Fort Ligonier, South Market Street, Ligonier, PA 15658 - In September of 1758, British Colonel James Burd and 1500 men began the construction of a fortified camp near the site of a Delaware Indian Village called Loyalhannon This post came to be called Fort Ligonier, named after Sir John Ligonier, the Commander-In-Chief of the British Army. This fort has been reconstructed on the original site, complete with life size mannequins in period dress, cannon, and a museum containing artifacts and dioramas of the Forbes campaign to take Fort Duquesne (present day Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) to the west. Also at this museum is a portrait of Field Marshall Lord Ligonier. The fort contains full-sized reconstructions of the Officer's quarters, mess, barracks, supply rooms, armory, commissary, hospital, and powder magazine. As well as the "four-square" bastioned fort itself, a large section of the outer retrenchments of the fort with gun platforms has also been reconstructed. A scale model of the fort and its environs is displayed in the museum. A gift shop is also located on the site, with usual stuff for the kids and tourists, but also has a surprisingly good offering of Osprey books and other soft hardback books related to the history of the area. French and Indian forces assaulted this fort on October 12 in 1758, and were "repulsed." This fort remained "untaken" and served as an important point on the road through Pennsylvania. George Washington even slept here more than once! The fort was also active during the Pontiac uprising of 1763. In 1766 the fort was retired from active military service. This reconstructed fort is a good representation of period construction, with examples of clothing, uniforms, and life in the French and Indian War period. The ladies at the local library in the town of Ligonier were very glad to assist me in finding references on history of the fort, its plans, etc., but remember, one must pay for photocopies.

MAGWEB http://www.magweb.com, Coalition Web, Inc., 161 Lambertville-HQ Road, Stockton, NJ 08559 USA, (609) 397-4265 A new place for wargamers to visit on the world wide web. This is a web site that offers the full text and graphics of current and back issues of history and gaming magazines: Competitive Edge formerly GameFix), The Courier, El Dorado, Empire Eagles & Lions, First Empire, Lone Warrior, Napoleon, Saga, Shadis, and The Zouave. This internet site also includes a bulletin board, and interviews with historians, designers, etc. (...by the end of 1996). Charter membership pricing is 1 month at $4.95, 6 at $24.95, and 12 for $49.95

Their E-Mail address is magweb@magweb.com

(Rates have changed since publication of this article).

The Last Square Invitational, 5944 Odana Road, Madison, WI 53719, telephone 1-800-750-4401, fax 608-278-4402,email - invitational~@lastsquare.com - A wargaming weekend featuring Spearhead WWII and Fields of Honor ACW, plus other outstanding~ events. This event will be held on February 7 - 9, 1997, at the Radisson Hotel in Madison, Wisconsin. One of the games currently scheduled is "Operation Cobra," from August 17, 1944, with the Anglo/British against the German 7th Army on a 12'x 32'table~~ (25-30 players). The second major game is "The Battle of Chickamauga" on an 11' x 24' table, to refight this September 1863 battle of the ACW (20 players). Other events will include a third major game event, and a Warpaint/Desperado game or a Viking/Saxon Battlelust free for all, during those moments when your troops are dead or reforming, or you are in need of something a bit lighter. Cost for attendance is $250.00, which covers your first class room (based on single occupancy), 3 meals, and all the beverages and munchies you can eat throughout the gaming events. The organizers of this event even give you the opportunity to choose your side in these battles in advance. Contact them for more details.

B.I. The Illustrated History of the American Soldier, His Uniform and His Equipment - Bily Yank, The Uniform of the Union Army, 1861-1865, by Michael J. McAfee & John P. Langellier, Greenhill Books, London, Stackpole Books, Pennsylvania, ISBN 1-85367-238-6, 80 pages, softcover, 1996 - This book has photos and reproductions of drawings and paintings showing the officers and soldiers of various units in the Union Army. The descriptions of the uniforms contain various details about uniform styles, dates used, unit names and some weapon information. I found the photographs and unit uniform information valuable to have during the "recruitment" and painting of wargame armies to represent the Union ACW army.

Fort Necessity National Battlefield, 1 Washington Parkway, Farmington, PA 15437 - This battlefield commemorates the events surrounding the start of the French and Indian War. A reconstruction of Fort Necessity can be seen at this park. On July 3, 1754, a French and Indian force surrounded Virginian George Washington and his small forces, and after an extended firefight, force his surrender. Jumonville Glen is also located in the park, the site of Washington's first skirmish with the French, which resulted in the fight at Fort Necessity. Later, following the ambush and rout of his forces near Fort Duquesne, General Edward Braddock was carried here and buried three days later, near this site in the crude road that would bear his name.

Outland Games, 1061 Bertram Avenue, Dayton, Ohio 45406, telephone 513-276-2336, fax 513-837-1413, email address outland~@erinet.com - this mail order and wargame convention dealer stocks the following ranges of figures, Rank & File Miniatures, Freikorps 15, Terrain Specialties, Battle Boors, Irregular Miniatures, Thunderbolt Mountain, Reaper Miniatures, RSM 95, Minifigs, Ral Partha and Atlantis Jewelry. They offer a free catalog and a painting services price list.

Custom Models - Hand Crafted Historical Structures and Accessories, by Christopher Sikorski, Philadelphia, PA, telephone 215-848-6432, email address holgar~@sprynet.com - I have a pamphlet advertising this building service that lists 12 types of structures (in 25mm scale) among which are a stone hut ($20.00), a Viking dwelling ($30.00), a Windmill ($125.00), and a 15mm town complex ($115.00). I have not seen any of these buildings. This company also offers accessories of river sections (6" long $4.00), fields dry cornfield 3"x3" ($5.00), foliage mounted on forest floor 3 "x3" ($7.00), and 15mm siege towers ($ 15.00). This pamphlet states custom buildings can be built to any scale or period.

Bushy Run Battlefield, State Route 993, Jeanette, PA 15644 (mailing address P.O. Box 468, Harrison City, PA 15636-0468 (412) 527-55584 - In August of 1763, units from three British Regiments under Colonel Henry Bouquet fought Indians from several Nations of the Ohio Valley in a violent battle. The British prevailed, and this battle became the turning point in Pontiac's Rebellion, relieved the siege of Fort Pitt (built at the site of and on the ruins of Fort Duquesne), reopened communications and supply lines, and thwarted Native American attempts to regain lands promised by the 1758 Treaty of Easton. This battlefield site offers tours over hiking trails, educational programs, and special events (some re-enactments).

Civil War Uniforms. A Photo Guide, by Philip Katcher, ISBN 1-85409-333-9, published by Arms & Armor Press, 1990, 1996, distributed in the U.S. by Sterling Publishing Company, Inc., 387 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016-8810. This little book is a useful reference to the uniforms of both sides of the ACW, including 87 black and white photos with descriptions. It also contains for both sides: a chronology, a listing of the Armies and Corps, statistics of the armed forces, and information on the weapons, insignia, and uniforms of the armies and navies of the Union and Confederacy.

Timber Castles, Robert Higham and Phil Barker, ISBN - 0-8117-1747-X, Stackpole Books, 5067 Ritter Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055, 390 pages - This book contains everything you wanted to know about the timber castles of the British Isles and Europe, earthworks, origins, pictorial evidence, excavated evidence, stone and timber, timber, and on, for a mere $40.00! I found this book very interesting and useful for the construction of model structures of these types. The book is full of pictures, drawings, maps and diagrams to illustrate the subject castles. So many castles, so little time, and such a shortage of sturdy peasants to help out. What's a warlord to do?

Seven Years War Association Journal, Vol. VIII, Winter, 1996, Membership Directory, editor Jim Purky, 3127 Park Place, Evanston, IL 60201 - This is the journal of the Seven Years War Association, and this issue contains the membership listing, with an invitation to contact any of the members for information or to pick up a game. These folks are focused on the conflicts of the mid- 18th Century. This issue also contains a listing of figure manufacturers for this period, and some related internet sites to visit. This is a nice job! I was able to attend their convention in Indiana this year and was very impressed with the quality of the games, figures terrain, buildings, etc., and even the people.

Guernsey Foundry, 1549 Marview Drive, Westlake, Ohio 44145, 216-871-4587 - Would you like to have more Wild West Figures than actors in a John Ford movie? Well I have recently increased the population of my Wild West skirmish????? collection with the wide range of denizens of the old west from Guernsey. The Wild West "on-foot" figure collection from this company includes 22 townsmen, 16 cowhands, 25 shootists, 19 Apaches, and 21 Mexicans. You can have a Wild West population explosion yourself, and get 103 figures for $99.00! They also offer SYW Prussians, Cossacks, and Freikorps ($1.00 each, horses $1.50).

Egyptian Campaign 1997, c/o S.I.U.C. Strategic Games society, Office of Student Development, 3rd Floor Student Center, Carbondale, IL 62901-4425, or call Joel T. Nader at 618-529-430. Or E-Mail ECGameCon@AOL.com - A three-day gaming convention, March 28 - 30, 1997. Door open at 11:00 AM on Friday, and at 8:00 AM on Saturday and Sunday. Games listed as AD&D, Warhammer, Warhammer 40K, Star Fleet Battles, Vampire, Civil War Miniatures, Axis & Allies, Highlander, Magic, Star Wars (I'm Luke Skywalker and I'm here to save you!), Empire Builder, Sword & Flame, MERP, Command Decision, Battletech, Diplomacy, Shadowrun, Spell Fire, and other board, card, miniatures, and role playing games. Also scheduled to be a painting contest, game auction, special guests, art contest, and more.

Russian Campaign in Turkey 1877-78, by Maj. Gen. Francis V. Greene, US Army - 6x9" size, includes the period Russian Army handbook, total 520 pages, including atlas with 26 maps. Contact Articles of War, Ltd.,8806 Bronx Avenue, Skokie, IL 60077-1896, 847-674-7445, Email - warbooks@aol.com

Rank & File Miniatures, 19th Century Miniatures, 13595 Green Street, Grand Haven, Michigan, 49417, 616-837-7045 - Cast in pewter, Rank & File 15mm miniatures are available from this company at $20.00 for 100 infantry, $14.00 for 24 cavalry and horses, and 12 guns and 48 crew for $20.00. Odd figures can be purchased to "round out" your units also.

Pallas Armata Newsletter, US source: Andrew Preziosi, 11017 SW 125th Avenue, Miami, FL 33186 - Pallas Armata publications are photocopies A5 booklets reprinting rare military histories and pe riod memoirs for members of the wargaming societies. These booklets are reprints of many, many pieces from ancient to modern periods. Contact Andrew for information on these documents. A random sampling of titles: A Critical Study of German Tactics 1912, Von Moltke's Strategy In The War With The French Republic 1900, An Exposition Of The First Principals Of Grand Military Combinations and Movements, compiled form Treatise Upon Great Military Operations by Baron de Jomini 1825, The Life of Bel~sarus by Lord Mahon 1829, The Military Forces of Portugal 1883, and many, many more equally specialized titles

Empire Miniatures, Inc., 1100 Canyon Ridge Drive, Desoto, TX 75115 - A line of 15mm figures for the periods of "Napoleonettes (sp), Confederettes (sp) and Classics." The flyer received claims these are in stock.