HotT Army Showcase #2: The Chartists

Fraternity, Liberty and Humanity Forever!

The Chartists? THE CHARTISTS? Yes that's right, The Chartists. But they never raised an army did they? No they didn't but they came pretty close to doing so on a number of occasions. I was looking for a new project, something unordinary,  and my gaze settled on the men of The Six Points.

The game system was to be Hordes of the Things and I knew that I wanted to be able to select troop types rather than going for a settled 24points job. Next there was the issue of the figures. I seemed to have been painting forever and wanted a break. I studied photographic images of Chartist rallies and leaders and then the idea came to me. Why not save the images and print them off in sepia tones and then mount them on  thick board? So I did. Then there was the problem of the bases. The muse was still with me and I thought that street plans of towns from the 1830s-1850 or so would be just the job. The bases also have labels with unit name and troop type.

The stronghold came next. the choice was obvious: The National Land Company & Rosedene of Blessed Memory!

So, who was to lead the army? Several Chartists had claim but one stood out head and shoulders above the rest: Feargus O'Connor one of the founders and driving forces of Chartism.

Fergus O'Connor - A Hero General

As I said several Chartists had claim but there can be only one General but every general needs a staff. With that in mind this man stood out as: George Julian Harney.

George Julian Harney - A Hero

Chartism always had a religious element in its ideology and social programmes. So, a cleric then! Ideal for diverting the reactionary magic of the forces of repression. And who better than: Ernest Jones?

Ernest Jones - A Cleric

Chartist propaganda was effective and widespread by means of newspapers, posters and handbills. Putting up posters and handing out leaflets was dangerous work and had to be done stealthily. The master of this, until his arrest and transportation was: William Cuffay. He was a hero but we've already got two of them so Lurker seems right.

William Cuffay - A Lurker

I mentioned The Six Points earlier. These points were the raison d'etre for The Chartists and they pursued these aims fervently and without diversion. So, a god then. 

The Six Points - A God

How did The Chartists spread their information and creed so effectively? Why by the power of the press! But here I had a dilemma because The Chartist's main newspaper, The Northern Star, suggested two different troop types. so I did both: Artillery & Flyer

The Northern Star - Artillery 

(A broadside from a broadsheet)

The Northern Star - A Flyer

(Pun fully intended)

The army needed some firepower besides the artillery. Shooters were the obvious answer based on the real life 'Wat Tyler Brigade' & 'The Finsbury Division' this: The Newport Rising and this: The London Orange Tree Plot.

Wat Tyler Brigade & The Finsbury Division - The Shooters

Finally we come to the great mass of the army: The Chartists themselves. Since, on the whole, they were organised mobs Hordes seemed the best option. I chose six cities where Chartism was very strong and also as an echo of The Six Points. They were:

1. The Hordes of Liverpool

2. The Hordes of Birmingham

3. The Hordes of Manchester

4. The Hordes of Bradford

5. The Hordes of Newport

6. The Hordes of Kennington

The Chartists - Hordes

The Army of The Chartists 

(A lot more than 24 points!)

Finally, as mentioned above, The Stronghold of Rosedene:

On An C19th Map Of Warwickshire

I hope you like this army. It's a bit different from the usual figure-based ones but I had a lot of fun putting it together.

All the best!