A Cart Before the Horse

Just before I commence my next, and possibly last, Hinton Hunt cavalry project, the 23rd Light Dragoons, I have spent a very short time on the HH Portuguese ox cart. All parts are from the USA. The cart and cargo, one ox and the muleteer were a freebie from Clayton in 1997. A generous piece of ebay searching on my behalf  by David of Miniature Minions fame secured another ox.   

I like to do these small projects in between cavalry and infantry units as they are usually completed within a couple of painting sessions. The parts are: W/4 ox cart, H/41 longhorned oxen, W/5 ammo chests and cask SN/51 Spanish muleteer.

Having looked at many images of ox carts on the internet (I didn't expect to be doing that last week!) I settled on head harnesses made from wine bottle foil. 

I could find no pictures that came close to matching the peculiar contraption that sits on backs of the oxen, most had a yoke across the necks. Anyway, artistic licence won the day and I added a couple of rope harnesses made from twisted fuse wire. 

I have a Peninsular War scenario in mind (inspired by Private Brewer of the Royal Wagon Train at Hougoumont) where this ammo laden cart can be sent to relieve a Spanish/Portuguese outpost. 

Quatre Bras Part 4

 This was one of the few games I have played where I tried to represent the opposing armies as closely as possible as they appeared on the day. As there were quite a lot of substitutes on the table it did mean looking frequently at the Order of Battle to remember who was who! However it was worth the effort and, in some respects, it did mirror events that actually took place on 16 June 1815. Anyway here are the last pics from this game.  

Vintage Hinton Hunt 1st West Prussian Uhlans taking the role of Brunswicks. These were in my painting pile for 24 years believe it or not! The officer is a conversion. They are moving down the allied left flank.

   

Brunswick Hussars (Clayton Hintons) and only 23 years on the painting waiting list!! They are also moving down the left flank. 

The French realise they risk being out flanked and form square

Kennington 79th Cameron Highlanders move foward on the left. 

A Dutch General looks folornly at what is left of his front line troops but they have done their job in slowing the French advance.

Dutch Militia (aka Prussian Landwehr) hold their ground

RHA start to find their targets (Clayton Hintons)

The Brunswicks move further towards the French lines but have taken casualties.

Dutch and Brunswicks surge forward

Hanoverian Landwehr move up the left behind the cavalry (vintage Hinton Hunt Prussian Jagers deputising)

French Line are holding their position in the middle ground but are increasingly under pressure from Picton's Division. In the distance the Dutch Belgians have continued to hold the higher ground.

Vintage Hinton Light Infantry voltigeurs taking the role of 4th Light in Foy's 9th Division (I must give Stryker's HH blog credit for the creation of this unit as I was undecided how to deploy them until I saw his creation of a voltigeur regiment).

Kennington 3rd Chevau-Leger Lanciers move forward to combat the allied cavalry

Vintage Hinton Saxons taking the part of 100th Line. 

And so the battle drew to a steady close with the French prevented from taking the crossroads due to the continual input of allied reinforcements. The Cuirassiers did get very close to the village but were decimated by allied artillery. The French were unable to move significantly into Bossu wood and their centre was pushed back by Picton's Division.  It would have been fun to introduce the threat of d'Erlons Corps who famously marched back and forth between Ligny and Quatre Bras without firing a shot but sadly all my French figures were used up!  It was a great opportunity also to use all my Dutch Belgians especially having reappraised their much maligned perfomance in 1815 after reading "Wellington's Hidden Heroes" by Veronica Baker-Smith. 

Quatre Bras Part 3

 Things are hotting up a bit now with the arrival of more allied reinforcements...

Hinton Hunt Dutch Carabiniers taking the role of Belgian Light Dragoons for this game.

French Line move cautiously through the crops towards Quatre Bras 

To the left, French Line are getting very close to the village. Dutch Belgian infantry and cavalry are moving across to slow their advance. To the right Picton's Division. 

I'm quite pleased how my new crop terrain strips worked out for this game.

5th Dutch Militia make their way across the front line. These are a mixture of vintage and Clayton Hinton Hunt. The Officer and standard bearer are conversions.

....and this is what awaits them!

A General and his ADC keep an eye on proceedings from a safe distance.

The cavalry move quickly towards the allied left flank with the aim of  threatening the French right

The last remaining high ground at the very front of the allied line comes under siege.

Kellerman's cuirassiers move through the massed battalions. Ney urges them on to the right of the picture.

Allied artillery make ready to engage in front of the village. (Newline Brunswick and Kennington Spanish deputising as Hanoverians)  

.....and to their left vintage Hinton Hunt British foot artillery with Picton just visible.

A flood of troops on the allied right representing the Brunswick Division and, to their rear, Altens Anglo-Hanoverians. A very congested area of the fiield.

Hinton Hunt 1st Royal Scots move through Bossu Wood with Kennington 28th North Glos. to their rear. Kennington 32nd Cornwall in square prepare to receive cavalry.

The Brunswick artillery in action. These are one of the few units I bought and painted almost immediately as I wanted them represented at this battle. The Newline artillery figures fit in pretty well with the Hintons and Kenningtons despite their smaller stature. 

Next time...the conclusion.

Quatre Bras Part 2

 Some more pics from last year's game..... 

1st Cuirassiers move forward (Kennington figures) 

French batteries continue to pound the defenders of Gemioncourt

Kennington French line bring up the rear

At last, the first of the 2nd Netherland Division reserves move through the village towards the front line (Hinton Hunt 7th Belgian Line in the front)

More Netherland reserves move through Bossu Wood (Hinton Hunt Prussian Landwehr deputising as militia)

Netherland troops emerge from the South of Bossu Wood to attempt to stem the French advance

French massed battalions have moved past Gemioncourt Farm which has now fallen. Their movement is restricted by the swampy ground to their right. The stream itself is not a major obstacle which they cross with ease. 

Weakened Hinton Hunt 27th Dutch Jagers prepare to fire

The Netherland reserves move in to defensive positions on higher ground and among the crops in front of the village.  

 The Netherlands troops continue to hold their positions in Bossu Wood while their artillery has begun to trouble the French centre  

Hinton Hunt Netherlands artillery support 2nd Nassau while French line storm across the bridge.

Part of Picton's 5th Anglo Hanoverian Division have arrived to the West of the village (apart from the 92nd Gordons their standards give away their true nationalities!)

The thinly spread men of Perponcher's Division continue to slow the French advance in the centre but have given way on their left. More troops begin to form a second defensive line.

The positions as viewed from the South. The 27th Dutch Jagers have been broken and fled (who can blame them!). French formed in line move through the crops. Part of Picton's Division is at the top right and Van Merlen's Netherlands Light Cavalry Brigade top left begin to move down the road. 

Next time....more allied reinforcements arrive and things become very crowded.