"Field Guns in the FIW" Topic

With the imminent launch of Sash & Sabers' FIW Kickstarter, I will most likely be picking up a British 6-pdr and a French 4-pdr.

Outside of forts, it looks like British field guns would only likely appear in battle if a batoe could get them there. Correct?

What about French 4-pdrs — same restrictions, or do they manage to haul them around a bit easier?

It depends on the theater. The British dragged guns (horses) twice over the Allegheny Mountains – in 1755 and again 1758. Some of those guns were 12s, howitzers, heavy and light 6 pdrs.

On that front the French and Canadians never brought out any guns from Fort Duquesne. Those guns were likely on four wheeled carriages, perhaps a few left over from Braddock's train too.

Off the top of my head, I don't recall the French fielding guns outside of forts other than Ste. Foy or the sieges they conducted at William Henry and Oswego.

The French used artillery pieces on the Plains of Abraham.

I think your right, but I don't recall them being of much account in the field battle. Perhaps because the French advanced, which kind of negates period artillery support.

Looking at the Osprey for Fort WIlliam Henry, the French landed artillery on the second day of the second seige. So yes, bateau-borne guns.

It looks like the French regularly assigned Artillerymen and their Officers as combat engineers without any guns in tow. During the first seige, armed with lots of fuses, they were doing their best to set fire to everything in the neighborhood.

I really need to make up a unit of Artillerymen equipped with trail axes and satchels of fuses!

Osprey's Quebec 1759 estimates 5 French guns positioned on the flanks.

Montcalm brought guns by bateaux to siege Fort Oswego, though this was a more formal siege.

I think your right, but I don't recall them being of much account in the field battle. Perhaps because the French advanced, which kind of negates period artillery support.

According to Kronoskaf.com the French had 4 cannon at Plains of Abraham, 2 on the right under Dumas and 2 on the left flank under Senezergues.

The British also brought field pieces up from Lanse-aux-Foulon, one on the right under Monkton and one in the center under Murray.

Apparently they did fire grape shot, but Historygamer is correct, they were of no real account in the battle. Same with the higher caliber French batteries of Sillery and Samos. These also didn't really have any effect on the battle.

Fortunately, the guns being not much account in a field battle is just perfect for having one on the table in a skirmish game!

Looks like I will be happy having one of each from the Sash & Saber Kickstarter, and they will get some play.
=^,^=

The problem with gaming F&I is that there really were very few instances of British and French troops meeting on a field anywhere, let alone have guns. Love the period, but it is a very hard one to recreate on a game table at anything beyond skirmish level.

I've been tempted by the figures for a several decades but never bought any until recently finding a set of skirmish rules that grabbed my attention for the period. Thanks to Donnybrook, I now have a burgeoning collection of skirmish forces.