New Releases for July 2016 -- The Eighteenth Century (3 Viewers)

[jjDesigns]

THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY
THE RAID ON ST. FRANCIS 1959

Lacrosse has its origins in a tribal game played by eastern Woodlands Native Americans and by some Plains Indians tribes in what is now Canada.
The game began with the ball being tossed into the air and the two sides rushing to catch it. Because of the large number of players involved, these games generally tended to involve a huge mob of players swarming the ball and slowly moving across the field. Passing the ball was thought of as a trick, and it was seen as cowardly to dodge an opponent.
Lacrosse is one of the oldest team sports in North America. There is evidence that a version of lacrosse originated in what is now Canada as early as the 17th century
Traditional lacrosse games were sometimes major events that could last several days. As many as 100 to 1,000 men from opposing villages or tribes would participate. The games were played in open plains located between the two villages, and the goals could range from 500 yards ,to 6 miles apart!




There are traditionally three areas of scoring on the stickball pole. There is a mark, about chest high on the pole, and when scored above, awards one point. Contact below that point is not scored. The top half of the pole, well above arms reach, is worth two points when hit. The very top of the pole, usually embellished with a large figure of a fish, is worth three points. In recreational games, scoring is loosely kept, most times by the audience or a few players. Games typically reach around twenty points before concluding

Lacrosse traditionally had many different purposes. Some games were played to settle inter-tribal disputes. This function was essential to keeping the Six Nations of the Iroquois together. Lacrosse was also played to toughen young warriors for combat, for recreation, as part of festivals, and for the bets involved.




WIM-09
THE RAID ON ST. FRANCIS 1759,
Woodland Indians,
Youth, Watching Lacrosse Game,
(1pc)




THE PROVINCIAL REGIMENTS
THE SOUTH CAROLINA PROVINCIAL REGIMENT

On July 6, 1757, the South Carolina Provincial Regiment was created by an act of the Assembly. The regiment was to be made up of 7 companies of 100 men each. The regiment was commanded by Lieutenant-colonel Probart Howarth. Howarth, a veteran of Braddock’s campaign, also held a commission as lieutenant in the Independent Companies.
”They have passed a Vote here for granting a Sum for raising 700 Men subject to the Orders & Disposal of Lord Loudoun, have put them on the same Establishment with our Troops, and have given your old Acquaintance Howarth the Command of Them, as Lieut. Colo. & Commandant of the So. Carolina Provincials.” (George Washington Papers (memory.loc.gov/), Captain George Mercer to George Washington, August 17, 1757.)
Each company was led by 1 captain , 2 lieutenants and 1 ensign. Each company also had 4 sergeants, 4 corporals and 2 drummers.
The regiment was also known as the Buffs, due to the facing colour of their uniforms. Men were only recruited with great difficulty, and by mid 1758 the regiment contained only about 550 privates. Attempts were made to fill up the regiment by enlisting vagrants.




RRBSC-05
THE RAID ON ST. FRANCIS 1759,
THE SOUTH CAROLINA PROVINCIAL REGIMENT,
2 Line Infantry Marching,
(2pcs)





RRBSC-05N
THE RAID ON ST. FRANCIS 1759,
THE SOUTH CAROLINA PROVINCIAL REGIMENT,
4 Line Infantry Marching, Set #1,
(4pcs)


More to follow.....................................................

 

[jjDesigns]

The 24-pounder was a common naval gun. It was the preferred "attacking" siege gun, as it hit hard, and the gun weight was still manageable.
The 18-pounder was the preferred "defensive" siege gun, similar in size with nearly the same range as a 24-pounder, but it saved on gun powder, which was nearly always a huge concern for whoever was being besieged.
The British had two 18-pounders at Fort William Henry, six more at Fort Edward. During the siege of Fort William Henry, the two 18-pounders “burst” from over firing.
Many of the larger mid- and late18th century ships were furnished with a mix of 24-pounders (middle deck) and 32-pounders (lower deck) with lighter guns on the upper deck.





BAGUN-02
THE RAID ON ST. FRANCIS 1759,
18-24 Pounder CANNON,
(1pc)



At Fort William Henry, the British had two 32-pounders. Both these 32-pounders burst from over firing during the siege.
The 32-pounders at Fort William Henry beat off an attack by the French trying a "silent" capture" of the fort in March 1757.
With such heavy guns, we know the gun carriage was not a field gun carriage or even a siege gun carriage, but a ships gun/garrison carriage. These were easy enough to obtain off British naval vessels.

During the Siege of Louisbourg, the British navy loaned at least four 32-pounders for use with Wolfe's siege batteries.
On July 11, 1759, the British Army opened two batteries at Point aux Peres opposite to Quebec. One consisted of six 32-pounders and other was formed of five 13-inch mortars. During the Siege of Quebec, the British Army fired 18,000 rounds from their 32-pounder batteries.



BAGUN-03
THE RAID ON ST. FRANCIS 1759,
32 Pounder CANNON,
(1pc)



**PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL DEALER FOR FURTHER INFORMATION**

 

[Fraxinus]

Woot!! Woot!!! Finally, the Cannon have arrived!!! These are naval and garrison cannon. The sculptured guns appear to be based on Armstrong-Fredrick Pattern. These guns would be in use for much the remaining 18th Century and into the Napoleonic Era. I believe the 32-pounder is slightly longer and fatter than the 24-pounder. A 32-pounder should have a barrel length of 9.5 or 10 feet; a 24-pounder = 9 or 9.5 feet and an 18-pounder = 9 foot. Gun identification would be by the barrel diamter a the vent.

The 24-pounders were used extensively during the French Indian War and they were the principal guns in Abercromby's failed Ticonderoga Campaign of 1758 and Amherst's successful 1759 campaign. Ambercromby had six 24-pounders shipped from England as part of his artillery train. As per John's brief description, the 32-pounders were mounted by the British in shore batteries to bombard both Louisbourg and Quebec. During the Siege of Fort William Henry, the British burst two 32-pounders (iron), two 18-pounders (iron), one 12-pounder (iron), one 12-pounder (brass), one 6-pounder, and two 7 3/4-inch mortars (iron) - a total of nine pieces. A full third of the British guns burst. The largest guns remaining guns at the time of the surrender were two 12-pounders.

The first link below is specially useful --- you can vary the gun caliper and select historically accurate barrel lengths. Pick the gun caliper desired and a list of appropriate lengths will be displayed, then choose the length desired. Please note, the scale on the bottom of the drawing will change, so you need to watch that aspect carefully to compare guns. Other links on the page contain very useful historical information, especially those with a bent towards the artillery.

http://arc.id.au/ArmstrongPattern.html

The 24-pounder would work very well at the Alamo, the famed 18-pounder - the gun lengths would be the same.

Other useful links.

https://books.google.com/books?id=y...DMQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=canon artillery&f=false

http://www.thepirateking.com/historical/cannon_smoothbores_of_the_later_period.htm

 

[Fraxinus]

A 32-pounder should have a barrel length of 9.5 or 10 feet; a 24-pounder = 9 or 9.5 feet and an 18-pounder = 9 foot. For miniature collectors, gun identification might be best done by the barrel diameter at the fuse vent, not the barrel length ---- around these values for our 60 mm scale ---- 32-pounder 0.75 inches; 24-pounder 0.68 inches; 18-pounder .062 inches; 12-pounder .54 inches; 9-pounder .49 inches.

 

[Fraxinus]

So the barrel lengths without the cascable should be between 3.6 inches (9.0 feet) and 4.0 inches (10 feet), depending on the barrel being rendered. Adding in the Cascable. the guns will be even be longer. These are not peashooters and the cannon will dominate the figures. Cannon ball diameters would be somewhere around these values ---- 18 pounder = 5.3 inches; 24 pounder 5.8 inches; 32-pounder 6.4 inches.


Wonderful link below with very good illustrations. See Figure 9, Page 14 in the PDF below. Cascable = Cascable Breech in this figure.


http://www.staugustinelighthouse.org/LAMP/Conservation/Meide2002_Bronze.pdf

 

[RISORGIMENTO]

very interesting Ken as usual.
I am intrigued to know what was the way in which these heavy guns were moved from the ships to the Forts in the wilderness? I think with the rafts on the lakes but by land? As they were pulled? By horsecarts or oxen carts? I have never seen a naval cannon transport picture.
How did the Marquis de Montcalm to move his heavy mortars against Fort William Henry? I wonder if we can hope in the future for French and British heavy trains of artillery.
Cheers
Carlo

 

[Fraxinus]

For Louisbourg and Quebec, the cannon would have been taken directly off ships.

For the Lake George/Lake Champlain Campaigns, the cannon would have been transported up the Hudson River by boat probably all the way to Fort Edward, about 12 - 15 miles south of Fort William Henry. From Fort Edward, the cannon would have to have been dragged north to Lake George and Fort William Henry. Oxen teams would have been used. The best time to move heavy cannon would have been by sled in winter, but circumstances rarely allowed that luxury.

The British had a single 13-inch mortar, a very heavy piece, that moved around quite a lot. In 1756, the 13-inch mortar was moved from Fort William Henry back to Albany. That winter, Lord Loudoun warns Webb not to move the 13-inch mortar until he is sure of his campaign plans for the next summer. Once the 13-inch mortar moved, the French would know the intent of the upcoming British campaign. Although unwelcome and tedious, the artillery pieces could be moved, but each time considerable road building and bridge repair would be required.

Once on Lake George, the cannon could have been rafted north to the Portage to Lake Champlain on simple rafts or joined bateaux or mounted on a artillery radeau from which they could be fired. Amherst had them mounted. Though awkward, the heavy guns were transported at the Lake Champlain Portage.

For the Siege of Fort William Henry, the French were forced to drag their cannon across the Portage between lakes using mostly human muscle.

Artillery radeau linked below.


http://www.treefrogtreasures.com/fo...ery-Raft-Radeau-Lake-George-French-Indian-War

 

[Fraxinus]

From the French Frigate, the Hermione (Below)



From the U.S.S. Constitution (Below)

 

[Fraxinus]

https://youtu.be/I-yFpGSDnsM

You-tube video, there are two other companion videos to this one, but you can get an idea about the size of the guns here.

Worst part, these guys are firing on my old neighborhood of Washington Heights.

 

[Fraxinus]

https://youtu.be/H_FAT3HnMwU