The Chronicles of Scipio: Muskets and Tomahawks

Whilst mining Mt Neverpaint, another term I use for repacking the plastic tubs in which I store my unpainted toy soldiers, two Mondays ago, I came across a box containing twenty six 15mm painted Native Americans, and seven Rogers’ Rangers, all manufactured by Essex Miniatures, together with a beautifully executed and well researched camp, I purchased off eBay years ago from Barry Scarlett.

Barry is one of the best scratch builders of model terrain in Australia.

As has happened a lot in my wargaming, a foray into the French and Indian Wars stagnated for the want of a reasonable set of rules providing for skirmish play reflective of the various raids the Indian Nations engaged in during this period. Representatives from the Indian Nations fought for both the British, and the French during this conflict, whilst also settling blood feuds amongst themselves.

Initially, the figures had been painted and individually based to allow play with ‘Warfare in the Age of Reason’, as allies/enemies for my French Seven Years War figures. I found the rules unsuitable for the level of action I wanted to recreate on the table. Additionally, the bases were unstable due to their size (i.e. 10mm square) and I found moving, in excess of thirty individually based figures, representing a large warband of irregulars very tedious, especially when these figures would often fall over during the process.

After some consideration, I thought these figures would work, rebased on 25mm diameter MDF circles, for use with the rule set ‘Muskets and Tomahawks’. Why did I select this size base? Simple, I had purchased a large order from Back-2-Base-IX, as part of my SAGA project, so as these were on hand that was the size I used. On reflection, perhaps 20mm diameter bases might have been preferable.

As I lacked a copy of these rules I placed an order with the great people at War and Peace Games the next day together with a pack of cards necessary to play the game. I also ordered one of all of the 15mm MDF buildings, manufactured by 4ground, which could be used in the French and Indian Wars. This gives me a blockhouse and a settlers’ hamlet, consisting of three buildings of varying size.

Within in three days of determining the new direction of this project I had my order delivered!

War and Peace Games charge a flat rate of $A7.50 postage within Australia. I checked my order and actual postage was twice that amount and the parcel was extremely well packed at no additional cost! I highly recommend this trader!

After a quick read of the rules, I determined I had sufficient figures to field an Indian Nation force of 200 points. The force consists of two leaders or Sachems, one unit of bloodthirsty braves armed with muskets, three units of six warriors, two more armed with muskets, while the other are armed with spears and tomahawks.

I already have some wooden snake type fences, again courtesy of Barry’s talents. I’ll need to make about the same amount of dry wall fence sections and a palisade to surround the blockhouse, I might used some sections of metal palisade I sourced from Eureka miniatures years ago!

I’ve re-based the Indian village (the long house can be used as a DBA camp for my Eastern American Indians). I will need to build a palisade for this camp as well.

The photograph above depicts a long house. It has been based on a 80mm square base.

The photograph above deposits two dome huts and a large drum. All three have been based on 40mm square bases.

The 4ground buildings are now assembled and the blockhouse is on a base of 80mm square. More work has to be done to the building's roof.

When based, the three houses depicted below will have various additions such as barrels, woodpiles and livestock added to the bases. A ploughed field and another with crops will also be added.