Here's an Exciting Read. . .

Lithuania Ascending

A Pagan Empire Within East-Central Europe, 1295-1345

by S. C. Rowell, Cambridge Studies in Medieval Life & Thought

I needed a little more background on my Teutonic and Lithuanian armies so I dove into this book.  The period focused on is the rise of the Lithuanian Duchy and its growth under the grand dukes that lay the groundwork for the combination of Lithuania and Poland in the 15th Century.  During this time, the Lithuanian Grand Dukes held their own and managed to expand against the Poles, Rus, Teutons, Swedes, Danes, Rigans, Hungarians, Bohemians, and Tatars.  The Lithuanian Grand Dukes, particularly Gediminus played off Imperial vs. Rus interests, Catholic vs. Othodoxy, and grand duke against grand duke to further his own interests and maintain their pagan center of power in Lithuania.

Well written as various topics are explored but of course the source material is limited and focusing on a 50-year period, the information gets a bit repetitive at times but the author does highlight between what is written (be it corroborated or not) and what later historians assumed or interpreted.

https://www.amazon.com/Lithuania-Ascending-East-Central-1295-1345-Cambridge-dp-1107658764/dp/1107658764/ref=mt_paperback?_encoding=UTF8&me=&qid=

The Candlemass Road

by George MacDonald Fraser

An interesting piece of historical fiction.  Fraser is the author of the fictional Flashman series and an

excellent memoir of his time in Burma during WWII title "Quartered Safe Out Here."  In all his books as well as The Candlemass Road, he knows his English, Cumberland and Scottish manners of speech and after a few paragraphs you "hear" the accents clearly though he does leave you thumbing to the glossary to find out what a bit of slang or some period usage of a word.  I discovered "kye" refers to a bovine in 16th century border speak and presumably this morphed into the word "cow" over time.

Anyway, The Candlemass Road shows a fictional account in the day of the life of a border reiver, or in this case, a "broken man" (someone who has forsaken any loyalty to riding surnames or noble houses).  On Candlemass day, a savior must be found to save a small dirty village from the Nixons who want blackmail from the village.  The story unfolds from there as the Lady Dacre, reivers, a heretic priest, callow-men, and varlets move the story along.

For a little "light" historical background, Fraser appends some explanation at the end of the book but if you want the real history, try Fraser's "Steel Bonnets" in all its 400+ page glory.  A "riding" tale of battle, murder, mayhem, redhands and hot trods along the border marches of England and Scotland.  Watch out for the Armstrongs, as hard-bitten as any riders out of the debatable lands.

https://www.amazon.com/Candlemass-Road-George-MacDonald-Fraser/dp/161608099X

Battle of Wilson's Creek

Bloody Hill

The Civil War Battle of Wilson's Creek

William Riley Brooksher

An excellent book that covers the 1850-1861 history of the Pro-Slavery and Abolitionist struggles in Missouri as the civil war approaches.  After the start of the civil war, Brooksher moves into a military history structure concerned with the structure and characteristics of the rival forces in Missouri as they maneuver and bring about the battle of Wilson's Creek.

https://www.amazon.com/Bloody-Hill-Civil-Battle-Wilsons/dp/1574882058

28mm American Civil War Minis

Started a new collection of 28mm ACW figures.  First purchase was Yankee and Rebel skirmishers from Sash and Saber

Figures are mounted 3 to a 40mm wide by 30mm deep base.  This basing will be suitable for Fire n Fury or any number of other rules.

I've based 28mm figs individually before but this is the first time mounting multiple figures on a base, so I decided to spend some time with the bases.  The bases are covered with "scenery mortar," a powder that is mixed with water and spread on the base and pushed up around the figure bases.  The scenery mortar seems to be a powder mix of fine sawdust and glue that binds all together with the added water.  Model railroader use this stuff a lot and for me it is easier to work with than spackle compound from the hardware store.  Added some ballast and rocks to the wet mortar.

Anyway, after the mortar dries, about 8 hours, I brushed it with Earth Undercoat (Woodland Scenics product) mixed with water and white glue to add color to the mortar and some more binding to the ballast and rocks.  When that dried I then added the tall grass and static grass followed by dry brushing of the base.  Viola.

Next I'm doing the Yankees.