Action at Passing Waters

 Once more the week has rolled round and Tuesday morning saw Phil and I meeting up in GHQ for another game. For personal reasons you need not trouble yourselves about we had decided on a smallish game set in the F&IW using our cut down Black Powder rules adaptions. Basically in small games we ignore Brigade morale, simply allocating 10 VPs to each enemy unit Broken and 5 VPs to each Shaken when the 12 Turns are completed. Of course if all are Broken before that juncture then the result is clear! The table at the onset of hostilities ~

Major Robinson took command of the Crown's forces: the first Brigade made up of Militia; ad hoc Homesteaders; and a Light Gun. The second Brigade of British Light Infantry; Colonial Infantry; and a large unit of Robinson's Rangers. Alphonse de Bykli commanded the French: four warbands of First Nations Paddoquoi; Coureur de Bois; Frontier Militia; and companie Franche de la Marine. The Crown had the Initiative and chose to move first. On then to the action ~

Lt de Rumforde urges his men forward past the cornfield to engage the advancing Colonial infantry!

Two Paddoquoi war bands remain to defend the village from surprise attack. {Failed command rolls of course!}

Robinson's Rangers have disembarked from their canoes on the far bank of Passing Waters to flank any French moves to cross Muddy Brook.

Warbands of Paddoquoi warriors advance boldly towards the Rawnsley Homestead intent on mischief. The Frontier Militia are rather more cautious...

Lt de Rumforde's stout men face off with Robinson's Rangers across Passing Waters while Alphonse de Bykleigh has pushed the Companie Franche de la Marine forward onto the rocky outcrop.

The hastily gathered homesteaders of the area clash with the Paddoquoi war bands. Fierce fighting rages at close quarters as more Paddoquoi hasten to the scene.

A nasty surprise awaits de Rumforde's men in the shape of a smart volley from the Militia deployed in the homestead's kitchen garden.

Two more war bands of Paddoquoi warriors have crossed Passing Waters to find themselves confronted by the British Light Infantry and Robinson's Rangers. 

Back on the other bank the homesteaders have defeated the first war band who flee unexpectedly as their morale crashes.

Finding time to catch their breath they reform just as the second Paddoquoi war band crosses Muddy Brook intent on taking scalps!

The Paddoquoi warriors are not daunted by the volleys from the Lights and Rangers moving swiftly through the woodland to attack.

They emerge into the clearing 'whooping and hollering' but the Lights are unmoved, giving them a devastating close range volley!

Despite the fire the Paddoquoi close with the Light Infantry. This will be a desperate struggle it seems.

The Colonial Infantry have been transported by canoes along the Passing Waters and form up on the far bank where Muddy Brook flows into the Waters.

The second Paddoquoi war band rushes the reformed homesteaders despite losses and disorder. The fighting is bitter with no quarter asked or given!

Worn down by fighting the homesteaders' morale collapsed and they flee from the Paddoquoi, a first success for de Bykli's forces.

De Rumforde's men have fallen back in Disorder after volleys from the Colonial Militia to be replaced by the Frontier Militia just as the Colonial Infantry form up below the rocky outcrop.

The success of the Paddoquoi warriors is short-lived. The Colonial Militia drive them back from the Rawnsley Homestead...

...while on the far bank of Passing Waters the other war bands are driven back to their canoes as their morale fails!

The Crown's forces are in the ascendancy having cleared the far bank of Passing Waters and driven back the remaining Paddoquoi warriors from the Rawnsley Homestead.

Its all up for the French at the end of Turn 12. They have 15 VPs to the British 45 VOs, a clear victory for Major Robinson. Rawnsley Homestead has been saved from destruction and plunder and the way is open to the Paddoquoi village. A fun game lasting just two hours and delivering lots of twists and turns along the way. Just what the doctor ordered!