Irish Brigade Reporting for Duty

Father Corby delivering absolution before Gettysburg.

What an excellent post by Dave P. and a great way to kick off our new project. The post is full of irony and of course we have been busily discussing details since our return from Adepticon. We locked down the time period and for the most part who was going to represent each army. You may also have noticed that we invited a new member of the Guns of April to even the sides and we also switched up the teams based on who was passionate about which army they wanted to paint. Once the sides were determined we quickly set off into our own private emails and began to discuss our Order of Battle. Starting with a similar organization of 4 infantry regiments and 1 cavalry regiment per player we began to manipulate our forces to better match the look and feel of the American Civil War. 

For the Union forces on paper an average Brigade consisted of five regiments so we immediately stepped forward to volunteer to add a fifth regiment to the painting station. We also all agreed that adding a fifth stand of troops would generate a better look for each regiment allowing us to center the command stand in the middle of the regiment. 

We also decided to base our miniatures different from our Napoleonic game and you will see those changes as we add pictures of our progress. 

The Union forces consisting of myself, Dave Taylor, David Pauwels, and Chris Ferich very quickly determined who was going to represent which brigade. This is where some of the 'what if' will play a huge role because not only did we want to represent a cool, historic scenario but we also wanted to be enthusiastic about painting our miniatures. I for one decided that the Union organization needed a few improvements and created my own brigade. Drum roll please...............Yes, I know the title ruined the surprise but let me have my fun. :) 

Irish Brigade defends Stony Hill against South Carolinians

I chooose the II Corps 2nd Brigade which is more famously known as the Irish Brigade. My slight historic altercation was to remove the 116th Pennsylvania Regiment and insert the 114th Pennsylvania Regiment. Doesn't sound too bad, right? Well........the 116th were Irish immigrants whereas the 114th were also known as a Zouave regiment. Yes, I know. There were no Zouaves in the Irish Brigade but the Perry's Zouaves are so awesome I had to bring at least one regiment. Plus it allows me to break away from painting navy blue, powder blue, and black and add some red and yellow. More details on the look of my army later......

Fight'n Irish
by Dale Gallon

So here is my current project with some more items to be added later like artillery: 

II Corps

Major General Winfield S. Hancock
Brigadier General John Gibbon
Brigadier General William Hays
 
General Headquarters:
6th New York Cavalry, Companies D and K: Cpt Riley Johnson (Escort)

First Division
Brigadier General John C. Caldwell

2nd Brigade

Colonel Patrick Kelly

28th Massachusetts: Col Richard Byrnes
63rd New York: Ltc Richard C. Bentley, Cpt Thomas Touhy
69th New York: Cpt Richard Moroney, Lt James J. Smith
88th New York: Cpt Denis F. Burke

114th Pennsylvania: Ltc Frederick F. Cavada, Cpt Edward R. Bowen

114th Pennsylvania Regiment
by George Woodbridge

So there you have for it. I am going to try something completely radical for my style of hobbying. I have decided that I will assemble and prime everything before I begin painting and I will use the mass painting process probably working on one or two regiments at a go. As of this evening I have three regiments completely assembled so I am hoping by this Fall I should be in the painting stages. Well, at least I better be. :) 

K