The Ruin of his Hopes

With America in mourning for 250 years of not being British a game using my AWI collection seemed appropriate for Paul's first visit to GHQ since April! I bought my first figures for this project from Front Rank at Salute, when it was still held at Kensington Town Hall! They were being sold I think as a 'special' offer, a small force in a box. Although I can't recall the exact contents I'm pretty confident there were a few 12 figure infantry groups, a gun and crew, a general and a few riflemen in the American box, with the British box being much the same. In time I added to these, along with new units, all from Front Rank. The collection reached a satisfactory size and was 'finished' to my mind. Over the following years it appeared in occasional games, with ever longer intervals inbetween. I retired in 2002 and in 2004 welcomed my first Wargames Room with a permanent tabletop battlefield- GHQ Mk1 as I recall it now the location has moved into our converted garage. The two factors happily combined to see not just new projects undertaken, but older ones revisited and added to. For the AWI collection new Hessian units and old hands reflagged and rebased. Front Rank have been augmented with Wargames Foundry and Perry Miniatures figures, with even a few Eureka Miniatures finding their way into the collection! So, here they are, old and newer units in a meeting engagement around the Robinson House, so recently added to the terrain options! Paul, as Lord Gornal, took command of the Crown's forces while yours truly commanded the Rebellious Colonials as Ol' Independence or Death Bykleigh. All the following pictures in the anotated photomontage were taken by Paul ~

Seizing the initiative the American infantry surge forward eagerly, that is two moves!

More troops are marching steadily towards the developing action. In the distance British Light Dragoons crest the rise and are surprised to find no enemy has yet reached the fence line. Could there be an opportunity here for Glory?

The American infantry shake out into firing lines in the face of the mounting number of the Crown's forces to their front. Boys from New York and New Jersey prepare to fire a first volley!

In the centre waves of enemy infantry are steadily advancing unopposed! The American left wing is finding the going hard ~ poor command dice of course! 

The Hessians are advancing steadily to threaten the hesitant American centre-left. Militia cavalry are hurried forward to stem the advance. A master stroke or a grave error?

In the centre the Crown's forces are steadily closing on the American front line. Will numbers tell or will American firepower win the day?

In a desperate move Ol' Independence or Death sends a brigade of Militia around the Crown's left flank. Despite largely ineffective sniping by native Americans the Militia press on to attack the guns playing havoc with the American centre.

Von Rall's grenadiers are thrown back by a combination of fire from the Jersey Blues and a whiff of cannister at close range! The sacrifice of the Militia horse has allowed more American infantry to reach the fence line. It looks as if the Light Dragoons have missed their opportunity!

American losses are mounting despite localised success at times. Disorder is a major handicap to Ol' Independence or Death's planning.

In close quarter fighting men exchange volleys and cannister thins the American ranks! The weight of numbers is beginning to tell on the hard pressed Americans.

Hessian infantry fire has thrown back the rash Militia horse! The American left is held mainly by Continental Dragoons supported by Militia and Volunteer horse. In the face of Hessian numbers will they hold?

In the rear of the Hessian Infantry Tarleton holds his Legion and Volunteer horse in readiness to exploit any opportunities that might present themselves as American ranks thin and lines crumble.

Close quarters volleys crash out all along the battle line. Men fall to rise no more but neither side gives way!

As fighting rages in the centre British infantry emerge from the woods in an attempt to turn the American flank and roll up the line! Militia are the only unit available to thwart the move!

Meanwhile the American militia tasked with taking the guns have reached their goal. Despite losses one gun is lost but its comrade is proving another matter. The Marylanders are halted Shaken and take galling casualties from cannister fire!

Unable to withstand their losses any longer the American right collapses as its morale crumbles!

It has not been all one sided though. Serious losses and disorder have hampered Lord Gornal's efforts to dislodge the outnumbered colonials! Even the converged grenadiers have faltered!

The Americans find their right flank being pressed back ever more tightly. The centre finds itself being flanked as well as hard pressed along it's front. Surely it cannot hold its position in the face of such developments?

The hard pressed centre is clinging on. But losses are ever mounting and morale is crumbling. Hessian volleys are wreaking destruction all along the American line!

The army has ceased to be a coherent force as morale loss reaches and then exceeds the critical point. Units head for safety in the rear without awaiting orders. It's all up for Ol' Independence or Death Bykleigh  as he heads for his coach and safety just like his command!

Darkness falls early across the battlefield. That is to say that after Turn 6 the American army morale collapsed due to mounting losses and the number of Shaken units. The 'Dice Gods' were somewhat less unkind to Paul than to myself, though neither of us had outstanding results! Nevertheless a closely contested action fought in just the right spirit of friendly opposition. Just what we strive for in every game here in GHQ. 

A Little Distraction

Paul and I played an AWI encounter last Thursday. While I was getting sorted beforehand I played around with some of the bits and pieces, ephemera if you will, which I've accumulated over time and took a few pictures for interest. I thought you might like to see them ~

An C18th coach and horses which Phil painted for me a few years back now. The lady and gentleman greeting the occupant are from Perry Miniatures,  while the field worker you can just make out is from a Eureka set.

A better view of the coach and horses set. If I recall accurately its by either Westphalia or Black Hussar. The driver is a Foundry figure I think.

A camp scene from Perry Miniatures. Various camp detritus in resin, from lord knows where or when! The Robinson House from Hovels, acquired as is for £5.00 last Sunday at the Tabletop Sale held at Aldersley Leisure Village. 

An alternate viewpoint of the vignette. Its cleverly done so it can feature for both the Crown and the Rebels. I was going to repaint the house but I don't think I'll bother now.

"Gotta pick a bit o' cotton!" Cotton plants sourced on the web from Vietnam, really model railroad scenics. Made of wire and paper balls if you fancy a bash at your own. Female field hands from Eureka Miniatures UK. Dan got cold feet I think when I submitted a short piece about the representation of slavery and of Colored troops in ACW gaming Illustrated by this piece. It was very positively received though on my blog.

When Paul has found time to process the pictures there will be an AAR of the game. Pop back later in the week for that. Meanwhile Tuesday sees GHQ in action again, with a SYW game with Phil. Then it'll be time for some R&R for Sue and I towards the end of the month.

An American Interlude

On Monday Phil and I met up as usual in GHQ for our weekly game. We had decided on a detour into my North American collections, starting with the AWI. I set out quite an open battlefield as I hoped to give most of my figures an airing! Phil, as George Washington Robinson, took on the command of the Rebellious Colonials while I was left for probably the first time to command the forces of the Crown. Enough blathering on, down to the tabletop action with the expected annotated photo montage ~

The Rebel's left wing made up of the Continental infantry and a light gun.

Contrast that with the Rebel's right wing held by the Militia supported by a 9lb gun, no doubt 'borrowed' from some Crown battery along the way.

The Rebel's strong centre comprising their State infantry regiments and their cavalry component, supported by two batteries of guns emplaced to defend the camp. I quite expected that Phil would see the possibility of fighting a defensive action while we waited on the arrival of our Reserve so I was taken by surprise when winning the initiative he advanced his left and centre. Plan A scuppered almost before I'd rolled a dice in anger!

On the Crown's left flank a small Brigade of Provincial infantry and a war party of Paddoquoi native Americans. This Brigade was tasked with occupying the Rebel Militias who might otherwise enfilade the Crown's planned assault on the Rebel centre.

Lord Howe himself in the centre of the Crown's forces sees his Brigade of Provincial infantry champing at the bit to step off in the assault on the American centre.

Their attack will be supported by a Hessian Brigade, the two combining in the Grand Plan to smash the Rebel centre decisively!

While on the Crown's right flank a Brigade of British regular infantry, supported by two Light Dragoon squadrons, will make short work of the Rebel Continental infantry! Well, at least that was Plan A.

The Rebel Militias are holding their defensive position as expected in Turn 1, allowing the Provincial regiments and the Paddoquoi war party to advance to the assault as planned. Butler's Rangers are screening the front, the war party the left of the main assault.

The Rebel centre has most surprisingly advanced boldly to occupy the low rise to their front. The Hessian and Provincial Brigades have unexpectedly to enter a firefight to dislodge them! Numbers and the cold steel should carry the day though, or at least Lord Howe thought so!

The Continental infantry Brigade on the Rebel left has also thrown off its defensive posture around the farm and advanced to confront the British regulars.

Plan A is stillborn it seems! The Philadelphia Light Horse and Continental Dragoons supporting the Rebel centre have charged the small Provincial cavalry Brigade lead by Tarleton's Legion under the command of man himself!

Outnumbered and outclassed both Provincial cavalry squadrons are driven back Shaken, exposing the flank of the Provincial infantry attacking the Rebel centre!

The South Carolina Loyalists reach the Militia's fence line in the face of a storm of shot & shell. The Paddoquoi war party make off through the woods on their left hoping to take the defending Militia infantry and gun crew by surprise. The Rebel cavalry meanwhile is regrouping from their successful melee with their Loyalist foe.

In the centre both sides shake out into Firing Lines ready to contest possession of the low rise shielding the Rebel centre. Lord Howe remains confident that his canon fodder, sorry, Provincial Loyalists and Hessians, will carry the position comfortably!

Although some Light Infantry have worked their way around the Rebel left the main lines of both protagonists have settled into a merciless firefight. Casualties and ensuing Disorder begin to mount on both sides.

Looking along the battlefront it seems almost inconceivable that the Crown's forces will not prevail against the upstart Colonials. In the rear the Light Dragoons are champing at the bit in anticipation of the coming pursuit of the broken enemy.

The South Carolina Loyalists have failed to smash through the Militia fence line and suddenly their supports are threatened by a charge from the Continental Dragoons under a 'Follow Me!' order!

The Paddoquoi War Party has failed to break the Militia and are driven back Disordered and Shaken. They fail their Morale Save having numerous excess casualties. Plan A on the Crown's left has definitely come unstitched!

The Provincial Loyalists fire an ineffective volley and fail to stop the Continental Dragoons charging home. The ensuing melee is short and bloody...

The Provincial Loyalists Break and with them the whole Brigade shares the same fate. The Crown's attack on the Militia has failed, leaving the centre open to both enfilade fire and hostile cavalry.

Looking along the centre towards the Crown's failed left wing attack on the Militia you will also note the stalled Hessian attack due to the superior fire of the Rebel's State Infantry ~ aka Phil's Saving Throws!

In a last desperate throw of the dice the commander of the Light Dragoons orders his men to 'Follow Me!' They successfully charged home against the Rebel's 2nd Maryland Continental infantry but fail to break them, being Disordered by Passing Fire! It's all up for Lord Howe in Turn 7 as the Crown's army reaches Break Point...

Lord Howe can only stand and stare as the Crown's forces crumble and melt away, beaten by a bunch of farmers! Oh, the shame...

A great game to play in despite the thumping Phil handed out and good to see most of the collection on the table. The Crown's Reserve turned up too late to take any part in the fighting while the Rebel's Reserve would have made it on the tabletop battlefield in Turn 8, but for...

Next scheduled game in GHQ at the end of the month will be another Americana extravaganza with the War of 1812-15 getting an overdue airing. Meanwhile it's back to painting French Zouaves for the Crimean War project!

Scenes of Desperate Fighting at Greenacres Farmstead

For Phil's most recent session on Tuesday here in GHQ we had fixed on a visit to the AWI collection, as it had not enjoyed a recent airing. I entered the game with no real expectations of victory, being on a run of mostly defeats so far this year. As usual now then an anotated photomontage to carry you in to the unfolding drama of some desperate fighting at Greenacres Farmstead ~

The Rebellious Colonist's forces are commanded by the veteran Ol' Independence or Death Bykleigh while the Loyalists and Hessians are lead by Lord Rawnsley. Having the initiative Bykleigh sends his Mountain Men forward in advance of his main force to slow the enemy's approach.

The Fourth and Eighth Virginia Continentals along with the New Jersey Blues advance behind the Mountain Men, their left flank covered by a small brigade of Militia.

Rawnsley's Loyalists are slow to move off but Butler's Rangers have reached the lane and take post behind the split rail fence. On their right the Volunteers of Ireland lead the King's Orange Rangers and Loyalist Militia forward.

Von Robensahn's Hessians are hesitant. Perhaps somehow the Paymaster General omitted to forward the necessaries?

Battle lines are finally being formed in preparation for the main event getting underway! It seems the Hessians were paid after all!

The Hessians shake out into line facing the Continentals, who are still screened by those Mountain Men. The main action is underway after a considerable delay for both sides.

Von Robensahn's Hessians make a daunting sight for the Continentals, who might lack their enemy's experience but make up for that in patriotic determination.

Bykleigh's Continentals advance with grim determination and deliver a crashing close range volley into Von Robensahn's men. Morale is everything and the volley shakes the resolve of several units.

Around the Greenacres Farmstead the Volunteers of Ireland and their supports have pressed forward to close with the Militias who are taking some cover behind the fence line.

All along the centre and right volleys of musketry crash out. Men fall, morale is tested, but the lines are both holding fast. Strangely though on the far flank neither Brigade commander wants to make the first move and risk exposing his army's flank.

The Continentals trade fire with the Hessians without any side having caused decisive casualties! Neither side will fall back in the face of their foes!

The 3rd Maryland march to support the Militia who are facing a determined attack from Loyalists.

Finally the morale of one Hessian unit fails and they flee to the rear. With a further battalion Shaken it seems the momentum may be swinging behind Bykleigh.

Galling fire from the Militias, supported by elements of Lee's Legion drive back the Loyalists at a vital moment.

The Grenadiers von Raal are broken by the weight of casualties suffered and flee the field. Von Robensahn's Hessians are on the verge of defeat!

The opportunity to press forward cannot be passed over. The Virginia Continentals dress their lines and advance on the remnants of Von Robensahn's command!

It is all too much for the mercenaries and with collapsing morale they flee the field. With his right beaten, centre driven back and right imobile Lord Rawnsley conceded the victory to Ol' Independence or Death Bykleigh. 

A grand Black Powder 2 game full of twists and turns which we both enjoyed as ever. All up for Phil in Turn 7, mainly as a consequence of a run of very poor Command, Firing and Morale dice scores. Anyway, he's off in Cornwall for a week's R&R and I am off to Partizan tomorrow (DV)!!!