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)!!! 

Call Out the Militia!

Phil and I renewed friendly hostilities here in GHQ with the first game of 2024, a small AWI battle pitching the Rebel Militia commanded by Ol' Independence or Death Bykleigh and the Hessian/Loyalist force lead by Von Robensähn. The game was played using Black Powder 2nd Ed as the rules, with one or two in-house modifications, and was set at 12 Turns duration. 

To win the game the Militia must prevent the Hessians/Loyalists from reaching their base line! In Turn 6 they can attempt to bring on a two regiment Virginia Continental Brigade and in Turn 8 a three regiment Maryland/Delaware Continental Brigade. In both cases by passing a Command Roll -1. As ever now an annotated photomontage to carry you into the action ~

Butler's Rangers, a large unit in rules terms with an amusette and 3lb gun, hold an advanced position on the Crown's right flank supported by elements of Tarleton's Legion and Loyalist cavalry.

A large Hessian Brigade will bear the brunt of the Crown's attack, supported in the distance by a small Loyalist Brigade. Von Robensähn can just be made out in the distance leading from the rear!

Hurrying -who am I kidding- to the defence are three small Militia Brigades supported by a rag tag of Mounted Militia and a Light gun.

The Hessians move off steadily, but slowly, forward towards the Rebel positions. The Jaegers take the lead hoping to disrupt the Militias' deployment with harassing fire.

It looks to me as if these boys are anything but keen to trade lead with the German mercenaries! They need to get into position along the fence line of the Hessians will make short work of them!

The lead Brigade makes it into position but it's fellows are proving very tardy in deploying.

Fortunately for their cause the Crown's forces are equally slow in getting underway! Three Turns gone already and not a shot fired to break the silence or steady the nerves.

Taking what comfort they can from the Hessians' sloth the Militia are at last getting into some sort of fighting order. The Light Gun has deployed and has several targets in its sights.

Suddenly the Hessians' sense the urgency of taking action and advance steadily to trade lead with the waiting Militia lining the fences. The Jaegers are moving onto the left flank to get around the American lines!

The lead flies thick and fast and casualties and Disorder begin to affect both sides. The second line on the American right is in Disorder and cannot react to the Jaegers working around behind them.

Turn 6 arrives and with it thankfully the small Brigade of Virginia Continentals. They move towards the threatened right, but not with the sense of urgency their commander would wish for!

The Hessians' are also taking casualties and much Disorder is disrupting both sides. All along the line of battle the firing is hot work, it is looking as if someone might break soon!

The first of the Militia have had enough and Break for the rear with shattered morale! The Continental infantry stand firm as the fleeing rabble push through them in their haste to escape.

The second Militia regiment breaks, the first Brigade is lost for the Americans, though the Virginians stand firm ready to meet the Hessian onslaught.

Along the battle lines fierce fighting rages as volley upon volley crashed out dealing Death and disorder to men of both sides!

The Militia are having the worst of the exchanges now and their Morale is creaking dangerously towards flight not fight!

The third Militia Brigade gets into action supported by some Rifle armed Mountain Men. Their combined first volleys break the King's Orange Rangers! The fighting seems to be moving in favour of the American cause...

I did say 'seems' didn't I? In Turn 10 it all comes unstitched for Bykleigh's boys, the impetus switches to Robensähn's Hessians as the American lines buckle under the pressure.

In Turn 11 a final Hessian volley delivers the coup de grace to the American army and it melts away as it's Morale shatters - three of the five Brigades being Broken then.

Cheered by a wounded Hessian musketeer Von Robensähn orders a General Advance from his tired boys to secure the battlefield as the Americans and their commander Bykleigh slink away.

A grand start to the year's action here in GHQ we both thought. The fortunes of battle went back and forth between the two armies until the crucial moment arrived. For us this is the main attraction of Black Powder 2nd Ed, the uncertainty that brings a feeling of the fog of war and the uncertainty of command once the action gets underway. 

The figures are all from my collection: Front Rank, Foundry, Perry Miniatures and Eureka Miniatures in the main. My original Front Rank figures in the collection were purchased at a Salute in Kensington Town Hall, back in the early 1980's? They stand up pretty well to the more contemporary look of Perry Miniatures and Eureka Miniatures figures to my eye.