Liberty or Death!

Enthused and invigorated by Partizan Phil and I set to in GHQ to fight an AWI game this week. An encounter battle fought over the rolling Virginian countryside sees ol' "Liberty or Death" Bykleigh confronting his nemesis Lord Rawnsley. The Americans fielded four small brigades of infantry, two of Continentals and two of Militia, supported by a battery of 9lb guns and two 3lb galloper guns accompanying the two Continental battalions, the Philadelphia Light Horse and the 4th Continental Light Dragoons. Lord Rawnsley commanded two infantry brigades, one of Regulars and one of Loyalists, together with two small cavalry brigades, one of Light Dragoons and elements of Tarleton's Legion and a second of Loyalist volunteers. In addition he was supported by De Whit's Hessian mercenaries comprising four infantry battalions, two of Light Troops and the force's only artillery, a 3lb gun. Phil won the initiative and opted to move first, though in true style not a lot entered the field of battle for him in Turn 1!

Slow progress by the Virginia Continental battalions on the American right from the off rather set the tone for the game with hindsight...

Lord Rawnsley had more joy of his subordinates hastening to carry out his wishes, excepting De Whit's Hessian mercenaries of course. Had he forgetfully omitted to pay them I wondered?

In the American centre the first Militia brigade take up position behind the fence line while the Continental battalions struggle to get moving at all. 

The Continental Light Dragoons face their British rivals along the lane, a rare outing as Small units was going to catch up both out as the game progressed!

The impetuous Philadelphia Light Horse charge the British Light Dragoons. It might have worked, but for the dice... The advancing Loyalists behind the melee are halted by Disorder resulting from the Militias' opening volley.

The Continental Light Dragoons have charged the King's Orange Rangers, my second mistake with a Small unit!  Old 'Victory or Death' has carelessly lost all his cavalry!

On the American right progress is still glacial with the Hessians slightly edging the movement stakes! The Virginia Continental battalions are very slow to get moving!

Rebel militias confront Loyalist battalions and losses begin to mount as they trade volleys.

On the American left the New Jersey Blues and the 3rd Maryland mimic the tardiness of their Virginian compatriots on the right. Thankfully Lord Rawnsley's advancing Regular brigade is equally cautious as it suffers losses from the American artillery battery.

Finally both sides get into position and the delayed fight for the left behind in earnest.

As it does on the right, with the Hessians and Virginians trading volleys across the fence line.

Despite being Shaken and Disordered the Militia put up unexpected resistance in a long melee with the Regulars! Four Turns passed before their morale finally broke! What I might have given for their dice elsewhere in the unfolding action, or for Phil's Saving Throws?

The American right is the first to crumble, the Virginians finally broken by Hessian volleys! In the centre the first Militia brigade has finally fled leaving the second to its fate as Lord Rawnsley's attack presses forward 

With the loss early on of his cavalry brigade compounded by the mounting infantry losses Bykleigh finds his army has lost the will to carry on with the fight and concedes defeat in Turn 9. With hindsight the battle turned on a combination of slow deployment and mishandling of cavalry on the American side while the steady build up of momentum by the Crown's forces continually pressed home their localised advantages: Black Powder at its best we thought!