Dear Editor,
Having just received the new ACW figures from Frontier I felt compelled to review them. On a scale of 1 to 10, I would have to rate the entire line an 8, with several figures in the 9/10 range. They have to be one of the two best lines for ACW figures on the market. The detailing of face and equipment is clear and crisp, and the figure animation is top notch. The figure size is akin to Mini-Figs, but will fit in nicely with Empire and Stone Mountain.
Having painted some, I was shocked to note the ramrod in the rifle channel on several figures, along with a flowing greatcoated figure which has none of the "stiffness" of Mini-Figs. Their dismounted cavalry figures are especially nice, with laying down firing, kneeling and laying down and reaching for another cartridge figures.
The castings come in a variety of stances and equipment from "light" to full marching gear. The range is full with the generic Union/Confederate types along with specialty figures, artillery and equipment. On the negative side, the horses tend to be stiff with little animation, and the figures without bayonets look as if they are carrying carbines rather than rifles.
All said, I don't think you can go wrong with these little gems!
Dear Editor,
The Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies In the War of the Rebellion has some additional information about the Union gunboats "Moose" and "Allegheny Belle" in the pursuit of Morgan's Raiders on the Ohio River in July of 1863. In Series IT, Volume I, page 151 the "Moose" is listed as having six 24 pdrs. on board at the time of the raid. I was not able to determine if they were in two 3 gun broadsides, or two 2 gun broadsides with a bow and stern pivot gun, or in some other arrangement. The "Allegheny Belle" (as mentioned in Series I, Vol. 25, page 256) was "fitted out by General Burnside with cotton around her boilers and mounted a rifled Parrot". Under the circumstances, I would also guess that this was a 20 pdr. Parrot. The engagement at Buffington Island was the first time under fire for many of the crew on there gunboats, as noted in Series I, Vol. 25, page 255.
Since I do not know the JOHNNY REB rules I cannot make any suggestions as to the way this information could be used in the scenario presented in THE ZOUAVE (Vol. II, Number 1). Common sense suggests that the "Moose" can never bring more than 3 guns to bear on the same target, but could f ire up to 3 guns each at two different targets.
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© Copyright 1988 The American Civil War Society
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