Napoleonic - Song of Drums & Shakos : introduction

When Song of Drums & Shakos came out I fancied doing Napoleonics. Did I pick French for their dash & revolutionary fervour? British, maybe Gordons for their local connexion? Russians for the potential for scruffy figures in greatcoats? Nope. Albanians. Impressive moustaches, colourful waistcoats, costumes featuring white kilts and tights, and best of all a wide selection of peculiar hats. What more could anyone want?

The Albanians have yet to have a game but there have been a couple of good ones without them, featuring other Ottoman troops belonging to Mr D- W-. The Turks showed their enthusiasm in the first game when they took part in a single exchange of fire bravely enough but then realised it was all a bit dangerous, hunkered down behind cover and pretended to load their muskets for the rest of the game.

There was a very memorable game where a landing party of British sailors and marines, landed from HMS Indefensible, had to take a Turkish coastal gun position. The battery was surrounded by earthworks and looked quite formidable. However the British wisely came from the landward side, got the better of a fire-fight with the Ottoman guards, and then stormed the entrance. As the tars poured in the gate the garrison fled through the embrasures at the opposite side. The man of the match award went to seaman Staines, who led the storming party and personally cut down several Turks, albeit as they were running away. The worst performance was by boatswain Hearty, who was meant to lead the sailors into the position but was grazed by a musket ball early on and spent the rest of the fight rolling about on the ground and refusing to get up.