Above is a pic of Lt. Colonel James Galbraith, Regimental Colour in hand, alongside Bobbie the regimental dog and some of the other "Last Eleven" survivors of the 66th (Berkshire) Regiment, making their last stand in one of the walled gardens just South of Khig village, a few miles West of the Afghan town of Maiwand.

Friday, July 27, 2012

HAPPY MAIWAND DAY +132

I was planning to spend much of today posting a bunch of material here, in commemoration of the 132nd anniversary of the Battle of Maiwand -- but I ended up heading down to Orange, California (about an hour's drive South of L.A.) to play an American Civil War battle outside, under a period camp tent!  It was a pretty fantastic day, despite the fact that the Union forces, under my command, wound up on the proverbial short end of the ramrod.  It was a terrific seesaw game, in which the momentum and advantage went back and forth several times, but it did end in a somewhat definitive Confederate victory.

The game was organized by R.J. Galati, using his impressively sleek rule set "FIRE AND MANEUVER," to excellent effect, and hosted by his brother Rod in his backyard.  My Confederate foe was Frank "'Bama'" Patterson (needless to say, a relocated son of Ala-bama).  R.J. provided the Northern troops, while Frank provided the Southern opposition.  My sincere thanks to all three of them for a very good time -- though it would have been a little bit better if I'd been able to pull out the victory for the Union!  Harmon Ward, the ever-hard-working leader of Ahaheim's number one gaming club, The Saint Crispin's Irregulars," was nice enough to stop by for a visit.  This was the first time I'd seen Harmon, R.J. and Rod in person since they helped me put on "Maiwand Day at the Muzeo" back in December 2011.  Needless to say, I'd never met "'Bama" before.  The competitive part of me wishes I still hadn't met him -- but all the rest of me is very glad I did!

I think this is the first time I've played a miniature wargame OUTSIDE, since I was 11 or 12, and I must say it was quite awesome.  I will post more details and probably some more pics as well soon, but for now, this is one that I think does a good job of summing up the rather idyllic, and 19th Century appropriate, environment:


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5 comments:

  1. Bluebear JeffJuly 28, 2012 at 12:31 AM

    That looks and reads like it was lots of fun. I love the tent idea very much.


    -- Jeff

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  2. Michael AwdryJuly 28, 2012 at 12:46 AM

    What a delightful looking way to spend a few hours. Not sure we would want to risk it here in the UK!

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  3. Jason MeyersJuly 29, 2012 at 12:04 PM

    Brilliant! I've a few pics of outside wargames and have always wanted the same someday. Basically did that in the Army inside the TOC anyway. :-)

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  4. NOMADIC OLD SCHOOL GAMER.August 5, 2012 at 3:05 PM

    Looks like fun but the mosquitoes would eat us up here

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  5. Mad GuruAugust 6, 2012 at 4:23 PM

    I hear you, Nomad, couldn't get away with it back in my hometown of NYC or its environs either, but one advantage of Soythern California desert heat, is lack of humidity and the mosquitoes that go with it! You've heard the cliche, "it's a dry heat.". Like most cliches, it's very true!

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