The New Rawnsleigh Raid

At last GHQ is freed from storage duties and can once more host games with the completion of our family bathroom renovation. To celebrate Phil arrived to take on once more the mantle of his C18th alter ego, Lord Rawnsley, whose family rise to prominence after the Restoration of King Charles in 1660 in recognition of the stalwart service of his ancestor Marmaduke 'Gaylord' Robinson to king Charles II's father during the 'unpleasantness'. With Phil in command of the defense of New Rawnsleigh I took command of the French and First Nations forces as Alphonse de Byklé one of whose descendants would go on to serve Typoo Byka, the Lion of Pendawar, early in C19th India. The rules used were Black Powder 2 of course and 12 Turns was set as the limit for the French to burn New Rawnsleigh, defeating the British-Colonial forces would be a bonus. As is usual, a photomontage to give a sense of the unfolding action ~

New Rawnsleigh still sleeps as dawn breaks somewhere in the upper  Hudson Valley of the New York colony. As yet there is little indication of the day's unfolding events...

The British defence is divided into three sections. Only the Rangers in the foreground and the Regulars' Light Companies in the distance can move in Turns 1 & 2.

The Stockbridge tribes in the centre section start off table until shots are heard.

The French enter from off table on the right bank of the river, Coureurs du Bois, Frontier Militia and Compagnies Franches de la Marine lead the Regulars.

Paddaquoi First Nations warriors travel by track and river covering the French left flank. Or at least they were meant to...

The first shots rouse the British camp, where sergeants and officers struggle to get their regiments formed up ready to march out.

Each homestead is defended by its family, each a Tiny Unit in Black Powder terms, though with the option of combining with other homesteaders into Small or Regular units. The first shots are fired from this home and the action unfolds over 12 Turns.

The nervous citizens of New Rawnsleigh have a Light Artillery piece deployed on the main access track. In the distance the Stockbridge warriors have moved tentatively forward.

The British left, comprising Rangers, Provincials and Scots Grenadiers moves forward cautiously.

The warriors of the 'Praying Indians' seem unnaturally cautious. Perhaps they are not as loyal as Lord Rawnsley hoped?

One Paddoquoi war party attacks the Robinson House. The staunch defence by the men of the family and their hound throws the warriors into disorder. The Light Companies are hurrying to their aid.

The British left is looking solid, somewhat daunting even, though it's advance is cautious.

Equally tardy, the French form up into line ready to fire on the leading British elements, Robinson's Rangers.

Despite setbacks in orders being executed, the French raid is shaping up nicely. If only the Robinson House could be cleared of its defenders the route to New Rawnsleigh would lie open.

Still no sign of the Regulars as their exposed Light Companies come under attack by a second Paddoquoi war party. The Robinson House is still proving a thorn in the French side!

French volleys play on the Rangers but cause no losses, but do disorder them. If they are not driven off the French right may stall and the attack falter.

Indeed, the attack does fail with some elements being driven back in disorder and with mounting losses!

At last the Robinson House is captured but the second Paddoquoi war party now faces a regiment of British regulars while their Light Company fired into them from the cover afforded by the woodland.

As we paused for lunch - after all an army matches on its stomach they say - the French are feeling quietly confident as they fire the first house of New Rawnsleigh.

Such optimism may prove to be I'll founded as the right flank regiments need to rally and reform before going in once more on the enemy.

Some success comes for the French when fire from the Paddoquoi war party and the French Canadian Militia causes one regiment of British regulars to break and flee. The French are definitely feeling on the up!

The regiment's Light and Grenadier companies atone for their comrades by driving back the Paddoquoi war party! Another set back for the French! 

Still, the French look in pretty good shape and British losses are significant (one Victory Point for each base lost & one for each home set aflame)

While the Robinson House burns fiercely the French drive off the second British regular regiment. Surely a French victory is inevitable now?

Qu'est qué C'est? In Turn 12 the French fail miserably to drive home their advantage having been roughly used in Turn 11. The British make no mistake now: volleys crash about and the French right is shattered. The day belongs to Lord Rawnsley and to Robinson's Rangers.

A splendid and hard fought game going down to the wire and proving once more how versatile and adaptable the Black Powder rule system is. Ignoring the rules for victory and substituting our point for loss system kept the game flowing freely without distorting the outcomes in any way. I think the game is worthy of a rerun with just a few tweaks for interest, we shall see.