Brecher’s Boys hold the flank against the odds.

Although it was a Bank Holiday on Monday here in the UK Phil and I were still able to meet up in GHQ for our usual weekly encounter on Tuesday instead, mainly as Sue and I were not required for grandparenting duties this week. We had settled on an AWI battle as I have recently completed several additions for both sides of my AWI collection. New unit syndrome? Well, let's see how it all unfolded, or unravelled...

The forces of the crown mass for the attack!

The American right is held by Militia units supported by two
regiments of Maryland Continental Infantry.

The centre is held by men fro New York and New Hampshire
in the main. The artillery commands the road.

On the British left the Queen's Rangers supported by Butler's
Rangers advance on the Militia who have them under heavy
fire! In the centre the 45th lead the attack.

The 45th are supported by the 43rd who line the fence and pour
fire on the riflemen defending the weak part of the line.

All is looking good for the rebel cause at this stage, the attack
on their left has stalled. Some very poor Command Rolls!

The New York regiments enfilade any attempts to engage the
American left held by two Pennsylvania brigades.

A Blunder sends the dismounted Light Dragoons into a very
uneven fight!

Colonel Brecher rallys the boys! The Queen's Rangers press
the attack home under fire!

On the American left the action is finally hotting up. Casualties
are mounting on both sides.

Weight of numbers threaten to overwhelm the weak
American centre as the Regulars move steadily
forward.

Hand to hand fighting is vicious and bloody in the
 fields and lane on the American left.

At last the Hessians find their fighting spirit. The boys from
Pennsylvania are having a hard time. The American left is
beginning to waver under mounting pressure!

As the infantry close in the centre Light Dragoons clash in a
vain attempt to stem the tide of the battle.

Weakened by fire the New Yorkers find themselves assailed by
the Light Dragoons! The Rhode Island battery plays havoc with
the South Carolina Loyalist infantry!

The American left is beginning to crumble as the Guards and
the Welsh Fusiliers finally arrive to deal the decisive blow.

While on the opposite flank the Militia are still standing firm.
{I don't ever recall throwing so many successive 5s and 6s
to save casualties from fire!}

The pressure on the centre has eased as old 'Independence or
Death' Bykleigh moves with the Philadelphia Light Horse to
fill a gap in the line.

By Turn 11 it looked very much like a loosing draw at best
for the rebel cause when Lord Rawnsley failed several
 Morale Checks. The British right and centre were suddenly
broken in rout!

While on the right of the rebel line the Militia had again held
off the regulars! "Cheer boys and give them more lead!"

A remarkable game in many respects. Regulars who would not advance in the face of fire; Mercenaries who just refused every order; Militia who totally out of character went toe to toe with the bloody backs. And on and on. So many firing hits saved! I thought I had lost in Turn 11 only to see a remarkable series of Morale Check fails by Phil in Turn 12. Victory snatched from the very jaws of defeat! The joy of Black Powder encapsulated in one game!!