Uruguayans and Paraguayans - Just to show I’ve not been totally idle!

I vowed to myself that despite the wonderful range available from the Perry twins I would never get drawn into gaming the War of the Triple Alliance (Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina vs Paraguay).  When Freikorps first launched their 15mm range in the late 70’s or thereabouts I resisted but…….

Then I got momentarily distracted and all of a sudden during our last India trip but one I ordered a bunch of minis from them. Well, lots actually. One good thing (?) is that the Perry plastic ACW boxes are quite simple to convert (mainly through a paint job) into  Brazilians. 

The Uruguayan army, one more battalion to do. Of course I also need to do the bases but I like to have a basing blitz and do as many as I can, ideally in the garden with a beer.

I had these 3d printed fortress guns laying about so they now have Paraguayan crews.

I am currently in the midst of painting a load of Brazilians. They’re nothing if not colourful. As indeed are all the armies in this bloody war. 

Another Book Review - The Piedmontese Fight against Revolutionary France.

When I first saw this book on the horizon I was very excited at the prospect of reading it. The French Revolutionary Wars is a period that I find incredibly fascinating. Forty-Four Months in the Alps: The Resistance of the Piedmontese Army Against Revolutionary France, 1792–1796 by Enrico Ricchiardi is a well-researched and richly illustrated account of a lesser-known and often overlooked chapter in European military history. Set against the backdrop of the French Revolutionary Wars, the book delves into the challenges faced by the Piedmontese army as it resisted the expansionist ambitions of revolutionary France..

 

The book is nicely structured, firstly examining the political and military situation found within the Kingdom of Sardinia under Victor Amadeus III. The initial lack of preparedness was an issue, as were the intricacies of their alliance with Austria. The author moves on to examine the organisation of the army, drawing extensively from national archives to provide detailed information on a wide variety of units, uniforms, flags, and weaponry. Not only are the line troops covered in great detail, but also the militia, volunteers, the elite troops, and the navy.  

 

The author provides a very useful and detailed chronological account of the war between 1792 and 1796, guiding readers (and me) through the strategic and tactical developments of the Piedmontese army, their performance in the field and their final acts of resistance.

 

Ricchiardi's expertise is evident throughout the book. His background and deep understanding of the history of the Piedmontese army, particularly its uniforms and flags, lends authenticity to the detailed descriptions and illustrations. The inclusion of 29 full-colour pages of contemporary artwork and some lovely original illustrations by Emanuele Manfredi which collectively add significantly to the visual appeal.

 

Published by Helion & Company as number 144 of their From Reason to Revolution series, this volume is a valuable resource for historians, military enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the intricacies of eighteenth century European warfare. The author’s thorough research, combined with visual richness, makes it a standout contribution to the field. It is a fascinating period, a colourful army and an enjoyable and enlightening read. I certainly learnt a great deal about the campaign and the army and can highly recommend it.

 

ISBN: 978-1-804515-77-5   179 pages; Paperback

Nine Years War 1593–1603 Review

I'm not getting much in the way of gaming done nor have I finished anything that's been lingering on the painting desk for weeks or months.  I do have a 'secret project' on the go but it'll have to say secret for now. I also desperately want to complete my Spanish Napoleonic army for 1808 in Denmark. I have enough troops painted for Romana's entire corps less one battalion. I didn't really need the Perry plastic Spanish but I am sure I can find a use for them somewhere? So here is another review.

Anyway......

James O’Neill’s The Nine Years War, Volume 1 is a masterclass in accessible and scholarly historical writing. Focusing on one of the most turbulent and formative periods in Irish history, O’Neill brings to life the complexities of late 16th-century Ireland with clarity, nuance, and a keen eye for military detail.

Key to this volume is O’Neill’s ability to balance the narrative with analysis. He paints vivid portraits of key figures such as Hugh O’Neill and Red Hugh O’Donnell, while also exploring the broader political and strategic context of Ireland’s resistance to English encroachment. His examination of the early phases of the war shows not just what happened, but why decisions were made, and how they shaped the course of Irish and British history.

The book benefits from O’Neill’s extensive use of both English and Irish sources, offering a more balanced perspective than many earlier works on the subject. I have to say that the author’s insights into terrain, logistics, and tactics reveal good understanding of early modern warfare, making the book especially rewarding for readers interested in military history of this period.

The book is well illustrated with eight specially-commissioned and very nice colour plates depicting soldiers and commanders of both sides. There are also a large number black and white illustrations and photographs of the battlefield and other landmarks referred to in the narrative which is always useful to the reader.

I found the book hard to put down. Well-paced, richly detailed, and backed by impressive research, The Nine Years War, Volume 1 is essential reading for anyone interested in Irish history, the Elizabethan era, or the dynamics of colonial resistance. It's a gripping and intelligent account that leaves me eagerly anticipating the next volume.

PS the picture on the front cover bears a striking resemblance to my old mate Joe Newton.

ISBN: 978-1-804515-52-5 151 pages. Paperback



  

All is Lost Save Honour - Out Now!

New Perry Spanish Napoleonic Sets

 

These arrived in the post today. They look amazing and I’m looking forward ( that is a lie as I hate sticking plastics together but…..) to assembling them. I don’t think I need any more Spanish as I already have 10 or 11 battalions of line and one of lights. I suppose I can justify a couple more so I have Romana’s entire corps in Denmark in 1807-1808. There were technically 12 line battalions from four regiments, two light battalions, three horse and two dragoon regiments and iirc three artillery batteries including one of horse. Mule more like I reckon. Anyway they are really pretty so that’s enough for me. I’m not really fussed about doing any for the Peninsular War but that doesn’t mean I won’t. 

More from Bruno Mugnai

Bruno Mugnai concludes his detailed examination of the military forces of the German states during the early reign of Louis XIV with a volume that serves as yet another authoritative reference. Wars and Soldiers in the Early Reign of Louis XIV, Volume 7 is the final instalment of a trilogy focused on the armies of the German states and is a distinguished work yet again demonstrating Mugnai’s dedication, refined narrative style, and exceptional artistic talent. As with the preceding volumes, it is part of the ‘Century of the Soldier’ series.

This volume provides a detailed examination of the structures, uniforms, tactics, and evolution of German military contingents between 1655 and 1690. The author covers strategic, political, and cultural contexts to offer a comprehensive portrayal of the military landscape during this period. Well-known principalities and numerous smaller states are documented with detail and historical accuracy. I found the section covering the history, events and armed forces of the Duchy of Lorraine particularly interesting. The appendices provide us with orders of battle and almost forensic details of German regiments, squadrons and companies between1657 and 1690, including information relating to their service, and where known, uniforms. There was certainly a lucrative and fascinating trade in hiring out regiments, even entire armies to employers such as the Dutch, the Empire and Venice in the Morea and elsewhere.

What distinguishes this work further is Mugnai’s original artwork, which enhances the text without overshadowing it. His illustrations are rendered with precision and historical accuracy and offer invaluable visual insight into the period's uniforms and equipment of some of the minor German players. In all there 10 colour plates, 60 black and white illustrations and four maps. These images complement the narrative and do manage to elevate it, serving both educational and aesthetic purposes.

This book is like its predecessors indispensable for historians, reenactors, wargamers, and enthusiasts of late seventeenth century Europe. Mugnai set a benchmark with each of the preceding volumes in this extensive series in how military history can be both rigorously academic and visually compelling, and this continues with this latest volume. His ability to combine authoritative research with engaging prose and high-quality visuals is unparalleled in the genre.

In summary, Wars and Soldiers in the Early Reign of Louis XIV, Volume 7 is not merely another book in the series; it is the culmination of an impressive amount of work researching each and every book in this fantastic collection.


ISBN: 978-1804517-49-9 197 pages, Paperback

Pavia Refought and a close run thing

Somewhat delayed from the original date I had planned but also earlier than it might have been due to unexpected circumstances requiring our early return from India.

So, I set this game up several weeks ago, and the troops more or less survived the attention of Catzilla and Catzilla’s apprentice. The town was pretty much levelled but that was easy to fix. This was actually the first game I have run here at the Burrow since early October last year.

We played the scenario straight out of the new Helion ‘All is Lost Save Honour’ wargamer’s guide to the Italian Wars (published on 12 April). Conrad, Paul and Dave took the French and Shaun, Nigel and Neil were the Spanish. I took control of the coffee urn and was on cat patrol. We used my heavily-fiddled-with Pike and Shot rules, mainly with changes to the stats and some characteristics but with a couple extra tweaks. I also knocked off a dozen random event cards to add to the ‘fun’ together with names and images of all the main commanders. The stream was a minor obstacle deducting 3” off the move of units crossing. The marshy ground and the camps reduced movement by half. The woods were all classed as open and no obstacle to any troops except pikes, not that anyone put that to the test. 

The photos are more or less in the correct order. The Spanish had the first move.

The city of Pavia. Swiss pike under Anne de Montmorency in the background next to the camp.

A better view of Pavia.in the foreground are more Swiss and light cavalry under Robert de la Marck.

Charles de Bourbon’s landscknechts in the foreground.over the stream is the French camp, the king, the Black Band, gendarmes and French infantry.

The Spanish army. Closest to the camera is Bourbon’s command, then George von Frundsberg with yet more landsknechts, then from the Mirabello Tower and beyond lots of Spanish and Neapolitan arquebusiers and heavy cavalry.

Down the table from the city walls this time. 

Bourbons landsknechts and de la Marcks Swiss look destined to meet head on.

A huge Swiss pike block with heavy artillery and the clutter of the camp, again Montmorency’s command.

The Black Bande cross the stream to try and overwhelm the Imperial landscknechts.

Spanish shot. I fielded two large units of these, and gave them an additional d6 for their controlled fire. 

The Spanish right facing the king and his gendarmes. 

Up the table from the garden end.

French gendarmes charged a unit of arquebusiers, who caused heavy casualties and a disorder. The arquebusiers held on due to some dreadful French dice rolling, then Spanish genitors hit them in the flank, breaking them.

The Black Band and Frundsberg clash.

The disciplined volleys from the Spanish arquebusiers prevented the French from launching any more attacks.

French infantry move up to try and drive off the Spanish.

A massive melee develops on the Spanish left, with Landsknecht against Landsknecht and Landsknecht against Swiss, involving hundreds of pointy pikemen!

I don’t think anyone expected this!

Despite heavy losses and a few nervous moments the Spanish destroyed the Black Band, while the Swiss decided to pull back to form a new line.

French light cavalry drove off some Spanish Genitors who had been lurking in the woods.

The gendarmes have been forced back behind the camp, leaving their infantry to the mercy of the Spanish.

The loss of this French pike unit was the final straw for their army. With the exception of the Swiss the entire army was now shaken. As that equated to more than half of their battalia, a Spanish victory was proclaimed.

Now that was an enjoyable game. It was also very close as until the demise of the Black Band a French victory was looking to be a distinct possibility, especially as by then Bourbon’s command was broken. As it was the French reached their break point first, and suddenly, so that was the end.

I think the scenario worked quite well. Still not a big fan of P&S but in the absence, in my opinion, of anything better I shall persevere. With all the various changes I’ve made they do work well and give the feel of an Italian Wars game (folks playing the period not the rules helps too). 

It was great to have some of the Burrowers round after such a long break, and choosing to play an Italian Wars game certainly ensured a colourful day. I really do NEED two more big units of Landsknecht pike as I had to borrow two off Conrad for this game. I also really need to go through the Italian Wars lead mountain and see what else I have that can be painted or disposed of.

Might even have a game next Saturday as it’s my 67th birthday.