Hiking, Biking, and Gaming

Weather has been very pleasant on the Palouse of late.  Mother's Day this past Sunday was no exception.  As if on cue, the pair of flowering crabapples in the backyard were in full bloom on Mother's Day.

Flowering crabapple trees in bloom.

The festivities started off with a bang as Kevin hosted a massive Waterloo game in 10mm on Saturday.  The game saw six players gathering to refight Waterloo and celebrate our host Kevin's birthday.  More 10mm WoFun figures than I could count were jam-packed onto a 12' x 6' foot table.  The battle began mid-morning, saw a break for a bratwurst lunch, and then a conclusion to the game by mid-afternoon.  My French came away with a convincing victory as the Allied center was broken and their right turned.  Good fun!

Kevin setting the table.

I commanded Reille in the French Center.

Generals pondering their next moves.

After putting 30 miles into the legs Sunday morning, including a pass over Spokane Falls, Nancy and I headed out for an afternoon hike to the Rocks of Sharon.

Lower Spokane Falls.

South channel of Upper Spokane Falls.

With temperatures approaching 80F, the hike up to the massive rock formations about the valley floor was breath taking.  After catching our breaths from the hard climb, the views from the top were equally breath taking but in a very different manner.  Stunning views.  From the top of the mountain, the Palouse stretches out below.  Perhaps too many photos of mammoth granite monoliths but why not? 

Rocks of Sharon "Big Rock"

With the end to the long series of Fornovo Italian Wars' battles (let's not forget Sanguetta too!), the gaming table has been cleared and a new battle set in its place.  Later this week sees the first of possibly multiple playing of the 1745 Battle of Bassignana.  Thursday's game is expecting six players.

Battle of Bassignana 1745

Bit of a mixed bag today...

Next time, maybe some freshly painted figures?  Sumerians, anyone?

A First Look at First Manassas

One of the rationales I offer for walking battlefields is to get a sense of the lay of the land.  While I can read a topo map and wield a compass, being on the ground provides a unique perspective.  With my eye surveying the battlefield, battle accounts take on more depth.  Walking the ground can provide insight into why a battle was fought in the way that it was.

My recent walk around the First Manassas battlefield was no exception.  With a notion of refighting this battle in miniature, I tramped the ground to gain a better understanding of the battle and the relationship between time and distance.

Following are a few photos from my recent walk in May. 

Looking north toward Henry House from Visitor Center.

Jackson, out standing in his field.

Confederate position on Henry House Hill
with Robinson House in background.

Looking west toward Henry House
from Confederate lines.

The hills are not flat!

Stone House and Matthews Hill beyond
as seen from Robinson House.

How do I use this information when I return home?  I build a stylized battlefield in miniature for an upcoming series of games to refight this battle.

Young's Branch Battlefield
on a grid

Yes, this will be another grid-based game.  Battle Briefings have been dispatched. 

Busy But No Painting

These past seven days have been an active one but not at the painting desk.  The paintbrush has been idle for almost an entire week.  Hopefully, I pick up the brush today.  There are plenty of items needing attention.

With friends in town from Seattle for the long weekend, Nancy and I were busy entertaining our guests.  No time for a meaningful painting session over the weekend.  I did offer a tour of my library, show off the game room, explain the concept of remote gaming, and point out the current situation of the Solferino battle that still raged on across the table.

The defense of San Cassiano

On Saturday we climbed Mount Spokane and took a few photos from the top.  At nearly 6,000 feet. Mount Spokane is the highest point in the county.  It juts 3,500 feet above the valley below. Quite a climb and quite spectacular views.

View from top of Mount Spokane

View from top of Mount Spokane

On Sunday, we made the loop around downtown including walks along both banks of the falls and a gondola ride across and below the lower falls.  The falls look much different in fall than they did earlier this summer.

Lower Spokane Falls

Lower Spokane Falls

Monday saw the conclusion of the Attack on San Cassiano as the finale in a three-part remote session with the Rejects.  By the conclusion, I reckon we put in about thirteen hours of playing time.  Battle reports are on my To Do list.  With such a large and lengthy battle, I expect battle reports will make their appearance in a series to breakdown the action and not overwhelm readers (and me!).

The battle from behind Austrian lines.

Tuesday saw Richard host the 1424 HYW Battle of Verneuil in a hybrid game where some players were F2F and others were remote.  In a bit of luck, history actually repeated itself!  For Graham's account of the battle, please visit, A Second Agincourt.

Battle of Verneuil

With the Solferino fought to a conclusion on Monday, Wednesday saw the table cleared and a new battle setup in its place.  Which battle?  Stay tuned! 

Thursday witnessed a second moose encounter on the bike for me.  This time, it was the female that was blocking my path.  While the images are dark from the shadows, the following photos show her on the path if you look really hard.

Another moose encounter.

Another Moose encounter.

Next time, either some figures mustering out from the painting desk, a sneak peek of next Tuesday's game, the first in a series of reports on the action at Solferino, or maybe something completely different!

Thanks for the robust engagement on the GWS Preferred Materials analyses.  Another topic is in work.

National Museum of the Pacific War

Nancy and I have been Deep in the Heart of Texas this week visiting family, hiking, and concert-going.  While our base camp was in Round Rock, we did make a foray into Austin for a concert.  No, we were not there to see Willie and the Boys. 

One day we made the two-hour drive through Texas Hill Country to Fredericksburg to visit the National Museum of the Pacific War and the Admiral Nimitz Gallery.  Fredericksburg was settled by German immigrants of which Nimitz' family was one.  There is even a Freitag's Backyard Cafe in nearby Stonewall.  Including a lunch break, we spent a little over six hours in the two museums with most of that time consumed by the Pacific War museum.  So much to see and read.  With travel time, it was a long ten-hour day. 

The museum accomplishes the difficult task of actually educating the visitor about the history of the Pacific War including the causes leading up to the campaign and its aftermath. The War in the Pacific is told through numerous displays with videos, interactive media, battle narratives, firsthand accounts,static displays, and more.  I walked away with a much better understanding of the war from both political and military viewpoints.  Fascinating.  For me, definitely worthy of a return visit for more focused study.  Nancy even enjoyed it and came away with a broad understanding of this theater of the war.

Highly recommended.

Below is a selection of photos from some of the static equipment displays.  The lead photo to this post shows an eerie display of a downed, Japanese Val airplane.

Japanese Type I Dual-mounted MG.

Bofors 40mm gun.

Japanese 37mm gun.

Browning Automatic Rifle.

Willy's Jeep
My dad still has one of these!

Japanese triple-barrelled AA Gun

Japanese gun.

Bren gun.

Knocked out Stuart tank
commanded by Australians.

Does this visit motivate me to ponder a new wargaming period?  Well, that is a silly question.  We all know the answer to that!

While I may not dive into gaming this period in miniature, tackling these campaigns and battles via hex and counter boardgames certainly sees a renewed interest.

If this looks interesting, the website for the National Museum of the Pacific War is 

Home | National Museum of the Pacific War (pacificwarmuseum.org)

As a reminder, keep those Haikus coming if you want an entry in the 10-year anniversary contest.  Many great poems so far.  I hope to see more.

Battle of Las Guasimas

Battle of Las Guasimas

Having taken up a short residence at the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas this past week, no gaming or painting activities were seen on the hobby front.  I did manage to put together a Spanish-American War scenario and Rules of Engagement for an upcoming game while away.  Amazing how much work can actually get accomplished on the plane and sitting poolside.

Anyway, a QRS is finished for Tuesday's remote group game and a scenario laid out.  Still time to make a few adjustments to the QRS if needed before Game Day.

Las Guasimas Battle Briefing

The action at Las Guasimas was the first substantial land encounter between the US and Spain at the start of the war. After landing at Siborney, “Fighting Joe” Wheeler (an ex-Confederate cavalry commander), the senior American officer on the ground received reports from local Cuban rebels of the Spanish dispositions around Siborney. On the 23rd, Cuban forces had contacted the Spanish around Las Guasimas but were driven back. The Cubans reported that the enemy was digging in field guns on the heights.

Wheeler, ordered not to bring on an engagement with the enemy until the Siborney landings were completed and the Cubans were in position to assist, decided to launch a reconnaissance in force on the 24th regardless. With the Cubans in a flanking position, the attack was planned to push down the road toward Santiago de Cuba and drive the Spanish from the field.

To accomplish this task, Wheeler’s 2nd Brigade of the Cavalry Division would strike out toward Las Guasimas. Young’s brigade would attack up the Siborney-Santiago Road toward Las Guasimas Creek and pin the Spanish in place against the foothills. Wood’s 1st US Volunteer Cavalry would march up the trail along the saddle and flank the enemy from the west. The Cubans, on Young’s right, would turn the enemy’s left. With both flanks in jeopardy, this maneuver was expected to dislodge the Spanish from the foothills and force a retreat back to Santiago.

The Spanish commander at Sevilla, General Rubin, was tasked with conducting a fighting withdrawal back to Santiago. Rubin’s main objective was to buy enough time to allow the evacuation of a hospital train traveling on the road back to Santiago. He could not risk having the hospital train fall into American hands. To this end, trenches had been dug across the trail near the junction with the Siborney-Santiago Road and rifle pits had been dug on the high ground escarpment overlooking the main road. Spanish forces may deploy anywhere behind the yellow line on game map.

On the morning of the 24th, Wheeler set elements of his division into motion. With reports of activity on the foothills, Wheeler was unsure if the activity was from the Cubans who were expected from that direction or the enemy. Young positioned a gun on a hillock to the southwest and directed the firing of the piece at the hill in the distance to confirm. When these ranging shots were answered by 75mm Krupp Mountain guns, the action was on. Unfortunately for Wheeler, there were no Cubans on his right.

Order of Battle

Game Table

Victory Conditions
It takes 10 turns for the hospital train to exit the table on the road to Santiago. Spanish units begin unspotted.

American player has Initiative on Turn 1.

• Major Spanish Victory: Hold the field for 10 Turns and control the crossroads while not losing more units than the Americans.
• Minor Spanish Victory: Hold the field for 10 turns while not losing more units than the Americans.
• Draw: Spanish hold the field for 10 turns.
• Minor American Victory: Occupy western Siborney-Santiago Road exit at the end of Turn 10 while not losing more units than the Spanish.
• Major American Victory: Occupy western Siborney-Santiago Road exit at the end of Turn 10 while inflicting 2:1 losses or better on the Spanish.

There are a few details left out of briefing to be shared with the commanders prior to game time.

Back to the week in Las Vegas...

The trip to Las Vegas was the first air travel undertaken in more than two years for me.  To enjoy sunny skies, the heat of 85-90F temperatures, good food and a concert, Nancy and I jetted off to stake out a short, four-day stay in Sin City.  Unbeknownst to us at the time, this week also coincided with the annual NFL Draft.  Who knew that the football draft was such a HUGE event?  We did not, for sure.  A few blocks of Las Vegas Boulevard (The Strip) were even closed down for the festivities.

The Venetian

Pedestrians walking Las Vegas Boulevard

With a resort named the "Venetian" one might expect a Venice themed complex.  One would not be wrong.  Walking around this faux Venice for four days reminded us how much we enjoyed the real Venice.  Having visited Venice on two of our three Italy trips (2009 and 2016), it may be time to start thinking of a return visit.