Loyalist (Tories) Units in the American War of Independence

 

My collection of Loyalist Units.

The Queen's Rangers or 1st American Regiment had a unique organization consisting of 8 line companies, a light company, a grenadier company and a Highland company. It also had a light dragoon troop and a hussar troop.  Jack Scruby (now Historifigs) made a line figure and a hussar figure.

Another view of the Queens Rangers. The figures are 25mm Jack Scruby figures now produced by Historifigs.  Modeling the unit in old school 25mm is a bit of a challenge given that there is only one pose available from Historifigs. The Queens Rangers retained their green coats throughout the war and as a whole functioned as a light infantry unit.

The Historifigs Queens Rangers Hussars. 

The King's American Regiment was raised in New York but saw considerable service in the Southern Campaign. Loyalist units, in general, started the war in green coats, switching to red coats in 1777 and 1778. I modeled most of my Loyalist units in green to distinguish them from British Foot.

Another view of the King's American Regiment

This photo and the subsequent photo feature Emmerich's Chasseurs. The unit functioned like mounted infantry, serving mainly between the lines by raiding and scouting. The figures are Airfix from the Washington's Army set.

The mounted portion of Emmerich's Chasseurs. The figures are Jack Scruby's (Historifigs) mounted infantry. 

Emmerich's Chasseurs as a unit for Rebels and Patriots

The Royal Regiment of New York or Johnson's Royal Greens. The regiment served in Upper New York and Canada, usually serving with the Iroquois who were loyal to Great Britain. 

Johnson's Royal Greens from the Airfix Washington's Army set. 

Butler's Rangers known by the patriots as Butler's baby killers for atrocities both real and imagined for propaganda purposes. Butler's unit always served with the Iroquois and that meant atrocities on both sides..

The figures are 20 Band B Miniatures from the UK. Although 20mm they fit in with my other units. The height difference being imperceptible. They are excellent sculpts with a "chunky" look to them.

Hastings Project in Vintage 25mm Metal

My friends and I started wargaming back in the late 1960s with 1\72 plastic figures. By the mid 1970's and into the 80s, 25mm metal figures made major inroads into our collections. 

The companies that made 25mm metal that I used were primarily Minifigs, Hinchcliffe, Garrison and Ral Partha.  

One of the armies I had in 25mm metal were Anglo\Saxons or Anglo\Danes for the 1066 period. I also had some Normans and some Vikings.

Sometime in the early 90s I left the hobby and sold off 95% of my collections. (kick self here)

When I got back into the hobby back in 2014 the figures of choice were 1\72 plastic sometimes supplemented with 20mm metal figures. The use of 1\72 plastics, in addition to the low expense was a nostalgia itch that was scratched.

Within a short time I started to collect odds and ends in 25mm vintage metal figures from what I could find on eBay. The intent was to collect a few, paint them up and display them. Like many a wargamer and collector would attest to, the word "few" is mostly meaningless. It always seems we like what we like and the unpainted collections seem to grow faster than the painted pile.

A good friend dating back all the way to our early days discovered a huge stash of old 25mm metal in a local shop that does not advertise. Strange, but apparently this guy has some cool stuff and there my friend found hundreds of vintage Garrison, Minifig Dark Ages figures along with a substantial number of newer Old Glory Dark Ages. The total number of figures was 1,000 or more.

My friend knew I had started to work on my small collection of eBay figures and offered me hundreds of what he had found. I HAD to accept even though the stack of unpainted figures did not need reinforcement.

I decided to do a Hastings project to be followed by a Stamford Bridge project, to be followed by a 1st Crusade project-all in 25mm metal. Those who have ears to hear will understand totally.

The Hastings Project received immediate attention since I had a few units already.

Below is where I'm at with the project. Some of the Norman units will do double duty as units for the 1st Crusade.

The units are all organized for Lion Rampant 2.

Overview of units thus far. There are 10 units of Anglo\Danes and 14 Norman pictured

I put skirmish units out front, Select Fyrd and Huscarls in a Shieldwall and 2 units of Fyrd in the back,

Same arrangement on the other flank

The Norman unit on the far left is a split unit in LR2. They were painted more for the 1st Crusade project than Hastings. The small unit next to them are supposed to be dismounted knights for the 1st Crusade.

Norman crossbow skirmishers are in front, with Norman spearmen behind and behind them 4 of my five knight units.

The unit adjacent to the mounted knights are painted for the 1st Crusade as are the split unit in front of them.

A closer look at two of the 1st Crusade (Norman) units. The front unit are Minifigs and the back unit is Garrison.

This unit of Norman spearmen is particularly special. They were even to me by my friend. They are 25mm Phoenix miniatures who at one time made historical figures. An eBay search for Phoenix historical figures consistently turns up zilch. 

Getting some of the 25mm Garrison Norman Crossbowmen was great. I can use them as one unit or two units of skirmish types. 

Close up of the dismounted knights for the 1st Crusade. They are Minifigs from their Dark Ages line which are still available in the UK.

My two units of Ral Partha Normans. I have a late Byzantine army with many of the Ral Partha 1200 A.D Byzantines so the Partha Normans fit right in. I got most of the Partha Byzantines and Normans off of eBay. The 1200 A.D. line still commands a good price on eBay but not anywhere near what Iron Wind Miniatures who now carries the line charges!

Minifig Normans, although I think these poses are from the Minifig Crusades line.

These are Garrison Normans and they are another unit that is special to me. Garrison figures are very rare on eBay (in the USA). At one time my Anglo\Saxon army was almost entirely Garrison.

I have two units of Minifig Normans finished at this time. The banner is actually a 28mm banner but close enough.

This unit of Select Fyrd are all Minifigs.

Minifig Anglo\Saxon archers

My two units of Huscarls. The one on the left is Garrison figures. I had just enough with the Danish axe to give the unit the right flavor. The unit on the right are Ral Partha. The Danish axe is prominent as it should be.

Minifg Anglo\Saxon Fyrd used as skirmishers for LR2.

This is a composite unit of Select Fyrd or Veteran Heavy Infantry in Lion Rampant 2. The composite contains Garrison, Minifig and Ral Partha figures. The banner is from Maverick Flags in the UK. Maverick will scale his flags to whatever size is desired but he has a very limited selection for the Dark Ages.

Another unit of Fyrd. For LR 2 purposes I might use this unit as Light Infantry instead of Heavy Infantry. The figures are all Minifigs. I believe the bareheaded figures come from the Slavic portion of Minifig's Dark Ages line.

Fyrd Light Infantry. The unit is mostly Garrison with a sprinkle of Minifigs. The two lines are very compatible.

This unit of Fyrd Light Infantry are all Garrison figures and one of my favortites. Garrison made the best general Fyrd back in the day.


I have yet to do a game with the collection but when the time comes I intend to have it on a larger table with appropriate terrain.

Phoenix Models Norman Spearmen in 25mm

A friend gave these 25mm Phoenix Models some time ago. Thet are suitable for any number of armies. I originally painted them up as mercenaries for a later Byzantine army but they fit equally well into my Norman collection. Historical Phoenix minis are hard to come by so they occupy a unique place in my collection. I use them in Lion Rampant games.

25mm Scruby Queens Rangers

 The Queens Rangers were a Loyalist (Tory) Regiment that fought in the American War of Independence.

It may the best known Loyalist unit. Late in the war it became part of the British Establishment as British Regulars. After the war, members of the regiment were settled in Ontario, Canada due to the hostility of the victorious American patriots (rebels depending on your point of view). The regiment still exits as part of the Canadian Army (Queens York Rangers, I think.)

The regiment was unique in many ways.

First it was a descendent of the famous Roger's Rangers from the French and Indian War, although the regiment's most notable officer was John Graves Simcoe and not Robert Rogers who initially raised the unit.

The regiment consisted of ten companies of infantry and one troop of light cavalry called hussars. Another troop from the 16th British Light Dragoons were often attached.

The regiment was organized as a "light corps" similar to the converged battalions of British Light "Bobs" that were so effective in the war.

Reenactors in the Uniform of the Queens Rangers

In addition to the line companies that functioned as light infantry the regiment had an official light company and grenadier company just like the British line infantry regiments of the period.

From the Osprey book on American Loyalist  units.

In addition to the line companies, the light infantry company and the grenadier company the regiment featured an additional Highland company pictured above. The Hussar troop is also pictured but other renditions show the green uniform to be much darker.

Most Loyalist units began the war in green uniforms to distinguish them from the British red. Many changed over to red during the war on the basis that they were subjects of the crown and should have the same status as regular British units.

The Queens Rangers were one of the exceptions and they retained their green uniforms throughout the war.

My collection featuring the Queens Rangers is limited to 12 infantry figures and 6 hussar figures. I intend to add the Highland company, a troop from the 16th Light Dragoons and possibly more line companies for use in Rebels and Patriots skirmish actions.

The Scruby line was limited but at the time they were first produced they represented a sincere attempt to have war-game units in distinctive uniforms.

By today's standards Scruby's are small 25mm figures. Although the height is close, the "bulk" is not. 

I have no problem mixing them in separate units with the old Musket Miniatures 25mm AWI or Airfix or even Irregular Miniatures of 20mm AWI. 

I enjoy the old Scruby figures because I think they have a classic look to them. I also gloss coat them for the same reason.

The troop of Hussars. It's debatable how many men the troop could actually put in the saddle but the unit is too unique to ignore!

My "battalion" of infantry.

I was ablate obtain a Kings and Queen's color from Maverick flag in the UK.

Musket Miniatures "Light Bobs" in 25mm

 

These are 25mm "Light Bobs' from Musket Miniatures. At one time Musket Miniatures was Stone Mountain and the owner produced a line of 25mm AWI and 22mm ACW. A new owner (many years later) bought the molds for the AWI and ACW. The ACW are still available but for some reason he has not done anything with the AWI. It's too bad because they are little gems and compatible to Scruby in separate units.I have about 75 mostly unpainted that I picked off eBay

MiniFigs 1st Generation Stonewall Brigade

These are another of my eBay rescue efforts. They are 1st Generation Miniature Figurines in 25mm. For you youngsters out there who don't know, Minifigs was once a colossus in 25mm wargaming. Minifigs had lines in just about everything.

I first came across Minifigs way back in the mid-1970s. My first purchases were the British Infantry for the American War of Independence. They were first-generation, and sadly, I no longer have them. 

Being nostalgic for the old metal minis, I began to seek Minifigs and other 25mm figures out on eBay.

I found this lot with a few command figures relatively cheap. They needed a lot of work, and I saved these six out of eight or nine infantry figures.

I chose an early war uniform from the famous Stonewall Brigade for the repaint.

I have them mounted on temporary bases for potential use in a Rebel's and Patriots skirmish game.

Miniature Figurines 2nd Generation are still available today from the UK under Matchlock Miniatures.

The officer needed a lot of work. Keeping the saber on the figure was a challenge, but I didn't want to cut it off and insert a pin. 

The Minifigs ACW line always looked a little Napoleonic to me. Many of the poses featured backpack and blanket roll, and a full dress look to the uniform.

I believe the pose is called high port. A unit of Minifigs all in the same pose is impressive imo.

Today the 28mm manufacturers have all but conquered the market and 25mm figures are rare. I think Minifigs have a classic toy soldier look like most manufacturers from the 1970s and 80s.

Scruby Mexican American War US Regulars

Back in the day, meaning the late 1960s and early 70's metal figures for wargaming were rare in the US. One exception to this was Jack Scruby. Jack was a pioneer in American Wargaming. He created figures in various wargaming scales. 

My first metal wargaming figures were 20mm hoplites and phalanx from Jack Scruby miniatures. They are long gone now (sadly) having been replaced by English figures by Miniature Figurines, Hinchcliffe and Garrison. 

They too are long gone although I'm working to replace some in the old classic scale of 25mm or one inch. 

So, when I got back into the hobby in 2014 I decided to collect a few of the old metal figures in addition to my interests in 1\72 plastics. I started with eBay searches and found some Jack Scruby Americans and Mexicans in Scruby 25mm. 

Later I supplentnted what I found by finding that Scruby miniatures had been taken over by Historifigs, a copmany out of Baraboo, WI, my home state. Sadly, for about a year now, Historifigs seems to be out of business, although the website is still up. Email inquiries have not been answered. 

I painted up my one unit of US Regulars by Jack Scruby. I like the old toy soldier look of Scruby miliatures and so used gloss coat to seal them. I'm not sure what happended to Historifigs but they filled a nostalgia itch for me. Here's my unit of US Regulars by Jack Scruby, painted by yours truly.

Plains Wars Sampler

 Although the vast majority of my collection is 1\72 plastic and\or 20mm metal figures, I do have some 25mm and 28mm collections.

The old 25mm figures are of particular interest to me for nostalgia reasons. One period I had always wanted to dabble in, but never did, was the Plains Wars (1860-1890). Over the summer I decided to scratch that itch and started to paint the figures I had obtained from eBay.

The vast majority are from the small Plains Wars line that RAFM (Canada) still produces. The exception to the RAFM figures are Minifigs from their defunct Plains Wars line. I managed to obtain about a dozen from an eBay vendor. They have a character of their own and I would like to find more.

I have quite a few RAFM figures from their old Flint and Feather line (French and Indian War). RAFM produces a "chunky" (sturdy) 25mm with good detail. They work well with my Dixon figures which are large 25mm (closer to 28mm) especially when I mount the RAFM on thicker bases (like those below). 

At times, I glue RAFM infantry figures to a penny and then to a thicker base to make up the height between RAFM figures and the Dixons.

The pics are labeled as to what they are.

At this point I am not sure they will ever see a game. I am not ever sure what rules I would use. 

I intend to supplement this collection from the Dixon line and\or from the Foundry. I am aware that Old Glory makes figures in the period but you always have to order a large set unless you can find smaller amounts on eBay.

For now, it has just been a joy to paint these excellent figures.