Imperial Han Cavalry

 

From tombs almost 2000 years old come a troop of Imperial Han cavalry miniatures.

Made of baked clay, these horseman each stand about a foot tall.

These are from historic pieces are from a touring exhibition at the Bowers Museum.

California Presidio's-Protecting a Colony on the Cheap

 

The Presidio at the colonial village of Santa Barbara and other strategic posts in far flung Alta California was Spain's attempt to hold this vast area with minimal troops. To protect Alta California, the Spanish divided the colony into four military districts, each centered upon a Presidio (fort) with a small garrison. Each Presidio was tasked with the protection of the missions in their military district.  

The first was El Presidio de San Diego, founded on July 16, 1769. San Diego was responsible for the mission San Diego, San Luis Rey, San Juan Capistrano, and San Gabriel.  El Presidio de San Carlos de Monterey, founded on June 3, 1770, protected San Luis Obispo, San Miguel, San Antonio, Soledad San Carlos and San Juan Bautista. El Presidio de San Francisco founded December 17, 1776, was responsible for Santa Cruz, San Jose, Santa Clara, San Francisco, San Rafael and Solano. The last Spanish Presidio was El Presidio de Santa Barbara, established April 12, 1782, that guarded La Purisima, Santa Barbara, San Buenaventura, San Fernando, and Santa Ines. 

 The chapel was a key building at each Presidio as the religious needs of the troops and conversion of the Natives were seen as keys to holding the colony.

Han Tomb Guards

 

More than 20 centuries old, these Han warriors were at one time protectors of the tombs of the Han emperors.  They are baked ceramic and are from a Chinese touring exhibition at the Bowers Museum.

Warrior Guards of Qin

 

Warriors of Qin

Ranks of 1/3rd scale warriors of Qin (Ch'in for those over 50) Shi Huang di stand in the positions their full-scale brethren occupied as they guarded the tomb of their emperor.  Qin Shi Huang di was the 1st Emperor of China and to protect his tomb he ordered more than 7000 life-size terra-cotta warriors created.  These copies are located at the China pavilion in Epcot Center in Walt Disney World.

The Bard-Multitalented Entertainer

 

A Renaissance Bard prepares to perform to a new audience of villagers, who will hopefully give him room, board and coin of the realm for their entertainment. The travelling bard was a common and looked forward to visitor to any Renaissance village or town. These multitalented performers were a combined newsman, storyteller, musician and singer. They travelled from town to town entertaining the populous with the latest news, gossip, songs and stories. Once the crowds, and money, dwindled as the townsfolk were sedated with his work, the bard would move on to the next village on his route, taking with him the latest news and gossip gained from this town to entertain and inform the next. As it might be as much as a year before the same bard revisited the same town, he was always welcomed with an attentive audience.

The Jeep-Workhorse of the Allies in the Second World War

 

With at least 640,000 Jeeps made during the Second World War, it's not surprising that they were a common sight in every Allied army on every front. Rugged, well-built and reliable, the Jeep became the new mule/workhorse of the Allies military. Completing every conceivable job from recon to raiding, transporting to towing, ambulance to anti-air, the jeep did it all.

Here we have Pacific Theater USMC Jeep armed with the famous M2 Browning (Ma Deuce) .50 cal. heavy machinegun. Firing a massive 12.7 mm (1/2-inch) wide bullet, the Ma Duce has been, and still is, a staple of the US Military since 1933. Effective against infantry, vehicles, lightly armored AFV's, aircraft and small boats, the Ma Deuce has been a popular choice in any firefight. 

At a cost of $1291.78 ($22,000 in 2022), the Jeep was a cheap and versatile way to get firepower and supplies to any hot spot on the line. With a speed of over 45 mph (72 km/p), the ability to haul over 1000 lbs. (454 kg) and travel in every combat environment, the Jeep was a welcome addition to any military motor pool.

After the war, many Jeeps became war surplus and served a double duty in the civilian realm. My own Uncle Herb used a Jeep at the Ranch for decades, doing sterling duty on the rolling hills and mountains of the Central California Coast. We still use the Jeep trails that he blazed in the 1940's, '50's and 60's. My favorite saying, he had about his trusty Jeep was "there are only two types of trees on the Ranch...those the Jeep can run over and those they can't...and there are darn few of those it can't."

This is a plastic/resin/metal piece I painted 

Highlander vs French and Native Americans in America

Colonel Hugh Montgomerie, 12th Earl of Eglinton, commander of the 77th Regiment of Foot (Montgomerie's Highlanders). Formed by Hugh in 1757, the 77th regiment was part of the British Army of North America during the French and Indian War (1754-1763). One of the first Highland regiments to serve in North America, the 77th participated in the capture of French Fort Duquesne, renamed Fort Pitt, in 1758. 

Colonel Montgomerie then led the 77th in the North Carolina Cherokee War of 1760-61, a sub-conflict of of the French and Indian War. After several battles, in which more than 5000 Cherokees were displaced, fifteen of their towns burned to the ground by the British as were 15,000+ acres of crops, the Cherokee were forced to sign a peace treaty favorable to the British.  In August 1763, the 77th took part in the Battle of Bushy Run that rescued Fort Pitt from a siege by several tribes of Native Americans.  

By the end of the French and Indian war, the 1200+ man regiment had lost over 100 men killed and 250 wounded. After four years of service in the Middle, Southern and Caribbean Colonies, the regiment was disbanded with honors. Some of the men would return to their homes in Scotland with stories of the wonders and dangers of Colonial America, enticing many Scots to immigrate to the Colonies. Many of those new immigrants would be joined by those of the regiment who also returned to this new land of endless opportunities.

Hugh Montgomerie, 12th Earl of Eglinton, Baron Ardrossan, Lord Lieutenant of Ayrshire, Knight of the Thistle, Peer of the Realm, Member of the House of Lords, Member of Parliament (b.1738 d.1819). Hugh was a successful politician and strong supporter of the British Crown. During his long life he witnessed the last battle between the Scots and English in the Jacobite Rebellion of 1754, the French and Indian War, the Seven Years War, the American Revolution, the creation of the United States of America, the French Revolution, the French Revolutionary Wars, the Napoleonic Wars, the War of 1812 and the restoration of the French monarchy.  His line still holds the title of Earl of Eglinton through his Great, great, great, great, great grandson Hugh Archibald William Montgomerie, 19th Earl of Eglinton.