The trap is sprung

Knight-Colonel Ricco Furfante was trusted by the Parmigiano government to bring peace to the freshly established frontier between Calvacasa's territory and that of the loyalists. The colonel was famed for his knowledge in the art of la petite guerre. And one thing was established about him: as a dragoon officer, he was fond of being in the middle of action. 

The northern bandits received intelligence about an army surgeon's medicine wagon being escorted through the border. They decided to capture the goods at the edge of cultivated land where an ambush is least expected. They did not know however that the intel was forged by Furfante himself, and he made sure two cavalry guards of the central army were in close support, but unseen by rebel spies.

The rebel group consisted of two swordsmen, two leaders, two riders and three men with muskets. There were two dragoons, two Cacciatori, a provincial sergeant and five footman in the loyalist detail (both parties are worth ~500 points in Flashing Steel).

Loyalist objectives: (1) Destroy more than half of the enemy force; (2) Escort the medicine supply across the field to the top of the hill.
Bandit objectives: (1) Destroy more than half of the original enemy force (the cavalry guard not counted); (2) Capture the medicine supply and retain the hold of it for three turns.

Bandits and Villains - a Flashing Steel mini-campaign

Flashing Steel is now my preferred skirmish game for the 17th and 18th centuries. With a bit of tinkering very unique attributes can be given to figures. The rulebook also has a mini-campaign system, but in this case not too useful. 

What I'd like to do is a series of clashes between the bandits now taking shelter in Calvacasa's land, and a ruthless loyalist officer sent to destroy them. The loyalist army is not ready for a direct engagement,  especially after their recent defeat, but a larger number of provincials can be sent against the hundred or so outlaws. Word also travels slowly and the Parmigiano court might not at all be aware of the loss of the Civita Maria garrison. 

So here are a few outlines for my own future references, and ideas which may help someone:

Spoils

The Civita Maria council greeted the victors with grace. Their friendliness seemed most advantageous to Pietro di Calvacasa - not to be perceived an oppressor in a new strip of acquired territory could be more than benevolent to his cause. 

Pitch

Pietro di Calvacasa arrived near a farmstead close to the walls of Civita Maria. His small army was visible from the towers of the old fort, and the garrison commander was eager to march against it. 

'Sire, I think the rebels have acquired siege guns', a scout reported as the battalions assembled near the gate. 'We have spotted them on a hill, overlooking the western walls.'

'But Christ, those are the weakest of all', the General said, 'we better hurry and chase these traitors back to their hovels!'

Calvacasa's attack force consisted of two 120-men household battalions after the Varangian fashion, and a group of 80 militia. The culverins seen by the scout were actually logs painted black and placed on fake carriages. The count ordered some peasants to act like tending to the cannon. He hoped this increased threat would entice the very large mouse to scurry out of the tunnel and measure its strength against the very small cat.

Gaining Control

Pietro di Calvacasa writes in his diary: OC 1549, March 28, Monday. On the road between Dicalla and Trocca. Canonnade is heard from the direction of Chielli-Forte. It is important to coordinate our march with the other half of the army, but it is also important that I lead the main contingent. Captain d'Arson is well versed in the art of sieges and I have complete trust in him. Currently our movement across the country is hindered by nothing, yet I fear that loyalist spies from the villages we cross would tell the Civita Maria garrison of our plans prematurely. This ruse de guerre we are conducting seems to have an easy chance of failure right now.

Calvacasa's three companies of foot, about 400 men in strength, march on the main road towards Civita Maria, passing one smaller fort. The fort does not have the range to fire its cannons on the road and is only guarded by one company of provincials. A small detachment of dragoons and militia is screening every possible path across the woodland to prevent messengers to Civita Maria and notify Calvacasa immediately if the provincials take action. 

A mercenary Varangian unit, the rest of the dragoons and the Glambrian storming party besieges Forte Chielli, lying on the Flossian border at the foot of the Alps, in order to secure the hinterlands. this fort is garrisoned by one company of provincial Cacciatori and a half-company of provincials. The fort has only one ancient cannon. The siege is led by Captain d'Arson and his highest priority is to convince the company commanders that his plan will work. They have only one day to complete the siege and only one small-bore cannon. Fortunately there is an excellent firing position facing the fort's gate and the garrison is understrength to watch over the entire length of the wall.

Bandit Attack

A small group of provincial infantry and dragoons were escorting a cart to Civita Maria, the central town of north-eastern Quattro Formaggi. Lately the highway had been festering with highwaymen. The two do not necessarily go together everytime, but on occasions when the provincial army is too busy preparing for war with the vile rebel Calvacasa, they have little time to smoke these criminals out of the woods.

An Unlikely Ally

A few days after crossing the Formaggian border to offer his services to his old friend the Count of Calvacasa, Captain Pierre d'Arson of Armagnac has been captured in a cavalry skirmish and carried off to The Rock, a small fort in the River Orlo estuary.

Filippo Scolari, the famed pirate of the Glambrian Sea, has decided he would free d'Arson. The pirates have an extensive network of informators, so they knew where to find the Captain.

Background for the Calvacasa rebellion 3. - Logistics

Now that we are past the theoretical build-up of the background for the conflict, it is time to examine how many figures, tabletop accessories and other material evidence I have.

First of all, the rules. I think Sharp Practice with maybe a modified activation system and Flashing Steel for smaller actions. Using Sharp Practice, figures would represent more men (so not a 1:1 ratio).

Then, a campaign map. Fortunately I have just the same, printed in 1710, that Count Calvacasa used during the campaign. It's a big 28"x20" map, detailed to the requirements of its age. The Count could track enemy movements on this map with ease and plan the movement of his own troops.

Terrain: by now I have almost everything required to a varied and good-looking battlefield. I have just completed some accessories as well. I could use more period buildings actually, but those are easy to make, especially with all the paper and scrap wood I have lying around. 

I also have two small ships suitable for the period, which calls for amphibious action and I'm currently building one corner of a period fortress. Only one corner with an interior space of 30x30cm because the gaming table is too small for anything more.

Figures: a quick tally shows that I have 

14+8+8= 30 cavalry painted, 26 unpainted

40+48+24+8+30= 142 infantry painted, a good many unpainted.

10+4 cannon, two mortars, 8 horses for the artillery train, two carts, 22 gunners.

3 command figures, 5 civilians.

All in all, a big enough collection to start gaming.

Background for the Calvacasa Rebellion 2. - Sources

This will most likely be the shortest link in the chain, where I will briefly explain what sources, historical examples and literature I will use as inspiration for my games. 

I have at hand, won in a giveaway at Canister & Grape some time ago, Master Featherstone's War Game Campaigns, which is just the book for such things. I have read it once but I thought it would be worth reading again.

I have a series of Ospreys, of course, on the various rebellions and revolutions that occured during the 18th century. One quite evident thing is that Calvacasa's war is feudal, if I am permitted to say so, in nature: a fight between members of the ruling class, and not an uprising of the people, or an uprising against a foreign govermnent like that of the Jacobites. This also rules out the historical background for the AWI and even more the French Revolution, which does not mean I cannot (ab)use historical scenarios from these conflicts.

What is closer to me locally and in history, and bears a resemblance on Calvacasa's status, is the Rákóczi rebellion of 1703-11. It coincides with the WSS and Great Northern Wars' political sphere. But while Rákóczi was a young idealist (and a great admirer of Louis XIV), Pietro di Calvacasa is old, bitter and cunning. Yet he must face the same economical and moral challenges. What troubles me about the period is the little literature available online. Guess I'll have to visit a library.

Pietro di Calvacasa

I found a figure to represent the man himself. It is a Zvezda GNW Russian artillery train driver on a Swedish horse. I have added a sash from green stuff, cut off the string of his whip to create a marshal's baton, and created a frilly lace from GS on his hat.

The base features some pieces of bark and a long musket. I have used a three color method on the bright colors of his coat, the rest had only one layer of highlights.

Another figure from the same set is converted to a GNW Saxon general who will most likely play a part in Calvacasa's opposition.