"AWI Cowpens??" Topic

I have collected Smith, Mollo and Novack's books. I have British Grenadier with scenario books and Black Powder rules.

I want to emulate Cowpens, both sides. I will use the recommended size of unit in the British Grenadier scenario book 1. Which Perry figures would you recommend for each unit?

Thanks,
Brian

Probably not the direct answer you are looking for, but the book "A Devil of a Whipping" by Lawrence Babits goes into a fair amount of detail regarding the sizes and compositions (and even ground scale and level of exhaustion) of the units at the battle from both sides. If you are looking for as accurate of an OOB as possible, that book might help.

link

Perry makes Continentals, riflemen and Southern militia; I think the Foundry cavalry (also by Alan Perry) may be suitable for Washington's command.

For the Crown forces, British Legion and infantry in both cut-down coats and "roundabouts" (sleeved waistcoats) for the regular and Legion light infantry (though the latter's uniform is still debated), as well as late-war Highlanders in overalls for the 71st.

I'm not sure I understand your question. USe the figures as needed – southern militia for militia etc. perhaps better if you explained what is making this decision difficult?

Cheers

Jaz
6sided.net

Brian (Sneakgun)

Further to Aladdin's comments on Devil of a Whipping try looking at this for a concise statement of Babits' views on the OOB:

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There is also a lot of excellent analysis in AdamD's blog here:

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I do not always agree exactly with Adam's interpretations on Cowpens but there is a lot useful and thoughtful discussion there.

As to figures, well for the Continentals as mix of Perry & Foundry (all the same designer as SM mentions) would enable you to cover the 'Rebel' forces. I confine myself mainly to the Perry/Foundry lines in what follows as that is what you seem to be interested in but there are many alternatives in other lines and other scales!

For the Continental forces the Perry uniformed figures are ideal and the Alan Perry designed Foundry Continental dragoons would also serve for Wm Washington's command. Try and get hold of some Eureka dragoons for more variety and the facility to depict the McCall's militia elements. The remainder of Morgan's command can be cobbled together from various types in the Perry range, mainly based on Don Troiani's interpretations:

Continentals:

link

Cavalry

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Militia:

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The British are a little more complicated.

The 71st are easy, use Perry highland centre companies in trousers as is; Don Troiani's view:

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For the 7th Foot – you have the option of the Perry regulars in cut down coat & slouched hat OR go for the Foundry British centre company in 1768 warrant. The Don Troiani interpretation depicts the 7th in a rig more like the 68 warrant than the more extreme campaign variants now in vogue, see here:

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Light infantry Battalion: this was a composite unit of two companies from the 71st, one from the 16th Regt and one from the Prince of Wales American Regt: The Perry highland flank companies in trousers will do for the 71st whilst I would use some Foundry or similar the 16th & PWA light companies. This is the kind of look to aim at:

link

British Legion horse and 17th Light Dragoons are both adequately covered by the Perry ranges.

For the British Legion Foot you could go SM's way using Perry figures in roundabout although my own preference is for this kind of thing

To achieve which I would use early war Foundry British Light infantry.

For the Royal Artillery again the Perry/Foundry lines offer suitable figures. The Foundry offer the early war version whilst the Perry ones are 'campaign views'. Personally I doubt their 'southern campaign' uniform – it looks more like a garrison dress so I would tend to go for the either early war or even the Saratoga versions. This is the kind of thing that I would aim for:

link

Anyway good luck.

A small reproduction of McBarron's Cowpens pic at the NPS site. It shows an interpretation of the PWA & 16th light companies and the British Legion foot.

And don't forget Eurekas new AWI cavalry for mounted Militia

Ashok

<<For the British Legion Foot you could go SM's way using Perry figures in roundabout although my own preference is for this kind of thing.>>

Quite right, TM, there are several options for the BL foot; I don't have any firm views for 1780/81* and your offering (whether in green or red) is probably most likely. On a side note, I think one of those guys is Antony J Scotti, author of "Brutal Virtue" the book on Tarleton.

[* For 1782 onwards, we have warehouse inventories and I'm fairly certain the BL infantry looked much like the QRs – or possibly vice-versa? – or rather they would have done had they not all been in captivity!!!]

For the BL foot, I might be tempted to use Perry's Lee's Legion on foot, because they are in overalls with a Tarleton helmet. That assumes that the BL foot WOULD have the Tarleton helmet.

However, I have used the Perry and Foundry LI in slouch hats and painted them in green coats. They are really my generic Loyalist LI, and have taken the field as BL foot.

The 7th were just off the boat, so can be imagined in 1769 Warrant. No doubt the Colonel was appalled by the slap-dash appearance of the other Brits, and wrote a stern letter to his PM.

BTW, why confine yourself to Perry figures? The Eureka "Raggeds" were designed specifically to be Perry compatible.
The Old Glory "British LI in slouch hats" also match well.

John – Just decided to start there and expand as I go.

Thanks for the recommendations…..pay day is next week.

"(whether in green or red)"

SM

Ah the coat colour controversy, which originates with the Edward Barron plan of Camden. I thought Rene Chartrand's Loyalist Osprey MAA had slain that one? Must dig it out.

Interesting chap Barron, but have never found any evidence to suggest he was in the Carolinas in 1780 although his map has to have been made before 1786. However, as usual I digress…….

Nic at Eureka is a wonderful guy to deal with. Get some ragged Continentals and some Mounted Militia from him. Foundry also has a pack of 1st Continental Dragoons that match well with Eureka figures.
Eureka also make about a dozen different helmets, round hats and various other headgears for you to do conversions with. Take a couple of Perry or Foundry militia or riflemen and just grind down the headgear. Then glue some of the Eureka hats onto the heads. You can blend in some greenstuff "hair" where you need to and you can make a whole army of different figures.

I love the look of "no two figures the same" in my American Army.