More Perry BIF

[bulldogger2000]

Ohhh I went and did it....
I put in an order for the BIF Lancers, with ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA where I will place them. I'm hoping that the stable dress and cap will have a wider historical reach into other theaters than the full dress uniform would....

Lord, help me from this terrible Lead disease!

[juergen c. olk]

New Military Historians plate "Fenians" I do not know how to adjust photo ,my friend sent it .sorry.

[Sterling Moose]

Nice one juergen!

[Atheling]

So, could Perry confederates be pressed into serice as Fenians? It looks that way to me.....?

Are there any differences that aren't strikingly obvious to my untrained eye?

Darrell.

[Will Bailie]

Here's my attempt at a Fenian based on Perry Confederate Infantry:

http://willstoysoldiers.blogspot.ca/2014/11/fenian.html

My first batch of Perry BIF are here:
http://willstoysoldiers.blogspot.ca/2014/11/rmli-corporals-guard.html

[Atheling]

Here's my attempt at a Fenian based on Perry Confederate Infantry:

http://willstoysoldiers.blogspot.ca/2014/11/fenian.html

My first batch of Perry BIF are here:
http://willstoysoldiers.blogspot.ca/2014/11/rmli-corporals-guard.html

Thanks for that. I don't really know much about the war so I'll do a little gigging and see if it takes my fancy.

Darrell.

[Mr Pommeroy]

Greetings gents—
I am the artist and author of the MUIA plate of the 1866 Fenians above. The plate features different “regiments” (some of them were barely company strength) from the 1866 raid. They were mostly attired in civilian clothes, some wore green shirts, some Union coats featuring green facings, a few Irishmen from Louisiana were dressed in their old Confederate uniforms. Accoutrements and arms were purchased Union surplus.

Here's a watercolor painting of the Fenians created by an eyewitness after the raids (from a postcard from the Ford Erie Historical Museum):




Will: Looks like you recreated a 1870 Fenian, they wore green jackets that were very similar to the ones the US cavalry wore during the Civil War. Here are some pictures of the only jacket known to have survived:





Source: http://www.historyireland.com/18th-19th-century-history/the-wearing-of-the-green-fenian-uniform-from-canada-1870/

Regards,
Mr. Pommeroy/Chr. Mueller

[Will Bailie]

Mr. Pomeroy - thanks for the additional information.  Yes, I was inspired by that surviving jacket, but had not realised that it was specific to the 1870 raid.  As I mention in my blog http://willstoysoldiers.blogspot.ca/2014/11/fenian.html I'm planning to have most of the Fenians in civilian clothes, with enough in the green uniform to provide some coherency to the unit.

But it will be a while before I can finish up this fellow's comrades, as I'm in the middle of moving my family between cities!

[Mr Pommeroy]

Nice work, Will. Yes, the Fenians seemed to have been a bit more sophisticated as far as the uniforms were concerned in 1870. Here's the MUIA plate of the 1870 Fenians (not by me and unfortunately in poor quality):



If you are interested in approximate regiment strengths I highly recommend Peter Vronsky's book “Ridgeway”. If you combine that information with my plate you should be able to tell how many figures to paint for each regiment (if you'd feel inclined to travel the “historically correct” route). There are also some witness reports that stated that the Fenians would approach an area in civilian look, in order to not raise too much suspicions, and change into green smoks and shirts later on.

The whole raid of 1866 is really not as well documented in regard to uniforms as the Civil War shortly before it was. It's the same with regimental colors. There is only one flag that has survived, the one of the “Buffalo 7th Regiment”, no detailed descriptions are known of the other flags, except that they were green, one bearing a harp and the rest featuring sunbursts.

In my opinion Perry's Union and Confederate skirmishers would be very useful. Empress' New Zealand range Militia would fit in perfectly as well, they have a very “civilian” look to them. Basically any Civil War figures wearing frock coats and sack coats, along with a couple of shell jackets would work nicely. Make sure that they are wearing mostly hats. A bit of green stuff here and there wouldn't hurt, either.

Anyhow, just my two cents.

[Atheling]

This is becoming a really very interesting thread indeed..... I hadbn't heard of the Fenian Raids until i read this little lot!!

Darrell.

[Mr Pommeroy]

Here's one of my sketches of a 1870 Fenian:

[Earther]

Lovely work Mr Pommeroy and what an interesting topic!

This is sorely tempting… 

[Atheling]

That's some pretty nifty draftmanship there!!

Great stuff  

Darrell.

[juergen c. olk]

Great artwork,Mr.Pommeroy,thankyou for the additional artwork and information,I am psychced about painting this campaign up. My friend Ken Bunger showed me  the plate just as I was talking to him about it, what perfect timing.

[Mr Pommeroy]

Thank you for the kind comments, gentlemen! Yes, I am quiet tempted to paint up some Fenians along with some Canadians as well. Especially with the Perry's excellent releases. Unfortunately time does not allow for such an undertaking at the moment. But it is on the list!