THE OMPLFAT JR4TEGI5T WAR GAME HEADQUARTERS

"There's no other store like this in the world" - CHANNEL 7 EYEWITNESS NEWS

"War Gaming - Has also given rise to a specialized U'11II~JIo store. Its name is the Compleat Strategist" - NEW YORK TIMES " ... You can find enough sorties, battles and full scale wars to keep all the classes at West Point busy for years - NEW YORK DAIL Y NEWS Hobbyists gather every week at the Compleat Strategist, a Manhattan store specializing in war game paraphanelia, to play battles with 25mm soldiers - TIME MAGAZINE At 11 East 33 Street is the Complete Strategist, catering primarily to war games, with enormous selection of rules and a substantial supply of 25mm figures, as well as books of interest to all modelers ... - CAMPAIGNS MAGAZINE

The above is just a sample of the interest and attention miniatures, domestic and foreign magazines, we sell our New York store has generated in three shortSample years. everything file in accessories including several lines of paints, Stop in and see for yourself. Our New York store is brushes, counters, Hex sheets and dice. Fantasy buffs centrally located just a few steps from Fifth Avenue and and science fiction enthusiasts will find figures and games The Empire State Building, close to the Pennsylvania from all manufacturers, books, prints, colorful and Grand Central Stations and all bus and subway lines. calendars, rule booklets and a complete line of playing aids. Our store is the largest of its kind to be found anywhere (we just expanded our selling space). We carry a full Both our locations are well stocked and feature game­ assortment of games, rules and figures for the rooms freely available during store hours. discriminating wargamer- not only the complete line of If you would like a free copy of our new and extensive well known manufacturers such as-A.H**S.P.I. **G.D.W. 25-page Catalog and to be placed on our mailing list, **T .S .R. ** - but also the creations of smaller please drop us a note. organizations and privately produced games. If you All in stock merchandise is shipped within 24 hours of can't find a particular game on our well stocked shelves, receipt of order. If you'd like to call or mail in your we'll do all we can to get it for you. order (to the New York store only), both Master Charge In addition to a wide selection of military and fantasy & Visa credit pards are accepted. NORTH AMERICA'S FOREMOST MINIATURE GAMING MAGAZINE

FEATURE ARTICLES THE FATHER OF THE MODERN WARGAMING HOBBY-JACK SCRUBY. BOB BEA TTIE gives an indepth review of Jack's contributions ...... 3 THE BATTLE OF NOVI, 15 AUGUST 1799. MARK MAKIN demonstrates the use of historical research in wargaming . 10 THE 55TH ARMY-LATE DRUNKARDS R.A. HESS adds a jocular note to the WRG army list · .14 SWEDISH FLAGS 1757-1762 DAN SCHORR, Part II Infantry Flags ...... 16 IMPERIAL INFANTRY UNIFORMS, ZULU WAR - 1879 IAN /. KNIGHT continues his great series ...... 20 TACTICS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION WILLIAM BROWN explains how it was . .22 INCIDENT AT THE PESHWAR MOSQUE TOM DESMOND describes a ski rmish wargame ...... 29 YES, BUT IS IT PLAYABLEl NED ZUPARKO asks more intriguing questions about rules 33 THE SIMULTANEOUS FIRE MYTH LARRY BROM finds some " feet of clay" . . . . 39 WITH TAPE AND DICE THROUGH DARKEST AMERICA PHIL BARKER describes his recent visit here ...... · .41 REVIEW OF WWII & MODERN PERIOD RULES ROD BURR gives an indepth review ...... 43

DEPARTMENTS THE VANGUARD Editors Notes ...... 2 THE REVIEWING STAND ...... 24 SAPPER'S REPORT B ILL A BRAMS shows how to constructSample castles ...... file...... · .27 THE COURIER DISPATCH ...... 37 VOLLEY FIRE ...... 48

THE COURIER STAFF THE COURIER is published bi-monthly in May, July, September, Managing Editor: Richard L. Bryant November, January, and March, at 45 Willow St ., Brockton, MA Theme Editor: The Zulu Wars Ian Knight 02401 USA. Single copy price is $2 .00 USA ($2 .25 elsewhere). Six Editor, Sapper' s Report: William Abrams issue subscriptions are $9 .00 USA ($10.50 surface rate elsewhere­ Editor, Naval: Byron Angel Airmail Third Class subscriptions are $17.(0) . All monies in US Editor, Musket & Pike: Stuart Asquith funds drawn on US banks or International Postal Money Order. Sub­ Editor, Ancient Period: Philip Barker scriptions start with next published issue after receipt of order . Editor, Novice & History Column: Robert Beattie Editor, Post 1900: Rodman Burr No responsibility is assumed for statements of fact or opinion made Editor, 7 Year' s War: Steven Carpenter by the authors. No responsibility is assumed for unsolicited manu­ Editor, AMR: Steven Haller scripts, but all su bmiss ions are welcome, no query necessary. All Editors, Canadian Gaming: Eric Ritchie/Peter Hollinger submissions should contain a se lf-addressed stamped envelope. Editor, ACW: Bill Sessions Editor, Flags & Uniforms: Curt Johnson This magazine and other publications of THE COURIER are sold Editor, Colonial Period : Douglas Johnson with the understanding that every reasonable attempt ' is made to Editor, Military Esoterica: Robert Mosca deliver them safely through the mails. THE COURIER is not respon­ Editor, Napoleonic Period: Bruce Weeks sible for items lost in the mails. Replacements will be provided at Business Manager: Leo Cronin their usual cost. Administrative Assistant: Gloria Miceli Advertising and Production Manager: Joseph Miceli DEALER INQUIRIES (USA) to Excalibur Hobbies, 170 Mass Ave., Staff Photographers: Tom Desmond Arlington MA 02174. Non-USA dealers contact R. Bryant, 45 Willow Staff Cartoonist: Jose Neira R. St. Brockton, MA, 02401 . Canada Le Champ de Bataille, P.O. Box 996, Editor, The Courier Dispatch Jerome Chaskes RR #1 , Maschouche Heights, Que., JON 1 TO, Canada. Staff Illustrator: Mike Gilbert Typesetting by: International Graphics Corp. SUBSCRIPTIONS AND ARTICLES to The Courier, Box 1878, Brock­ ton, MA 02403. 218 Beech St ., Bennington VT 05201 ADVERTISING COPY AND INQUIRIES to J. Miceli, 1825 Bay Ridge Vol 1 No 5 Published March 1980 Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11204. Copyright © 1980 by The Courier Publications Inc. 1 pertain to Editors, of course. Ditto if you are sending in an Article. We cannot reply to queries of any kind with out the S.A.S .E and such queries will be ignored!

THE VOLLEY FIRE THE COURIER wants to be YOUR magazine. To reach VAMGUARD this goal we must have a larger response to volley fire. Each reader, and certainly each subscriber, should at least rate the articles as requested by volley fire. One EDITOR'S NOTES does not have to answer ALL the questions - just the ratings. I assure you that each and every response is tallied and your interests will be catered to IF we hear about them. Do not suffer in silence - WRITE.

ARTICLES THE COURIER is written, for the most part, by its readers. Editorials are difficult for me. I always seem to have That is what differentiates it from the competition with plenty I want to say until I put pen to paper then can their staff stable of writers. This is intentional - we feel never think of a thing. This time however, I do have a that there are plenty of good insights and ideas out there few things to talk about: that will enhance this hobby for all of us and a staff of writers promulgating their own particular brand of THE COURIER PUBLICATION SCHEDULE gaming is not the way to get these ideas to the readers . Most of our old subscribers know this but I will reiterate for the newer subscriber. The Courier Publishing Co. is NOT a full time business for its members - all who work So sit down and write out the game or rule idea you have on THE COURIER do so as part of their hobby and in been chewing on. Don't worry about being Shakespeare the hope that eventually they wi II real ize enough from or winning a Pulitzer. Just get your idea down in clear their effort to help pay for their hobby. None take a engl ish - we' ll take care of spell ing and syntax (you can salary from THE COURIER and all have responsible, see from this editorial that we are not too fussy about time consuming jobs which pay for their livelihood that in any case). If you have something you would like to submit send a STAMPED self-addressed envelope to The articles are written in England, Ecuador, Australia, us and We will return simple instructions on " how to and from allover the world and from allover theSample States. submitfile articles to The Courier" . To be on time a maga­ They are edited in Massachusetts, typset in Vermont, zine has to work two and three issues ahead - to do this each issue is pasted up in New York and finally it is we must have a wide selection of articles to work from. printed & mailed in Massachusetts. All of the above will So, sending in articles will help us to be on time probably cause you to wonder how we get each issue out at all, never mind in a reasonably timely fashion. You can understand why I get a bit irascible, when dispite THIS ISSUE over best efforts, we are a few weeks late - and are showered with post cards demanding the latest issue! This issue introduces a new department, THE COURIER Please, save your postage. We make every attempt, DISPATCH . It's edited by Jerry Chaskes a professor of within the constraints deliniated above, to be on time English who has been beating me (and everyone else) give or take a few weeks. Also, please allow for the three in ancients for seven years or more. This column will weeks delivery of third class printed matter by the carryall the news of the hobby we can glean - so send post office. in announcements of conventions, special hobby occur­ ances, etc., and this will be a successful column. FOREIGN SUBSCRIBERS This does not mean Canadians! Please be aware that Various Volley Fire returns have indicated a deep when you pay surface rate ($10.50), each issue is sent, interest in OPPONENTS WANTED and a LETTERS column. literally, by boat and takes a minimum of 60-90 days. The actual response for an O .W . column has been Air Mail ($17.50) takes about three to four weeks in­ disappointing, however. If you want it to continue send cluding third class mail within your country. in some entries. The LETTERS response has been nil! It is, in a way, reassuring that everyone loves THE SEEKING A REPLY COURIER so much that they can find nothing to Please, if you want an answer to ANY inquiry - send a complain about. But - I would dearly love to print some ST AMPE D, self addressed envelope (or use a POSTAL letters rebutting various articles or offering comment REPLY COUPON if a foreign subscriber). This does not on doings in the hobby. 0 2 Game being played at the Soldier Factory, during working hours. Note tourists in the background. About 1975.

THE FATHERSample OF THEfile MODERN WARGAMING HOBBY - JACK SCRUBY by BOB BEATTIE

In the last two installments I discussed the develop­ was more frequently used in the late 1960' s and early ment of recreational wargaming from Robert Lewis 1970' s) . Stevenson' s contribution in the 1890' s through H . G. Wells, Shambattle, and Captain Sach ' s wargame. Then, as with all religions and sciences , there arose The only bright spot between Sachs and the early in the West a prophet who sought to bring together 1950' s was Fletcher Pratt' s naval wargame rules which the true bel ievers . Jack Scruby had a vision for war­ were first published in the 1940's. Pratt' s rules served gaming which involved establishing a network of war­ as a model for most tactical naval rules to follow and, gamers sharing rule ideas, sharing figures , sharing indeed, the rules themselves are still popular today. battle plans, and even sharing games played by mail .

I think we can safely say that when we consider all But, generally, insofar as wargaming was concerned, the evidence in the paternity suit of organized war­ the United States in the early 1950' s was something gaming there is no question that Jack is the guilty of a desert. From the surface it looked barren but party. He provided the two crucial elements necessary if you knew where to look you might find signs of primi­ to move wargaming from an activity of a few isolated tive life. There was, however, little, if any, communica­ individuals to the massive hobby and business that tion among these few and far between oases of gaming. it is today . Those two elements are a stable source Games were played with 54mm figures using modifica­ of figures intended for gaming and a communication tions of the rules discussed last time or home-grown network through which people could share ideas. varieties . Gamers usually kept their hobby a secret for fear of being accused of " playing with toy soldiers" As long as game players were dependent on non-game or even being warmongers (although that epithet oriented sources for their figures, they would be forced 3 to spend much time converting commercial figures ifornia he ran into others with a shared interest in to their own needs or creating and molding their own gaming. The next few years were spent finding and figures . Both activities would take time away from corresponding with other like-minded individuals gameplaying and also preclude the less handy souls in the United States and England. from the hobby. Jack undertook the task of furnishing people with " wargame figures" instead of "toy sol­ In 1955 Jack conceived of the idea of making figure diers" used for wargames . molds using RTV rubber rather than the conventionally used plaster of Paris . He says that as far as Dow-Corning Until individuals have an opportunity to learn what (makers of RTV) knows, he was the first person to use others with the same hobby are doing there tends to RTV in this way. His innovation was a major break­ be little development as each person pursues his or through for figure making . It was now possible for her own ideas with incremental changes over time. a person to produce large numbers of figures from Only when individuals interact through the sharing a single mold. Plaster of Paris is difficult to cast with of ideas will there be dramatic growth in any endeavor. and very limited in both design potential and quantity Jack Scruby facilitated the needed medium for the of output. The other alternative for moldsmaking growth of wargaming by publishing three successive was the very expensive metal type used by commercial wargaming magazines - War Games Digest (not to firms . With RTV, Jack could put figures into the hands be confused with the recent magazine with a similar of gamers in large numbers and great variety. name, Wargamers Digest), Table Top Talk, and, lastly, The Mini;;Jture Parade. The first United States (if not world) wargamer' s con­ Jack entered the hobby in about 1952 playing with vention was organized by Jack in 1956. Some 14 players toy soldiers - 54mm Britains, Minots and the like. attended, all of whom used 54mm figures. Indeed, See pp. 51 to 79 of Bob Bard' s Making and Collecting there really was not much else available. Thomas Military Miniatures for some great pictures of those Figures began production of 20mm American Civil old games. He was an active figure painter and con­ War figures in the early 1950' s but that was about verter. At various · figure collector meetings in Cal- the extent of non-54mm figures . The success of the

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The first "25mm" lead figures. 4 convention coupled with the potential for the mass production of figures led Jack in 1957 to undertake two ventures which set organized wargaming on the course which led it to the phenomena we have today. These two ventures were the publication of War Games Digest and the opening of Scruby Miniatures. In under­ taking these activities Jack took a personal step never before attempted by anyone - he became the first professional wargamer in the sense that he was devoting his life to this hobby. While he did have some other source of income, wargaming was to be his source of livelihood for the future.

War Games Digest (WGD) was the formalization of an informal network of some 40 gamers in the United States and England. Jack had been corresponding with all of them for a number of years and decided that it would be far simpler to have a newsletter wAich could circulate among the group. This group comprised the " Old Guard" of wargaming . As a sidelight, let me mention that one cannot help but notice a strange phenomena when looking over this list. Here are the men who gave the hobby most of the basic ideas of Early Scruby 30mm Colonial figures. gaming still in use but where are they today? Those from the United Kingdom are, for the most part, still appearing in print in English magazines. The Amer­ WGD was published four times a year and each issue icans , on the other hand, have not been heard from had about 40 pages (few ads , mostly text) and sold for many years. WGD, and later Table Top Talk , were for $4.00/ year. I n the first year came major break­ filled with articles by these early hobby devotees but throughs in gaming. One article expanded on H. G. not one of them appears in recent publications. In a Wells' idea of moving troops around inside boxes future issue, I hope to answer the question of what by suggesting that figures be put on trays, moved the Old Guard is doing today. into battle and then deployed as they came into con­ tact but still using individual figures as the game pieces . Another article appeared suggesting the use of special troops such as lights, grenadiers and sappers. This may not sound very significant until one remembers that hitherto games were fought with only " infan­ try", " cavalry", and " artillery". Rules were general - Samplecovering file all historical periods. A Napoleonic battle differed from an American Civil War game in that the figures were different; i .e., an ACW game used ACW figures while a Revolutionary War game was played with figures attired in 17th century uniforms. There w ere no historical differences built into the rules , nor was army organization historically grounded . That is to say, no one used figure to man ratios and related the number of troops in an actual unit to the number of figures in the wargame unit. Each army would have regiments of horse and foot of a fixed num­ ber regardless of what nationality was being simulated . All figures on foot were identical in capability; e .g ., all fired the same distance, rate, and with the same effect, all moved the same distance and meleed equally. Likewise, all troops on horseback were cavalry and fought equally well. Thus, when in the pages of WGD it was suggested that foot figures could be functionally differentiated into light, grenadier, line, militia or what-have-you, it was quite a breakthrough . And one could have light cavalry, heavy cavalry, even lan­ cers. Wargaming was now getting interesting.

One of the first contributors to the early pages of WGD was Charles Sweet. Charlie, too, is an important figure in American wargaming yet he never published a magazine, sold figures or even published a set of rules . While the many ideas for gaming he developed would Jack Scruby casting with RTV rubber molds, 1961. be sufficient to get him into the Wargamers Hall of 5