Freeman's Farm 1777

We played this one a few weeks ago.  Freeman's Farm 1777 or 1st Saratoga.  This one is interesting since the American's are on the offensive for once.  The American's are under Benedict Arnold while the British are under John Burgoyne, both of which are excellent commanders. Their objective is to break Hamilton's brigade.  Fraser's Brigade is nearby in a redoubt containing two gun batteries and elite troops.  Unfortunately the British needed to roll a twelve each term to unlock some of these forces which never happened.  A Hessian Brigade was also scheduled to reinforce however the American's had routed Hamilton long before their planned arrival so we called it a game.  The first American victory we have had in our series of AWI games.  Unfortunately I got caught up in the game and I did not think to take many pictures.  I didn't even get any pics of the farm.  Doh!  Bemis Heights..or 2nd Saratoga is up next.

This is Fraser's Brigade on the right flank of the British.  This redoubt was an anchor for the whole army and they were not allowed to leave it, much to the British dismay. The American's (Brigadier Poor) had to advance their columns past this position taking significant flanking fire from the British artillery, but not enough to stop them. 

Learned's Brigade reinforces the Centre through the forest.  The vattle is over before they can arrive.  Also seen is General Benedict Arnold urging them forward.   An element of the the British 21st foot can also be seen after having driven off the crew of the American grasshopper gun, which did much damage before retiring. 

Learner leading the advance of his Brigade.

Tory's and Indians fire on Dearborn's Light Infantry Battalion under Morgan;s command.  Daniel Morgan, despite having the best troops in the American Army did not make much progress in this battle against Hamilton.

The 2nd NY Continental Regt, which earned honours by driving the British 62nd foot from the field.  This more than anything caused Hamilton's brigade morale to deteriorate. 

Hamilton's skirmishers and artillery successfully held his left flank, while the infantry o the right were decimated.  Because of the treeline, the artillery was not as helpful as it could have been.

Hamilton's infantry being assailed from two directions.  The American Militia even successfully assaulted against them with distinction.  

White Plains 1776

Have not posted for a while but we played this one a few months back.  The Battle of White Plains, New Jersey 1776.  British were under Lt. General Leopold von Heister, the Americans were under Colonel McDougall. British forces needed to seize a redoubt on top of a hill.  British had very superior forces and decided to outflank on both the right and left as well as a full frontal assault which arrived first and was successful.  The American's meanwhile needed to hold on as long as possible while inflicting more casualties on the British which did not happen.  British had a minor mishap when orders were given for the right flanking column to go left when they meant right.  This was sorted out before too long and they were able to change direction.  The game was a major British Victory.

This is a view from the redoubt, held by artillery and American Militia. Haslets Battalion and skirmishers can be seen at the foot of the hill.  This command was isolated at the front and very exposed to the British masses. 

These were the limited American reserves under Colonel McDougall behind the American redoubt.

The British had a 3 gun 12 pound battery flanking the American redoubt on a hill across the Bronx river.  Because of the range this battery was extremely ineffective. 

Meanwhile the Hessians under Col Rall rolled a "6" on the first turn allowing them to finish construction of a bridge alloing them to get into the fight right away.  More bad news for the Americans!

Hessians cross at the quickstep.  

Hessian Jaegers engage McDougall's Skirmishers on the right flank.

The 17th Light Dragoons travel by road to their start off point.  they never did get into combat but they were not really needed. 

Rall's Hessian Brigade moves along the road to position themselves for a left flank attack on the American line of battle.

Meanwhile Colonel McDougall starts to move the reserves to the threatened left flank.

Meanwhile the Hessian Leib Regt. advances up the centre towards the redoubt. Putnam's skirmishers try to hold them back to no avail/ 

View from the American trenches wile the Hessian's Advance.  Haslet's Brigade can still be seen to the front playing interference with them. 

McDougall's Brigade continues to more toward the British left flank/

British Light Infantry give three hurrah's and drive off the American Skirmishers. 

The British Line arrives under General Leslie.  Unfortunately his orders initially send him in the wrong direction. 

Outflanking continues against the Americans.

Aerial view of the British (Hessian) left flank.  The pressure is on for the outnumbered Americans

The British line get new orders and advance against the right flank.

Hessian's are getting closer. 

The American reserves move to counter the Hessians.  Meanwhile the British break through into their rear while the Hessian Leib Regiment overran the redoubt capturing numerous American militia in the process.  It was game over for the Americans.

Bunker (Breed's) Hill 1775

This was the battle of Bunker Hill 1775 played with Carnage and Glory2 using my 40mm AWI collection. .  Actually the conflict took place on Breed's Hill.  Bunker Hill was to the rear of the action, and while there were American troops there who could have reinforced, they played no part in the battle. The Battle was fought because these Hill's were in position to bombard Boston and the British Fleet in Boston Harbour.  General Howe initiated an amphibious landing on this peninsula in order to dislodge the American Artillery. The American's held three sectors.  A fence line on their left, Breed's Hill in the Centre and Charleston o their right. In our game there were two distinct assaults on American lines.  The first assault was against the fence line on the left by Stark's Brigade by British Elites.  Stark held the line.  Meanwhile, General Pigot on the British left was making a plodding advance because of continual harassment by American Skirmishers in the Town of Charleston. The British then waited until reinforcements arrived under General Clinton. Once Clinton was able to take his place on the battle line, the British charged up Breed's Hill against the Entrenchments.  In this second assault the British were able to gain victory.  As in the real battle casualties were heavy for the British but not as heavy as the real life battle. In the real battle there were three assaults rather than two, with the third assault lead by British Marines winning the day. I advised the British at the beginning of the game that time was of the essence.  There were potential American reinforcements nearby.  I assigned the British a minor victory in light of the time taken to take the Hill which was on the outer limits of time I had in mind for the game.

Skirmishers protecting Charleston from Pigot's column.

 

Charleston from the American side.

Gridley's 3 pdr battery entrenched on Breed's Hill.

Colonel Stark's Brigade holding the fence line

Stark's exceptional leadership did much to shore up his brigade.

Above and below, American troops entrenched on Breed's Hill

General Prescott.  American CIC

British Lights and Grenadiers advance to dislodge start from the Fence line

while demonstrating in front of the trenches on Breed's Hill

First the Lights and then the Grenadiers were repulsed by 

Stark at the Fence line. 

 

British 12 pdrs kept up a steady bombardment of the entrenchments

however failed to do much damage because of the long range.  For lack of a 

40mm Cannon I used a Brass Pencil Sharpener!

Entrenchments with Charleston in the distance on the American right

Pigot's column makes slow progress in light of flanking fire 

from the skirmishers in Charleston.  On turn nine Charleston 

was set on fire due to British naval bombardment.  Pigot's 

artillery, not pictured, landed with the wrong ammunition and was not 

available until turn 9. 

Pigot's slow advance.

Brigade Stark holds firm

The British advance against the fence line.

Charleston engulfed in flame.  Only skirmishers could remain 

in the town.

The second assault on American lines.  This time against the

Entrenchments of Breed's Hill.

Reinforcements with Clinton lead the charge.

The left trench is overrun by the British.

With the correct ammunition, Pigot's 6pdr battery is finally brought 

to bear.

The American's have been dislodged by the British

Casualties of War