Clash at Cobblers Creek 1779

This weekend we had a small Sunday game and after popular request, we opted for AWI (28mm Black powder, amended). Alistair played the British, while Peter lead the Rebels to Independence, while I pretended to be umpire.

Two supply brigades (and their respective support units) were clashing into each other, when the pickets heard from the Loyalist Cobbler that there is a Rebel camp nearby. The British brigade was spotted by the Patriotic Stock Bridge Indians earlier and they told the Captain of the Rebel Militia in the camp the whereabouts of the oncoming British. This is where the battle begins.

Both side also had a little extra reserve coming later (two Hessian Regiments at turn 4 and at Turn 5 two French line regiments).

I also gave both side 10 supply points in form of mulis, wagons or supply baggage. The one with the most supply points would win. Also if they managed to get their supply over the opposite short table edge it would double in points ...

Alistair kept true to his abysmal dicing form and had serious trouble forming somewhat of a line. Also Peter was plagued by a non-cooperative Militia for over 5 turns, as he was unable to move the main troops out of the camp (too much good food???). Additionally both players were plagued by two blunders that thrown their logistics into turmoil. Peter made over the creek and fought a complete British brigade including Grenadiers to a standstill, which is a feat in itself. His attack on the Cobbler house though, were fought off easily by the British Line. Alistair had severe issues with coordinating a comprehensive Line of a whole brigade, but he advanced with his LI (and some supply mulis) the deepest into enemy territory.

At the end we had to pack up and time was running out so we called it a draw. Both players had still their 10 supply points -  The Rebels lost one unit, but the British centre suffered a lot. Lots of occasions, I counted, when some supply wagons were dangerously unprotected - but nobody seemed to took notice. 

If we would have continued, the British would have a greater chance to win than the Rebels, as the tough British LI was steadily eroding the Continentals and the pickets with the mulis were not far behind. But salute to Peter he had managed practically with a half of the army to block all the British (as his Militia JUST didn‘t want to move). So Bravo to both players, they both fought a hard battle! And Alistair can claim he did not loose the Battle.

The set up map

The initial set up

The Loyalist Cobbler who rat the Rebels out to the Dragoons

The Militia Camp that would not rise to the challenge

The American and French Brigade off table

The British Main brigade and the Hessians off table

The Americans come in first

then a turn later the British come in

The Continentals advance towards the river

The British consolidate behind the Cobblers House

The Rebels take the old bridge and deploy their grasshopper gun there

The Loyalist Home is just made out of wood!!!

The British advance slowly

and the grasshopper gun peppers the hut

Then the French are coming!!

And the 17th Dragoons are clashing with Washingtons 3rd

The front lines are forming

The Continentals are staying steady in British fire

The hut is almost destroyed

The Rebels 3rd Dragoons are exposed to withering fire

The British Light and some continentals are locked in a fire fight over the creek

Bothe lines are taking withering volleys after volleys