Back to the French and Indian War

Here's a look at the new basing treatment for my John Jenkins 54mm models. Some members on the Lead Adventure Forum suggested the plain bases detracted from the overall aesthetics of "The Game."  As a reminder, you can see the original bases in the banner for the blog above. Of course I resisted making any of the suggested changes. Re-basing is a drag. But after adapting the five models above I have to agree with the  critiques. It'll take some time to redo all the bases in the pipeline, but it won't be difficult.

Key concern was creating a look that worked on both the long grass and the cork surface representing the "woodland floor." 

What do you think? Does it work? I have 40 bases to redo before Recruits in September. I've chosen the scenario and plan to do something a little more "skirmishy" then the last few games. Also working on a few repaints; specifically some early-war New York Provincials, based on the illustration of Plate E1 from the Osprey Men-at-Arms Colonial American Troops 1610-1774 (2). The original Lt. Jenkins of the Virginia Provincials is on the left in the photo following, standing next to his newly-found cousin Lt. Jenkins of the New York Provincials.

I really like the "buckskin and drabs" as described in the Osprey, and supported by this additional research I found at http://www.captainterrys.com/history.html:

The New York Provincials were Troops who were raised from within the ranks of the County Militia Company's of the Colony / Province New York, for Service to and for the Colony / Province of New York. Each and every County in the Colony / Province of New York was mandated by the Colonial Government of New York to fulfill a quota of men to serve in the Provincial Army. Once the Quota of the New York Provincial Army was filled, the New York Provincial Army would then be taken into the British North American Army establishment, and the New York Provincial Troops could be sent anywhere the British Army needed them. The New York Provincials took part in every Major and most every minor engagement of the war in New York, and they were sent into the New England Colony's, they were part of the British Army that went into French Canada and were present at the surrender of Montreal.

The New York Provincial Troops were issued their uniforms, paid, armed, equipped, and fed by the Province of New York. (after 1757, N.Y. purchased most of it arms and accouterments from the British Government, ie: the King.) The New York Provincials wore uniforms much like their Regular British Army Counterparts, as their style and type of uniform was copied from the warrants and mandates of the British Regular Army. In the very beginning of the French and Indian War, (1756 and early 1757,) the New York Provincial Troops were wearing Regimental Uniform Coats that were Blue and had facings of red, with Blue waistcoats and breeches and Black cocked hats. Their firearms and accouterments, for the most part, came from home. By the end of 1757, the New York Provincial uniform was beginning to change, as their Regimental Coats were changed from the Blue Coats faced with red to Green Regimental Coats faced with green, and this would be the uniform that the New York Provincials would wear until the end of the war. (The Green color was called a "Yellow Drab" and is not unlike the olive drab worn by the Military today.) The Officers in the New York Provincials were not issued their uniforms, and clothing, and therefore had to purchase their own uniforms, and clothing. In the early war years (1756 and early 1757,) the Officers were found in Red Regimental Coats with Blue or Green facings, and their lace was gold. As in the case of the enlisted troops by the end of 1757 the Officers began wearing Green faced green Regimental Coats with silver lace. But the color of the Green of the Officers coats was a darker forest green.

In the year of 1758 there were some other alterations to the Uniform of The New York Provincial Enlisted Troops, such as their hats brims were cut down to 2 1/2 inches and no longer "Cocked", their accruements were the same as was issued to the regular British troops, (but, instead of white leather belts, the New Yorkers wore natural leather or brown colored belts.) All the New Yorkers were issued the standard Kings muskets and bayonets.

The Men of Suffolk County always responded willingly and eagerly to the Call to serve their King and their Province! There is not one documented record to indicate that any men were ever drafted into the New York Provincial Army from Suffolk County - they were all volunteers!

 And I'll close with something only marginally related. . . Did you know Peter Cushing (yes, THAT Peter Cushing, of Hammer Studios fame) was a wargamer? Here's a link to the 1956 Pathe newsreel on You Tube.

See ya!