BoM Column (1 Viewer)

[Fraxinus]

June 19th, 1755. A battalion company of the 44th, augmented by a detachment of grenadiers, leaves Little Meadows as part of the flying column.

With the possible exception of some the named indian scouts at the head of the column, I believe all the human figures here should be historically legitimate and appropriate for the Braddock expedition, but then, I could be fibbing yet again and there figures that do not belong.

Photographing the display case is a very frustrating experience. My point and shoot camera never seems to focus on the element I really want to show. If there is anything at all in the foreground, it grabs that element. It is very difficult to near impossible to "trick" the camera into focusing on an object in midrange or the background. I wasted a dozen or more shots trying to get a focus image on the officer in the bottom photograph.

Any help or trick would be appreciated.

 

[lancer]

Beautiful display. What a huge number of figures! -- Al

 

[mikemiller1955]

Ken...that is one of the most impressive displays I have ever seen...the sheer numbers of marching figures alone is staggering...that is a prized collection...

KUDOS TO YOU MY MAN!!!

hope your elbow is healing nicely...

 

[Fraxinus]

To keep the column from being miles long, the troops in the main body did not utilize the road itself, but moved parallel to, but just off the road. The road itself was reserved for the artillery and wagons. Further away from the road, the cattle and packhorses moved with flanking parties beyond that.

So the depiction here is not too far off base in that regard.

The four BoM artillery/wagons pieces that JJD produces utilize about 39-40 inches of shelf space all by themselves. (2 horse 6-pounder, the ammunition wagon, 2 horse red wagon, and the small white trumbrel wagon).

British expedition strength detailed below:

http://www.archive.org/stream/militaryaffairsi00cumb#page/86/mode/2up

 

[wayne556517]

That is impressive would be awesome to actually see thanks for the pics.

 

[mestell]

A very nice looking BOM collection Ken . . . nicely set up and nicely photographed . . .
:smile2: Mike

 

[Fraxinus]

Trying night photography - some things do look better, sharper images

Finally, an officer in focus!!!

 

[RISORGIMENTO]

what a superb display Ken,
I love these figures as you do, unfortunately I don't have so much marching soldiers! I'd like John release new marching sets for BoM but I think will be rather unlikely. I always looking for a second 'return' to Monongahela!
Your column will grow early with the new pack-horses I hope, I'd suggest John to add to the set one or two marching British soldiers...just to make happy his hungry BoM fans.
Take care Ken
Carlo

 

[Fraxinus]

Of the "we really need this" for BoM, I think a regular officer (44th) is the most pressing absence, especially as an addition to the BM 20 to BM 26 releases. The only BoM "released" officers are with BM-3, the later King's Colour flagbearer and Orme. I think Orme is dressed in his Coldstream Guard uniform, so his use is limited.

To tell the truth, without the BM - 25 release (Sergeant and Corporal), I wouldn't have tried to cobble together a marching column. So a late release is much better than a missing release, even if delayed.

My thought is eventually we will have a club release for Lt. Col Gage (44th regiment), and of course George in his redcoat. So if both those things happen, my BoM wish list should be near complete, but knowing me, I will start on the dire need of a "Christopher Gist" figure. I sometimes use the K&C Davy Crockett (frock coat, no hat figure) as Gist, but it is a push. Occasionally, I think a First Legion continental militia figure might work as Gist, but I am not a fan of the square bases. Then there is the working party and St. Claire. An axeman or two, thinking ..... I could squeeze those in, nod nod, we need axeman!!!

I have great hopes for the pack horse grouping and I think I can squeeze them into the display case, but I do pray for a few human drivers. I wasn't happy with the wagon driver aspect of the display until I added in the seaman, and removed a duplicate driver figure. I found the use of the duplicate driver to be incredibly annoying, it just did not look right - curse, swear, grumble until I moved in the seaman.

 

[GICOP]

I love a massed display of marching figures and these look great :salute::

Cheers

Martyn

 

[Terp152]

Wonderful collection Ken.

 

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

What a terrific display, Ken! So clean and so impressive. My favorite part of the whole thing is the kneeling corporal from BM-25 watching the troops pass...super stuff!

Thanks so much for posting.

 

[Fraxinus]

The British Army was divided into two separate identities, the English Establishment and the Irish Establishment. One advantage of the English ruling class was the Irish Establishment was mandated by law and off-the-books as far as cost cutting from London. It was a great place to park "second sons" of the ruling class. Another advantage is the entire cost for the Irish Establishment was paid for by the Irish which was a fine thing from the view of the merchants in London.

The typical "at home in Ireland Company" had about 35 rank and file with 3 officers and 3 sergeants. So about 350 rank and file to a regiment. While in Ireland, the regiments were kept at this size and not expanded by law because it guaranteed officer slots and employment.

Before being sent to North America, the 44th and 48th were ordered up to 500 rank and file. At least 5 other Irish regiments supplied these additions, but they would have been the "worst" soldiers from each of the other regiments - every drunk and problem child they could pawn-off on the 44th and 48th. They would not have been drafting in officers and NCOs, just privates to fill the ranks.

Once in North America, the 44th and 48th recruited further, swelling there number around 750. This presents a number of interesting "problems". Each company now swells in size from 35 privates to 70 plus privates. But no additional officers or NCOs. {sm2}{sm2}{sm2}{sm0}

Then there is the grenadier numbers. Braddock orders a second grenadier company to be established in each regiment. So the number of grenadiers increases from 35 in each regiment to about 140. I would assume all these new grenadiers were Irish and the bulk taken from older 44th and 48th soldiers and not those recently attached. "Average" soldiers now pack the grenadier companies.

What we do know is that the second oldest grenadier companies were assigned to Dunbar. These were the bulk of this experienced troops (140-150 men). In addition, Dunbar had two Independent British Companies, one from New York and one from South Carolina, but these appeared to have recruited heavily and were a mix of experienced and new soldiers (maybe 100 experienced and 60 recruits). So at best, Dunbar less than 4 companies of "experienced" British troops with him plus the colonial contingent.

From Braddock's orderly book, he ordered that the flying column element of the 44th and 48th be "Irish" soldiers. Now the math suggests that aside from the second grenadier company, if you were Irish you were in the flying column. 430 = (350 - 70 + 150). So the 300 regimental castoffs were with Braddock. The numbers and officers lists suggest that 6 companies each of the 44th and 48th were with Braddock, but I have never found any historical reference as the number of british companies present.

This also suggests that Dunbar had 6 companies composed almost entirely of new recruits (3 each from the 44th and 48th, total around 420 new recruits). Dunbar also had several colonial companies. But Dunbar's focus was not on training, but hauling supplies.

If you look at the expedition roll call on June 8th (Fort Cumberland), you can see that Braddock has a "wish list" - he realizes he needs 10 additional sergeants in both the 44th and 48th regiments. He already knows that the companies are now too large and that he needs more NCOs.

http://www.archive.org/stream/militaryaffairsi00cumb#page/86/mode/2up

So not the way to run an army.

 

[wds0855]

WOW, that is a fantastic display, stunning.

Walt

 

[RISORGIMENTO]

thank you very much Ken, your posts are always very informative and appealing, they help my passion to grow.
Grazie

 

[REVWARBUFF]

thank you very much Ken, your posts are always very informative and appealing, they help my passion to grow.
Grazie

I second that!! Thanks Ken. Your BOM range is very impressive!

Mark

 

[Fraxinus]

As we have pack horses coming soon, I thought I would add some historical references. Really hoping for some new civilian drivers to go along with the pack horses.

There are 2 sets of orderly books from the BoM campaign. There is the more complete Halkett's Orderly Book for the 44th regiment that was penned by a Lt. Daniel Disney. Unfortunately, the old on-line link for this orderly book is no longer active. Braddock's Defeat (Hamilton, 1959) features two complete journals from the BoM campaign plus Halkett's Orderly Book.

Then there are the Braddock's orderly books which were penned by George Washington. They are now in the Library of Congress. Unfortunately, Washington became sick and the journal entries stopped while he was recovering with Dunbar. Washington only made it back to the flying column 1 or 2 days before the battle. It is thought that Washington left the orderly books with Dunbar's column just before rejoining Braddock (why the books survived the battle).

When reading the Orderly books coupled to the journals from the campaign, I was taken back at how little sleep the troops apparently had (besides being short on rations). They often broke camp at 3 o'clock in the morning and marched until 8 in the evening. On the day of the battle, the Grenadier companies were on "parade" at 2 o'clock in the morning and then joined the advance party. In the entry below, you can see a "parade" at 1 o'clock in the morning two days before the battle. How the hell did they see anything at that time of day, never mind packing up and breaking camp.

__________

From Halkett's Orderly books, 44th Regiment>

A interesting entry for July 7th (2 days before the battle): I believe that Parole = Sentry Password. Under Arms = musket resting on shoulder, heels together, toes pointing out, back straight, free hand pointing down - (OMG, a BoM figure we do not have!!!!). I am leaving the spelling and grammar as in the original.

Camp on the East Side of Turtle Creek July ye: 7th: 1755
The Parole is Dublin
Field Officer for to Morrow Major Sparke
For the Genls: Guard the 48th Regt.

1 Serjt 1 Corpl & 10 man to be Added to the rear Guard Immediately. The Batt (Pack) Horses betwixt the line of March & the picquets of the Left Flank And when the wood is so thick they Cannot proceed they Are to fall into the rear and As soon as the wood oppens they Are Again to March forwards. If upon a march it should be found proper to Advance the line, the Advance partys Are to remain at the proper Posts facing Outwards. Upon the march when the Troops halt half of each advance party remains Under Arms with fixt Bayonets facing outwards. And the other half may sit down. The Genl (Drum Beat) to beat to Morrow Morning at 5 oClock. A Detach of 1 Sub & 20 Grands (Grenadiers): from Regt and one Capt One Sub: & 20 Rank & File to parade at 1 oClock in the Morning at the Rear Gun.

Below is the link for Braddock's Orderly Books, penned by George Washington. The discipline and punishments outlined here for infractions make an interesting read, but are brutal in the extreme.

http://archive.org/stream/docksorderlybook00bradrich#page/n4/mode/1up

As we have known that packhorses were coming, I planned for them. I saved space for them. But I planned for them on the RIGHT FLANK, not the LEFT!!!! {sm2}{sm2}^&confuse{sm2}!!!!! Do not make the same mistake I did, GO LEFT!!!!! (I think we have the beginning of an Obama Bummer Sticker here).