UKReb
Command Sergeant Major
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2007
- Messages
- 2,436
"They will attack you in the morning and they will come a-booming-skirmishers three-deep. You will have to fight like the devil to hold your own until supports arrive"
B.G.John Buford
30th June 1863
From 8.00 to 10.00am the following morning Buford's cavalrymen and one artillery battery held back Harry Heth's division. Using split-rail fences, small stone walls, trees and the contours of the ground for cover the troopers fell back from one ridge to the next, forcing Heth to repeatedly deploy.
Buford's troopers faced daunting odds, their firepower was reduced by a quarter as every fourth man was detailed to hold the horses at the rear ready for a swift withdrawal.
But they also had several advantages, they held the high ground, most of them were armed with breech loading Sharps & Burnside carbines giving them a faster rate of fire than the Rebs. And they knew they did not have to defeat this mass of infantry-but only had to delay it.
A completely useless piece of information is the thread title "T'aint no local militia. Thems Yankee cavalry" was actually quoted by one Pvt Fletcher Crowder 5th Alabama. As he was marching with his regiment down the Chambersburg Pike he recognised the distinctive "popping" sound of carbine gunfire and correctly based his *****sment on such. His utterance was later recorded in a battle report by an officer of his regiment.
After several years of reading and observing the forum's K&C boards I am only too aware that any pre-20th century historical subject/topic/diorama has a shelf life on the boards first few pages akin to the life cycle of a mayfly. But on the off chance that Andy N should manage to glance at this thread before it swiftly slides off the page. I would like to make some comments and add a few suggestions to this particular release.
I think this is a great set and very nicely complements the previous K&C Confederate range of cavalry, characters and casualties. They make for a very flamboyant and colorful collection. I have absolutely no idea what Andy's plans are for future K&C ACW releases but I would ask him not to completely abandon the July 1st '63 Yankee cavalry just yet as I believe there could be some great additions that would enhance this release resulting in a splendid dio/collection of that opening fight at Gettysburg.
For what it's worth here's just a few of mine:
1. Buford's "hard hitting colonels" Devin and that feisty Irishman Bill Gamble who previously had served in the British army as a dragoon. Mounted or dismounted figures of both.
2. Lt John Calef's Battery A Second US Artillery. Regulars by the grace of God, or words to that effect-performed one hell of a job that morning practically duelling with Pegram's guns. So a pair of 3" ordnance rifles plus gun crew would be just the ticket.
3. A pair of horse-handlers would also be much appreciated-I have nothing in my stash that comes anywhere near a figure controlling frightened steeds.
4. And if we get a couple of horse-handlers then of course we would need mounts or to quote the obtuse English of that old W.Bros film director Michael Curtiz "Bring on the empty horses". Riderless mounts please-in the above scenario I have borrowed the two "empty" Confederate steeds.
5. This set I am really fond of and can think of a host of scenarios that would fit this little vignette However.......
although Buford's boys did indeed capture a few Rebel skirmishers and even a couple of deserters (or so they said) to the best of my knowledge they were all infantry and not as depicted here-a Reb horse-soldier.
Stuart was still two days away from Gettysburg whilst Grumble Jones & Robertson's cavalry divisions were guarding Lee's right flank at Fairfield and were not engaged in the battle at all. Likewise neither was Imoden's command who were way back down the Confederate line guarding the rear baggage wagons. Consequently, it's doubtful there were any Reb cavalry in the vicinity of Gettysburg until late evening of the second day.
This is not in any way a criticism of this great little set cos I love it as it is but a couple of Reb infantry prisoners would give a nice authentic touch to what I consider to be a super new release.
Reb
B.G.John Buford
30th June 1863
From 8.00 to 10.00am the following morning Buford's cavalrymen and one artillery battery held back Harry Heth's division. Using split-rail fences, small stone walls, trees and the contours of the ground for cover the troopers fell back from one ridge to the next, forcing Heth to repeatedly deploy.
Buford's troopers faced daunting odds, their firepower was reduced by a quarter as every fourth man was detailed to hold the horses at the rear ready for a swift withdrawal.
But they also had several advantages, they held the high ground, most of them were armed with breech loading Sharps & Burnside carbines giving them a faster rate of fire than the Rebs. And they knew they did not have to defeat this mass of infantry-but only had to delay it.
A completely useless piece of information is the thread title "T'aint no local militia. Thems Yankee cavalry" was actually quoted by one Pvt Fletcher Crowder 5th Alabama. As he was marching with his regiment down the Chambersburg Pike he recognised the distinctive "popping" sound of carbine gunfire and correctly based his *****sment on such. His utterance was later recorded in a battle report by an officer of his regiment.
After several years of reading and observing the forum's K&C boards I am only too aware that any pre-20th century historical subject/topic/diorama has a shelf life on the boards first few pages akin to the life cycle of a mayfly. But on the off chance that Andy N should manage to glance at this thread before it swiftly slides off the page. I would like to make some comments and add a few suggestions to this particular release.
I think this is a great set and very nicely complements the previous K&C Confederate range of cavalry, characters and casualties. They make for a very flamboyant and colorful collection. I have absolutely no idea what Andy's plans are for future K&C ACW releases but I would ask him not to completely abandon the July 1st '63 Yankee cavalry just yet as I believe there could be some great additions that would enhance this release resulting in a splendid dio/collection of that opening fight at Gettysburg.
For what it's worth here's just a few of mine:
1. Buford's "hard hitting colonels" Devin and that feisty Irishman Bill Gamble who previously had served in the British army as a dragoon. Mounted or dismounted figures of both.
2. Lt John Calef's Battery A Second US Artillery. Regulars by the grace of God, or words to that effect-performed one hell of a job that morning practically duelling with Pegram's guns. So a pair of 3" ordnance rifles plus gun crew would be just the ticket.
3. A pair of horse-handlers would also be much appreciated-I have nothing in my stash that comes anywhere near a figure controlling frightened steeds.
4. And if we get a couple of horse-handlers then of course we would need mounts or to quote the obtuse English of that old W.Bros film director Michael Curtiz "Bring on the empty horses". Riderless mounts please-in the above scenario I have borrowed the two "empty" Confederate steeds.
5. This set I am really fond of and can think of a host of scenarios that would fit this little vignette However.......
although Buford's boys did indeed capture a few Rebel skirmishers and even a couple of deserters (or so they said) to the best of my knowledge they were all infantry and not as depicted here-a Reb horse-soldier.
Stuart was still two days away from Gettysburg whilst Grumble Jones & Robertson's cavalry divisions were guarding Lee's right flank at Fairfield and were not engaged in the battle at all. Likewise neither was Imoden's command who were way back down the Confederate line guarding the rear baggage wagons. Consequently, it's doubtful there were any Reb cavalry in the vicinity of Gettysburg until late evening of the second day.
This is not in any way a criticism of this great little set cos I love it as it is but a couple of Reb infantry prisoners would give a nice authentic touch to what I consider to be a super new release.
Reb
