Following on from my article regarding the use of howitzer shells in long guns in the 1793-5 campaigns in Flanders, here is the full text from the experiments during the siege of Gibraltar;
"(Sept. 25) An experiment was recomd. by Capt. (now Major) Mercier, 39 regt., viz.: to fire out of guns 51/2" shells with short fuses, which was tried on 25 Sept. and found to answer extremely well. These small shells, according to Mercier's method, were despatched with such precision, and the fuses calculated to such exactness that the shell often burst over the enemy and wounded them before they could get under cover. This mode of annoyance was desirable on many accounts: less powder, and the enemy more seriously molested. The former was an advantage of no small consequence since it enabled the Governor to reserve, at this period, what might probably be expended to greater benefit on some future occasion; it will also account for the extraordinary no. of shells which were discharged from the Garrison. The enemy attempted this practice, but never could bring it to perfection."
(Source: Minutes of the Proceedings of the Royal Artillery Institution, vol.29, 1902-3, p.93)
The Great Siege Stewart and Shells for long guns in Flanders
Nice light and airy venue - the other upstairs hall was splendid
The table set up with plenty of room for supporting materials
As the British emerge from Schyndel they can see the French vedettes in the early morning mist
Daendels brigade is struggling to get forward as it can't use "brigade moves" in the first two turns
The British Light Dragoons advance boldly to drive off the French Hussars .....
... only to be broken in the ensuing cavalry combat and resulting sweeping advance. Meanwhile Daendels finally gets his brigade moving forward - his battalion guns looking for the convenient bridge.
The French Hussars are driven off by the advancing British Guards
Wesley's brigade looks on from their position in reserve near Schyndel
The French infantry arrive to drive back the British Guards, breaking the First Foot Guards
Some links featuring other photographs of the game;
In order to give the pieces some weight, so that theywould stay in place - I then glued the ends to two pence pieces and covered them with flock and gravel.
The whole was then painted appropriately. These photos show the finished product in play - not as good as my custom built terrain boards but a lot better than chalk marks on the cloth!
Some Dutch ditches today;
Finally a contemporary cartoon of the Duke of York battling to escape one of these pesky ditches in May 1794, when his army was all but surrounded;
The strong sun dispersing the mist rather quicker than happened on 15th September 1794, revealing the British emerging from Schyndel on the right, while the French are deployed to the left, their hussars keeping close to their supporting light infantry. Although the action is known to history as the combat of Boxtel, that town is actually two game board lengths away from the heart of the action.
The French deployment with most of their strength not directly visible from Schyndel. Daendels' 6 battalion brigade deployed behind Chassé's advanced guard.
The British advance with the Light Dragoons moving ahead of the Guards brigade with Wesley's (i.e. Wellington) 3rd Brigade bringing up the rear.
Delmas trying to bring up two reluctant battalions which failed successive Black Powder command rolls.
The Guards light companies facing off the French light infantry on the right, supported by the 44th Foot.
The crisis approaches as the Guards brigade deploys across the main road to Boxtel, repulsing the French attack by breaking Daendels' brigade. Each pair of battalion guns on both sides are represented by a model gun with a single crew figure and reduced Black Powder fire effect. 
The roads are a textured masonry paint highlighted with lighter colours.
The grass finish is made using Guagemaster flock based grass matting stuck down carefully with pva, with all edges concealed with additional flock (very time consuming!)
The finished boards dressed with buildings from Hovels, JR Miniatures, Battleground and Total Battle Miniatures; ponds created from painted shell holes; ploughed fields by JR Miniatures; K&M trees.
The French 8 pdr Horse Artillery of the 4th Company 9th Artillery, supporting the skirmishers of the 3rd Battalion of the 30th Light Demibrigade , both units recruited from a mixture of Dutch, Belgian and Swiss soldiers in exile. These figures are all Minifigs.
A close up of the British marching out of Schyndel, these figures are all 15mm Minifigs, with the exception of the general figures, which are from the Wessex AWI range.
On the French right, Daendels' 29th and 199th Demibrigades de Bataille advance to contact, the figures are a mixture of Minifigs and Magister Militum figures.
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The climax of the action as the British Guards have advanced in line, they are about to push back the French light troops but in turn the Guards were forced to retire by Daendels' infantry and the game ended in a draw.
Another shot of the climax, with the young Lt. Col. Arthur Wesley, future Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, in the bottom right of the image, preparing to form the 33rd Foot into line to protect the retreat of the Guards Brigade. He is wearing a very modern bicorne for the 1790's!
Dugommier's "Division" assembled for the assault, including the young Napoleon, Victor, Junot and Marmont;
Victor assaults the Saint Louis Redoubt;
Brule advances to attack Fort Mulgrave itself;
and finally J.O.B's print showing Napoleon leading the reserve troops into the redoubt
