150th Anniversary of the Battle of Ridgeway (Picture heavy)

[Sterling Moose]

On 1 - 3 June, Burnt65 and I were honoured to be invited to display our Ridgeway game at the 150th Anniversary of Ridgeway Conference in Fort Erie, Ontario. We had many positive comments from the venders, speakers and attendees alike, only one of whom was a fellow gamer.  People said that they had read about the battle, seen maps and walked the ground but to see a birds eye view with the troops on the table helped them really understand what happened on the morning of 2 Jun 1866.
Here follows a few pics of the event (apologies for the name labels, they were only included for the benefit of onlookers and would not normally appear in our games):
Queens Own Rifles of Canada (QORC)advance.

Fenians advance towards Bertie Road


Fenian resistance builds.



Fenians maintain the pressure, on the Canadian left flank QORC begin to fall back their positions taken by 13th Bn Canadian Volunteer Militia.

QORC drive off Fenian skirmishers near the Anger Farm.





The game ended more or less historically.  Fenian mounted scouts arrived to inform Colonel O'Neil, the Fenian commander, that a strong column of Militia and British regulars accompanied by cavalry and artillery were advancing from the area of Stevensville to the North West.  Colonel Booker, the Canadian commander at Ridgeway, mistook the mounted scouts for cavalry and ordered 'Form Square'.

The Fenians poured fire into the dense formation causing many casualties and degrading Canadian morale to such an extent that reforming into line was impossible, the fight was over.  Some units routed while others withdrew in good order towards to railway station in Ridgeway and then on to Port Colborne.

[OSHIROmodels]

Cracking game Pete 

Do you have any more details of the brick building three pictures down?

cheers

James

[jamesmanto]

Thunderchicken made the Anger farmhouse for Sterling from pictures of the actual site.

I think Sterling Moose ought to put this on at Council Fires and Hotlead....

[Burnt65]

We are planning on running it again at HotLead 2017
We will change it up a little, but use the same table

[Shipka]

May I ask what rule set did you use?

[Burnt65]

We used Black Powder with some special rules to get the historical flavour of the battle
For example, when the Canadians first see the "cavalry" they must check to form square

[Burnt65]

I used mostly the Perry plastic ACW figures for the Fenians
If anyone has any suggestions for armed civilian figures in the 1860 period, it would be more historically accurate
There are some nice ones in the Empress Maori Wars and some in the Perry metal ACW figs
Any others?

[Sterling Moose]

The Anger Farmhouse today:




The only original structure in its original position on the battlefield today.

[wrgmr1]

Great looking game! Nice AAR and pictures, thanks for posting. It's an interesting battle.

[juergen c. olk]

We just gamed this a month ago subbing Crimean British,not nearly as sexy looking as your setup. We used limited ammo for some Canadian units ..result the same as yours. I succumbed in a weak moment and ordered from Perry last week. I have the Fenians so...this game of yours will make me place another order! Awesome Game.

[Thunderchicken]

Absolutely fantastic set up! I agree with James, this need to see more gaming events.
Well done chaps! 

Do you have any more details of the brick building three pictures down?

Deep down, you must have known 

[OSHIROmodels]

Deep down, you must have known