THE LOCAL NEWSLETTER FOR THE HMGS-Midwest MINIATURE WARGAMING ENTHUSIAST VOLUME 4 ISSUE 6 F A L L 2 0 1 0

BOD Update - Fall 2010 by Jeff Cohen

For those that read the dors an accurate assess- vention. We will also at- news letter but have ment of how many atten- tempt to run ads in many not learned the ews...Little dees come to Little Wars local colleges and universi- Wars is moving. We have and our efforts to bring ties. We will also have fly- signed a two year contract more attendees to the con- ers printed out and avail- with the Pheasant vention, and to attract new able for download from our gamers into the hobby. website. This will allow all INSIDE THIS Run Resort in St Charles Illinois. The primary reason We will run an aggressive HMGS-Midwest members I S S U E : for the move being that promotional campaign to to download and print off BOD Update 1 The Lincolnshire Marriott flyers and distribute them was asking for a 300% in- to local business. We will crease in the rental cost of also aggressively seek out Luther Con 2 their facility. We could not great games for the enjoy- AAR negotiate a price that was ment of one and all. acceptable to us so we Without volunteers we LW 2011 Help 2 found another location for would not have a conven- Needed the convention. tion. We especially need I will be assuming the pri- volunteers to help out at The Dutch mary duties as Convention 3 the front desk during the Revolt/Eighty Director for the 2011 Con- convention. If you are inter- Year War vention. There will be a Convention Co-Director, ested in doing so for a few LW 2011 War 13 John Barsanti. He will hours please contact me or College help organizing the many any other BOD members HMGS-MW 14 details required to put on a so we can get your name New Award successful convention, and and schedule a time for also help during the con- for the convention. We will you to help out. This way it Gaming Op- 16 vention. This will allow me be running advertisements portunities the flexibility to run some in Wargames Illustrated as allows our Registration FOW games. well as placing banners on Manager and others that One of my goals for the TMP and Bartertown. We have agreed to volunteer 2011 convention is to have will also be aggressive with some opportunity to get in over 1000 attendees to the postings on those sites as on some of the great convention. How we count well as other sites as well games that will be offered. attendance is simple, to reach out to as one attendee counts as many gamers as just one attendee, no mater possible. This is how many days he attends something that can the convention. At first be done by all glance this may seem obvi- HMGS-Midwest ous, but is my understand- members, help get ing that not all conventions the word out and count attendees that way. I encourage atten- believe we owe our ven- dance to the con- LC 2010 The Lower gym. P A G E 2 Luthercon 2010 AAR by Kevin Seward & Steve Rysemus

About 90 Chicagoland gamers Squadron took on elements of Ancients tournament, a In addition we had three Flea came together for a day of a Soviet Motor Rifle Division in Hordes Genesis Tournament Market vendors that offered a historical, fantasy and RPG the Fulda Gap circa 1980, us- and a Flames of War Tourna- variety of items from all genres gaming on November 6th at ing 3mm PicoArmor troops ment all sponsored by Black for sale. Luther North High School in and vehicles. Sun Games. Chicago. Games were plenti- There was plenty to do in the Once again, the Luther ful and varied with 24 different fantasy arena as well. John North High School Booster games and 3 tournaments run Zalanka's Nazi's vs. Dinosaurs Club provided excellent "game during the course of the attracted a crowd each time it food" at very reasonable day. In the historical arena the was run. Kevin Cabai put out a prices. This year they featured games ranged from Romans nice table for Orc's "table-side" service as well. attempting to put down a Drift. Games based on TRON, The venue offers plenty of Frankish revolt run by Dave Battlestar Galactica and Star room to expand. While Burba, through a game based Wars pod racers and Un- LutherCon filled the lower events from recent headlines charted Seas - BlackDwarf gym, the upper gym was only with "Somali Pirate Take- Down all ran during the about 20% full. The planning down" run by Tom Konczal. In day. Monsterpocalypse conference with the LC 2010 between, there was WW I air events sponsored by Privateer new facility owners is combat using "Hostile Air- Press ran at several tables and scheduled for early craft" run by Peter Aguilu, included a demonstration April next year. The ACW naval as Union ironclad game. date should be avail- gunboats clashed with Con- RPG games had a choice of able to announce at federate rams near Memphis Pathfinder events with adven- Little Wars 20011 . run by John Fry and Bill Wim- tures in "Master of the Fallen Also in attendance biscus setting up a complete Fortress", "Bloodcove Dis- was two dealers, Black Western town for "A Good guise" and "Rescue at Azlant Sun Games and Pico Day for a Hanging". John Ridge" available. Armor. Both were Siewenie ran a scenario where Tournaments included doing quite well with an American Armored Cavalry Slitherine's Fields of Glory sales.

LW 2011 Help Needed! by Steve Rysemus “A war, even the most The HMGS-MW Organiza- Event tickets and taking Anyone who puts in two Anyone interested in taking victorious, is tion is an entirely volunteer some time to sit at the reg- hours of volunteer time me up on my offer? run organization as most of istration desk as well. does get his name entered Anyone interested in step- a national you know. Those of us However for me being the into a drawing to be eligi- ping up to coordinate all misfortune. ..” that work to put on Little Events Director I need ble for a drawing of prod- volunteers? --Field Wars and Luther Con do so even more help. There are uct donated by our ven- Anyone interested in Marshal in our spare time. How- always last minute table dors. You also receive one spending two hours time ever when it comes to con- issues, people requesting event ticket of your choice helping out at the con? Helmuth vention day, our time is more tables or looking for no matter what time that Let’s hear from you and Graf von very much taken up by a pick up games. As well as event is run. what you can do to help Moltke-- . variety of tasks that must the job of walking the GM For my assistant though I our con be the best run con be done on site to make the goodie bags and Medal of am looking for someone to ever! cons run smoothly. To that Honors to each GM at the spend about 4 to 6 hours Thanks end we need HELP! You start of each event session. on Friday and the same on help specifically! While the organization is Saturday assisting me in There are various tasks looking for a Volunteer my work. For this help I where people do stop by to Manager, I specifically am am offering admission to spend some time at our looking for an on site assis- the con for the weekend for event desk handing out tant. free!

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The / Eighty Year War by Robert Fulton

Overview of the Dutch Revolt (1568 to 1648)

• Seventeen provinces under Burgundian rule to 1516 • Charles V as King of (1516), then Holy Roman Emperor (1530) ο incorporated into the Hapsburg domains in 1540s ο This included the rich cloth manufacturing towns of ο Because of the original separation of Burgundy and the Netherlands, tradition of inde- pendent administration • At the same time, Dutch society was changing: ο Protestantism (Lutheranism, ) filtering in from & Geneva ο Most Dutch administrators were no longer aristocrats Philip II; © Wikipedia ο Increased wealth and prosperity from trade and commerce • Conflicts inevitably arose from the policies of Charles V and Philip II ο Working to centralize administration in their huge empire ο Taxation increased; Protestant religion “suppressed”

Phases of the War • Prelude & First Phase: Things heat up, 1555-1572 ο Margaret of Parma’s governance; Philip’s confidant Granvelle as head of the Netherlands Raad van Stad ο Conflict between King Philip II of Spain and his Dutch subjects – counteractions ο Petitioning the King for redress; these went unanswered ο Calvinists begin iconoclasm campaign; many Catholic churches desecrated ο Battle of Oosterweel (13 March 1567): 1,000 trained Spanish against mob of 2,500 Calvinists; the Spanish slaugh- tered 33% of the mob with little loss ο Philip sends Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, Duke of Alva, with 10,000 troops, to Brussels 22 August 1567; Alva’s reign of terror ο William the Silent (William I of Orange), stadholder, pledges allegiance to Philip but raises armies to fight the ty- rant Alva ο Battle of Rheindalen (23 April 1568): 5,000 trained Spanish against mob of 2,000 Dutch rebels; the Spanish win; Dutch losses were twice the Spanish ο Battle of Heiligerlee (23 May 1568): Louis of Nassau and Adolph of Nassau (brothers of William the Silent) defeat a force of Spanish; Adolph killed ο Battles of Jemmi9gen (21 July) and Jodoigne (16 October) Spanish victories • Second Phase: Open revolt, 1572 to 1582 ο The Spanish are now fighting the Ottomans, but had for a time suppressed the Dutch revolt ο However, William is able to raise a new army in 1572, prompted by the Sea Beggars’ seizure of Brielle (1 April 1572) ο of Haarlem (11 December 1572 to 13 July 1573); Alva’s son (Don Fadrique) vents his spleen on prominent citizens; Spanish losses are great and show Spain can be resisted P A G E 4 The Dutch Revolt / Eighty Year War by Robert Fulton

ο Alva replaced (1573); Spain bankrupt (1575); Series of naval engagements (mostly won by the Dutch, including Zuiderzee) ο Don Fadrique defeated at the of Alkmaar (1574) and (1573, 1574), but, Battle of Mookerheyde (14 April 1574) again sees the defeat of the Dutch in field operations ο Union of Arras (southern) and Utrecht (northern) and the Act of Abjuration “The ο legitimate Duke of Parma (and lots of New World gold for the troops) sent by Philip in 1578 object of war Battle of Gembloux (31 January 1578) another Dutch defeat, as are the sieges of Maastricht is a more (12 March to 1 July 1579), (1581) and (July 1584 to 17 August 1585); blockage of the a major factor in the city’s history perfect peace.” • — Gen Third Phase: The Netherlands independent, 1582 to 1609 ο William T. William the Silent assassinated in 1584; his son Maurice of Nas- Sherman . sau is Prince ο From 1583 to 1588, Parma reconquers most of the Netherlands for Phillip ο Elizabeth’s English “intervention”; the Earl of Leicester and 8,000 troops; recalled in 1587; Maurice appointed to “Captain-General position (1590); he institutes a series of reforms and tactical im- provements ο Battle of Boksum another Dutch defeat (Frisian rebels); Maurice causes the Duke of Parma to lift the siege of Bergen-op-Zoom Situation in 1590; © Wikipedia ο Spain seeks to knock England out – the Battle of Gravelines spells the defeat of Spain’s Armada in 1588 ο In 1588, the tide begins to turn – the Spanish reach the limit of their re-conquest of the north; “A good Parma provides help to the French Catholic Leaguers general not ο War shifts to primarily sieges and a campaign by the Dutch to close off coastal areas to South- only sees the ern Netherlands traders; Maurice captures a series of towns between 1588 through 1597; 1598 way to victory; Netherlands ceded to Austria he knows when ο The Dutch begin to take over a number of Portuguese East Indian colonies victory is ο (2 July 1600) is an important Dutch victory impossible.” ο In 1602, Ambrogio Spinola sent by Spain to take command — Polybius ο Spanish troops are unpaid and constantly revolt during this time period; from 1589 to 1607, 40 separate instances of mutinies of Spanish troops ο Siege of (5 July 1601 to 16 September 1604) is a Spanish victory, but a bloody one (110,000+ combatants engaged; Spanish casualties approach 60,000) • Fourth Phase: The Twelve Years Truce, 1609 to 1621 ο Maurice uses the time to refine his tactics and methods ο and Dutch victory at the naval battle of Gibralter leads to peace negotiations; a truce is declared for 12 years ο Dutch take the time to rebuild and train their army and navy • Final Phase: Merging into the wider European Thirty Years War, 1621 to 1648 ο Spinola re-appointed to command the Spanish ο Siege of Breda (28 August 1624 to 5 June 1625) last of is victories; repulses two relieving ar- mies (Maurice and an English army under Ernst von Mansfield)

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ο Frederick Henry takes over for his brother Maurice (who dies at Breda) ο Frederick Henry prosecutes the siege of 20 July to 19 August 1627) ο Siege of ‘s-Hertogenbosch was a key victory for the Dutch, and led to the “March along the Meuse” in 1632, where Frederick Henry captured several key towns, including Venlo, Roermond and Maastricht within a span of forty days ο While the Spanish re-captured a few towns, the re- by the Dutch (1637) and the naval (1639) effectively ended Spanish rule in the Netherlands and the threat to the • Peace: 1648 ο Treaty of Münster (30 January 1648) as part of larger Peace of Westphalia ο Ironically, the Dutch Republic, in a Golden Age of commerce since 1602, entered into a prolonged period of economic decline after 1648 primarily because of war with England ο Portugal never recovered the majority of her colonies in East Asia

Key Land Engagements & Sieges • The key land engagements were generally few and far between ο The Spanish had the upper hand for many years into the war ο The Spanish armies were professionally trained and generally superior to other European armies; multi- national army (Spanish, Walloon, Italian, etc.) The Dutch armies were frequently rebels and with little training or loyalty; as war progressed, added English, German and French contingents

Table 1: Major Engagements

Major Battle/Siege Date (N.S.) Forces Engaged Result & Casualties Jemmigen 21 July 1568 Dutch : Louis of Nassau Decisive Spanish victory (East Frisia) 10,000 inf., 2,000 cav., 16 guns 7,000 Dutch killed & wounded Spanish : Duke of Alva for a loss of 300 Spanish 12,000 infantry, 3,000 cavalry Jodoigne 16 October Dutch : William the Silent Spanish victory 1568 21,000 infantry, 9,000 cavalry 3,000 Dutch killed & wounded Spanish : Duke of Alva for a loss of less than 100 Span- 16,000 infantry, 5,500 cavalry ish Haarlem (siege) 11 Dec 1572 to Dutch : Wigbolt Ripperda Spanish victory 13 July 1573 2,550 infantry, 225 cavalry 2,000 Dutch killed, wounded Spanish : Fadrique Alvarez and captured 18,000 troops 1,700 Spanish killed & wounded Leiden (siege) 1574 (periodic) Dutch : Pieter Adriaansz Dutch victory (Holland) 11,000 troops 500 Dutch killed & wounded Spanish : Duke of Alva 2,000 Spanish killed & 15,000 troops wounded Mookerheyde 14 April 1574 Dutch : Louis & Henry of Nassau Decisive Spanish victory (Limburg) 5,500 infantry, 2,600 cavalry 3,000 Dutch killed & wounded Spanish : Sancho d’Avila 150 Spanish killed & wounded 5,000 infantry, 800 cavalry P A G E 6 The Dutch Revolt / Eighty Year War by Robert Fulton

Major Battle/Siege Date (N.S.) Forces Engaged Result & Casualties Gembloux 31 January 1578 Dutch : De Goignie Decisive Spanish victory (Flanders) 25,000 troops 10,000 Dutch killed, wounded Spanish : Duke of Parma (Farnese) and captured 17,000 troops 20 (?) Spanish killed & wounded Maastricht (siege) 12 March to 1 Dutch : Burghers of Maastricht Spanish victory (Western Flanders) July 1579 2,000 troops plus militia 960 Dutch soldiers killed & Spanish : Duke of Parma (Farnese) wounded, 8,000 civilians killed 20,000 troops 4,000 Spanish killed & wounded Antwerp (siege) July 1584 to 17 Dutch : Philips van Marnix Spanish victory (Eastern Flanders) August 1585 ?? (total pop. was 80,000) 8,000 Dutch killed & wounded Spanish : Duke of Parma (Farnese) Spanish killed & wounded un- 40,000+ troops known 22 September Dutch : Dutch & English Spanish victory () 1586 17,000 troops 6,000 Dutch & English killed & Spanish : ?? wounded; 4,500 Spanish killed 25,500 troops & wounded Nieuwpoort 2 July 1600 Dutch : Maurice of Nassau Dutch victory (Eastern Flanders) 10,000 inf., 1,400 cav., 14 guns 2,000 Dutch killed & wounded Spanish : Albrecht of Austria 2,500 Spanish killed & 7,700 inf., 1,200 cav., 9 guns wounded, 600 captured Ostend (siege) 5 July 1601 to Dutch : Spanish victory (Western Flanders) 16 September 40,000 infantry, 9,500 cavalry 30,000 Dutch killed & 1604 Spanish : Albrecht/Spinola wounded; 15,000 captured 68,500 infantry, 12,000 cavalry 55,000 Spanish killed/wounded Breda (siege) 28 August 1624 Dutch : Maurice of Nassau Spanish victory (Holland) to 5 June 1625 14,000 troops 10,000 Dutch killed, wounded, Spanish : Ambrosio Spinola captured 18,000 troops 4,550 Spanish killed & wounded Groenlo (siege) 20 July to 19 Dutch : Frederick Henry Dutch victory (Guelders) August 1627 16,000 infantry, 4,000 cavalry Drive off relieving army under Spanish : 1,200 inf., 200 cavalry Henry van den Bergh ‘s-Hertogenbosch April 1629 to Dutch : Frederick Henry Dutch victory (siege) 14 September 24,000 infantry, 4,000 cavalry Drive off relieving army under (Holland) 1629 Spanish : 2,500 troops Henry van den Bergh

Hulst (siege) 1645 Dutch : Frederick Henry Dutch victory 12,500 inf., 2,500 cav., 20 guns 1,600 Dutch killed or wounded, Spanish : 2,500 inf., 250 cavalry entire Spanish garrison taken

Information in this table is taken from the various battle and siege entries for the Eighty Years War. Readers can navigate to each entry at the flowing web address: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eighty_Years_War

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The Dutch Revolt / Eighty Year War by Robert Fulton

• Many battles were chance engagements of small opposing forces • Rarely did major battles exceed 50,000 total combatants • Sieges were mainly of the “starvation” variety before 1609 • Finally, massacres of civilians were all too frequent

Weapons and Armies • The was supreme; pike/harquebus ( arquebusier ) squares the norm ο The matchlock was just coming into widespread use; very slow rate of fire, danger from the matches; no uni- form manufacturing techniques, lots of experimentation ο Pikes critical because bayonet had not been invented • Fortresses rapidly changed from the old Medieval walls to trace italienne style , after the of 1490 through 1530 ο became generally ineffective until 1609 ο Walls became lower and much thicker; and ο Enfilading cross-fire was the order of the day • The mutinies that occurred in the Spanish army were due to unpaid soldiers; sometimes, whole towns were sold to the Dutch during the re-conquest period to pay the troops • In the 1530’s , according to Geoffrey Parker, armies began a long, sustained period of growth; they also became more professional • Maurice was a student of ancient military history; he took many of his ideas from Roman military techniques; Roman writers’ treatises were common ο Organizational innovations introduced by Maurice: “nothing new under the sun” ο What he did was to apply these techniques to “modern” armies considering contemporary technology ο Maurice implements a professionally trained, standing army (still of a multi-national character, however) ο New methods for drill and for discipline; standardized pikes and musket calibers ο Introduced flexible and more maneuverable infantry formations – ο Dutch regiments adopted a two-battalion organization (each 550 men; 250 pikemen and 300 arquebusiers) • He also adopted “new” tactical methods from the Romans: ο Rolling volleys by rank with countermarch and re-loading; constant volume of fire ο Formations could advance and fire ο Pikemen to protect the arquebusiers • Maurice’s innovations were adopted and improved by Gustavus Adolphus and others

Battle Tactics & Tactical Evolution • In this era, defense reigned supreme for both land battles and sieges • This era also saw the eclipse of cavalry as a decisive battlefield weapon, at least in the ; money could be saved by buying cavalry when it was needed, but this inevitably reduced its usefulness, effectiveness and reliability • This is the age of the dreaded Spanish ; were literally squares of men; htye wre comprised of anywhere from 10 to 20 companies amounting to between 1,000 to 5,000 men P A G E 8 The Dutch Revolt / Eighty Year War by Robert Fulton

ο The Spanish perfected the use of multi-national tercios to maximize effectiveness “Make peace a ο The Waloons were excellent marksmen, the Spanish ferocious attackers and the Ger- time of training for mans reliable in a pinch • war, and battle an The war also saw periods of sustained guerilla warfare; geography required control of crossroads and strongpoints; “private” armies hired to loot and raid; chevauchées exhibition of • In many ways, this war was unique in that it combined specific geographic features (much im- bravery…” — The passable swamp, heath and thick woods) with navigable rivers and strategically placed fortified towns and cities Emperor ο Dutch military engineering had a significant impact on the later phases of the war, and Maurice— the Dutch made very effective use of rivers as supply lines ο The rivers were not, however, effective barriers as some military historians have con- cluded; the Spanish made extensive use of ferries and boat bridges ο These unique features were present in wars in the Low Countries through the age of Louis XIV and Marlborough; campaigns were similar in nature ο We do not see this type of warfare anyway else except Italy • The one major battle was Nieuwpoort, which was an un-decisive victory for the Dutch ο However, it did test Maurice’s new tactics and drill system ο The Dutch held against sustained Spanish attacks, unlike previous battles “Defeat is one • This was a war of sieges, and this was due to the unique nature of the geography and lavish thing; disgrace is amounts of money to built fortresses another ..” ο The new trace italienne style of fortress, with bastions, counterscarps and enfilading --Sir Winston fields of fire Churchill-- . ο Artillery still small scale until about 1600 when it was realized that bigger and better guns were needed to prosecute sieges • Sieges were affairs of complete investment and starvation before 1609 ο The objective was to isolate the town, not to batter a breach in the walls ο Lines of circumvallation became critical ο The value of siege guns was apparent, but these did not come into widespread use until the sieges of the 1620s ο Dutch defensive lines, like the Lines of Brabant 100 years later, were not effective ο At ‘s-Hertogenbosch in 1601, 22 guns employed; in 1629, 116 guns employed ο At Groenlo in 1595 and 1597, 16 and 14 guns respectively employed; in 1627, 80 guns employed ο The 1620s sieges returned to a “batter and breach” system

Leadership • A few effective military leaders emerged on both sides • On the Spanish side, Alva and his son could provide easy victories, but at the cost of a terrorized and rebellious populace

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• Parma was very effective at prosecuting sieges and ensuring victory ο In any case, other than in the southern (mainly Catholic) areas, the Spanish only controlled the ground they occupied (and then only when the soldiers were paid) • Maurice was the great Dutch leader and introduced many of the reforms that dictated the nature of war for almost two hundred years ο His father and brothers were much less effective except as ralliers of men ο Maurice was cautious with his troops, a factor that permeates Dutch leadership right through to Marlborough and beyond

Outcome of the War • The Dutch (the northern provinces) gained de jure independence and never looked back • What saved the Dutch Revolt was the lack of money in Spanish coffers (when money was there, victories were had) ο It helped that the Spanish New World Treasure fleet was captured by Piet Hein in 1628; this filled Dutch and emptied Spanish coffers • The Dutch could never have won the war or their independence without gaining control of the North Sea, despite the naval strength of Spain ο The Dutch had a large trading fleet which the continuously expanded ο England and the Netherlands together were more than a match for Spain, and in fact most naval battles were Spanish defeats • In the last stage of the war, the Spanish armies and military leadership were humiliated as much by the Dutch as by Turenne at Rocroi • Victory was a combination of a variety of factors:

Bibliography Duffy, Christopher. Siege Warfare: the Fortress in the Early Modern World 1494-1660. : Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1979. Jorgensen, Christopher, Michael Pavkovic, Rob Rice, et. al., Fighting Techniques of the Early Mod- ern World: AD 1500 to AD 1763; Equipment, Combat Skills, and Tactics , : St. Martin’s Press, 2005. Parker, Geoffrey. The Military Revolution: Military Innovation and the Rise of the West, 1500- 1800. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1988. ______. The and the , 1567-1659: the Logistics of the Span- ish Victory and Defeat in the Low Countries’ Wars. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1972. ______. The Dutch Revolt. London: Penguin Books, Ltd., 1977. Wikipedia entries for the Eighty Years War and the Dutch Revolt, as well as all battles. http:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eighty_Years_War . Accessed January 10 th , 2009.

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The Dutch Revolt / Eighty Year War by Robert Fulton

The Battle of Nieuwpoort 2 July 1600

Battle deployment from Vere´s Commentaries © Wikipedia

Typical Pike Square, c1580

Christopher Jorgensen, Michael Pavkovic, Rob Rice, et. al., Fighting Techniques of the Early Modern World: AD 1500 to AD 1763; Equipment, P A G E 1 1

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“I hear the bullets whistle, and believe me, there is something charming in the sound. ..” --General George Washington-- .

“There is no better teacher of war than war ...” -- Mao Tse- tung -- .

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LW2011 War College by Earl Kyle

The Little Wars War College is held but other topics are acceptable. every year at the Little Wars con- Anyone who feels they might be vention and consists of several interested in presenting a seminar seminars on historical events that should contact Earl Kyle at are presented by several of our es- [email protected] by January 5, 2011. LC 2010 Gaming teemed members. These events are free and do not require an event “It is history ticket. As such we are always look- that teaches ing for members who would like to us to hope. ..” share some information with the rest --General of the members. The War College is seeking indi- Robert E. viduals who would be willing to Lee-- . conduct a seminar for the Little Wars 2011 April 8-10. The semi- nars usually are a 40 minute presen- tation followed by a discussion pe- riod. Due to logistics the seminar would have to occur Friday before 3:00 p.m. or Saturday evening. A topic relating to "Last Stands and Forlorn Hope! " would be preferred,

“War means fighting, and fighting means 5944 Odana Rd. – Madison, WI. 53719 - 608-278-4401 – Fax: 608-278-4402 killing. ..” --Lt Gen Nathan Bedford-- .

LC 2010 Gaming P A G E 1 4

HMGS-MW New Award by Steve Rysemus

“To fail to think fast The military has a long tradi- individual fails produce their running the convention. This when surrounded by tion of Challenge Coins. These coin they are obligated to buy cooperation with East led to the enemy is to have coins are also known as unit the challenger a drink. If they the idea of starting a sister your back pressed to coins, memorial coins, or com- are successful in producing a organization to HMGS-East. the wall; And to fail mander’s coins. The coin coin, then it is the challenger HMGS-Midwest was created. represents affiliation, support, that must buy the drinks. Todd approached Hal Thin- to take the battle to excellence, or patronage to Drinks need not be an alco- glam to be the first President. the enemy when your the unit or organization that holic beverage, but any bever- Todd served as Treasurer and back is to the wall is minted the coin. Commanders age agreed to by participants . Convention Director for the to perish. ..” often use these coins to im- first ten or so years of the prove morale, foster unit spirit Why Todd Fisher? He was organization and conventions --Sun Tzu-- . instrumental in the founding of and honor service to their history . organization. It is with this in HMGS-Midwest and Little mind that the HMGS-Midwest Wars. Back in 1979/1980 Todd In the late 1980s Todd ran for BOD established the Todd Fisher, Ken Kaufman and Tony the BOD President position Fisher Award. To recognize Adams were attending CWA for HMGS-East. Todd’s pri- individuals who have distin- Con and offered their help to mary goal was to form a Na- guished themselves in support the organizer, Randy Geisey. tional BOD, to coordinate the of Little Wars and HMGS- Their timing was perfect for activities of the different chap- Randy’s response was “take it ters. It was during this period Midwest . it’s yours”. Since Todd, Ken of time that NY State at- Challenge Coin rules only and Tony were all miniature tempted to place a ban on apply to other individuals who war gamers they decided to lead. It was Todd Fisher, Steve have received a challenge coin. turn CWA Con into a histori- Carpenter and Frank A holder of a challenge coin cal miniatures convention. It Chadwick that were instru- may “challenge” any individual was Tony Adams that sug- mental in the fight against NY who is known to have a coin. gested the name of Little State, and in the end were A challenge is made by with- Wars. And so Little Wars was successful . drawing a coin and raising it in born. The first convention was the air, or by tapping it on a held in Arlington Park. After Todd Fisher has many accom- bar or table. The individual the second year of the conven- plishments to include : who is “challenged” is required tion Todd approached the • Scruby Winner 2008 to produce their coin within HMGS-East for a loan to help 60 seconds. If the challenged with the up-front expenses of

HMGS-MIDWEST P A G E 1 5 HMGS-MW New Award by Steve Rysemus

• Co-Founder HMGS-Midwest engraved . documents and forms are pre- mendations. pared and ready, and that and Little Wars. • No current members of The HMGS-Midwest BOD have goodie bags were prepared and • the HMGS-Midwest BOD C0-Founder National An- awarded the first four coins of the ready for distribution to game can be recommended. cients and Medieval Fisher Award to the following indi- masters. Wargamers Society. viduals. These individuals have our • Anne Herman : Has been a con- Only a maximum of five thanks and appreciation for the • Author of Revenge Rule set, stant feature behind the regis- awards can be given out years of service and dedication to Co-Author of Revolution tration desk along side of her each year. the hobby, HMGS-Midwest, and and Empire. husband making sure that • Little Wars. Without such individu- Those recommended for things ran efficiently. She has • Co-Developer of Empire, als we would not have a society or an award do not need to long been the smiling face that Age of Reason, Age of Dis- convention be members of HMGS- . welcomed attendees and proc- covery. Midwest. Todd Fisher : Co-founder of HMGS- essed their registrations. She Award Presentation: • Founded the Napoleonic has supported and assisted the Midwest and Little Wars. Served as · Those approved Historical Society, remain on efforts of her husband in mak- the first HMGS-Midwest Treasurer for the award will the BOD. and Little Wars Convention Direc- ing sure that registration forms be presented with • Author: Several Ospry Titles tor, with over 10 years of service have been mailed, that badges an award coin at and excellence to both the organiza- and other supporting docu- the Little Wars • First non-doctorate to be tion and convention. He distin- ments are prepared and ready convention. admitted into the Messena guished himself as an author, game- for the convention. She has · The location and Society. master, rules developer and author, made thousands of brownies time of the award • Youngest member admitted and historical expert . that are found in the goodie presentation will bags that are prepared and to the Civil War Round Ta- be listed in the Rodger Kruse : Served for 6 years as distributed to our game mas- ble. Little Wars con- Executive Vice-President HMGS- ters. vention program • Runs Battlefield tours of Midwest and Little Wars Conven- Award Criteria: booklet. Europe and America (50+). tion Director. During his tenure as • Only active members of • Those approved for the Little Wars Convention director • Worked with Frank award will be given an Rodger has been instrumental in the HMGS-Midwest can rec- Chadwick on most of his award coin. Recipients will steady increase in attendance and ommend an individual for rule sets, appeared on the be granted free admission quality of game masters that have an award. front page of The Wall to all HMGS-Midwest run made Little Wars what it is today. • Individuals recommended Street Journal for his Tuiller- conventions for life. Re- Rodger’s aggressive negotiation with should have shown a his- ies game. Appeared on Inter- cipients will have their our convention hosts have allowed tory of outstanding national and US television as names posted on the us to keep our costs and prices at achievement and or volun- an historical expert . HMGS-Midwest with a stable levels when many others are teer service in support of short description of ser- The front of the coin will have a force to increase prices. Rodger was Little Wars, HMGS- vice/achievement to Little representation of the HMGS- instrumental in setting the stage for Midwest. Wars & HMGS-Midwest . Midwest seal. The top of the coin a successful move to our new loca- • Recommendations must will bear the inscription HMGS- tion. Midwest, the bottom of the coin be typed one page submis- Dave Herman : For more years than Fisher Award. The reverse side of sions. (e-mailed to BOD most can remember Dave has been the coin will bear the image of secretary). seen behind the registration desk Fort Dearborne, to reflect the • making sure that things ran effi- Recommendations must history of the Midwest. The top ciently. He has worked hard to be submitted NLT 30 days of the reverse side will bear the support the convention, not only in prior to the Little Wars inscription Achievement and Ser- serving behind the registration desk, convention. vice, the bottom of the coin will but also devoting countless hours of • The HMGS-Midwest BOD read Little Wars. The reverse of effort in making sure that pre- the coin will also have a space will vote to approve and/ registration forms have been mailed, where the recipient’s name will be or disapprove all recom- that badges and other supporting

HMGS-MIDWEST HMGS-Midwest Board of Directors

President Jeff Cohen

The local newsletter for the Executive Loren Haberkamp miniature wargaming enthusiast Vice President

http://www.hmgsmidwest.com/ Vice President Scott McKay Membership

Questions? Submissions? Secretary Mark Pawelski Steve Rysemus, Newsletter Editor [email protected] Treasurer Kevin Seward

Gaming Opportunities

Cold Wars Coast-Gamers/ calendar/14549967/ March. 11 - 13 2011, Lancaster Host Lancaster, PA Historical Miniatures Game Society Night http://www.coldwars.org/ Games Plus, 2nd Friday Little Wars every month, April 08-11, 2011, Pheasant Run Re- Games Plus, 101 W Pros- sort, DuPage Expo Center, St Charles pect Ave, Mt Prospect, IL IL http://games-plus.com/ http://hmgsmidwest.com/main% 20LW.html Historicon! July 07 - 11, 2011, Valley Forge Con- LC 2010 Gaming vention Center, King of Prussia, PA http://www.historicon.org/ North Coast Gamers Holiday Game Bash Dec 11, 2010, Noon to Midnight, Richfield United Church-Christ, Rich- field OH http://www.meetup.com/North-