UKReb
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The American Civil War Diaries (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter UKReb
- Start date
Harrytheheid
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Put your fangs away Vamp-all good things come to those who wait
Reb
Reminds me of a Doors song...??? Ah, got it.
Cheers
H
kilted vampire
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Put your fangs away Vamp-all good things come to those who wait
Reb
Awwwww pretty please.......
6th Wisconsin
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This is a marvelous thread. I had collected CW figures exclusively on and off for 8 years, with periods of mostly collecting CW artifacts. Recently I got into WWII, but this has made me crave adding a few new CW figures and working on better dioramas. Great dioramas and photos in this thread.
I got inspired to collect toy soldiers on my first of now 4 trips up to Gettysburg, and the first set that really took my breath away was Britain's Clear the Way, the Irish Brigade charging at Fredericksburg (which I visited for the first time on that trip as well). I didn't buy it at first, but bought a few less expensive sets. Then, a few years later I managed to pick up Clear the Way and the add-on set on Ebay for a great price. They are still among my very favorites.
By the way, anyone have any idea what the Britains Union limber set is going for these days (the one released about 5-6 years ago)? I have not seen one for sale in a while.
I got inspired to collect toy soldiers on my first of now 4 trips up to Gettysburg, and the first set that really took my breath away was Britain's Clear the Way, the Irish Brigade charging at Fredericksburg (which I visited for the first time on that trip as well). I didn't buy it at first, but bought a few less expensive sets. Then, a few years later I managed to pick up Clear the Way and the add-on set on Ebay for a great price. They are still among my very favorites.
By the way, anyone have any idea what the Britains Union limber set is going for these days (the one released about 5-6 years ago)? I have not seen one for sale in a while.
UKReb
Command Sergeant Major
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Wow!
A fellow ACW collector -albeit part- here on the forum- whatever next?
Your Fredericksburg set is indeed one the best early sets released by Britains, the battle or charge up Marye's Heights would make a superb dio (I always refer to it as the Union version of Pickett's charge at Gettysburg) but unfortunately apart from this set no other manufacturer makes Yanks or Rebs in winter kit. I did think of converting some by adding putty to their blouses and wrapping scarves around their heads but the task was just too great.
In my dio here on the forum I have tried to breathe life into each of the characters the figures are representing but once again there are not enough character figures available from manufacturers to do these mammoth battles and the bravery of the men on both sides justice.
I have got fed up waiting for releases-which invariably are just continuations of the same theme-men loading-men firing-men running with flags etc.etc. I have now begun to convert some of the standard figures to align with the Generals/Senior officers (Take a look at "other manufacturers" thread Confederate Cavalry Revamped for pictures I have just posted will give you an idea what I'm attempting to do)
I saw a Britain's Limber team you referred to in your post at the London show and the dealer was asking £140.00 ($290 US). You rarely see them on ebay but I have heard a whisper that one of the manufacturers may have a new set in the pipe-line.
Reb
UKReb
Command Sergeant Major
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A feeling of impending disaster hung in the air, Lee knew that all along Hills lines the Confederate resistance was collapsing under the sheer mass of Union troops. But even without Longstreet's Corps Lee was not yet ready to give up the fight.
With Hills men now under orders for a fighting withdrawal to the Tapp Farm clearing Lee rode ahead with an escort. He had one thing on his mind.
ARTILLERY!
The Tapp Farm clearing provided one of the rare sites for gun positions and Lee had ordered Hill to place as many cannon as he could muster there.
As he raced across the clearing he hailed a gun and limber team travelling north.
The Artillery team were surprised at the sudden appearance of their Commander in Chief.
Lee shouted
"Colonel how many cannon have you at your disposal?"
"One battery sir! Six cannon
Lee muttered almost to himself "Not enough but must suffice"
Lee enquired of the officer
"Your name sir?"
"Poague sir! 3rd Artillery Battalion"
"Well Colonel Poague" pointing with his gauntlet
"Very shortly from the East General Hill's III Corps will be entering the clearing followed closely by the whole Army of the Potomac"
Lee continued to address Poague and pointed again
"I want you to place your guns over there just in front of that low stone wall and once General Hill's men have cleared the tree-line I want you to fire on the enemy and hold them there until we are able to reform the regiments behind your guns"
"Do you understand your orders Colonel?"
Poague replied "With absolute clarity sir!"
Lee allowed himself a brief smile "Please deploy your guns sir!"
.With almost lightening speed that even surprised Lee Colonel William Poague's artillery teams unlimbered their guns and manhandled them into position facing the Eastern side of the clearing.
Poague's men typified the artillerists in Lee's army in that the majority of their personnel came from a background superior to the average volunteer in the other services.
There were no conscripts in the Confederate Artillery and it showed
The guns were ready and loaded with anti-personnel ammunition. Poague, now mounted, scanned the tree-line at the far end of the clearing. He spoke calmly to his artillery officers
"Gentlemen, you know your orders, remember the first troops to emerge from those trees will be General Hill's Corps. Once they are clear you will lay your fire over their heads onto the enemy. So please check those elevations again"
The sound of gun-fire now got closer and louder. Poague's men watched white/gray smoke drift above the tree-tops. Poague spoke again
"We will need to shave those boys heads gentlemen, but I do not want you to take their heads off as that will inconvenience General Lee"
"Wait for my order gentlemen............Wait".......
"Wait"................."Wait"...........................
With Hills men now under orders for a fighting withdrawal to the Tapp Farm clearing Lee rode ahead with an escort. He had one thing on his mind.
ARTILLERY!
The Tapp Farm clearing provided one of the rare sites for gun positions and Lee had ordered Hill to place as many cannon as he could muster there.
As he raced across the clearing he hailed a gun and limber team travelling north.
The Artillery team were surprised at the sudden appearance of their Commander in Chief.
Lee shouted
"Colonel how many cannon have you at your disposal?"
"One battery sir! Six cannon
Lee muttered almost to himself "Not enough but must suffice"
Lee enquired of the officer
"Your name sir?"
"Poague sir! 3rd Artillery Battalion"
"Well Colonel Poague" pointing with his gauntlet
"Very shortly from the East General Hill's III Corps will be entering the clearing followed closely by the whole Army of the Potomac"
Lee continued to address Poague and pointed again
"I want you to place your guns over there just in front of that low stone wall and once General Hill's men have cleared the tree-line I want you to fire on the enemy and hold them there until we are able to reform the regiments behind your guns"
"Do you understand your orders Colonel?"
Poague replied "With absolute clarity sir!"
Lee allowed himself a brief smile "Please deploy your guns sir!"
.With almost lightening speed that even surprised Lee Colonel William Poague's artillery teams unlimbered their guns and manhandled them into position facing the Eastern side of the clearing.
Poague's men typified the artillerists in Lee's army in that the majority of their personnel came from a background superior to the average volunteer in the other services.
There were no conscripts in the Confederate Artillery and it showed
The guns were ready and loaded with anti-personnel ammunition. Poague, now mounted, scanned the tree-line at the far end of the clearing. He spoke calmly to his artillery officers
"Gentlemen, you know your orders, remember the first troops to emerge from those trees will be General Hill's Corps. Once they are clear you will lay your fire over their heads onto the enemy. So please check those elevations again"
The sound of gun-fire now got closer and louder. Poague's men watched white/gray smoke drift above the tree-tops. Poague spoke again
"We will need to shave those boys heads gentlemen, but I do not want you to take their heads off as that will inconvenience General Lee"
"Wait for my order gentlemen............Wait".......
"Wait"................."Wait"...........................
thebritfarmer
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Another excellent chapter UKReb. The new figures look great in their new home.
Capitolron
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WAIT...WAIT... ????
I CAN'T WAIT - I WANT MORE NOW !!
I CAN'T WAIT - I WANT MORE NOW !!
UKReb
Command Sergeant Major
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Thrilled to see you putting your new General to work.
Poague actually had 16 guns-I only have 10 cannons and six sets of gun crew in my army-so I had to use a bit of artistic licence
Lee did say the WHOLE of the AoP But that was only to ginger up Poague and if you are following the text it was Hancocks 25000 Second Corps attacking Hill and Hill's men had already made a pretty big dent in Hancocks lines even though they were conducting a fighting withdrawal.
Old man Lee was only buying time waiting for Longstreet and if you go back four chapters, remember the regiments running at the double quick?
Stay calm Spit- The Texas Brigade are pretty darn close
Reb
Harrytheheid
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Well worth the wait....
Jeff
Have just caught up with this. Completely agree with you Jeff, it was well worth waiting for.
For the impatient ones among us (myself included), we have to bear in mind that these photo's and the commentary take a lot of time to put together. Besides, we don't want to overload on Reb's excellent diodramas otherwise the anticipation factor would go missing. And let's face it, the anticipation is all part of the fun...!!!
Cheers
H
Dickbuttons
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Thanks for the posting -- another great chapter -- hope more is coming soon. Thanks again.
Dick
Dick
UKReb
Command Sergeant Major
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The Union II Corps surged forward grimly charging over the debris of Southern dead and wounded. Some stopped to bayonet the Reb casualties while others shot at the rear-guard stragglers.
After the dense thicket and undergrowth where the branches of trees had snagged their clothes, torn off knapsacks and even knocked guns out of their hands, to suddenly come upon the margin of a clearing and to be able to actually see the enemy as they retreated in front of them enhanced the Yankees eagerness to run down them Johnnies or chase them all the way to Richmond.
The Union columns had become mixed and disordered in their forward movement, under the excitement of driving the Rebs through woods so dense no body of troops could possibly have preserved their alignment. Officers had lost contact with their own regiments and New Yorkers were now mixed with troops from Indiana, Michigan and Rhode Island.
But commands from somewhere were barked out
"Front Face-Prime-Forward" "Let's go get 'em men"
The Yankees yelling out "Hurrah's" pushed forward.
As they moved forward more behind them virtually turned the woods blue with the sheer mass of Union troops.
As the blue uniforms swept past him Major Lemuel Saviers of the 26th Michigan stopped- looking toward the retreating Confederates-instinctively he knew-Something was wrong!
Above the cacophony of musketfire and yelling Union soldiers he thought he heard a clear order echo across the clearing. An order to........................
.............."FIRE!!!"
Poague's battery opened up on the advancing and now very exposed Yankee army.
After the dense thicket and undergrowth where the branches of trees had snagged their clothes, torn off knapsacks and even knocked guns out of their hands, to suddenly come upon the margin of a clearing and to be able to actually see the enemy as they retreated in front of them enhanced the Yankees eagerness to run down them Johnnies or chase them all the way to Richmond.
The Union columns had become mixed and disordered in their forward movement, under the excitement of driving the Rebs through woods so dense no body of troops could possibly have preserved their alignment. Officers had lost contact with their own regiments and New Yorkers were now mixed with troops from Indiana, Michigan and Rhode Island.
But commands from somewhere were barked out
"Front Face-Prime-Forward" "Let's go get 'em men"
The Yankees yelling out "Hurrah's" pushed forward.
As they moved forward more behind them virtually turned the woods blue with the sheer mass of Union troops.
As the blue uniforms swept past him Major Lemuel Saviers of the 26th Michigan stopped- looking toward the retreating Confederates-instinctively he knew-Something was wrong!
Above the cacophony of musketfire and yelling Union soldiers he thought he heard a clear order echo across the clearing. An order to........................
.............."FIRE!!!"
Poague's battery opened up on the advancing and now very exposed Yankee army.