18th Century Reading

There's not been much painting or modelling activity here at the Schloß Nundanket. Any wargaming has come courtesy of the Wells of Washington, Jonathon of the Palouse Wargaming Journal, who has been running on-line re-fights of the First Battle of the Bull Run. I had the pleasure during the games of the company of noted bloggers Messrs Broom (https://mudbloodandsteel.blogspot.com/2023/06/get-yer-tots-out-for-lads.html), 'In-Suffolk' (https://russetcoatcpt.blogspot.com/2023/06/fnurban-24-east-riding-military.html), Foy (http://prometheusinaspic.blogspot.com/2023/06/wss-eichenfeld-noch-einmal.html) and Napoleon Dave (https://stcyronwheels.blogspot.com) for the games. Won one lost one, since you ask.

My current excuse for not doing much in the way of wargaming activity is being involved in taking the young mistresses of the Schloß to university open days, and visiting the West Country branch of the family to raid their garden equipment before they do their flit to Lincolnshire where, ironically, they won't need anything beyond one of those misters and a jug.

I have been making slow, but steady progress through the batch of books I bought last month. So far I've read The Army of George II and More Furies Than Men, and I'm currently on the Hagist book on British flank battalions in the AWI. The book by Brown on the British army of George II is excellent - almost tempted to say it does for that army what Duffy did for the armies of Frederick and Maria-Theresa. I would recommend it for anyone interested in the period and especially if you want to model a British army. The central thesis of the book is that the army was more more professional than is normally portrayed, including its officers.

The book on the Irish brigade I found harder going. It is good on Franco-Irish relations (not as warm as you might think, both being enemies of England) and on the importance of patronage within the Irish regiments. I found my interest waning in the chapter on the way contemporaries portrayed the Irish brigade, especially when it seemed to disappear down the rabbit hole of what this or that poet said in response to some other poet. But I admit, this is a subjective view and it's a case of what floats your boat. As with the British army book, the author researched the subject thoroughly.

As I said above, I'm currently reading the Don Hagist book on British grenadiers and light troops of the AWI. I've been thinking about getting the book since I listened in on the Helion virtual book launch a couple of years ago. Again, this is thoroughly researched and great background for the period. You don't need to read this, or the other two, of course. You could happily wargame the period without it. For me, it adds to the interest though and gives some great insights.

I think next up will be the Pattern (another of the Helion virtual book launches I 'attended'). Going by the book launch, it will be packed with interesting research. Maybe it's time I got the table out.