Second Bull Run Project

[Gangleri]

Over the past month or two I've developed a great interest in the Second Battle of Bull Run and have decided to (slowly) paint a few Union brigades as they would have appeared at the time.  First up is the first regiment of the first brigade, first division, I Corps: the 8th New York Volunteers, then under the command of Lt. Col. Hedterich.



The regiment was also called the 1st German Rifles or Blenker's Rifles after its founder, Col. Ludwig Blenker.  Composed of German immigrants, almost all of whom had seen service in various German (and revoluntionary) armies, the regiment was noted for its discipline, and at a review in '61, Winfield Scott called it the finest volunteer regiment in Federal service.

Perhaps its most notable deed was the covering of the Federal retreat/rout after First Bull Run, when it intercepted and repulsed a Confederate cavalry charge aimed at the mass of fleeing Union troops.  Joseph E. Johnston, surprised that there was still fight in the Union army, called off all subsequent pursuit, and the Federal army was thus allowed to slip back to the safety of Centreville.



The 8th continued to perform well, especially at Cross Keys (suffering almost 40% casualties) and at Second Bull Run (the battle I'm concentrating on), both on the first day and, once again, during the covering of the Federal retreat.  It was mustered out in early '63, but many of its men were either folded into the 68th NY volunteers or into an independent HQ company.  By the end of its service, it had lost more than twice as many men to wounds as it did to disease, which was fairly unusual in the Civil War.





Figures are Perry Confederate infantry in frock coats, with some GS additions.  Flags are handpainted. I also put in a sapper (which I believe were quite uncommon in the Civil War) in reference to Don Troiani's painting:
http://www.dontroiani.com/images/8th%20and%2020th%20NewYork%20Vols%20%20small.jpg

More Federals are on the way, though the next regiment is very conversion-heavy and will take some time.  C&C are very welcome.

PS I am holding off on basing until I've got a whole brigade finished - any suggestions for long, late-summer grass?

[olyreed]

Very nice work

[traveller]

Lovely!

We need more ACW in this forum!

Thanks for sharing!

[Roo]

Very nice!  Troiani provides such great inspiration, trouble is I spend longer dreaming of how to recreate than I do actually recreating!

[Calimero]

Very nice!  Troiani provides such great inspiration, trouble is I spend longer dreaming of how to recreate than I do actually recreating!

  same thing for me...

Very nice work!

[Khurasan Miniatures]

That Sapper looks like Ron Howard. :-)

Nice work on the unit.

[grant]

Sapper Opie Cunningham.

Superb work! Good history too.

[Gangleri]

Thanks for the encouraging words, all!

Troiani provides such great inspiration, trouble is I spend longer dreaming of how to recreate than I do actually recreating!

Couldn't have said it better 

That Sapper looks like Ron Howard. :-)

 

We need more ACW in this forum!

Agreed!


I've been a bit distracted recently but have manged to do some work on the next regiment, the 41st NYSV.

The 41st went through a number of uniform changes during the war, but their appearance in mid-1862 is best                                                                                                   seen in an incredible photograph taken of C Company a month or two before Second Bull Run:

http://www.libertyrifles.org/research/darkblues62/41stny.jpg

and a close-up:

http://dotcw.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Manassas-Va.-Men-of-Co.-C-41st-New-York-Infantry-1.jpg


I'll describe the history and details of the regiment's uniforms (and the regiment itself) when I have more of them finished, but for now, here are some greens:



And a color-scheme test:



Stay tuned for more 

C&C welcome.  Hope they are to your liking!

[MajorTalon]

Surely you plan on painting the Fighting 69th?

[Gangleri]

Surely you plan on painting the Fighting 69th?

No, as a matter of fact I don't.  But I plan on fielding one of their sister regiments, the 28th Massachusetts, brigaded under Addison Farnsworth with the 79th NY.

I'm hard at work on the 41st NY and should have a proper update in a day or so.

[Gangleri]

Here are some more men for the 41st NY.

Company A existed prior to 1861 as a sort of military society (I don't think they were classed as militia proper).  Known as the De Kalb Zouaves, they were the nucleus around which the rest of the regiment was formed after the outbreak of the war.  Unlike the newer companies, which went through a succession of uniforms, they kept their zouave outfits until well into '63.





As you can see above, their uniform bore a distinctive pattern of yellow embroidery on each sleeve (which, incidentally, was a real pain to paint).  You can see Don Troiani's take here:
http://www.historicalimagebank.com/gallery/d/26052-3/TCWSU40+-+41st+NY+Vols_+DeKalb+Regt_+1861.jpg

The rest of the 41st is falling into line as well, but I have to dremel down the calves of all the metal figures, so it might take a little while before they're done.

[Mason]

What a brilliant project.
I love all the conversion work that you have done.
 

I shall be following this with much interest.
 

[Gangleri]

Here's the 41st NYV finished:





Company A:


I've decided to post only completed regiments here; WIPs, historical information, and so on can be found at my new blog (along with various other projects):

http://wellrallyonceagain.blogspot.com/

Please note that to follow, you will have to add the url to your "reading list" manually; I'm afraid I can't get the Follow widget to work.

Cheers!

[Phil Robinson]

Missed this one, great conversion work and finish.

[wrgmr1]

Lovely working on both regiments! I particularly like the Zouaves.  I Agree about the sleeve lacing, they are tricky. Particularly a light Color like yellow over dark blue.
Your flags are superb.
Please continue to post more regiments.