An Bayonet Airgid (The Silver Bayonet in Ireland)

 

    Saturday was my son's birthday and circumstances prevented us from celebrating until Sunday. He and his dog, Atlas, came to our house for a meal, some home-made apple pie (his favourite!), and a game of The Silver Bayonet. This is a game of "Napoleonic Horror" pitting specialist teams from various powers of the time against an other-worldly power feeding on the suffering and pain of the warring sides in the era of Napoleon. We enjoy the game and recommend it. 

   It is usually set in Europe somewhere, or according to the supplements available, in the Carpathians, in Canada, or in Egypt. An upcoming offering takes the game to Calabria. Anyway, I decided to set our game in Ireland. If there's ANYPLACE of myth and legend, I'd say it would have to be the "Auld Sod." So we set about playing. I was gamesmaster and the players were:

• Robb - a Russian unit (a new one we'd never tried before)
• Nick - a unit of Scots clan fighters
• Wren - a team of Harvestmen Exiles, based on a fan-written supplement where some of the so-called monsters are used as a warband led by either a vampire, a cult leader, or a changeling which was Wren's choice - a Changeling, a Dark Wolf, two Pixies, two Goblins, a Witch, and two bandits.
• Beth - A Lenni-Lenape warband.(The English name of the nation is the "Delaware" people.)

Now you may ask how Scots, Russians, and First Nations got to Ireland. For the Scots, it's a short swim. For the others, I will refer you to the theme song of Mystery Science Theatre 3000: 

                  If you're wondering how he eats and breathes 

                  And other science facts, 

                  Just repeat to yourself "It's just a show, 

                  I should really just relax

   So anyway, we let the donnybrook begin! I decided to use a castle model Beth and I bought many years ago.

The Castle being used in another setting... shown for demonstration purposes.

    The players were informed that the local population were concerned with the loss of cattle in the area as well as mysterious figures prowling the fields and another mysterious figure escorting orphaned children to safety while they were in danger from unknown sources.

Almost immediately, Wren's Exiles encountered a living scarecrow.
Here the Changeling leader and one of the Goblins fight the beastie.

Another of the Changeling's Goblins encountered Nick's Scots.

The Scots used the available cover to advance.

The Lenni-Lenape searched the abandoned chapel for clues
and soon were fighting the Scots.

Abandoned, but the altar is set? Maybe it's still in use!
Altar and thing on it (I don't know what it's supposed to be)
by Wizards of the Coast and the book is balsa.

The Lenni-Lenape are seen through the opened window behind the altar.

Beth took a great photo of the welcoming doorway arch...

... and the sparse furnishings in the ruin.

Meanwhile, one of Wren's Pixies kept tabs in the Scots. 

The Scots leader, The Gordon of Gordon engaged the Lenni-Lenape through the broken wall.
We was aided by a battle-mad Highlander and his family piper.
(Yes, I made up some rules for the use of pipes for the Scots and the Irish Rebels.)

The Witch of Wren's party prepared to throw a spell...

... at a cluster of Nick's Scots.

The Gordon steps up to the fight.

One of Wren's Bandits had discharged his musket.

At the other end of the table, Robb's Russians faced off against an annoying bunch of Pixies
who served the Harvestmen. They just annoy.
The two figures with the white "halos" have had their weapons blessed/enchanted by Father Vasil, a champion of the faith. The fellow with the torch is a "Woodsman", a new class found in the Canada supplement and a very useful and worthwhile character to have in your team.

The Woodsman, an Infantryman, and the Major commanding move toward the castle.

Father Vasil, the second Infantryman, and the Grenadier move up.
The pig? He tagged along since it was Robb's birthday for no other reason.
At one point, the group encountered a werewolf escorting five children.
The werewolf set himself between the party and the children.
Why? In Irish myth and legend, werewolves are PROTECTORS of the innocent and helpless!
Robb figured this out, let them pass, and gained victory points.

In the castle, the Banshee began to keen!
She appeared when one of the teams investigated a clue point.
(A lovely Alternative Armies figure)

The Banshee begins to move.

A long distance of Wren's Exiles and Nick's Scots duking it out.

The Pink Pixie encounters a clue and discovers both live cattle and cattle bones
in the castle courtyard. Wren, Nick, and Robb had to split some points for the cattle.

Robb's Russian werebear in melee with Wren's Goblin, Bandit, and Changeling.
Again, the little white "halo" indicates that the weapon was blessed/enchanted.
Robb sent the bear in to soak up trouble, which he did. Too much in fact.

One of the clue markers. Beth encountered a group of four Leprechauns burying a treasure.
They got away with the "pot o' gold" so Beth got partial points for the meeting.
Sad to say, we didn't get any photos!

Wren's Punkin'-Head Pixie watched the Russians from a safe distance.

   Who won? Well, Beth recovered the sacred Book of Kelly and got it off the board. Nick, Wren, and Robb split the points for getting the cattle out. Nobody tripped the Big Nasty, Abhartach the Vampire, so he sleeps in his tomb yet. Actually, we all had so much fun we really didn't care much who won!

   I based the Lenni-Lenape and the Scots on the British list. The Russians were right out of the book with the addition of the Woodsman from the Canada supplement. I like that character and it could be added to any faction. The Harvestman Exiles were taken from the "Servants of the Harvestmen" fan supplement. I think that could still be found in the "files" section of the Facebook page. Wren really likes to play that one!

Irish Rebel piper from Trent Miniatures

Scots regimental piper

    Bagpipes... I know that many nations have some sort of bagpipe among their folk music. It is the  Great Highland Pipes of the Scots and the War pipes of the Irish that I'm talking about. When playing, the character uses both actions although they may move but not sprint. It causes a morale/terror recovery for any of the unit within 6". I'd like it to scare the Harvestmen's servants and monsters some way or other, but I'm not sure how to do that. Experimentation will continue!

   A rather lengthy blog entry, but it was a great time.

Why put a tree there? It just seemed right.

You never know where one will show up.
(A really old Games Workshop figure)

Fort Erie 2024

 

I had the honour of attending and taking part in the reenactment of the Siege of Fort Erie for 2024. I was in decent shape since I had some treatment on my ancient and honourable knees about a week prior to the event. My wife, Beth and I both enjoyed the event and the weather - which had been REALLY hot - cooperated although the wind was a bit troublesome at time. In the cause of being truthful, we didn't camp this year. Neither of us can enjoy sleeping on the ground AND getting up without the use of slings, pullies, and derrick... at least for me.

A note... the photos are courtesy of many sources, such as Cushing's Battery, my wife, The Earl of Moira crew, and Laughing Devil Photography... of which I'll say more later. Complimentary, by the way!

We set up next to the folks from Fort Meigs, OH, who reenact Cushing's Battery, 2nd US Artillery. They had a 6# cannon, an ammunition caisson, and a mobile field forge, the second two for display, and the cannon for firing!

Cushing's Battery firing

... and REALLY firing!

Usually, I'm detailed to be "brigade adjutant", the chief paper-work officer of the brigade who also sets the parade along with the sergeant-major. This time I was asked by Marty, the colonel commanding to lay that aside in order to train other officers to serve as field adjutant. I was declared "Quartermaster" and I set to greeting the public, answering questions, showing a lovely group of maps I had, and generally doing PR for the American side of the event. I was happy to do it. My arthritic knees were grateful as well. I still was in charge of complying the "morning reports" for the brigade. My wife had a chance to set up her apothecary's table, something she's been developing for years. I had the north side of the fly and she had the south side.

Our Quartermaster's office/Apothecary's display fly

"The Chucks" investigate the apothecary's display.
There's a lot more to say about "the Chucks."
Note the "pill roller" in front of the uniformed Chuck.
There's also a mortar and pestle, bullet-extracting forceps, and a "tooth key."
(Apothecaries did tooth extraction as well.)

Able Seaman Silas of the Earl of Moira and I look over some maps with visitors.

I kept myself out of the battles for the most part although I did some watching on Saturday afternoon, providing some commentary to the folks on the side of the battlefield. 

American skirmishers give fire!

Our friends of the 21st Infantry on the march.

US Regulars and Kentucky Volunteer Infantry on the firing line.

Forces of the Crown... looking as sharp as ever.

The Crown forces in line

The battle on Saturday night is always the highlight of the event. It reenacts the Crown night assault on the US-held fort on August 15, 1814 which led to a massive explosion of the fort's powder magazine, resulting in a huge death toll for the attackers. The reenactment holds a lot of musket and cannon fire, lots of screaming and battlecries, and a BIG BOOM as fireworks controlled by professionals show the massive explosion. The explosives are usually covered in peat moss... which means all of the reenactors are covered in peat moss when things blow up. This year's event was no exception and the big blast was impressive.

The 22nd US Infantry, with my friend, Neil commanding,
man the highest wall in the fort.

A smaller artillery hit on the fort, showing the smear of peat moss that makes a good show,
although you'll find the stuff in you underclothing later!

The magazine begins to go up.

The BIG BOOM!

The big aftermath with lots of fallen Redcoats.

Earlier, the assault troops went up the ladder onto the terre plane.

A different view of the blast, from the safety line south of the field.

As the battle reenactment began, the Crown forces advanced in this formation.

Now... "The Chucks"... The various stuffed woodchucks/groundhogs/marmots (in Europe)/"Grundsau" (if you're from Pennsylvania Dutch country) are mascots of a sort of Cushing's Battery, 2nd US Artillery, based in Fort Meigs, OH. The besieging British called the US garrison "woodchucks" because they were dug in so well. So, a stuffed woodchuck toy was put in a uniform as "Chuck Wood, Artillery Recruit" and a few more followed - a female laundress/cook, an artificier (a skilled worker attached to the army), and a gentleman woodchuck. They are a scream and they are much beloved.

The explanation of all this wonderful nonsense.

Oh, dare I say it? I dare, I dare!
"THE CHUCK WAGON"

When they visited the Crown camp, they wore "Canadian disguises."
How beaver-ly they were!

More fun at the apothecary's display!

"I want your battery to cover this area! See to it, Mr. Wood!"

Chuck and I go over the defense plans. He added a few insightful ideas and wrote them down.
Sadly, I couldn't read his writing.

Last but not least in any way, shape, or form, I must tell you about the best visitor to our part of the camp. Sunday morning, Michael, the Laughing Devil himself came to see Beth and I. He was reenacting, but his impression was quite unique! He reenacted a tourist!

That's the mobile field forge in the background

We asked him the usual questions asked of all reenactors, such as:

• "Do you dress like that all the time?' 
• "Aren't you hot in those clothes? How can you stand it?"
• "Is that a real camera?"
• "Do you live in a real house and eat proper food of the time you reenact?"

Of course, Michael was happy to explain his impression and demonstrate the actions, language, attitudes, and such of the period he reenacted. I'm not sure if he was the highlight of our weekend, or if the Chucks were!

Finally, after some wrangling and discussion, Beth and I were received as new members of Cushing's Battery, 2nd Artillery. We've been more or less attached to them since I became adjutant and since our unit kind of petered out. Let's say we're happy to have another home added to our membership in Croghan's Company, 17th US Infantry and the crew of the HMS Earl of Moira!

The whole of Cushing's, lined up around the ammunition caisson.
Beth is standing fourth from the right. I'm behind the caisson and the bayonet.

Lastly, a very nice still-life from Laughing Devil Photography
My officer's sword at rest

If ever you can, come out to the reenactment at For Erie, ON on the weekend after Civic Holiday in August. It's well worth the trip!