Desolate Times at Fort Desolation

I'm not exactly A1 at the present, but Phil had kindly braved the Virus to join me in GHQ for our weekly game, in this case a F&IW tussle. The French begin with a superiority in units of two to one and the game objective of burning the British Fort Desolation. They have a group of five Paddoquoi war parties supported by Militia, Coureurs du Bois and Compagnie Franche de la Marine. For their part Fort Desolation is held by a unit of Provincials with a light artillery battery. Outside the fort are camped two Militia units and a unit of Rangers.

After six turns a dice of for Initiative determines which sides Regulars arrive first in Turn 7. The game ends after twelve turns with a British victory if the Fort remains unburnt in their hands. Now, as you have come to expect, an annotated photomontage to carry you down into the action ~

The terrain around Fort Desolation is open to the West, giving the defenders a clear field of fire against any enemy approaching from that direction.

On the Eastern flank of the fort fenced pasture affords some minimal cover to any enemy encroachment on that flank.

The Militia are a mixed bunch! Women and a hound making up the number in this newly raised unit.

The second Militia units is more experienced and battle hardened, the men are well equipped and determined.

The first Frenchies are sighted moving cautiously under cover on the fort's Eastern flank.

The Paddoquoi warparties are moving forward rapidly on the fort's Western flank with the Compagnies Franche de la Marine in support.

Only old men, women and children remain in the Paddoquoi village to witness the first women dragged into captivity...

The Militia are in some disarray it seems, much to the frustration of the British commander!

The Rangers are making slow progress to scout the strength of the French incursion reported to the east.

The first of the Paddoquoi warparties reaches Running Brook while the Militia are still in a state on some confusion.

Finding the French closer than they thought, the Rangers form a firing line to stem the advance and alert the commander to the danger on this flank.

A ragged volley from the Militia Disorders the leading Paddoquoi warparty and buys the hard pressed commander a breathing space. The French Woodsmen have broken cover and advanced on the Rangers exposed line.

The Disorder temporarily halts the Paddoquoi attack on the Militias...

...but another warparty finds cover amongst the rocks facing the fort's gateway. Their fire is not overly effective immediately...

... although the artillery suffer the fort's first casualties.

The general situation as it is developing is stretching the defenders, unsure where the main attack on the fort will fall!

Then, marching briskly down the road to the north the defenders see the main attackers, the Compagnies Franche de la Marine supported by the Coureurs du Bois. Things look like getting very tight for the defenders!

The Militia though are acquitting themselves well, blunting the warparties' advance on that flank. Command issues have hampered the coordination of the attack and bought the defenders more precious time.

Partially obscured by the pasture's fencing the Woodsmen are advancing on the Rangers without loss.

Soon though a firefight breaks out with both sides suffering losses and some Disorder. War is a messy business after all!

Emboldened by their unexpected success the Militia advance towards the Paddoquoi warparties stalled on the far bank of Running Brook determined to drive them off and move to aid the fort's defenders.

Ragged volley fire crashes out and it proves too much for the leading warparty, it's morale shattered the survivors flee for their lives!

The Ranger's situation though is less advantageous, Disordered and Shaken they are clinging on but are helpless to stem the French movement around the fort's flank.

While the fort's defenders are engaged in a life or death struggle with the French to their front they fail to spot the unit now to their rear trying to fire the fort!

Close quarter volley fire from both sides masks the efforts of the French party trying to set the fort's blockhouse alight. Flames will soon begin to lick along the dry woodwork if they succeed.

Striking flint on steel, the French struggle to light the wooden bunches they have brought with them for this purpose...

...while the hard pressed Provincials succeed in driving off the Paddoquoi warparty who charged them from the nearby rocks.

Almost too late the defenders realise the danger to the blockhouse structure and turn their fire on the French piling wood against the walls. Too late though as the first takes hold!

Winning the initiative throws the British see the first Regulars arrive to the fort's support, relieving the hard pressed Militia who have fought so well.

Sadly though the fire is soon burning strongly! Without rapid intervention it will burn fiercely out of control. The defenders, though relieved from immediate attack, now face a great challenge as a fierce fire is very difficult to extinguish.

The Rangers though cannot come to the fort's aid, finally breaking under mounting losses and fleeing for safety!

With the blockhouse now well alight the second British Regular battalion arrives to shore up the defense. A second attempt by the fort's defenders to extinguish the raging fire fails to halt its destructive spread!

The hard pressed and weary Militia thought their fight was over, when unexpectedly the Compagnies Franche de la Marine rush them across the wooden bridge spanning Running Brook!

The French do not need any help from their arriving Regulars now though, the fire is burning beyond control and Fort Desolation is lost. A resounding French victory in Turn 9, continuing my run of dismal form this year...

The figures are all from my small collection, mostly Redoubt Enterprises with some Galloping Major and North Star figures and a lone Foundry British mounted officer. The fort I bought ready painted at a Partizan Bring & Buy years ago for £14.00, back when bargains could be had! Trees, stream and fences are from The Last Valley while the farm buildings are scratch built and the Paddoquoi village by Grand Manner - they must have had a sale on then! The rules were Black Powder-ish and worked just as I'd hoped.

Next up here in GHQ a Crimean War game as Dan is due next week to take photos for a forthcoming article I've penned on the project. There is a taster by the way in the current issue of Wargames Illustrated in the form of a Quick Fire! piece I submitted.