Review - "Englands Fragile Genius"

..I have to say that one of the major reasons it's been so quiet round here over the last week is not so much the family trip to Eurodisney, as the fact that I've had my nose stuck deep in the new book on Marlborough by Richard Holmes...

..I guess I need to set my stall out straight away and state up front that this is the best book of his that I've read - it even exceeds "Redcoat" which I thought was inspired. The depth of detail is amazing (seven pages of bibliography!) and Holmes has drawn heavily on Marlborough's private correspondence in addition to all the expected primary (Parker, Merode Westerloo, etc) and secondary sources (Chandler, Tincey, Falkner among many others) to draw up a picture of a very complex "genius"..

..he was married to a nightmare but loved her deeply, showed enormous compassion for his men but never flinched from ordering them into the breach and the bloody assault (Schellenberg for one), was notorious for his ability to gather cash and favours but was never less than wholly supportive of his friends (his relationship to Godolphin was a good case in point)..

..Holmes is best when he's talking at the soldiers eye view and this one is no different - his primary sources are well used to give a good view of what it was like to serve, and fight, with "Corporal John".

..Marlborough waged ten successful campaigns, besieged over thirty towns, and never lost a battle or a skirmish - the book is a fitting tribute and I recommend it wholeheartedly...

May totals...

...and there went May - another busy month for yours truly though it wouldn't seem so from the numbers of posts... family life impinges every now and again!

..either way I'm just back from taking my lot to Disneyland Paris - yup - not very wargame related, though I did get some shots of the green army men in the Disney parade which I'll share if you really want to see them! J

..so, like April, May was good too - the highlight was undoubtedly the publication of Richard Holmes's book on Marlborough which I'm about 90% of the way through and will review more completely once I've finished it - suffice to say, if you have an interest in the period, this volume needs to be on your bookshelf next to Chandler, in my view - absolutely un-putdown-able....

...otherwise - not too much painting done - just 24 points this month, but I'm keen to get to the painting table as I'm wholly enthused by the sight of the Wild Geese on Phil Olley's website (which is they in the picture to the left - click on it (immediately) to go to Phil's site to see more of them and other of his regiments - mouthwatering!) so they are next on the painting schedule... once I've done them, I can then turn to some more cavalry, I have it in mind to do some Austrian Cuirassiers to even up the scales that because of the two Bavarian Cuirassier squadrons currently tip in favour of the French at the moment..


So - how did the blogs do this month?


Again, amazing really, and once again many thanks to the people who condescend to read my drivel! J

Move 27 & 28 - 10:00 to 12:00 - Day 2

10:00 to 11:00 - Day 2..

..the results of my decision to put the cavalry "in harms way" is pretty swift - in their second hour of movement we spotted the first of DG's outposts:



..the recon reports identified these as single units:


...further movement in the second hour identified another single unit:



...I need to keep trying and for the next move I'll shift west and north - somewhere on the peninsula DG has his main force - problem is - has he slipped behind me??? J

...more anon...

Move 26 (09:00 Day 2)

09:00 - Day 2..

...as a reminder the campaign map is to the left (click on it and any of the other pictures in this blog for the usual bigger view).

..I continue to worry about what DG is up to, so when the latest move arrived, and there was still no movement by his cavalry I decided it was time to act a little 'proactively' as I have no interest in being "humbugged, by God.." J

...one of the things I've noticed about wargamers is that we have a far lower boredom threshold than most, and often a stupid move in a game, or even campaign, could be initiated by nothing more than wanting to make something happen (hands up, anyone??J) in this case though I think my actions are pretty valid..

Firstly, the cavalry are the eyes of any army in this period, if they're not seeing anything then I'm blind. Secondly, and less justifiably, it's now 0900 and to my knowledge DG's cavalry have been stationary for the better part of 12 hours - he's doing something, and the cavalry are screening it I'm sure!

...sounds reasonable doesn't it? We shall see...

So, it's time to put the cavalry 'in harms way'... accordingly I've moved the squadron north of Carnine further north (nothing sighted), and one of the units west of Carnine (a half squadron) I've ordered north, but to the west of the range of hills, so as to reconnoitre the road between Fourstones (4/.) and Camsix (6.).

Positions at the end of the move then are as follows - no new sightings...


...more anon...

23:00 to 08:00 - Day 2..

..time, I think, for another update on the campaign which has carried on despite the lack of posts - that's the way it's going to be when the moves are taking place overnight and in both instances troops are getting some much needed rest and sleep... I've no interest in boring you rigid...!

...as a reminder the campaign map is to the left (click on it and any of the other pictures in this blog for the usual bigger view).

..you may remember that because my units started moving some time later than DG's they were significantly fresher so I was continuing to consolidate on Carnine long after the British had taken to their encampments for the night...

..positions at the end of move 15 (22:00 day 1) were as follows:


..and to be honest things have not altered much though it is now move 25 (08:00 on Day 2) - I can't speak for DG but I can advise that my troops are fresh and ready to go and all my units are now at the rendezvous point, with the exception of two cavalry vedettes that are positioned north and west of Carnine to give me advance notice of any British movement...

...you have no idea how worrying it is when your opponent just stops moving - I know he's probably resting his troops, but DG is a wily customer and I haven't excluded the possibility of an outflanking movement (hence the scouts to the west). I've toyed with the idea of withdrawing on Eighton, and Sevenoaks, but don't see the point as my current position is defensively strong - the river is impassable except at the road. DG is going to have to come and winkle my troops out of a strong defensive position in order to win the campaign - so bring it on... J

...more anon...

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..on a separate subject - the answer to the little quiz in the post before last, about what the weapon represents? I got a response from Minifigs that both my answers were right ie. it can be used for either a tripod mounted MMG/HMG, or an anti-tank rifle...

...finally, I urge the wargamers amongst you (or anyone else who has a tendency to have too many irons in the fire, come to that) to slip on over to Henry (Hyde's) Battlegames Blog (http://battlegames.wordpress.com/) where you should immediately read (and hopefully enjoy) his last post on the subject of "focus"...

...Henry has a happy knack of cutting to the quick and I found his comments particularly pertinent to my situation as well.. you'll be aware that I've been looking to get my American Civil War project off the ground for ages, with little or no success - despite my initial decision to go with 15mm, I've been finding myself looking at my 25mm AWI's and thinking "what if", I have rules I want to try and no time to try them as when I see DG we have games in other periods that, in the time we have, we would prefer to play. The focus that Henry mentions then is easily applicable to my current situation so I've decided to put the American Civil War project on the back burner for the time being... I have enough to be getting on with that I'm already enjoying immensely!