22nd Alabama

Following on from the earler post where I finished off every Barons' War figure that I have in the pile of shame, this week I painted the last 20 American Civil War figures from the pile!

The figures are all from the Crusader Miniatures range while the standards are all Flags of War.

 

The Crusader Miniatures range are some great sculpts that are often overlooked, but I really like them.

Like the previous few units  have added to the ACW collection, these will probably remain un-played with for quite some time, I really should do better!

Union skirmishers and artillery

Todays post is a milestone, I have had a good search of the pile o'shame and this little lot wraps up entirely the last of my unpainted American Civil War figures!

The crew for the gun are from Crusader Miniatures, while the gun itself is one off of the Perry Miniatures plastic frame. I'm pretty sure that there may be another pack of these gunners somewhere but I could not find them.

Rooting through the boxes I also found a couple of frames of Union Skirmishers so these were quickly assembled, primed and painted.

While editing the photos, I saw that there is a lot of static grass still clinging to the figures, I've since attacked them with a stiff brush and they look a bit better although some stubbornly remains.

I did say that these are the last of the unpainted ACW figures and I now have eight 4L Really Useful Boxes full of painted ACW stuff, but I'm now eyeing up an order of "just a few" Sash and Sabre, oh dear! 

 

2nd Regiment Wisconsin Volunteers

 

I currently live in Wisconsin in the heart of the Midwest and one of the most notable Union formations of the American Civil War is the Iron Brigade. One of its founding units was the 2nd Regiment Wisconsin Volunteers raised at Camp Randall, which is still there and although it's now the UW Badgers Football stadium, but there are plenty of Civil War era cannons on the grounds, so that is a bonus!

The regiment was heavily engaged with the Army of the Potomac and suffered more casualties as a proportion of its total enlistment than any other Union Army units.

The models are all from the Crusader Miniatures range are both characterful and a delight to paint. However, although the frock coats and 1858 Dress Hat are great, but they probably should have linen gaiters to represent the 2nd Wisconsin.

To give a bit of variety I did some of the men in the older issue dark blue trousers and some in later light blues, I also mixed it up a bit with the water bottle and strap colours.

The flags are from GMB Designs, and after previous efforts I managed not to get a chalky varnish effect on these ones, by the simple expedient of not sticking them on until after the matt coat!

ACW Generals (3)

 

Following on from the recent Union command stands, this week the Confederates get some of their own.

The first command stand features General Robert E. Lee in conversation with Major-General Henry Heth.

General Robert E. Lee and Major-General Henry Heth

I probably mounted Heth a little too far back on the base and Lee a little too far forwards. It looks like Heth is talking to Lee but avoiding eye contact, maybe some difficult questions about "Why sir, are we on this field at all?"

General Robert E. Lee and Major-General Henry Heth

Lee's horse is my first attempt at a dappled grey, I think I need a bit more practice.

General Robert E. Lee and Major-General Henry Heth

The next base features Lt.-General James Longstreet and Major-General J.E.B. Stuart already aware of Lee's ire at Heth, Stuart likely seeks out Longstreet.

Lt.-General James Longstreet and Major-General J.E.B. Stuart 

I got a bit confused and the Longstreet model is actually the Hood model from the pack, I think it's a good fit anyways.

Lt.-General James Longstreet and Major-General J.E.B. Stuart 

All the models of the generals in this post are from the two Perry Miniatures packs; ACW46 Confederate mounted Commanders and ACW47 Confederate mounted Commanders 

Lt.-General James Longstreet and Major-General J.E.B. Stuart

Lt.-General James Longstreet and Major-General J.E.B. Stuart

The next command stand this time features Major-General George E. Pickett

Major-General George E. Pickett

This stand and the next are finished off with a couple of infantrymen left over from the Virginia firing line that I did a few weeks ago. The figures are from the ACW39 Confederate Infantry command standing pack.

Major-General George E. Pickett

The standard is from GMB Designs. I noticed when preparing the photos that it's gone a little chalky, so before putting the figures away for a future battle I've given it a coat of gloss varnish to hopefully sort that out. 

Major-General John B. Hood

More astute observers will notice that from the Perry website this model is actually supposed to represent General Longstreet, what can I say, I got a little confused, the real General Hood model will do duty as Longstreet.

Major-General John B. Hood

Major-General John B. Hood

Ten command stands over the past few weeks is likely plenty, back to painting rank and file for the next few posts.

Confederate Bushwackers

Alongside all those hifalutin generals and such I also added a bunch of nerdowells to the collection with some bases of Confederate skirmishers/militia made up of troops from the Crusader Miniatures Bushwackers. 

These are a lovely set of characterful miscreants and scumbags.

These bases will serve as skirmisher stands for our Picketts Charge games.

I so liked the look of the Renedra Cross & Rail Fencing that I painted last month I picked up another pack of them.

This time I decided to model one of them with a broken down end. They appear to be out of stock now in my usual places, but I'll pick up more when they become available.

It's all well and good now having several feet of fencing, I didn't have any gates. A search of the bits box turned up some Warbases 5-bar gates, I added gate posts from some balsa wood, and one of them links into the cross and rail fencing with a spare cross-piece.

I finally played my first wargame of 2024, travelling down to Galena - where General Grants house is - to play a Peach Orchard scenario with the chaps. 

Lets just say my Union forces came second!

ACW Generals (2)

Following up from last weeks post, I've added the final three Union commanders for the American Civil War collection. 

The first three were accompanied by colonels, this time they are accompanied by various infantrymen from the American Civil War Union Infantry command frame. 

These represent Major-General George Sykes, Major-General Winfield S. Hancock and Major-General Oliver Otis Howard.

Major-General George Sykes

George Sykes commanded V Corps at Gettysburg, assuming command just a few days before the battle. I've added a officer and drummer to complete the vignette.

Major-General George Sykes

Major-General George Sykes

Major-General Winfield S. Hancock

Winfield Scott Hancock commanded the left wing of the Union army at the Battle of Gettysburg and was in command of the Union troops facing Pickett's charge.  I've accompanied him with a bugler from the Union infantry set.

Major-General Winfield S. Hancock

Major-General Winfield S. Hancock

Major-General Oliver Otis Howard

Oliver Otis Howard "Old Prayer Book" lost his right arm at the Battle of Seven Pines but continued to command through the war and commanded XI Corps at Gettysburg.

Major-General Oliver Otis Howard

Major-General Oliver Otis Howard

And today I'm off to play some Picketts Charge with chums, first game of the year!