The Battle of the Stony River - Part one

"We will wait until they cross that §/$&%/)& river! – then we will attack."

"(inaudible murmurs)"

"What? And if they don't? Then we will §$%&/& have to cross the river and attack them!"

"(inaudible murmurs)"

"And if you ask again, I will sent you with the forlorn hope across!! For loosing my written orders to the enemy scouts, Bastard!!!!"

This is the 5th Battle of our campaign, and Paul got lucky with 'Eve of Battle' and took many reinforcements and good event cards home!  He had 'Lost Depeches' (redeployment of all troops), 'Surprise Attack' (1st turn) and 'Delayed Enemy' (delayed my only gun for 2 turns!!!). And he got a river across (semi-crossable, on a 2 in 6 over 6", units must be in skirmishing mode and loose 6" of movement, the latter part was not in the game, but we agreed to that) – What a whopper! We both will curse this decision, I guess.

I took a gamble and and just upgraded all my units to elite, but was out numbered and out gunned. Paul had 11 units incl. 2 guns and riflemen, and I had just 7 units incl. 1 gun. In the campaign victory points ratio is now 4 to 1, but nobody can afford to loose this or the next battles as the winner of this battle gets a "free village" on his side!!!

It started quite innocent: I had two scouting units, Matt was so kindly to play the Brigardier for me.

They took the brunt of the American gunfire and even an dragoon attack but managed to survive and shoot the Dragoons back to hell. The Hessians were as usual late and advanced with the centre to soften the French up a bit. Seeing that to cross the river, you'll need 3 movements (i.e. a command roll of 6 or under AND a consecutive 1 or 2 to be able to make it across) I stopped the attack and ordered retreat. Meanwhile the "Stockbridge Indians" had a hard time to find a river crossing, but once suceeded were shot by my faithful Grenadiers. I have the hunch his river will tease us mightily.

The Battle plan (or the lack of it)

Before the 1st turn

The British Commander surveys the Rebels from the British centre

The "French Flank"

The British line behind  Mad(tt)'s Scouting Party

The true heros so far – an untested line unit with Stamina 4!!

Errm, how cold is the water, boys?

The impeccable American defense line

The American Dragoons trying to attack the scouts

The Grenadiers are off into the woods

After the last shot  -  we froze the time

The Battle at the Old Fort - Part 3 (final)

"Shoot the damn lobsters, shoot them! I want to see them colouring the snow!!"
"Sir, we ran out of powder!"
"Then bloody well take your feet in your hand and charge!" ...
... Easier said then done in two feet high snow.

This was the third and last part of the 4th battle of the campaign, and Paul and me were fighting hard about the possession of the strategic hill, festered with fortifications, the ‘Old Fort‘. And I must apologise in advance, it was that thrilling that I completely forgot to take pictures.

Previously (1st part), I had skirmished a bit on my right flank and then finished off his Indians and the Riflemen, but really, were‘t able to break through to the other side.

Then (2nd part) Paul did his attack on the left flank, including the newly arrived French troops which rolled both a 6 and became stamina 4, guard-like units!!! But the snow failed them to reach my lines in time.

In reverse tactics, I retreated bit by bit and mowed them into the ground. In between some of Paul‘s units were running out of powder. An unfortunate condition Fortuna (in the disguise of 'Eve of Battle') dealt the rebel forces with. If you would ask me, one of the toughest card in the game (EoB), if your units rely mostly upon fire power. (And Yes, it needs tough cards - otherwise you will end up with same strength armies – pooh!)

After that I decide to 'storm' the hill. More a slugfest due to the snow. I found my advancing troops in the same precarious position than Paul before. Additionally my General blundered and my complete right flank 'rushed' forward to be sitting ducks to the Rebels giving the Redcoats some hot target practise.

But all the while my guns were uninhibited by anything shooting units off that hill. That in the end won the battle. Paul lost 3 or 4 regiments and had to abandoned the fortifications before the hill. Rumour has it that the Hessians were a bit slow, but were premiere shots.

And the moral of the story ... I won't tell, as the campaign is still ongoing.

Now the campaign stats:
Pauls has 1 victory point and I got 4 (2 VP for this). The next battle will be as usual -1/+1 staff rating to one commander to Paul/me and with one less/more infantry unit. And the usual -25% wood bonus for a British victory. Who ever wins that battle gets 2 Victory points and a ‘free village' (i.e. 2 houses and 48" of barricades/hedges etc.) in the next battle!!!

The next ‘Eve of Battle‘ game will be something special.

The slow start and first skirmish (1st part)

One flank cleared and the fatal left flank attack of the Rebels (2nd  part)

The last tactical movements of the battle

After the last Rebel has been shot off the hill

The American Generals hapless facing their Army's defeat

Eve of Battle - now online!

Finally the prototype arrived! 

For everyone who always wanted to get rid of umpires and create a more jazzed up scenario - while having a wee game before the game!

for just $15.99 (thats about  9,80 Pound) ...  But mind you, you must pay for UPS America as well!

link just here below or next right on top of the links

https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/eve-of-battle

Open Packaging

Just right with 60 cards including the red starter card and a rule booklet

Typical mid-game set up between two players

The Battle at the Old Fort - Part 2

"Attack on the right and then swing around to mop up the rest and take the hill..."

"No, just shell them and then a frontal attack with your best troops..."

eerm - I don‘t think so!

The main disadvantage everybody has on this battle field is the deep snow and that (especially in the woods) no fast, swift or huzzah! attacks are possible. I attacked the right flank and cleared the forrest, but I lost my Jäger unit.

On the left flank the lazy Hessians finally moved (hum... halfway) out of the woods and Paul has set up a big push attack on this very flank, but his troops are looking quite worn already as they creep towards my, unstable Hessians (untested fresh recruits). While he was lucky with both of his 'untested' French units (Stamina 4 both!!!), I was able to bomb one of the tough Frenchies off the hill with my guns.

Still every thing hangs in the open and as this is by far the slowest AND longest Battle already, I think we will continue this next time, if not for additional 2 weeks...

May the less frosted win!

The battle so far ...

The "Stockbridge" Indians are hacking the Hessian Jägers apart

The British LI Veterans mop up the right flank

The American close in on the Hessian left flank

The Royal Artillery is softening the Rebel centre

The Grenadiers going into the woods

The Hessian softies are wavering (probably frozen)