Revival Magazine

Another thing I used to do a lot in the late 90s was write pieces for living history magazines on the French and Indian group I was running. There were three glossy mags at that time - this one was the first and this piece was in the launch issue - it only ran to a couple. I'm not sure if this piece actually makes any sense - I think by this time I had written so many bits on the F&I scene I had lost the plot a little. My sister took the photos at Bath. You may wonder how many people you get from an article like this - well none of course but with other articles in other mags it created a surge effect that eventually wore people down to thinking maybe everyone is actually getting into the F&I ... good times.

Milicien in summer clothing

By me. Back in the early days of the internet I used to do a lot of drawings - well people used to be paranoid about copyright and I also found it a useful way of getting ideas across and I liked doing it. I wasn't really any good but people were kind enough about them. Most of these pieces make me shudder these days but I thought this one was worth posting. Armed with a Long Land Pattern captured at Oswego this was what I wanted my Militia of New France to look like...well in 1996 that is.

New France Militia

A new album by Thomsomfeld.

Thomsomfeld's 'Escape'

You're in for a treat. Thomsomfeld has finished his diorama album depicting the attack on a frontier settlement during the French and Indian war with the settlers escaping into the haven of a log stockaded fort. Excellent work in photography modelling and research. All in 1/72 scale. Mostly conversions if not all. Nothing straight out of the box that I can see. I am staggered. This is a work of art - this whole project is excellent.

Compagnies franches de la Marine

In New France. A new album of images by Thomsomfeld.
As you know no doubt the CfdlM were the main garrison of New France throughout most of the French period. They were under the Ministry of Marine.

Bushy Run in 2008

Video of the reenacment of the Pontiac's war battle. Be interesting to see what might occur for the 250th of the Pontiac Uprising in 2013.

Montreal market 1749

This image from here is by ace Canadian artist Francis Back. If you like his stuff then there are more here

Fort Laurens

This site has some fine 3d renderings which would be useful for the modeller.

Opening the door West

This page (recommended by Thomsomfeld) is interesting. It tells the tale of an Ohio PBS documentary on the settling of the Northwest Territory in the late 18th century. Some fine 3d images of reconstructed forts are on the site including the unusual Campus Martius which was made of component dwellings creating what they call a condominium fort.

The Nafziger collection

Thomsomfeld sent me these links to the master of orders of battles for the period - both American and European.
http://home.fuse.net/nafziger/OBS.HTML
http://www.cgsc.edu/carl/nafziger/index.asp

French and Indian blog

There's an attractive looking rock shelter on this blog - very picturesque and practical.

Redoubt 25mm French and Indian Wars

This range is large and covers a lot of ground. Certainly lots of raiding indians and settlers farming (why don't they do Indians farming and settlers raiding?) anyway...
If you want to see them in use go to this Last of the Mohicans page (where the image is from) from New Zealand wargamers who have also put up some rules here so you have everything you need to get started.

Lead and resin blog

As I have now strayed into the world of single figure models and vignettes Thomsomfeld has sent me some links of things he thought I and you would like. This page has some excellent models of French and Indian war subjects from different manufacturers...well worth a look.

'French and Indian Cruelty' - an F&I captivity tale

Peter Williamson or Indian Peter wiki
In short a man kidnapped in Scotland who eventually is captured by Indians, escapes and serves as a soldier in the SYW before coming back to Scotland. Read the book here or download it here - also here for more stuff

Exemplified in the
LIFE
and various Vicissitudes of Fortune, of
PETER WILLIAMSON
A DISBANDED SOLDIER.

CONTAINING

A particular Account of the Manners, Customs, and Dress, of the SAVAGES; of their scalping, burning and other Barbarities, committed on the ENGLISH in NORTH AMERICA during his residence among them: Being at eight Years of Age, Stolen from his Parents and sent to PENNSYLVANIA, where he was sold as a SLAVE: Afterwards married and settled as Planter, 'till the Indians destoy'd his House and every Thing he had and carried him off as a Captive; from whom after several Months Captivity, he made his Escape, and serv'd as a Volunteer and Soldier in many Expeditions against them.

A SUMMARY of the Transactions of the several Provinces of PENNSYLVANIA, (including PHILADELPHIA), NEW YORK, NEW ENGLAND, NEW JERSEY, &c, &c. From the Commencement of the War in these parts; particularly, those relative to the intended Attack on CROWN POINT and NIAGARA.

And, an accurate and succinct detail, of the operations of the FRENCH and ENGLISH Forces at the Siege of OSWEGO, where the AUTHOR was wounded and taken Prisoner; and being afterwards sent to ENGLAND, was on his Arrival at Plymouth, discharg'd as incapable of FURTHER Services.

Written by HIMSELF, 1758.

54mm resin kits and more

This company Michael Roberts Ltd do some great F&I and Revwar resin kits - and even better news if you are a frustrated sculptor like me - they produce sculpting accessories and mannequins here

Malcolm McGregor (1935-2010)

Someone whose illustrations probably more than any other artist shaped the way we view the American Revolution was Malcolm McGregor. This book must have sold shedloads coming out in 1975 just before the bicentennial. Read Martin Windrow's obituary here

Comanche War party mounted on wild horses

If you have an interest in Indians soon enough you will discover the work of George Catlin. The caption for this image quotes Catlin at the Luce Foundation center for American art (where there are loads of Catlin) states:
Every one of these red sons of the forest (or rather of the prairie) is a knight and lord . . . the only things which he deems worthy of his exertions are to mount his snorting steed, with his bow and quiver slung, his arrow-shield upon his arm, and his long lance glistening in the war-parade . . .” George Catlin probably painted this work in his studio between 1835 and 1837.

Ojibwa snowshoe dance

Ancient Ojibwa tradition: The Snowshoe Dance, performed at the first snowfall every year since time immemorial. By George Catlin 1835.

Conquest miniatures

While on the subject of the Comanche I thought I would post about this US maker of 28mm figures. While I've not seen them in the flesh, their ranges - French and Indian war and their 500 Nations range - (native wargames figures) - are full of artistry and character. Seminole warriors are there as well as personality figures for folks like Pontiac, Tecumseh, Black Hawk and more - if you don't know them - and if you are a wargamer you probably already do - but if you don't check them out.

Documentary on the early Comanche

Image Comanches in war regalia - painting by Lino Sánchez y Tapia, circa 1830s
The enemy of the Hispanic Lancer below would have probably been the Comanche - this documentary deals with their adoption of the horse during the 18th century.

Hispanic lancer 18th century

New Spain wiki
Image from here where it says
Hispanic lancer, 18th c., an example of the Spanish/Mexican troops who guarded the frontier provinces of New Spain. Note his quilted leather coat of seven-ply buckskin, pommel and cantle of saddle, carbine, saddlebags for carrying water and field rations, lance, pistols hanging from hooks on saddle skirt, shield, leggings and spurs, wooden stirrups, and cartridge box; c. 1803. Ramon Murillo, artist.

French Texas

According to the wiki Fort St Louis was founded in 1685 today so some bits on French Texas.
Fort St Louis article where this image is from.

Park closures in the US

Budget cuts in the US are hitting some of the parks and properties associated with this period. Under threat of closure in the NY region are Johnson Hall - home of William Johnson and Crown Point. Read about it here.

The Deerslayer

The photo below sent me to scanning my 1923 copy of The Deerslayer which has surprisingly modern-looking though archaic (if that doesn't make sense - I mean they look like 1950s rather than 1890s or modern) illustrations by H M Brock. The caption of this is 'A general yell burst from the enclosed Hurons, succeeded by the hearty cheers of England'.

And with a mighty cheer the redcoats...

This is a photo from my collection of old UK reenactment memories (sniff) that I thought you might enjoy. Taken by Bill I think, certainly at the American Museum, Bath in about 99.

Hawkeye Last of the Mohicans (1957)

If you liked the trailer for this series then here's 20-odd minutes for you.

Lauzun's Legion

This colourful French unit of the American Revolution are the subject of a new album of images by Thomsomfeld.
Wiki on the legion
An in-depth and interesting article on the activities of the Legion in America and beyond here
quoting this article it says
The rank and file included subjects of 15 European countries, from Ireland to Russia and from Denmark to Hungary. Just a third of the men were French. Fifty-five percent came from Alsace, Lorraine, and the myriad states of the Holy Roman Empire of German Nation. The officers hailed from Sweden and from France, from England and Ireland, from Poland and from sundry German states. Among them they spoke eight tongues, but by tradition and heritage the unit cursed in Hungarian. They were part of the French armed forces, yet by ordonnance of the Ministere de la Marine their language of command was German. They were light infantry and cavalry, but took their orders from the naval minister.
Lauzun Legion reenactors here

Hawkeye and the Last of the Mohicans (1957)

Presumably this is the tv version that was a series back in the fifties. Wiki on the series. Episode guide here with stills.

The Scalping of Jane McCrea

An event that may have inspired Fenimore-Cooper's novel Last of the Mohicans.
This depiction of The Death of Jane McCrea was painted in 1804 by John Vanderlyn.
Jane McCrea was a loyalist whose death at the hands of British-allied natives was a cause celebre and media coup in modern parlance for American patriots in the Revolution.

The History of Maria Kittle

Published in 1793 this is the first ever captivity novel. Set during the Seven Years War. Read it here
According to the wikisource Bleecker's epistolary novel, The History of Maria Kittle, was written in the form of a letter to Miss Susan Ten Eyck. The novel took the Indian Captivity story genre in new directions, as it was possibly the first American fictional account focusing on Native Americans.

Captive story from the Black Hawk War era

Captivity narrative wiki

Narrative of the capture and providential escape of Misses Frances and Almira Hall : two respectable young women (sisters) of the ages of 16 and 18, who were taken prisoners by the savages, at a frontier settlement, near Indian Creek, in May last ... : Likewise is added the interesting narrative of the captivity and sufferings of Philip Brigdon, a Kentuckian, who fell into the hands of the merciless savages ... (1833)

Fort Loudon PA

This is the fort featured in the film Allegheny Uprising. Read about James Smith and the fort here
Smith is remembered also these days for his memoir of his captivity with Indians called Scoouwa: James Smith's Indian Captivity. He tells the tale of when he was 18 during Braddock's march he is captured and taken to Fort Duquesne, forced to run the gauntlet and is then adopted under the name Scoouwa.

Allegheny Uprising (1939)

Trailer here. This b/w John Wayne movie - also known as 'The First Rebel' tells the story (well in a Hollywood fashion) of the Black Boys Rebellion led by James Smith during the 1760s. Wiki on the movie here. I am not a huge fan of this movie and it didn't fare too well at the time either but there are some good bits but not many.

William Stacy

Today is the birthday of this continental army officer. (Although today is President's day/Washington's birthday today in the US Washington's birthday is on the 22nd). Stacy had an interesting and heroic career, being at the battle of Bunker Hill and being captured at the Cherry Valley Massacre and surviving being burnt at the stake by being spared by Joseph Brant because he was a freemason.

Revolution era American rifles and Militia

A new album from Thomsomfeld

2nd Rhode Island Regiment in the UK

Back in the 80s and 90s in Britain there was a small but good Revwar scene and one of the groups active were the 2nd Rhode Island regiment. Based in the UK's smallest city, Wells they were built around a nucleus of young lads who had known each other since kindergarten.  The 2nd Rhode Island were what would now be called a 'hardcore' unit - cooking all their authentic food on the fire and smoking their clay pipes.
If you are wondering about the fort in the picture it is in Hampshire and is a place where buckskinners hang out - Fort George.

Gansevoort coat in the Smithsonian

Continental Army uniform coat worn by Brigadier-General Peter Gansevoort Jr. during his command of Fort Stanwix, New York, in 1777

3rd New York

Garrisoning Fort Stanwix during the siege was the Third New York. Read about them here.
Many years ago in the UK this regiment used to be recreated over in Wales.
Here is a website of a US company. Here is a Lefferts pic and uniform details.

Barszo sets

Although I've never owned any I am quite a fan of Ron Barszo's 1/32 figures. They are reminiscent of the golden age of eastern movies but also manage to be good figures. The Rogers Rangers are wearing the incorrect uniform of the movie Northwest Passage and it seems it is as a homage to the movies of the past that these figures are dedicated.

Siege of Fort Stanwix

This siege though not famous was a decisive factor in the Burgoyne campaign.
An attempt to relieve the fort resulted in the battle of Oriskany.
It's a frustrating fact that John Ford intended to film this battle as part of the 1939 colour epic Drums Along the Mohawk and had put aside three weeks to film it but bad weather caused him to abandon it instead we have Henry Fonda describing the action in the aftermath. The film does depict Joseph Brant's siege of Fort Dayton though.
Another real event that is fictionalised in the film is the run by Adam Helmer ("the Paul Revere of the Mohawk Valley") though in the movie it is done by Gil Martin (Fonda)

Making a 28mm scale stockade

First part one of a useful tutorial here

Tyneside wargames club F&I game

Interesting action in 28mm reported on with lots of photos in this blog - looks great - also in the downloads section you can get some rules for the period free.

Regiment de la Sarre

This German group who recreate the French and Indian war period have an interesting website. If you like the regiment but are in the Americas then this page is of the same regiment in Canada. And if that don't interest you then this page is of a la Sarre regiment in Australia.

The Régiment La Sarre is described here as:

Origin: Lorraine region
The 2^nd Régiment La Sarre Battalion landed in Québec on June 3, 1756. It was involved in the capture of Fort Oswego in August of the same year, and escorted to Montreal the British soldiers taken prisoner in battle. In August 1757, several soldiers of this regiment participated in the Fort William-Henry face-off. The regiment then backed up Montcalm's army at the battle of Carillon in 1758. Finally, the Régiment La Sarre participated in the battles of Montmorency, the Plains of Abraham and Sainte-Foy³⁴.

The Régiment La Sarre uniform consisted of a greyish-white justaucorps with blue turnback cuffs (three buttons). The jacket was red while the breeches, the same colour as the justaucorps, were worn with white or grey stockings and black metal buckle shoes. It had white gaiters that reached below the knee and were fastened with a black leather thong. The tricorn was made of black felt and trimmed with gold braid³⁵.

First Regiment Volunteers

This is a great website with lots of information about state troops in Tecumseh's War. Period descriptions are useful and there's a good article by Craig Fisher on Rifle Frocks

Frederick Kemmelmeyer (German, ca. 1755–1821)

Kemmelmeyer painted the American forces in the 1790s during the Whiskey Rebellion. This remains one of the key sources for the appearance of the American forces of this time.

Washington Reviewing the Western Army, at Fort Cumberland, Maryland, after 1795
Attributed to Frederick Kemmelmeyer (German, ca. 1755–1821)
More Kemmelmeyer here

German jagers - American Revolution

Album by Thomsomfeld here

American artillery of the Revolution

A new album from Thomsomfeld here.

German artillery of the AWI

Artillery and crew from Germany in a new album by Thomsomfeld here

Revwar French artillery

An album devoted to the French artillery of the Revolution here.

French and Indian war French artillery

A new album from Thomsomfeld here

Caldwell's Rangers

Interesting piece here about the uniform of this unit led by ex Butler's Ranger Caldwell. Also there's a photo on this Parks Canada site here
Also read about Sagaunash - his son and Metis warrior 'Billy Caldwell'.
The wiki on Canadian units of the War of 1812 states

Caldwell's Western Rangers

Known as Caldwell's Rangers, after their commander, noted Loyalist and Indian trader William Caldwell.^[22] The unit was a rather small one, probably not more than fifty men. Nominally organised as two companies, they often worked in conjunction with the Indian Department and fought dispersed alongside the Indians (chiefly the Ojibwe, Wyandotte and Pottowottomi). The unit, or parts of it, fought at the Battle of Moraviantown, the Battle of Longwoods, the Battle of Lundy's Lane and in several actions on the Niagara peninsula.

There is little authenticated documentation as to the clothing and equipment carried by the Rangers. It is known that the rangers were issued a "bucket cap" (probably a cut down infantry shako without the brass plate or hackle), grey woollen trousers and a green woollen tunic, and a black leather bayonet belt and cartridge box. This equipment was issued only once; after that, they were told to re-supply themselves from the enemy. In summer, they would wear white cotton instead of woollen trousers.

It is not known with which model musket they were issued, although some scholars have suggested that they would have been captured American Springfield Model 1795 Musket (British forces under Isaac Brock captured over 1200 Muskets and over 200 Rifles at Detroit) while some others contend they may have used trade muskets instead. The Rangers found that the standard infantry bayonet was too cumbersome for bush fighting and often used hatchets (tomahawks) instead.

The Rangers were recruited locally from Essex County and enrolled into the militia, but not permitted to quit the British service at their leisure as sedentary Militia could.

Fort Malden National Historic Site (Canada) has in recent years employed summer students for the re-created unit at the Park and regional re-enactments. There is also a Modern Re-enacting unit that recreates the Rangers; they are based out of Amherstburg, Ontario and work in conjunction with Fort Malden.

More Don o' the Drums

The Ranger series from Ron Embleton. I have to thank Jeffery Brown for these - he sent me them back in the day when I used to do the 'Bloody Morning Scout'.

French and Indian War Rangers

An album by Thomsomfeld

William Wells

Someone who figures prominently in the period of Little Turtle is his son-in-law, a son of a Revolutionary war soldier who was captured by the Miami at the age of twelve.
The wiki states

William Wells (c. 1770 – 15 August 1812), also known as Apekonit ("Carrottop"), was the son-in-law of Chief Little Turtle of the Miamis. He fought for the Miami in the Northwest Indian War, but during the course of that war, he became a US army officer, and also served in the War of 1812.

Wells died a hero at the Fort Dearborn Massacre - read about it here

Fallen Timbers

This clip starts off with a depiction of the battle of Fallen Timbers. Although the Legion's uniform is not correctly depicted this isn't a bad version of the battle for Hollywood.

AWI Battle scenes

A new album by Thomsomfeld here.