Little Bighorn 1876 in 20mm (part 5) - Indian Teepees, wagons and horse holders

 

This post had to be done now because it was occupying too much space on the modelling table due to its big bases. I was also eager to see how these markers would look after painting. 

The horse holders have four horses each which has always been a problem for the dismounted cavalry who looses 1/4 of his fire power. At Little Bighorn they were also a prime target for the Indians who knew that the US skirmish line would not only loose their mounts but also half of its Springfield cartridges, as 50 of them were carried by the horse´s saddle pockets. 

The horses are a mixture of Napoleonic Esci and ACW Italeri with the aim of having only horses at rest. The horse holders are 1/32 resized Airfix cowboys that I will also use in the next post about dismounted cavalry. 

Each stand was painted according to the first three company horse colors. 

This is the type of unit that Custer asked Benteen to come to his aid with the final sentence "PS: bring packs" as they had extra ammunition for the regiment. This is a box from Imex with ACW wagons and they suit reasonably the wagon train guarded by the 130 strong 12th company (the pack train with its mules is still missing). 

This is nowadays my biggest problem as I´m around Chinese shops trying to find more Teepees. The Sioux/Cheyenne camp at Little Bighorn was one of the biggest in Indian history and Custer when attacking its center  was deceived by the teees covering its true size as he thought he was attacking its left flank. 

These Teepees were cheap toys bought decades ago and could be found in many Euro and Chinese shops. But, as it happens quite often, now that I want more I can´t find them anywhere. If I find bigger Teepees I plan to cut them at the bottom so they become the size of these ones. I also had Atlantic Teepees but they simply vanished into many pieces while cleaning them. 

Next: 7th US Cavalry skirmish lines

The Alamo 1836 and its opposing armies in 20mm

This is one of the most famous episodes of the history of North America portrayed many times in cinema, comics and novels. I made all this around the release of the 2004 movie with the help of the Imex series of the period made a few years before. The Alamo was built using mostly hard styrofoam with details in card, plastics and whatever was suitable. The derelict state of the former Spanish mission was a big help as you don't need too much measurements and planning. The armies, both Texans and Mexicans were made with the already mentioned Imex but also with scores of Napoleonic and cowboy figures of all available brands of those days, like Airfix, Esci, Revell and Italeri.

Fire&Fury ACW rules set - Gettysburg in 20mm, 3rd Corps ANV, Pender's Division (part 39)

General Pender's Division forms its battle line against Doubleday's Corps in the afternoon of the first day of battle. To the front Lane, Perrin an Scales' Brigades sprang the attack with both the Hagerstown road and the Chambersburg Pike forming an arrow pointed towards the enemy. To the back, as reserve, there is Thomas Brigade. 

Lane's Brigade is represented here by the 28th NC. All figures are charging and are taken from all possible brands. 

Thomas Brigade is here the 45th Georgia, again with a mix of brands this time in more relaxed poses. 

Perrin's South Carolinians have the 1st SC Rifles as its representative unit. Again many brands forms what is intended as a firing line. 

Scale's North Carolinians have the 13th NC as its representative unit with an all Italeri brigade. 

Maj.Gen.William Pender surveys the advance of its Division in the middle of the fire of the Divisional artillery. Pender's figure is the many times useful Revell officer. The artillery is Imex with the usual head swap. 

Next: A small break in the ACW for my latest build, the Companhia de Engenharia (Engineer Company) of the BrigMec. 

Fire&Fury ACW rules set - Gettysburg in 20mm, 3rd Corps ANV, Heth's Division (part 38)

On the 1st of July, Henry Heth's Confederate Division deploys along the Chambersburg Pike and around Herr's Tavern in order to advance on the dismounted cavalry of Buford. The division rested on the second day and was engaged again on the third. The result of two days fighting was the highest casualty rate of the A.N.V at Gettysburg with 50% casualties.  

On the left you can see the 3rd Corps commander Lt.Gen. Ambrose P. Hill in his distinctive red shirt. The figure is a conversion from somewhere I can't remember with the head from Revell. To the right Gen. Heth is another conversion using a Italeri body and an Imex head with the proper moustache. 

Archer's Brigade is moving to face the Iron Brigade. The figures are some of my oldest with plenty of head swaps. 

Pettigrew's Brigade of North Carolinians was the biggest of the A.N.V. The figures are from Revell, Italeri, Imex and Airfix. 

The usual mix for the artillery: mostly Revell figures but from different boxes including the Pioneer's. 

Brockenborough's Brigade includes some of the ACTA figures including the laying down ones. 

Davis is heading his men towards the Rail Road Cut were many will get trapped. 

Side view of Heth's Division. 

Next: Pender's Division, the Army of Northern Virginia. 

Fire&Fury ACW rules set - Gettysburg in 20mm, 2nd Corps ANV, Rode's Division (part 37)

Robert E. Rodes Division sweeps down from Culp's Hill on the 1st of July and prepares to battle Baxter's Brigade close to Shead's woods. The Divisional commander watches from the Mummasburg road and bypasses McLean's Farm. 

General Rodes is a figure from StreletsR and the flag bearer is a resin copy of an old and venerable Airfix figure. 

The presence of Corps commander is a bit blurry, exactly like his decisions late in the day on not assaulting Cemetery Hill, but Gen. Ewell is a recognizable Italeri officer with a Revell head. 

Daniel's (back) and Iverson's (front) Brigades. Many of the uniforms in this Division were painted all Cadet Grey as most of its regiments were from North Carolina. Most of the figures are Italeri.

Ramseur's Brigade is a mostly Imex and Revell Brigade. 

O'Neal's Brigade is again mostly Italeri. 

A mix of all brands for the Georgians of Dole's Brigade. 

The artillery has converted guns from Esci Napoleonics; the artillerymen are mostly converted Italeri cavalrymen; limbers are Evergreen (buckets included); horses came from all origins and riders are Airfix copies or metal Irregular Miniatures. 

Next: A.P. Hill's III Corps, the Army of Northern Virginia. 

Fire&Fury ACW rules set - Gettysburg in 20mm, 2nd Corps ANV, Early's Division (part 36)

Gen. Jubal Early's Division is preparing the attack on Blocher's Knoll on day one of the battle with Gordon's Georgians already overcoming Josiah Benner's property. 

Gen. Early is a conversion of a Revell torso, a Revell head and Italeri legs. 

General Gordon is a nice StreletsR figure that catches very well the heroic figure of this great Confederate officer. 

The Brigade itself is made mostly of charging Revell figures. 

More relaxed poses in Hays' Brigade with Imex, Revell and Irregular Miniatures figures. 

Avery and Smiths' Brigades are made of firing poses from Revell and Imex. 

The artillery is the usual mix of plastic and metal. Some Italeri cavalrymen were converted and a figure from the Revell Pioneer box was also used. 

Same story on gun number two. The shouting figure is converted Esci infantryman. The limber and horses are plastic with metal riders from Irregular Miniatures. 

Next: Rodes' Division, The Army of Northern Virginia. 

Fire&Fury ACW rules set - Gettysburg in 20mm, 2nd Corps ANV, Johnson's Division (part 35)

On the 3rd July another attempt was made by the Confederates to attack the head of the 'fish hook' at Culp's Hill. Here Johnson's Division already crossed the Plum run and moves towards the foot of Culp's Hill. In the lower part of the picture Steuart's Brigade prepares to cross the Pardee field and being slaughtered in the process.  

Gen. Edward Johnson is the usual Esci body with a proper Italeri head to suit its figure. 

 The Stonewall Brigade of Brig Gen.Walker is represented by the 33rd Virginia. I used this regiment because initially was one of the Confederate units to have blue uniforms and I just hope that some were retained this late in the war. Most of the figures are Esci with a few Revell. 

Dungan's Brigade is a mostly Italeri and Airfix unit with many head swaps. 

The 'Louisiana Tigers' Brigade of Col. Jesse Williams is a full Italeri unit. 

The big Steuart's Brigade is made of ACTA, Airfix, Revell, Esci and even has a few figures from the 1848 US- Mexican war by Imex placed here due to the caps still used  by some Confederate soldiers. 

The Divisional artillery has Irregular Miniatures limbers and Imex guns and artillerymen. The commanders of each gun are an Italeri and the other a conversion of the Airfix Napoleonic British artillery set. 

Next: Yes, you guessed it, Early's Division, the Army of Northern Virginia. 

Fire&Fury ACW rules set - Gettysburg in 20mm, 1st Corps ANV, Picketts' Division (part 34)

With Kemper's and Garnett's Brigades to the front and Armistead's in support, Pickett's Division leaves Spangler Woods not only to attack the Union Center on the 3rd of July, 1862, but also to enter eternity.  

Gen. Pickett is a conversion from several parts - torso, arms and head - of different Italeri figures. I tried to make him as close as possible to the character of the movie. 

The rank and file is made of block painted old Airfix, Esci and Revell figures. This was my first F&F ACW division to be painted maybe close to 25 years ago and even the flags are still hand painted. 

The artillerymen in front are conversions from Airfix British Horse artillery and others are Imex. 

Again you can spot two more Napoleonic conversions in this stand. 

The limbers are Imex with their usual overweight horses.

Next: II Corps, the Army of Northern Virginia. 

Fire&Fury ACW rules set - Gettysburg in 20mm, XII Slocum´s Corps (part 30)

July the 2nd, most of the XII Corps of General Slocum is being moved to the endangered Federal left with a large part of Culp's Hill being defended only by one brigade... 

This stand represent General Slocum (on foot) but on this day the temporary command went to Brigadier- General Alpheus Williams as Slocum was convinced that he was in command of the entire right wing due to the sequence of events that followed Gen. Reynolds death. On the left stand you can see Gen. Geary, commander of the 2nd Division of the XII Corps. The Generals are StreletsR and the flag bearers are conversions from the Italeri cavalry. 

Culp's Hill was defended on the second day by Greene's Brigade (StreletsR figures) that is marching quickly to the breastworks still manned by McDougall's men.

I built one of the brigades with the breastworks constructed inside each stand made of pieces of true wood taken from my yard. A brigade like this is helpful for many events of the ACW. The figures are mostly Italeri but the usual Imex, Esci and Revell are also there. 

With Greene's Brigade firmly behind its defences and in high ground the rest of the 1st Division marches out of Culp's Hill. Most of the figures are StreletsR from the 'Attack' boxes. 

More StreletsR  here in Candy's Brigade. 

And more in Cobham's Brigade. 

The artillery is the usual mix of metal and plastic as you can see in this Irregular Miniatures limber with both metal and plastic crew from Italeri and Revell. 

Next: With the Army of the Potomac near the end of its review, Meade's stand and Cavalry are coming.