Antietam 17th September 1862

[MABO]

No the battle is going to happen, isn't it?

[C M Dodson]

Hi MABO.

No need to worry, Longstreet is approaching the middle bridge from South Mountain with McClellan in slow pursuit !

Lots of carnage to come.

Best wishes,

Chris

[Bessiere]

Excellent progress Mr. D. Your comment about Burnside's reluctance brought to mind a theory I have regarding Gen. Burnside's fighting at Fredericksburg at all. His march was slowed by waiting for his pontoon train which I believe was purposefully held back by officers loyal to Little Mac. He stole the march on Lee and could have been further South were the train there on time. They wanted Mac back and Burnside's failure would bring McClellan back (or so they hoped). I have never read any historian making this assertion and it may have been in revenge for Burnsides failure to attack as well. McClellan likely would have won if the attacks were coordinated.

[C M Dodson]

Hello Mr B and thank you for your kind words.

I feel that Mr Burnside had a poor impression of himself but was loyal to his friend McClean to the point of refusing initially to take command.

I think his real problem was his dislike for Hooker.

His plan whilst initially questioned by Lincoln had its merits as Lee’s army was dispersed.

Waiting three weeks for the pontoons was madness with predictable results.

Some of his officers indeed went behind his back to Lincoln to protest but following the mud March and Hooker’s dismissal Burnsides offer of resignation was refused and off he went east.

Hooker was reinstated and Ambrose, following his Eastern/ Crater exploits served three terms as Governor and two as a senator.

You can not make this stuff up.

Best wishes

[T. Dürrschmidt]

Hi Chris,

I am always a big fan of your realistic looking battle dioramas. The landscape is just stunning......and by sure you must have a very tolerant wife.....DER FELDMARSCHALL.....LOL!

The only nickname of this kind I am using from time to time is for my boss "Fürst der Finsternis" (Lord of Darkness)

[C M Dodson]

Our darling boy McClean !

George Britton McClean was viewed with great suspicion by Lincoln but was adored by his men.

A superb organiser and reconstructor of the Army after the disaster at Second Manassass he dithered in his pursuit of Lee during the Maryland campaign.

At the original engagement following extensive fussing over dispositions he effectively ‘relinquished command’ and apart from a brief foray, stayed at his Pry house headquarters.

I intend to factor in his indecision in my refight.

Nevertheless I want to show him with the troops and to that end have done some chopping to recreate some of his fan club.



There is some tidying up to be done but I am hoping the scene I have in mind will be appropriate.

In the meantime Paddy Kearney has a few words.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQL_EQi3M3o

Happy modelling.

Chris

[C M Dodson]

Whoops!

I have spelt our friend McClellan wrongly.

Stubby finger syndrome.

Apologies.

Chris

[Ochoin]

Surely you were referring to McClean, the great Scottish domestic servant?

His work on keeping the 'S'-bend immaculate is still considered seminal.

donald

[C M Dodson]

Hi,

I was thinking more along the line of toothpastes!

Best wishes,

Chris

[CliosPaintingBench]

Looking forward to seeing the final scene of McClellan, it's amazing the progress this project log has had over the years!

[C M Dodson]

George revisited.



I have started to lay out the ‘setting the scene’ story to the refight and was immediately unimpressed with my McClellan from two years ago.

A bit of research and a lucky find of an Art Miniturian casualty resembling the good general resulted in a head swap and and an upgrade.



Seeing as he was dead I repainted his head and am pleased with the result.



Progress.

Best wishes,

Chris

[Minuteman]

That is certainly a good-looking and realistic George McClellan. Well done Chris !

[MABO]

I second that!

[C M Dodson]

Tenting tonight.





I was thinking of casualty/ command posts and started to investigate Civil War tents.

I first cut the posts out of balsa and tied thinned picture wire for the guy wires.



I then formed a template from paper before cutting the canvas from toilet roll.





The whole thing was assembled and given a coat of white paint.

I was really pleased with the result until the camera revealed a ‘quilted look’.



The mark two will require a cheaper weave!

[Peter]

The tent looks good Chris!

Maybe you can use tissues for the next tent. I think that will more even, and look like canvas.

[C M Dodson]

Thanks Peter, I am constructing a mark 2.

Would you be kind enough to amend the title of the Antietam story in the gallery by removing the first THE please?

Best wishes

Chris

[Peter]

Would you be kind enough to amend the title of the Antietam story in the gallery by removing the first THE please?

Best wishes

Chris

DONE!

[C M Dodson]

Tents part two.

I showed my tent to Der Feldmarschall who condemned it as Sh1t!

Not very ladylike.

I have therefore erected a new tent with an inferior toilet tissue that does not have the quilt that derrières of distinction prefer.

It is, I think an improvement, but the construction is a nightmare due to the tissues fragility.

I took a little trial shot and low and behold a tent peg has broken off!



I will graft a new one on but in the meantime I am finishing off the Confederate dispositions as according to Carmen and the LOC.

Let battle commence!

[Captain Sibourne]

Ingenious!

[sansovino]

A incredible kind to produce convincing tents. Never seen before, but pretty easy. Thanks a lot for it.