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

1781 - The Hessian Comeback

Well I haven‘t posted for some time (I will put them in some time - 3 for one), but this Thursday we finally managed to play the second part of the 1st round of our AWI campaign. Remember Bart won vs Alisdair 3 to nil and gave the Rebels a 3VP advance. Today itwas Mike (as American) who fought vs Peter (as the Hessians). Previously we played shortly "Eve of Battle" and came to an interesting medium sized scenario. It seemed that the Americans were defending a large village against an approaching Hessian contingent. But that was a Guard one. Peter had a guard dragoon as well as two(!!) grenadier units, and 3 Line regiments. Mike fielded the obligatory 2 militia units and 4 Continentals and one gun!! The rebels had a flank attack (with one unit), but the Hessians trumped this with an surprise attack (1 unit as well) also.

To the chargrin of both players the first and deployment and the first turn ended in both armies in complete disarray, so the fighting and shooting had to wait, one would cautiously approach the village from each side. Then Mike with the rebels seem to get the advantage as he was first with his troops behind fences and stared to shoot. While Peter due to some blunders weren‘t in a particular charge friendly mood. Then Mike charged the Hessian unit and failed to break them, instead his unit of Continentals broke and lift off. That was his high water mark. From then on peter slowly tightened the noose around the American neck by moving and manouvering and shooting and waiting until the final deadly opportunity to strike would arrive. Mike had two chances to blow off 2 regiments but due to his insufficient dicing (or the regiments being better) he could not break them.

At the end the dragoons were in his flank and rode in to charge on an exhausted American Line. slaughtered them and rode through to another Militia and killed them off as well. That was at the end of the time and by then Peter had 4 units destroyed and was awarded 5 Victory points! The Crown forces are two points ahead! Next time the two winners will play against each other and the two loosers in the second round of the campaign!

Brigade-Gen. Mike Evans 

Brigadier Gen. Peter von Mearnsen

The Rebel Militia circumvent the town

The Hamlet at the beginning 2 forces approach

The Hessians get organised ... sort of

The rebels are stuck in the woods

and then stumble into the village centre

are the Hessians too near?

The outflanked Hessians retreat and enfilade the outflanker but traversing them in doing so

the first Continentals reach the building the village is in Congress hands now!

A perfect American defense line

slowly the Hessians advance

But the Rebels have a gun!

The dragoons are in position 

The hessians are beaten but not destroyed!

and they regroup!

and they can withstand fire

the Rebel gun in the centre of the web of houses ...

The outer Hessian Grenadiers are stuck

The American before the last charge of the dragoons

The Victory points after the first rounds ... Peter leads

The Battle at Highland Mills with less Black Powder

Rumours were going around at the beginning of Winter 1776, First Gen Washington has beaten and Killed Gen. Howe at The battle at Newark and now General in command of the British troops had withdrawn his troops from the North and landed at Perth Amboy! That seem to be enough for a certain Gen. Lee (played by Jim) to attack the remaining British Brigade before the settlement Highland Mills near West Point. Campbell rolled badly and had to stay 10 turns before he was allowed to with draw. So he decided to play two cards - "Fortified position" giving him approx 12" wall and "Low on ammo" every enemy unit ceases firing after one shot on a 1in6 for the remainder of the battle.

The British deployed first all behind the wall near the table edge ready for exit. Jim darted with his troops as fast as he could and his dire command structure would give (he rolled badly for two commander giving him two brigadiers with a 7 on Staff Rating!

Then Campbell dashed towards two Militias with his best unit and typical (special rule) British bayonett attack  and broke them on first contact! Sadly for Jim he lost also his player character General Lee was  a casualty. Still more Militia advanced Guns started two fire and out went the last powder! No gun and some waivering Militias right in front of the British Line without any ammo!

In the meantime Campbell found or better licked blood of his bajonetts blades and attacked more of the rebels and while still being constantly shaken and attacked he never failed 3 consecutive break tests!

 It was past turn 10 and Campbell could go home with his 3 regiments still intact but Jims position seemed almost ridiculously bad ... he decided to stay.

But then advanced Jim after a lifetime of blunders and failed commands his Continentals forward and a fire fight broke out! He attacked with the 3rd New Yorker the stubborn British Line and finally broke them off the field! then he attacked the wall and broke first the last British line off the field and then destroyed the Ansbacher " Hessian" Mercenaries -  Gen. von Mirbach one of the fallen as well.

The road to the south is closed now for the winter for  British supplies ... a prospect that Gen. Grant won‘t like as he now must move or starve ...

Gen. Washington made a stand at Newark and decided not to retreat! While Gen. Greene seemes to collect troops in the hinterland! If anything is sure the next moves of the British army could make it or break it ... Will there be a second Battle at Newark?

The initial British well fortified position

Farmers Ol‘ Schneiders industrial melting oven

The dashing redcoats advance who would have thought!

and fight off Militias and kill the Commander Lee

More Rebels swarm the field

Hold the line!

The Militias attack

but to no avail

Other Militias press forward!

The professionals behind the fortifications - what could possibly go wrong? 

Slow is the Rebel advance!

The Gun starts firing at the Red line

Meanwhile the other Crown regimen waves off break test after break test!

until the NewYorker Regt. arrive ..

Glistening Bayonets in the sun ...

Turn 10 arrives ... but they fight on!

But then the backlash the first retreat!

Then the New Yorker sent the Redcoats to running for their lives

The last to stay on the field are as ever the "Hessians" ... and yes not for long ..

The Battle at Highland Mills an American victory!

The set up!