America's Version of the Napoleonics (1 Viewer)

[mikemiller1955]

I rarely see anybody post pictures of Jenkins 1812...I see some of the British Naps...but not much of Scott's Army...I really think it's one of his best series...but nobody seems to collect it and I hardly ever see anybody post pictures on it...much less any threads started except by me...does anybody else collect the American side...here's some pics...

 

[chalklands]

Hi Mike,
I collect both sides of the 1812 series! Although I'm currently re-evaluating whether I continue to do so at the moment. But hey, I always said I wouldn't collect the Jacobites.....

Where did you get your 'spikey logs' from?

Pete

 

[chalklands]

I think a 'proper' release of cavalry may ignite my collecting of this series. By 'proper' I mean more than one cavalry figure.

 

[old tank]

HI MIKE.....Great pictures of your 1812 sets and i like your
diorama pieces you made. I collect both u.s. and brits.
1812. But no camera yet!

 

[mikemiller1955]

Pete...I understand your need for cavalry...I would like to see a "proper" release too..

the "spikey logs" are handmade "Cheval de Frise"...

stolen without trademark infringements from Fishhead...aka Tim...he made some for his Nap battery...

I just "borrowed" his idea after he told me how easy they were to make...

minus the poked holes in your fingers...


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cheval_de_frise_petersburg_civil_war_02598.jpg

Manitous...Christmas has come and gone...

NO CAMERA...

you told me you had the shelves in order and were ready to start snapping for us...

were you not a good boy this year...hope you got a birthday coming soon...I'm dying to see your collections...

 

[PolarBear]

Mike

I am collecting the American War of 1812 figures being issued as part of Britains Bluecoats line. They are very nicely done. Ken Osen is a War of 1812 re-enactor and very knowledgeable on this topic.

http://www.wbritain.com/products.cfm?catID=3758

 

[PolarBear]

Bill Hocker also has a really nice 1812 line with a number of American subjects

http://wmhocker.com/index.php?s=1812

 

[mikemiller1955]

Randy...I just looked at the Brits and Hockers...very nice...are they both gloss only?

I love that Naval artillery crew by Hocker (#283)...that cannon looks stout!

 

[PolarBear]

Randy...I just looked at the Brits and Hockers...very nice...are they both gloss only?

I love that Naval artillery crew by Hocker (#283)...that cannon looks stout!

Yes all are glossy. I love that naval artillery crew too. Maybe we can get John to do some 1812 Brit and US navy--that would be awesome.

 

[PolarBear]

Randy...I just looked at the Brits and Hockers...very nice...are they both gloss only?

I love that Naval artillery crew by Hocker (#283)...that cannon looks stout!

Bill Hocker is a go to guy for US History subjects: AWI, Barbary Coast Wars, War of 1812, Alamo, Mex-Am, ACW, American West and Indian Wars, Span-Am

 

[mikemiller1955]

John promised me two artillery crews for 1812...US Army side...soon he said...

I believe he was debating about making one a Cavalry or Horse Artillery...

he said it's on his list...hehehehe...

his list is VERY LONG me thinks...

he's just so nice...any suggestion and it's...

"I'll put in on my list"...hehehehehe...

poor John...I hate to ask him for anything...

I wouldn't dare ask him for a naval crew...I don't even have a boat and I'm pretty sure there were none at Chippewa...

I think I'm killing that man.

He quit asking me a long time ago if I had any suggestions...hehehehe.

 

[Combat]

Interesting how some lines grab you and some don't. For me the 1812 line hasn't done it. Plenty of history, nice figures, but for some reason I still can't get into it. However, the Jacobites - which I knew nothing about and have no particular reason to collect - are a winner for me. Not sure why.

 

[PolarBear]

John promised me two artillery crews for 1812...US Army side...soon he said...

I believe he was debating about making one a Cavalry or Horse Artillery...

he said it's on his list...hehehehe...

his list is VERY LONG me thinks...

he's just so nice...any suggestion and it's...

"I'll put in on my list"...hehehehehe...

poor John...I hate to ask him for anything...

I wouldn't dare ask him for a naval crew...I don't even have a boat and I'm pretty sure there were none at Chippewa...

I think I'm killing that man.

He quit asking me a long time ago if I had any suggestions...hehehehe.

Just imagine if John Gambale collected Jenkins

 

[mikemiller1955]

Just imagine if John Gambale collected Jenkins

Ooooooooh Randy...that's so wrong in so many ways.

 

[mikemiller1955]

Interesting how some lines grab you and some don't. For me the 1812 line hasn't done it. Plenty of history, nice figures, but for some reason I still can't get into it. However, the Jacobites - which I knew nothing about and have no particular reason to collect - are a winner for me. Not sure why.

I have no idea why some things "grab" me...but I'm sure the movie..."Last of the Mohicans" had a lot to do with my genre selection...

 

[mestell]

Michael, your creativity never fails to amaze me. Very nicely done defense works to protect your "gray line"
Mike

 

[marco55]

I've never had too much interest in the War of 1812 either even though it's almost like the FIW replacing the French with the British but what interest I do have is more on the naval side as the US Navy had some young daring commanders.I have a lot of interest in the Barbary Wars.I also have to say I have a lot of interest in the indian wars of the Old Northwest in the 1790's.
Mark

 

[mikemiller1955]

The Napoleonics are real popular...the 1812 US Army is our equivalent of the European Naps...well...that's basically who they fought anyway...

 

[fortdearborn]

"Those are Regulars, By God!" is one of the great quotes from US military history. It certainly was worth memorializing by JJ in releasing the 1812 line.

Mike is right in posting that 1812 was America's part of the Napoleonic Wars. With toy soldiers its much easier to reproduce, too. In Europe battles consisted of thousands - or hundreds of thousands- of soldiers; on the Canadian-US border, and at New Orleans, just a few thousand total. I have always found reproducing Napoleonic battles realisticly on a shelf or table top to be frustrating in that the couple dozen figures never catches the magnitude of a battle in Europe during that period.

There is much to recommend 1812 as a field of study. The Battle of Lake Erie is a pretty amazing; as is New Orleans, the storming of Fort Niagara and many other episodes. But, I don't think there is a more fascinating battle in US military history than the seige and attempted storming of Fort Stephenson. The problem with 1812 is that a really good book or good movie has never emerged which caught the public's imagination such as "Northwest Passage" and "Last of the Mohicans" has done.

Marc Gaynes
Chicago

 

[mikemiller1955]

Battle of Chippewa Summary

July 5th, 1814

A minor skirmish opened the hostilities in the morning, with British light infantry, militia, and native allies opening fire on an American camp, under the command of Major general Jacob Brown. An American militia brigade was dispatched to deal with the small British force. After pursuing them, however, the American militia troops were confronted by an unexpected surprise: Major General Phineas Riall's British regulars. This forced the Americans to retreat back to their camp, and the stage was set for the main battle.

The battle commenced with the exchange of artillery fire as the regular troops formed into their positions, ready for combat. The American guns proved more effective, however, as one shot struck a British ammunition cart, causing an explosion that put the majority of the British artillery out of action.

Once both side's troop lines had formed, the British, commanded by Phineas Riall, opened fire on the American line. Riall was under the impression that, due to their grey coats, the American force was comprised solely of militia. The British thought militia were very easy to defeat, and were expecting them to quickly retreat under fire. After the British had fired several volleys and the Americans did not retreat, Riall realized his misunderstanding, and exclaimed the now-legendary phrase "those are regulars, by God!" or something else to that effect.

This mistake was realized too late to make any corrections to the battle plan, however, so the British strategy was highly ineffective. They became bogged down during their advance, and the Americans took advantage of this by working to flank the British. They also continued to fire round after round of musket fire into the British ranks, effectively tearing them apart.

Brown's troops were extremely effective, and before long several British regiments were falling back. Eventually, a full retreat was called, and the entire British force began to fall back to the other side of the Chippewa River. Brown ordered his force to pursue the British, but they were unable to catch them before the last British troops crossed the bridge over the Chippewa and destroyed it.

When all was said and done, the British had been severely beaten by Brown's American force. The mistakes made by Riall with regards to the composition and the skill of the American army were likely what led to such a decisive defeat on the British side. The slightly larger British force had suffered heavy losses, but would see action again in only a couple of weeks at the Battle of Lundy's Lane.