17th Light Dragoons

My next unit is the 17th Light Dragoons. A small detachment of the 17th was sent South to serve with the British Legion under Banastre Tarleton. The 17th was given the option of trading in their regulation red uniform coats for the green of the British Legion,they did not,they clung to their red coats for the duration,but during the summer months they,and the BL work work smocks,or hunting shirts over their uniform coats and jackets. These figures are all Perry,2 different packs,one in the smocks,and one in the uniform coats.

All I need are the new Perry Tarleton Legion figures and I'll be set for my British cavalry.

O' Hara's Guards Brigade

My next unit,or units ,is O'Hara's British Guards Brigade.This brigade consisted of the 1st Battalion of Foot Guards,2nd Battalion of Foot Guards,and the grenadiers battalion made up of men from the guards regiments.

The Guards battalions consisted of men drawn form the 3 British Foot Guards regiments,the Coldstream Guards,1st Foot Guards,and the 3rd Foot Guards. Those 3 regiments stayed in England along with the regimental colors,which is why I have no color bearers in the units.The grenadiers of course carried no regimental colors. All 3 of these units are Perry figures,with a few notable exceptions in the command stands on the two Guards Bn.s which I added a Foundry command figures which fit very well.

Leslie's Brigade-Guilford Courthouse

My next unit,or units,are the regiments of Major General Leslies Brigade at Guilford Courthouse. This brigade was also a small one,consisting of only 2 regiments as well. The first,is the 2nd batallion,71st regiment,a highland regiment. They are in campaign dress of brown overalls,and the piper plaid overalls.The kilts of the Highland regiments went into storage almost immediately upon arrival in America. These are also Perry figures. On a side note,why wargamers insist on having Highlanders in kilts in their AWI armies is beyond me! I for one don't like painting the darned kilts,and,its just not historically correct!

Anyway! The next unit of the brigade,is the Hesse-Cassel Regiment Von Bose.This unit is different,in that it does not consist of Perry miniatures. This unit is from Sash and Saber miniatures,another very fine manufacturer of 28mm wargame figures I might add! It's really a 7YW Prussian musketeer regiment,but I filed of the gaiters for the more correct overalls that this unit wore while serving in America. I eventually plan on selling this unit,in order to replace it with Perry figures.

Websters Brigade,Guilford Courthouse, March 1781

My first 2 units belonged to Lt. Col. Websters command at the battle of Guilford Courthouse on March15,1781. It was a small brigade,consisting of 2 regiments who fought together most of the war.The 23rd,Royal Welsh Fusiliers,and the 33rd Regt. Both of these units are made up entirely of Perry figures.The flags are by GMB,quite possibly,the best wargames flags available today,just hard to track down!

The 23rd is depicted in campaign dress.Short roundabout jackets,no facings,very appropriate for the Southern heat. They're also wearing floppy slouch hats with their regimental white feathers.The fusilier caps being put into storage being too expensive and inpractical for field usage in the Colonies.

I really like this unit,and it was a pleasure to paint.

The next unit is the 33rd regt. They're also Perry miniatures with GMB flags.This unit is wearing cut down regimental coats and slouch hats as well.The 33rd was a regular line regiment,and had no special distinctions as the 23rd has. As with the 23rd,they were also a joy to paint,which is the case with all the Perry miniatures.

Early War British Light Infantry

Here are some of my early War British light infantry.The figures are all by Foundry,and are very accurate and well sculpted.I use these as skirmish figures,which is why they are all based singly.I do plan on using them though,as part of my British Southern Army circa 1780-83.

The Queens Rangers

Here are some pictures of my Queens Rangers figures.These very nice figures are from the Perry Brothers of Great Britain.In my opinion,THE best 28mm wargames figures available today.Perfectly proportioned and historically accurate,and most of all,a pleasure to paint!

I'm trying to build my armies composed of nothing but Perry figures.The only non-Perry figures are made by Wargames Foundry,of which the Perrys used to work for.Fine figures,but not as nice as Perry's.In a future post,I will examine the differences of all the various figures I have painted,from Old Glory,to Foundry to finally Perry.

The beginning..

This is my first attempt to chronicle my trials and tribulations of creating a wargames army.I am in the process of creating one major,and a couple minor 28mm AWI wargames armies.The first,and largest is Cornwallis' British Southern Army of 1780-1781.The next will be Clintons expedition up the Hudson in support of Burgoynes Army in Oct. of 1777.I chose that because I live near the site of its only major engagements,the attacks on Forts Clinton and Montgomery.

Next up will be Burgoynes German allies consisting of troops from Brunswick and Hesse-Hanau.This is just a small overview of what I will be doing.I will be posting pictures and descriptions of my current work,and progressas I go along.I have the bulk of The British Southern Army finished,all thats needed are some British Legion Dragoons and some Loyalist troops.

Well,off I go!!