Where's the French and Indian War Love?

All this focus on HOTTs and Star Trek lately. . . what's going on with the F&IW project? I have been slowly building some more "mountainous" wooded terrain, as well as adapting some open fields, hills and rivers for use with both my 54mm Jenkins figures and 28mm HOTTs/DBA. More on that as it develops.

Mr. Jenkins has been very busy. I've long hoped for some figures for the 60th Royal Americans, and Mr. Jenkins is finally obliging!

The 60th has a colorful history and participated in many of the key engagements of the F&IW. A brief history from the JJD UK site:

The 60th (Royal American) Regiment of Foot, better known under its later name, The King's Royal Rifle Corps, has long been associated with Canada. After Braddock's defeat by the French and Indians in 1755, authority was granted to raise a regiment of four battalions to be recruited in Germany and from German colonists in North America. The regiment was named the 62nd, or Royal American, Regiment of Foot; but it was re-designated the 60th (Royal American) Regiment of Foot in February 1757. Recruiting for the Royal Americans in North America was disappointing, and more than half its strength was drafted from men rejected by British regiments in Ireland. From this unlikely collection of foreigners and cast-offs was fashioned one of the most renowned corps of the British Army.

Among the officers recruited in Europe were two able Swiss soldiers, Henri Bouquet and Frederick Haldimand, who commanded respectively the 1st and 2nd battalions of the new regiment. Bouquet trained his battalion as light infantry, emphasizing the skills required for forest warfare. Haldimand also adapted his European experience to war in the American wilderness.

 The 1st and 4th battalions of the 60th accompanied General Abercromby's advance up Lake Champlain in 1758, and participated in the disastrous assault on the Ticonderoga position the following July. In November, Bouquet's 1st Battalion played a major role in the successful advance to Fort Duquesne, which secured the western border of New England against the incursions of France's savage Indian allies.

In 1758, the 2nd and 3rd battalions were assigned to the forces of General Amherst for operations in eastern Canada. Both battalions were present at the capture of Louisbourg, and moved on to Quebec with Wolfe the following year. The performance of the 60th at Montmorency Falls on 31 July 1753 won the regimental motto "Celer et Audax" (Swift and Bold) from General Wolfe.

The 2nd and 3rd battalions fought at the battle of the Plains of Abraham on 13 September, 1759. The following year elements of all four battalions participated in the final advance to Montreal.

I have two regiments ready for basing, too. French Bearn is complete but I was waiting to base the British 42nd Highlanders until the command figures were released. We just got word of the first officer release, Major Duncan Campbell of Inverawe,

along with a short bio:

In the year 1739, the six independent companies of the "Highland Watch", along with four newly-raised companies, were incorporated into a Regiment of Foot under John, the Earl of Crawford. This Regiment was originally numbered the 43rd Highland Regiment, but was renumbered as the 42nd in 1749.

The 42nd was sent to New York in 1756, and fought in the first battle of Fort Ticonderoga in 1758, losing over half its troops in a valiant assault on the breastworks. Prior to the action at Ticonderoga, the 42nd was given the distinction of being a "Royal" regiment, changing the uniform's facings from buff to royal blue, and earning the right to bear a distinctive seal on the colours and drums. The regiment was known from then on as The 42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment or Royal Highlanders.

The 42nd is rich in tradition from the battle. Foremost is the account surrounding the death of the regiment’s major, Duncan Campbell of Inverawe. The 42nd was a Campbell regiment. All 5 officer casualties at Fontenoy in 1745 had been Campbells. At some time in the 1740's Inverawe had been involved in concealing a fugitive. When it turned out the man had murdered his cousin, Inverawe turned him out in breach of a promise he had made. The fugitive appeared in a dream to Inverawe and said “I will see you at Ticonderoga”. By 1758 Inverawe had served in the Black Watch for some 20 years and was the major. Only on his arrival in America did he discover the existence of Ticonderoga. The fugitive appeared again to Inverawe in a dream the night before the battle. The bloodstained figure predicted his death. Inverawe was severely wounded in the battle and died at Fort Edward after his arm had been amputated.

And back to terrain, Dave at Traverse Dioramics has produced, with a little encouragement from me, a very nice "Dogtrot" Barn to go with his Hatchet Creek Farmhouse and Smokehouse. I think I have the very first production model.

Oh - and this blog reached 20,000 page views this week! Thank you to everyone who checked in on us over the last 80+ posts.


See ya!