Redoubt Confederates

Well what do you know!  I'm posting actual miniature related content!  I have actually been painting a small amount but with our continued computer problems I haven't really been uploading/posting anything.  I'll try to get some more up soon and in a month or so we'll have a new computer so posting should resume to a normal level.

My secret project that I was working on for a Christmas present will now be a "sometime in the spring present" for two reasons: I didn't finish in time, and I won't see the recipient for a month or two anyways as they are in another state.  But I decided to post a few pictures of some of the miniatures that hopefully won't give away any secrets if anyone is snooping around.

These are all from Redoubt Enterprises.  This was the first time I've painted any of their miniatures and I have to say they are really nice.  At first I wasn't thrilled about having the heads separate from the bodies but now I'm sold.  I'm really glad I ordered a few extra pack of heads, it gave me a lot of freedom to customize them.

Thanks to all of my followers and readers for sticking with me through my posting droughts!  I appreciate all the views and comments.

More to come soon!

Merry Christmas!

I just wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!

Paintings on the Stones River battlefield markers

In a previous post I mentioned the paintings on the markers at the Stones River battlefield.  I couldn't find the artist's name so I e-mailed the park and after a few days had a response!  The artist is Andy Thomas and the paintings were commissioned specifically for the park. You can view his website here.  Now to find out where I can buy a print!

Stones River National Cemetery

Adjacent to the Stones River battlefield is the Stones River National Cemetery, final resting place to 6,850 soldiers.

Click to enlarge if you'd like to read the marker explaining the history of the cemetery.

Position of Loomis' Battery, 1st Michigan Light Artillery, during the battle.  They were engaged on December 31st, 1862, and January 2nd 1863.

Pvt Henry B. King, Co. F, 3rd Kentucky Infantry (US)

Pvt William H. Simmons, Co. A, 4th Tennessee Cavalry (US)

Pvt William R. Breedlove, Co. H, 82nd Indiana Infantry

Pvt David Martin, Co. A, 10th Ohio Cavalry

Sgt John Martin, Co. D, 4th Ohio Cavalry

Pvt Clay C. Martin, Co. B, 21st Ohio Infantry

Unknown soldier marker.

Cpl Joseph Martin, Co. K, 6th Ohio Infantry

Grave marker for 7 unknown soldiers.

Grave marker for 3 unknown soldiers.

I'm thankful for a patient wife, who walks countless cemeteries with me, but far more thankful for the hero's buried there. 

Stones River Battlefield. Part 2: The Battlefield

After visiting the museum, we did the driving tour of the battlefield, and stopped and walked around at several locations.  The battlefield itself is huge and would take a couple of days to see on foot.  I took a lot of pictures and I'll just post a few here to give a sense of the battlefield.  Above is the Chicago Board of Trade Battery.

My favorite thing at the battlefield were the paintings on all of the battlefield markers.  If anyone has any more info on these I would be interested to know.  Please comment or send me an e-mail. 

View from the Union defenders position on the first day of the battle (December 31st, 1862) as they rally and stem the tide of advancing Confederates.

Closeup of the painting.

Position of Batteries H and M, 4th Regiment, United States Artillery (Regular Army) on December 31st, 1862.

Marker for "The Slaughter Pen".

It was a little intimidating to walk through the rocks of the slaughter pen, knowing that it was on this difficult ground that such a violent struggle took place.

Here Sheridan's Division stood when the rest of the army fled, and held it with heavy losses while Rosecrans could rally his disordered command.

As a bit of an Orphan Brigade connoisseur, I was extremely excited to see the site of their heroic charge from the 3rd day of the battle (January 2nd, 1863).

I would love to get a print of this painting!

Under horrific fire, the Confederate attackers had to cross the Stones River...

...and climb the rocky banks.

Once across the river, the orphans were faced by massed artillery just beyond those trees.

On this hill stood 57 Union guns.