Dixon Miniatures American Civil War - 4th Virginia Cavalry

 

 I've not posted much of late but I'm still riding the Dixon Miniatures wave and have recently finished off a substantial amount of Confederates, including making a start on the 4th Virginia Cavalry. Horses are something I struggle to enjoy painting and I know I'm not alone on that one! Highly rewarding when completed but I run the risk of treading water a bit during the process. I have to say, once I got into a rhythm with them, I almost found myself having fun with them! 

 Mostly fighting with the Army of Northern Virginia, the 4th Virginia Cavalry were involved on the majority of the well known battles and campaigns. Completing its organisation in Prince William County, Virginia in September 1861, the 4th were made up of ten companies, all of which were previously independent militia.

 The unit were assigned to J.E.B. Stewart's, F. Lee's, Wickham's and Munford's Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia. It participated in the Battle of Williamsburg, the Seven Days Battles and the Second Bull Run and Maryland campaigns. 

 Later, the unit was involved in the conflicts at Fredericksburg, Kelly's Ford, Chancellorsville, Brandy Station, Upperville, Gettysburg, Bristoe, Mine Run, The Wilderness, Todd's Tavern, Spotsylvania, Wilson's Wharf, Haw's Shop, and Bethesda Church. The 4th went on to fight in the Shenandoah Valley with Jubal Early and around Appomattox.

 The flag resides in the American Civil War Museum, formerly the Museum of the Confederacy, in Richmond, VA. 

 I've also completed a Confederate artillery limber and caisson from Water's Alabama battery plus another cannon base.

 I'm currently torn between carrying on with more Dixon ACW miniatures or putting them aside for now and opting for pastures new.

 I'm still feeling a hunger for the Dixon fellas, it just depends which of them exactly I take on next. I've got a few ideas for projects in the coming weeks, I'm just not sure if I'm ready to kick off any of them right now.

 

 

Dixon Miniatures American Civil War - 1st Texas Infantry Regiment

 

 Over the past several weeks, I've been working on another Confederate infantry regiment. This time it's the 1st Texas, part of the Texas Brigade, which I have already finshed the regiments of the 5th Texas and 3rd Arkansas. 

The 1st Texas Infantry Regiment 

 I do enjoy working on regiments but when I embark on one, I know I'm in for at least six weeks of hard slog. Plus there's a lot of careful figure selection from the wonderful Dixon range to go through first. 

 Assembled in Richmond, VA in August 1861, the 1st Texas consisted of 10 companies with 2 added subsequently. As part of the Texas Brigade, it fought under the Army of Northern Virginia from Seven Pines to Cold Harbor before latterly, the Siege of Petersburg and the Appomattox Campaign. 

 The regiment was known for its high casualty rate (82.3%) at the battle of Antietam (Sharpsburg); the highest suffered by any regiment, North or South, on a single day during the entire war.

 At Gettysburg, they achieved much for fighting with lesser numbers than the enemy, successfully taking the major objectives they were assigned to. Under heavy fire from their position at Seminary Ridge, the order to take the heights was finally issued with Lieutenant Colonel Work yelling "Follow the Lone Star Flag to the top of the mountain!" The 1st Texas subsequently played a significant part in causing the Union troops to withdraw from their position on Devil's Den. 

  Mrs. Louis T. Wigfall, wife of the 1st Texas Regiment’s Colonel, gave her wedding dress to be made into a Lone Star Flag for the Regiment.

–The flag of the Texas camp, at Camp Wigfall, near Dumfries, Va., is made of the bridal dress of Mrs. Wigfall. Says the correspondent of the Austin Gazette:

It bears the emblem of the “Lone Star,” and this is of pure white silk, set in blue ground; the fold are purple and white. The hearts of all are riveted to it. It never will be given up. An old war-worn warrior approached it, and as his eyes gazed steadily upon the banner, he said: “That star was made of the bridal dress of the lady of our gallant colonel. She worked it with her fair hands, and gave it to us to carry through the battles of our country. How could we fall to protect. How could we fall to protect it with our lives? No, Sir! I never failed to meet the enemy when that star was our watchword, and now when our whole South is in danger, I feel that my poor life can be given up easily upon that flag as my shroud.” The old fellow with his grey heirs, still stands before my memory. Such is the feeling of every Texan.

 There will be more Dixon ACW to come soon; I'm currently working on an artillery piece plus a few Confederate cavalry. 

 

Dixon Miniatures American Civil War - 5th Texas Infantry

 

 It's been a long time since my last post. The plan had been to undergo a classic beastman/broo regiment but after making a start on a couple, I felt I wasn't feeling it. So for now that project will have to wait until the time is right. 

 So for now I've decided to revisit my long running Dixon Miniatures American Civil War project and have spent the last month or so on another Confederate regiment, the 5th Texas Infantry. 

 The 5th Texas was part of the Texas Brigade which I'm planning on painting every regiment that featured. I already have the 3rd Arkansas and a command base featuring Texas Brigade commander John Bell Hood sorted and intend to include the 1st and 4th Texas regiments plus original members, the 18th Georgia and Hampton's Legion.

 Created in October 1861, the 5th Texas were assigned to the Texas Brigade. As part of the brigade, the 5th performed well at the Battle of Eltham's Landing, lightly involved at the Battle of Seven Pines as well as playing an important roll in the Battle of Gaines' Mill with a charge that split the Union lines.

Regiment commander Jerome B. Robertson can be seen on the far left.

 After featuring at Antietam and Fredericksburg, the 5th were heavily engaged at Gettysburg where they suffered over 50% casualties following the assault on Little Round Top. There was another heavy engagement later on in 1863 at Chickamauga after the brigade had shifted to the Western theatre, suffering significant casualties once more. 

 They continued to feature in prominent battles such as The Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor and the Siege of Petersburg before the surrender at Appomattox with 12 officers and 149 rank and file which was the largest unit in the Texas Brigade.

Texans Always Move Them

"Attention Texas Brigade" was rung upon the morning air by Gen. Gregg, the eyes of General Lee are upon you, forward march." Scarce had we moved a step, when Gen. Lee, in front of the whole command, raised himself in his stirrups, uncovered his grey hair and with an earnest, yet anxious voice, exclaimed above the din and confusion of the hour. "Texans always move them." ....never before in my lifetime or since did I ever witness such a scene as was enacted when Lee pronounced these words with the appealing look that he gave. A yell rent the air that must have been heard for miles around and but few eyes in that old brigade of veterans and heroes of many a bloody field was undimmed by honest heartfelt tears. Leonard Gee, a courier to Gen. Gregg and riding by my side with tears coursing down his cheeks and yells issuing from his throat exclaimed "I would charge hell itself for that old man!"

Private Robert Campbell, 5th Texas Infantry 

 

So the plan is to get another regiment of the Brigade underway at some point soon but meanwhile I've started work on some dismounted Confederate cavalry as I find painting regiments like a bit of a marathon. 

 

Dixon Miniatures American Civil War - Confederate Army group shot

 

 After getting to a substantial stage with my Dixon Confederate army, I thought it was high time to post up a group shot so here it is so far.

 

  To be honest, I had never planned for anything this size. Initially I bought about 10 figures on a whim just to have a mess around with. Little did I know I'd end up becoming obsessed with this somewhat quirky range of miniatures. Despite not being to everyone's taste, they are brimming with character and authenticity. I just love the little guys!

 

General Robert E. Lee

 

I had to carry out about half a dozen head swaps to avoid duplication thus making every man in the army different. There are another six infantry units still to come and at least one more artillery base and a limber team but it's cavalry that I certainly need to build on next.

 

General James Longstreet 

General John Bell Hood 

2nd Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment

 

8th Virginia Infantry 

3rd Arkansas Infantry Regiment

28th North Carolina Infantry

JEB Stuart's Cavalry 

10 Pound Parrot Rifle & Napoleon Gun

Dixon Miniatures American Civil War - General Robert E. Lee

 So I've finally got around to finishing off what will be the centrepiece of my Confederate army, the command base of General Robert E. Lee. I had initially started it back around May or sometime around then before having a break from the whole Civil War thing.

 The figure of Lee from the Dixon range has a great deal of charm and was nice to paint up. There are a number of nice officer figures by Dixon which were well suited to what I wanted to achieve here. I think this is probably the first grey horse I can recall painting actually, which is Traveller of course. 

General Robert E. Lee with staff. Second from left is aide Walter H. Taylor. 

 Ever loyal to his beloved Virginia, it goes without saying that Lee was one of history's greatest military commanders. 

 A top graduate from West Point, Lee took command of the Army of Northern Virginia from June 1862 following the wounding of General Joseph E. Johnston up until the war's end three years later. He was successful in repelling the Army of the Potomac away from Richmond during the Battles of the Seven Days followed by success at Second Manassas.

 Lee's two most notable victories were at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, overcoming enormous odds against superior numbers with tactical mastery. After another invasion of the north, Lee was decisively beaten at Gettysburg, coming under fierce criticism for the doomed frontal assault on the Union centre, Pickett's Charge. 

 The following year there were inconclusive battles for Lee at the Wilderness and Spotsylvania before the siege of Petersburg. By the time of the capture of Richmond in 1865, Lee's army was a shadow of its former self and surrender was inevitable. 

 After the war, Lee became President of Washington College in Virginia before passing in 1870.

 I've a couple of infantry to round an 18 man unit up to 20 and then I shall organise a group shot of the army so far which I'll aim to post up at the weekend.

Dixon Miniatures American Civil War - General John Bell Hood

 

 So up next, as planned, is the command base for my Texan Brigade, featuring its commander General John Bell Hood. I had to sculpt the extra long beard with green stuff as the model was sporting fairly modest facial hair that was insufficient to replicate Hood's. Dixon Miniatures feature a couple of nice models waving hats/kepi which I've put to good use here, cheering on their beloved commander.

 Arguably one of the best brigade and division commanders in the Confederacy, John Bell Hood was renowned for his bravery and aggression but was prone to recklessness. He was assigned to the Texan Brigade in February 1862, being promoted to Brigadier General the following month. He and his brigade performed well during the 7 Days Battles and featured prominently at Antietam later on in the year.

 The following year at Gettysburg, his arm was severely injured as the result of an exploding artillery shell overhead. Avoiding amputation, it was though, rendered permanently useless. Severely wounded again, this time at the Battle of Chickamauga, Hood suffered a fractured femur resulting in his leg being amputated four inches below the hip(!). The surgeon sent the severed leg with Hood in the ambulance assuming he'd want to be buried with it. Against all odds, Hood survived.

 Now needing to be strapped to his horse, Hood's reputation was marred during the latter period of the war with notable disasters such as the Battle of Franklin. Working as a cotton broker in Louisiana after the war, he died of yellow fever at the age of 48 in the epidemic of New Orleans in 1879.

 So the plan is to continue with the Texan Brigade (most likely the 5th Texas infantry) and mix it up with getting my Genreal Lee command base finished which has been half done and left on the desk for some months. Getting Hood's base wrapped up has given me the momentum to follow suit with the main man's.

Dixon Miniatures American Civil War - 3rd Arkansas Infantry

 I've been continuing with my Confederate army and the plan is to create an infantry unit from each of the regiments that made up The Texan Brigade under the command of General John Bell Hood. Up first is the 3rd Arkansas. 

 This was the most celebrated regiment from Arkansas, being the only one from the state to feature in the entire war in the Eastern Theatre. Initially commanded by Colonel Albert Rust and then later by Colonel Van H Manning who had co formed the regiment, the 3rd would go onto be one of the most distinguished and respected Confederate regiments of the war. In November 1862 they were assigned to Hood's Texan Brigade joining the 1st, 4th and 5th Texas infantry regiments. 

 Their most notable action was arguably at Gettysburg, at the Devil's Den where they sustained heavy casualties due to being placed in the front of Hood's assault.

 

 After the surrender at Appomattox Courthouse on the 9th of April 1865, of the 1,353 mustered into the regiment back in 1861, only 144 men remained. 

 

I was glad to finally wrap these guys up having taken me just over a month from start to finish. With every trooper body being the same (save for the knapsack worn by some), it was getting a little monotonous. At least all my other regiments on the to do list will show more variation. 

 Up next will be John Bell Hood's command base which I aim to have done in a couple of weeks so keep an eye out for that.

Dixon Miniatures American Civil War - Confederate 12 Pound Napoleon Gun

 

 Well it's been slow going with the Tilean mercenaries over the last few weeks and while I'm trying to pick away at the halberdiers, I've struggled with the other units due to unsuccessful uniform colour schemes resulting in several figures being abandoned or stripped. So I've taken some time out for the sake of my sanity.

 Meantime I've decided to tackle some more of my Confederate army and have produced a second cannon base, this time a 12 pound Napoleon gun, using Dixon Miniatures as usual.

 Named after Napoleon III of France, it was the most popular smoothbore cannon used in the Civil War, widely admired for its safety and reliability. Union gun crews were the first to use the Napoleon but the Confederates soon replicated its versatile design for their own use and had around 600 in total throughout.

 Due to the gun's effectiveness, General Lee had nearly all 6 pounders from the Army of Northern Virginia sent to the Tredegar Ironworks in to be melted down and recast as 12 pounders.

The Napoleon lined up alongside a Parrot Rifle

 Copper became increasingly scarce for the Confederacy, due to the Ducktown copper mines near Chattanooga, Tennessee being siezed by federal troops, thus causing the casting of bronze to cease. Therefore, Tredegar would cast later models of the Napoleon in iron.

 I've also painted a couple of infantry to round my original unit off to twenty.

 

 I've plans for another infantry unit plus one or two other bits and pieces. Sorry if you were expecting more Tilean Mercenary updates; they will appear, it'll just have to wait till I'm good and ready.