1781 - The Battle of Wooden Hill - AWI campaign

This Tuesday (because of the vote), we continued our little AWI campaign of the 4 brigadiers (28mm, Black Powder and Eve of Battle). This Time Mike (American) and Alisdair (British) had a go at each other, with a little "help" of their team mates (Bart (Franco-American) and Peter (Hessian)). The weather was clear, the Americans had a strategic hill and some scouts, a gun and some dragoons and the Brits the full force of the crown (incl. dragoons but no gun). For good measure (and because of x-mas,) I gave both an extra small unit skirmishing sharpshooters (Riflemen and Jaegers) in the faint hope they will pick these units in the future...

The two sides were fast closing in and started immediately an intense fire fight. Bart had put the rifle men in the forrest patch in front of the British to slow them down, but he rolled abysmal, and then retreated. The Brits came closer and reached the edge of the strategic hill and that was the high watermark of the right flank. The two opposed lines on the left just did what was to be expected - they kept shooting until the hopefully somebody would break.

On the right, were Bart and Peter were sitting, the battle was rather the opposite - very quiet. I heard that both parties would "bottle each other up". Now I don't know, who was bottling whom, as both lines were of similar strength, but maybe it was just a ref to the drinks ...

On the Left though the battle was won and lost: Alisdair couldn't get the damn rebels to break and ordered a charge too late ... his Jaegers were previously shot away and now some Rebels were charging out of the woods into the back/flank of the British line ... another unit vapourised. This was the time when prudence won over want for glory ... and he send his compliments and offered defeat. (after the 6th turn, a player can, to minimize his loss, and offer his defeat and the opponent HAS to accept!!! - after all we are in a gentlemens (war game) club) ... the next time the turn to offer defeat will be one turn longer after the seventh ...

So now Mike is on third place with 2 victory points, while Bart and Peter still share the same 1st place with 6 vp each - giving the Rebels a lead of 2!!! Next time (some Sunday game in January) it will be a Grand battle with all 4 parties fighting ... in the snow (storm) again!!! I guess its our club x-mas/winter game... the 3rd round ... will the crown forces take back the lead? ... we will see ...

The Rebel line on the right

the Rebel line on the left of the hill

The British from the Hill

The Red line

Initial set up

Approachement

The Grenadiers in line with the Line(s)

First volleys and fire fights

The combat in the small woods full of Riflemen

The Rebels right is holding 

slowly reducing the Redcoats

The Grenadiers are still holding

but so do the Riflemen

on the left just quiet ...

The Fusiliers just came up to the edge of the plateau 

the Left though gives them Redcoats hell

until they are conned into a bajonet charge

they never survived ...

the score after the first two rounds