups under my command wich had advanced to a hill, fell back in good order amd a crashing volley ordered by our sarge gave us time to fight another day.
Afterall, we oonly had two dead and two captured the others being only lightly wounded. I believe the rebs, altought they got the field, had more losses because I saw their padre working hard.
What is more strange was the behaviour of Captain Francis. Can he be a coward?
I'm sure next time we'll be more prepared. Those rebs are not an easy task!

Your beloved husband

Joseph Waterwell.

Scenery on a budged (II). The woods.

Every wargamer wants a wood that covers the main part of his table.
Sometimes seems that only wood elves or native americans are confortable with woods but the truth is that woods are the most important scenery items.

I tried to buy ready made trees but altough the look terrific, the price is not so good and at the end you end using 5 trees to represent a whole wooded area.

Thaks God, nowadays we have the help of internet an looking through all the blogs, posts and DIY webs I came across with a trully inspiring one.

The gentlemen not only makes his own miniatures but has a lot of good ideas to make really good looking scenery.

I tried to copy his idea of making trees with not so good results but good enough for me.

MATERIALS:

- CD's to use as tree bases.
- green matt used in railroad modelling to cover the cds.
- natural branches, from my brother's in law backyard but you now, you can go to a public park or take them during a family trip to the mountains...
- contact glue.
- kitchenware scrubbers. That green material that is really cheap.
- green paints.
- glue in spray.
- green flock.

In the pictures you will see that my main problem is that my trees look too much "shaped with scissors". Some of them look too unnatural but this will be solved adding more flock and more small pieces of green scrubber to fill the angles.

Afterall, I made 10 tree stands in less than a week and they look really good on the tabletop.

Fight for Freedom!

Encampment of the A company, XXXI Penn. Vols. February the 28th 1862

Dear Lis,

As you know, I received my commission as a lieutenant in the new regiment that is being raised in Central Pennsylvania, the XXXI Pennsylvania Volunteers. I have started my camp life and I can proudly say that I don’t miss the commodities that can be found in a city like our beloved Philadelphia. The joy to serve our country and to fight for the freedom of all the people on earth fills all my needs…Well, except not having you with me.

Every day new recruits are arriving to full fit our ranks and in few days we will be marching to the front. We have settled a small encampment for our company: A company XXXI Penn. Vols. There are people from all over the state. From Philadelphia lawyers like the captain to students from the Pennsylvania State University with the main lot being farmers from Bellefonte, Boalsburg, Scranton or Port Matilda.

I think that this war is not going so well for the Union. Maybe the government will use our regiment in a new offensive or perhaps in a raid in enemy territory. What is for sure is that they won’t use us in guard duty or frontier watch.

Hopefully, we are fighting in the side of the liberty and the truth so God is with us.

Every day I pray for you and our two daughters.

Your husband who deeply loves you

Joseph Waterwell.

ACW Union Infantry (V). Final details

Well, at last! This step has been too long. All the hairs, metal parts, blanket rolls, officers, artillery... But I've finished them. Well, not really. Now they still need the bases, the Army painter touch and the varnish.