Bodstonian Folks Militia (1)

A Company, made up almost entirely of males, they fight as a loose unit alongside the 1st Regiment of Foot, the Bodstonian Fusiliers as skirmishers or act as a defensive Screen for the Bodstonian artillery.
There is no official Obligation to be a member of the Folks Militia but most able bodied persons are or have been in the militia.
Minimum Age for joining...there is none..basically if you can use a firearm then one can join.
The militia are under a shared command of Jeremiah Cheesman and James Forrester.  In the field the BFM falls under direct command of Colonel Jeremiah Coleman.
As with thier weaponary and uniforms thier numbers vary. There is no lists Held as to who´s in the militia but basically when the Oak Bell (Signal bell near the Great Oak in the main square) is rung at least 30 Militia Folk will attend within 10 minutes and thier numbers can double within an hour. They can, when fully mustered, field twice the number of the Fusiliers.

A group of militiamen in a wooded area of bodstonia

The "Purple Roses" (2)

The "infantry" section of the "Purple Roses".
They act as the control role of the unit, the flag and drummer in a rallying and signalling role, the 3 sharpshooters defending Juliet Pride´s gun team, enabling them to concentrate on  operating  "Long Tom", and Rose Tremain, as the commander of the unit.
Thier uniqueness within the Bodstonian defence forces is reflected in the colour of the flag, red, meaning they are attached not only to the regular forces but are directly associated with Company A of the 1st Regiment of Foot, the Bodstonian Fusiliers.

Rose Tremain

The "Purple Roses" (1)

The women of Bodstonia are not only the keepers of hearth and home, but they also take part in the defence of those hearths and homes.

This role is carried out, as with the menfolk, in two forms.  Either they join the militia or become regulars, in a reserve role but still they wear a uniform.
Their unit is called the purple Roses for two reasons. The Unit is commanded by Rose Tremain, a self made woman who runs the dress making and tailors guild in Bodstonia.
Due to the capture of a Zvedonian trade ship in the second Federation war of 1700 - 1705, Rose came into possesion of a large supply of purple cotton. As purple was not fashionable at the time among the Bodstonians (it still isn´t) there was no  profit to be made so she had the cloth made into uniforms for her unit.
The Purple Rose´s number 10 in all and form a small reserve artillery unit, fielding one 6pdr, nicknamed "Long Tom". Why the gun is called Long Tom remains a closely guarded secret among the ladies.
They have competed in the yearly "shoot downs" winning the event twice.
Being obstensively an artillery unit they come under direct command of Bartholomew Motesfont

 The 4 women who are the main gunners. The other 6 take a support and protection role, relaying information to the gun team as to their possible targets. 

Mistress Gunner Juliet pride

Regular Infantry Tactics

Bodstonian troops are drilled, alongside regular rank and file tactics,  to fight in open order.
This method of fighting was brought in for three reasons;
1.Due to the small population density of Bodstonia it is not possible to maintain and therefore field a large regular army, one which is capable of fighting in the volleyfire tactics so prefered on the mainland.
This tactic also leads to unnaceptable casualty rates..firing into the packed ranks nearly always leading, if not to a death, then an injury, especially when under cannon fire.
2. The disparity of weapons. The regular troops, the 1st Regiment of foot, the Bodstan Fusiliers, is equiped with the same type and bore of muskets, but the Folks Militia has a wide range of musket types, some even using shotguns and blunderbusses. This disparity, in a rank and file system would lead to varying  loading and firing times.
3. Topography. The main areas around Bodston are largely cleared of forests but still are hilly and broken with hilly rocky outcrops meaning that forming up in rank and file is only possible on the rarest of occasions.

Deployment
The main battle tactic would start with the troops entering the field and taking up position towards the enemy in two extended ranks.The spacing between each rank and each man withing each rank is that of two paces.

Closed order the opening order with which the troops enter the field..enemy to the front.

The command, Officer,  Staff sergeant, drummer and standard bearer, form up in the centre of the two ranks.
At a signal from the Staff Sergeant, both ranks move outwards from the command, to the left and right until a spacing of 5 paces between each man.
The front rank now moves 3 paces forward, kneels anfd lays on. The rear rank then moves 3 paces to the left (left of command) and 3 to the right (right of command). It kneels and makes ready.
This  opens and  staggers the ranks, enabling the rear rank to fire through the front rank without hinderance.

Fully deployed in open order

Attacking/Advance (Open Ground)
From the deployed position, the front rank remains kneeling, the rear rank stands and runs forward 10 paces ending up 5 paces to the front. They kneel and lay on,  the now rear rank stands and the procedure is repeated until contact is made.
The command always remains in the rear rank. The number of paces that are to be moved can be altered depending on the proximity of the enemy and the lay of the land.

Attacking/Advance (Broken ground)
When advancing in broken ground, woods etc, the company is broken into pre-arranged 4 man units. These then act as if attacking over open ground, though in this case each unit acts independantly of the rest, shortening or lengthening thier advance in consideration to the lay of the land but keeping an eye to not staggering the battle line to drastically, signalling to each other by voice or hand signals.

Advancing in "4´s"

Defence (Open Ground)
In certain circumstances a concentration of firepower is required. In this situation  the front rank kneels and lays on. The rear rank then stands and moves to within 2 paces of the front rank. They then move from the left and right towards the centre until they are within two paces between each man. They then kneel and lay on. The front rank then stands and moves towards the center until they are also within two paces between each man observing that the end up in a staggered line to the rear rank. They then kneel and lay on.. Basically then form up in a close order formation, the only difference being that the two ranks are staggered.

Moving into close order from open order

Closed order with two paces between each man

Withdraw
In either open or deployed formations. The rear rank kneels and lays on whilst the front rank stands and moves 10 paces to the rear. They then turn to face the enemy, kneel and lay on as the second rank stands and moves 10 paces to the rear and so on.

Withdrawal in close order

Changing Flank
The Staff sergeant holds his staff along the line that the troops are to take up. The outer most "4´s" then move as rapidly as possible, revolving around the command in the centre. This is a difficult manouvre, which requires a lot of training and is best carried out when militia or mounted infantry are available to cover the exposed troops as they move into position

Flank change to face the left.

These skirmish tactics are only used by the regular troops or seasoned militiamen as untrained troops will encounter problems.
The main problem is with bunching or thining  of the battle line, especially in broken ground
The tactic of moving into defense or changing flank can also become problematic for unseasoned troops but drilled troops resolve this with the extremes (farthest left and right of centre) moving faster to quickly close or open any required spacing.

The Militia are, in a battle situation, put to the left and or right of the main regular battle line in support of any mounted infantry, defend and aid the artillery and to act as a mobile reserve.

Bodstons Fort Artillery

Here we see a  6pdr and a 20pdr held in the town´s main fort. 10 pieces in total, six 6pdr´s and four 20pdr´s.
Rarely are these guns taken outside of the fort, the Bodston Fusilers having two 2pdrs that are intended to  escort them into the field.
Along with the Folks Militia, the artillery and the Marines of the Fort are under direct control of the  Lord Protector, Bartholomew Motesfont

"Mary", one of the 6pdr´s and one of the 20pdr´s known as the "4 puddies"

On this occassion we see a team of the gunners from the fort out for a range day, testing their skills as a gun team in not only hitting a target but the time in which it takes to re-load thier guns.
Generally only two of the 6pdr´s will be used on a range day along with two teams chosen from a rota system.
Each team vys to better the other, the punishment for the loosing team? They have to supply the winners with free ale that evening..with drinking bouts going on long into the night, this can be expensive, not only on the purse but on the next days constitution. The reason why gunnery practice is held on a saturday and then,  not every saturday!!
These "shoot downs" have become a small event in Bodstonian life. A small fair is set up near the range with people turning up from far and wide to see which team comes out trumps. Bets are placed and an unnoficial  "Team League Table" is created each year, the top team recieving a small purse and a gold plaque which is  attached to the winning guns carriage.
It has even drawn attention of the "upper orders" with a party being held in celebration on the weekend of the last "shoot down" the so called Cannon Ball.

Company A of the 1st Regiment of Foot, the Bodstonian Fusiliers

Created in 1716 from the local Militia, The Bodston Fusiliers consists of four  20 man Companys, A - D.  Attached to them is a field artillery section of 16 men with two 2pdr cannons, an 8 man squadron of dragoons.
Added to the Fusiliers is the Folks Militia of Bodstonia. The  strength of the Militia is variable  but seeing as all able persons can take part in the militia thier numbers are at least twice that of the regular troops.

The Bodston Fusiliers are affectionately known as Colemans "Mustards" due to thier Uniform colour of Mustard yellow, a nickname which they have taken to heart as it suits the fiery nature of thier commander Colonel Jeremiah Coleman.

Range day. Company A practices volley fire by ranks

Company A has the privelage of carrying the Bodstonian Standard. To the left of the Standard is Staff Sergeant Obediah Hardwill. he lost his left Hand not in Combat but in a sawmill accident.

Company Colours of The 1st Regiment of Foot, the Bodstonian Fusiliers

Cockade on the tricorn in silver, the buttons Gold

From Top to Bottom, A-D companies 







Bodstonian Artillery

The first recruits to man the Bodstonian artillery pieces.
The cannon is a 9pdr named Mary after the chief gunnery officers wife. She also has a loud bark and can punch well.

Colonel Coleman´s "Mustards"

The first regiment raised...paid for and commanded by Jeremiah Coleman of the Pentridge Colemans.
After serving in the Army, which he entered at the rank of captain, he slowly bought his way up the ranks. He bought some land using his fathers money setting up a saw mill and increased the families rices in the timber trade. Loyal to the core, although a bit hot tempered at times, he has a shrewd eye for tactics but he has been prone in difficult situation to let his temper get the better of him.