"Wabash 1791" Topic

I think the trajectory of study for most AWI enthusiasts starts at the AWI itself then follows that, and if you're like me, leaves the war years and goes into the political founding of the US. Oh, many go back and explore FIW, even fewer go on to the War of 1812.

I know of the Shea Rebellion and all that but the title and cover of this one caught my eye:
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This seems to me to be an underlit but fascinating piece of history that I'm embarrassed to admit, and being more steeped in the era than the average joe, knows veritably nothing about.

I just started the book the other day- terrific stuff about the early armed forces.

Anyone gaming this? Or Shea's for that matter. Seems to me that these would be nice changes for gaming while not requiring the purchase of more miniatures as without too much fuss, AWI forces could be used.

That caught my eye too, and I bought it despite having no previous interest in anything anywhere near this period at all.

The British 'advisor' chap dressed up like an Indian would make a great figure. Does anybody make 1790s US Infantry in those funny hats of theirs? I confess I am in complete ignorance of any ranges covering this time.

You are talking my territory here! I live about two hours south of Fort Recovery, Ohio, scene of the worst defeat ever inflicted on a United States force by American Indians…oops, sorry, Native Americans…Little Big Horn does not compare!

The Wabash title is pretty good, but I am still conflicted about the headgear shown. I have another source (Guthman) that shows the U.S. regulars wearing the same basic hat as they did during the revolution. However, Harmar did issue orders to have the headgear switched. But, issuing orders and having the materials available to execute those orders are two different things, and the forces in the Old Northwest were at the far end of a tenuous supply chain.

The site was also the scene of the Battle of Fort Recovery, which claims rto have the largest Indian force ever gathered at one location for a battle against the Americans.

As for figures, yes, you have some choices. In small 20mm, Frying Pan and Blanket have a complete and accurate line (use the Indians for the Rev War range). In 25/28mm Old Glory has a range, but some of the equipment is incorrect. Parkfield Miniatures has a few Wayne's Legion figures as well, more accurate than Old Glory, and Parkfield and Old Glory will blend together fairly well. Parkfield makes Indians, and I also suggest Conquest Miniatures for 28mm Indians.

If you are interested in learning more about "The Miami Campaign" of 1790-95, I have a list of titles for you (taken from my "Our Moccasins Trickled Blood" rules).

XIV. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Adams, Randolph G. – "The Harmar Expedition of 1790." Ohio Archaeological and Historical Quarterly, 50. Ohio, 1941.
Andrews, Joseph Gardner – "A Surgeon's Mate at Fort Defiance; the Journal of Joseph Gardner Andrews for the year 1795." Ohio Historical Quarterly. 1957.
Barmann, Floyd – "Chronology of St. Clair's Expedition" St. Clair's Defeat. Ohio, 1991.
Cone, Stephen D. – "The Indian Attack on Fort Dunlap." Ohio Archaeological and Historical Society Publications 17. Ohio, 1908.
DeRegnaucourt, Tony – The Archaeology of Camp Stillwater: Wayne's March to Fallen Timbers July 28, 1794. Arcanum, Ohio, 1995.
DeRegnaucourt, Tony – The Archaeology of Fort Recovery, Ohio: St. Clair's Defeat, November 4, 1791, and Wayne's Victory, June 30 and July 1. Arcanum, Ohio, 1996.
DeRegnaucourt, Tony – The Archaeology of Fort St. Marys: Major General Anthony Wayne's Fort 1795 to 1796. Arcanum, Ohio, 1996.
Douglas, Albert – "Major General Arthur St. Clair." Ohio Archaeological and Historical Quarterly 16. Ohio, 1907.
Downes, Randolph – Council Fires on the Upper Ohio. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1989.
Eid, Leroy V. – "'Their Rules of War': James Smith's Summary of Indian Woodland War." Selected Papers from the 1985 and 1986 George Rogers Clark Trans-Appalachian Frontier History Conference. Vincennes, Indiana, 1988.
Eid, Leroy V. – "Who Defeated St. Clair? Selected Papers from the 1989 and 1990 George Rogers Clark Trans-Appalachian Frontier History Conference. Vincennes, Indiana, 1991.
Furlong, Patrick J. – "Problems of Frontier Logistics in St. Clair's 1791 Campaign." Selected Papers from the 1983 and 1984 George Rogers Clark Trans-Appalachian Frontier History Conference. Vincennes, Indiana, 1985.
Harmar, Josiah – "General Harmar's Journal." Ohio Archaeological and Historical Quarterly 20. Ohio, 1911.
Heckaman, David T. – "'Badly Clothed, Badly Paid, and Badly Fed': St. Clair's Army, 791." St. Clair's Defeat. Ohio, 1991.
Heckaman, David T. – "Organization of Major General Anthony Wayne's Legion of the United States." Treaty of Greene Ville Bicentennial Commission Research and Histories Presented in 1995. Greenville, Ohio, 1995.
Irvin, Thomas – "Harmar's Campaign." Edited by Frazer E. Wilson. Ohio Archaeological and Historical Quarterly 19. Ohio, 1910.
Meek, Basil – "General Harmar's Expedition." Ohio Archaeological and Historical Quarterly 20. Ohio, 1911.
Murphy, John A., ed. – The Greenville Peace Treaty. Pataskala, Ohio, 1994.
Murphy, John A., ed. – Letters, Journals, and Anecdotes of Fort Recovery and Fallen Timbers. Pataskala, Ohio, 1994.
Novak, Greg – "The Legion of the United States." Historical Gamer Magazine, Number 22. Lexington, Kentucky, 1994.
Palmer, Dave R. – 1794, America, Its Army, and the Birth of the Nation. Novato, California, 1994.
Peckham, Howard – "Josiah Harmar and His Indian Expedition." Ohio Archaeological and Historical Quarterly 55. Ohio, 1946.
Priddy, O.W. – "Wayne's Strategic Advance from Fort Greenville to Grand Glaize." Ohio Archaeological and Historical Quarterly, 39. Ohio, 1930.
Prucha, Francis Paul – The Sword of the Republic. Lincoln, Nebraska, 1986.
Rohr, Martha E. – Historical Sketch of Fort Recovery. Fort Recovery, Ohio, 1974.
Sargent, Winthrop – "Winthrop Sargent's Diary While with General Arthur St. Clair's Expedition Against the Indians," Ohio Archaeological and Historical Quarterly 33. Ohio, 1924.
Scamyhorn, Richard and Steinle, John – Stockades in the Wilderness. Dayton, Ohio, 1986.
Seiler, Toni T. – The St. Clair and Wayne Trails. Arcanum, Ohio, 1989.
Seiler, Toni T. – The Native Americans at the Greene Ville Peace Treaty 1795. Arcanum, Ohio, 1993.
Simmons, David A. – The Forts of Anthony Wayne. Fort Wayne, Indiana, 1977.
Simmons, David A. – "Military Architecture on the American Frontier." Selected Papers from the 1983 and 1984 George Rogers Clark Trans-Appalachian Frontier History Conference. Vincennes, Indiana, 1985.
Simmons, David A. – "The Architecture of Anthony Wayne's Forts." Treaty of Greene Ville Bicentennial Commission Research and Histories Presented in 1995. Greenville, Ohio, 1995.
Smith, Dwight L., ed. – From Greene Ville to Fallen Timbers. Indianapolis, Indiana, 1952.
Smith, Dwight L. – "Fort Recovery, 1794: The Climax of the Indian Resistance Movement." Treaty of Greene Ville Bicentennial Commission Research and Histories Presented in 1995. Greenville, Ohio, 1995.
Sword, Wiley – President Washington's Indian War. Norman, Oklahoma, 1985.
Thom, James Alexander – "Little Turtle, Destroyer of Armies." St. Clair's Defeat. Ohio, 1991.
Urwin, Gregory J.W. – "The Legion of the United States." Campaigns Magazine, Number 43. Los Angeles, California, 1982.
Van Trees, Robert V. – The Banks of the Wabash. Fairborn, Ohio, 1986.
Waller, George M. – "Regularity: Military Policy in the Old Northwest 1789-1794." Selected Papers from the 1985 and 1986 George Rogers Clark Trans-Appalachian Frontier History Conference. Vincennes, Indiana, 1988.
West, Bryan – "The Mapping of Greene Ville Major-General Anthony Wayne's Legionary Headquarters 1793-1796." Treaty of Greene Ville Bicentennial Commission Research and Histories Presented in 1995. Greenville, Ohio, 1995.
West, J. Martin – "Arthur St. Clair, Ill-fated General of the Republic." St. Clair's Defeat. Ohio, 1991.
Westheider, James E. – "The History of Fort Washington at Cincinnati, Ohio: A Case Study." Selected Papers from the 1989 and 1990 George Rogers Clark Trans-Appalachian Frontier History Conference. Vincennes, Indiana, 1991.
Wilson, Frazer, E., ed. – "St. Clair's Defeat: As Told by an Eyewitness-From Original MSS." Ohio Archaeological and Historical Publications 10. Ohio, 1902.
Wilson, Frazier E., ed. – Journal of Capt. Daniel Bradley. Greenville, Ohio, 1935.
Wilson, Frazier E. – Fort Jefferson. Evansville, Indiana, 1984.
Wilson, Frazier E. – Arthur St. Clair. Mt. Vernon, Indiana, 1990.
Wilson, Frazier E. – Around the Council Fire. Mt. Vernon, Indiana, 1990.
Winger, Otho – "The Indians Who Opposed Harmar." Ohio Archaeological and Historical Quarterly 50. Ohio, 1941.
Young, Calvin M. – Little Turtle. Mt. Vernon, Indiana, 1998.

Ah, that's another thing. To an ignorant foreigner all this talk of Miami Indians was a bit confusing. Seems like they must have walked an awful long way to pick a fight. I would have stayed where it was sunny.

A little googling set me straight. :)

I have been looking forward for this book for quite some time. Almost finished painting enough 25mm to do the Wabash battle at 1 figure: 10 men scale. (140 Indians/120 Americans) My wife is from St. Henry a few miles away, and my sister-in-law teaches 4 th grade local history at local school district.

As for headgear, mostly Guthman was right, but some Harmar hats were around.

Also, have the fort and the unpainted Legion troops (definitely different headgear/unis) to do the Battle of Fort Recovery someday.

The bibliography at the end of OMTB is very good, even if some of the items took me a while to find.

What Darryl said. Except for the residence bit, I live in Pennslyvania.

I've been painting figures for it as well for 1:10 and I am using the Wayne's Legion line and selected AWI figures from Old Glory for the Americans. I can live with the inaccuracies.

These guys will also play uniformed militia for my War of 1812 New York Detached Militia. But I digress.

Conquest's figures are first rate all the way. I bulk my First Nation numbers out with Old Glory.

I haven't thought about Shay's Rebellion, nor the Whiskey Rebellion. Either would be an interesting thing to model on the table top.

Good luck.

Eric

Darryl- I recall your Battle of Fallen Timbers game with"our Mocassins Trickled Blood" a loooong time ago!

I think we can take some liberties with US Army headgear of the 1790s in the old Northwest Territory. As you point out Darryl, the troops were at the end of a tenuous supply chain, and besides that were at the mercy of a penny-pinching Congress and often unscrupulous contractors. Uniform issues were often behind schedule and of poor quality. Shoddy and/or worn-out hats were often cut down into 'light infantry caps', sometimes by order, and sometimes we know the orders, but we don't always know exactly what patterns were used, how the caps were ornamented, or which units wore what when.

I'm surprised, Darryl, that you don't mention the Moccasins Yahoo group, where the "Our Moccasins Trickled Blood" rules can be found, as well as much other goodness about the flintlick era on the frontier. OMTB was originally written to wargame the battle of Fallen Timbers and works very well for Wabash, Monongahela and other larger battles in the wilderness.

The Calvin Young Little Turtle biography is excellent. Wiley Sword President Washington's Indian War is a good history of the conflict.

Little Turtle rules! St. Clair drools! But watch out, Crazy Tony Wayne is on his way.

Oh yeah, I like the Wabash Osprey a lot. Very inspirational. It's got me working on my Wayne's Legion troops again.

@ David – Very cool that your wife is from St. Henry, neat little town in the middle of "church" country.

@ skink – which convention would that have been at? It's been a LOOOONG time since I have run the rules.

@ zippy – I was purposely trying to not self-promote! Actually, as of today the OMTB rules have been removed from the Yahoo group. I am submitting them online for sale at Wargame Vault. Just waiting for the approval. No changes to what was on the group, just thought that perhaps it was time to get the rules out there for sale (for a CHEAP cost…$3.99 for a download). I will be adding some legion flags for download as well over the next few days. But folks are still welcome to join the Yahoo group:

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For books, I do think the Wabash Osprey title is well done, and I also recommend Gaff's Bayonets in the Wilderness for a title that is more focused on Wayne's campaign.

I am going to start working on a 20mm project for St. Clair. I was thinking about OMTB, but I might streamline 1776 (the rules, not the boardgame) instead.

My Frying Pan website (make certain your pop-up blocker is ON!):

fryingpan.freewebtools.com

Could talk the Miami Campaign all day!

Darryl-I recall it was some time in the 90's,when Advance the Colors was in downtown Dayton.It was particularly memorable,as the closest restaraunt was a long walk away.We went and had dinner,and had to do a fast walk to make it back in time for your game! We had to dodge prostitutes as well.

So, who is gonna run an OMTB game at Cincycon in March?

I would enjoy gaming the period but I wouldn't want to have to collect, paint and own the armies – kind of a one trick pony, they are.

I'm committed to run an Air Pirates game at Cincycon, Craig. Sino-Japanese airwar c.1938. "Flying Shaolin Wings of Fury". I-153s vs. A5M4s. You don't want to miss that.

Not really a 'one trick pony' DAF. Woodland Indian warriors with warclub and flintlock can serve from around 1700 until 1820 or so. Likewise with frontier militia. Some figures will have features that tie them to particular decades: tricorn hats, turbans, fringed hunting shirts, but you can either leave those out of particular games or just stick them in the middle of the mass – I can't recall a player complaining about such details.

As for the US Army, they're in basic 'Namurrican blue coat, red facings, white smallclothes. Depending on the hats you choose, they can double as AWI continentals, 1812 uniformed militia, or other real or imaginary campaigns of the early republic – Lewis & Clark, the Whiskey Rebellion, the suppression of Fredonia, Maroons in Spanish Florida. To name a few. They were interesting times.

What Zippy said.

Eric

Revisiting this topic a bit….

Indeed, Zippy is spot on, you can get many, many uses from Woodland Indians, as well as using various Legion or St. Clair figures for other periods. Considering the cheap costs of the Frying Pan & Blanket Amalgamated figures, doing this in 20mm is fairly cost effective. I would love to commission figures in either 15mm or 18mm, with the various types of headgear and equipment, but to do that "right" would be very expensive from a sculpting cost.

I have created a map on Google showing existing sites for all three campaigns. These sites could have something as large as a fort, or as small as a simple marker. Check it out and let me know if I have missed anything.

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Can't find the map any longer. Sorry!

And now, a new map:

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