"Famous" Seamus R.I.P.

Ambush am Busch

Last week Angus kindly offered me to try out the famous General de Brigade rules. He brought along with a little ambush scenario a couple of brigades of French and Prussian from his vast and nicely painted stock of 28mm Napoleonics. He promised me a Russian contingent, but just brought Prussians, probably remembering to bring just "something from the continent" ...

Also Dougie made an appearance and kindly offered to be my sparring partner and commanding the Prussian side. The French (me then this time) had to march along the road and get (more than half) of their troops across the other side exactly where the road vanishes. To the side there was some small bushes and trees ("der Busch" in German) where from the Prussian would make a surprise appearance.

As I was  newbie to the rules my brigade was pretty much in the middle of the table when Dougie‘s Prussians arrived.

First our cavalry clashed, then some more and then I throw some artillery (too slow anyway) and some Infantry into their path. My pink cavalry from somewhere in central Germany was smashed, then my brave lined up infantry got caught in the open. I must admit, I refused the urge to form a square and relied on fire power ... but then failed to deliver this in dice rolling. In the end the last 3 regiments of infantry escaped, but is it was just 50% of the lot not 51% so I lost. Playing by the rules is always so much fun, if you master them. I certainly did not and must admit that the order phase and their transition into movement was not quite so clear. The game seems to rely on a lot of table which in this day and age I‘d like to avoid.

But never the less I enjoyed the company and the game. Maybe BP next time - I‘m sure we can come up with some adjustments that reflect some of the intentions of GdB, but with less tables to check.

Figures, scenario and scenery: Angus

Combatants: Me and Dougie

My inital set up

Enter the Prussians

The Cavalry clashes 

More Prussian Infantry sneaks in

The French line stands or dies

aaand the Prussians

The French Artillery delays the Prussian attack

The Prussian Cavalry get the hang of it

... more Prussians pour out of the Bush

3 Regiments escape, but not enough to win the day ... 

The Prussian Cavalry mobs all up

The Battle at Peekskill Oct VI 1776 - Wintercampaign

This Thursday we played the 4th battle into the campaign using BP rules. Col. Scott was left behind by Gen. Lee with 7 Militia regiments on the righthand side of the Hudson to defend as long as possible.

Unfortunately Gen. Clinton and Cornwallis were on his heels with the best of the British troops.
It was at the end of October and weather was relatively fine. Admiral Howe had agreed to land a 3rd brigade (Mathews) somewhat south of the village coming at the 4th turn as a reserve to help Gen. Vaughn (played by Bart). Campbell played Gen. Clinton and Cornwallis while Jim stood in for Col. Scott and as his  sub-ordinate Bill helped out as Captain Smith to defend the village.

This time it was a tough call for both of the parties as it was a river crossing battle with BUAs, but then it was the last stand of the Northern Militia. I gave the buildings structure points (as I'm against eternal fortress like battles even if village huts are made out of wood). I let Jim dice out the quality of the Militia and oops, none of them were wavering!!!

The battle in itself, progressed quickly, first the British had to establish themselves and then they attacked. Always under fire of the Militia, which due to some very unfortunate dice rolling could have massacred easily some 2 or 3 more regiments. Only Cornwallis (as later it would be clear after a damning report from Gen. Clinton) lost a regiment of Light Infantry! After the British crossed the river, the Militia retreated into the woods of Northern Hill and stood ground for a little longer but was seen off after a famous Bajonet charge of the British.

A sounding victory for the British again, but with a little salt in it, as the 1st British loss of a regiment into the campaign! (yes, dear Cornwallis, unfair the battle of White Plains didn't count ...) which made clear again, how useful even just one BN of artillery can be.

I hope all involved had the same fun as me, and I might add that (I agree veeeery slowly) the campaign comes into its own individualistic shape.

With more interesting stuff surely on the horizont, winter still to come, with rain and snow, the American Enlistments will fade out at end of December 1776,  not to talk about spies, economy, traitors, diplomacy etc.

Campaign stats:
Losses (regiments/units): British vs American = 1:9
Victories (battles over brigade size): British vs American = 2:0
Loyality Index (+-5): -3 against the Patriots
Time passed: 4 turns – October VI 1776
Time left: 20 turns – March VI 1777

Initial Turn and deployment

The defenders of Peekskill and "Kings Bridge" 

The Defenders of the Northern Hill

The British right flank, the Death and Glory Boys 

The British Grenadier Brigade attacks

And the Palatine imigrants defending it valiant

The British right forms along the river

While Col. Scott retreats onto the Northern Hill

Meanwhile Brigadier Mathews arrived and joins with the Grenadiers 

The British cross the bridge  

Cornwallis finally  under fire moves the Light Infntry BNs over the river

The British Artillery is hauled over the bridge into Peekskill

The final moments of the heroic defense of the Village

Map of Peekskill table

British stats

American stats

The battle of Peekskill

Seven Years War – Honours of War

Last week I was invited to join a impromptu Seven Years War scenario using the Osprey rules, Honours of War.  I just brought my 1776 Hessians and acted like it was a couple years earlier (like we all like to do after a couple of pints ... aren't we?). Scenario was probably dreamt up, the rules were OK, but the "grazing" rule (when a cannonball jumps into subsequent regiments, proved to be a bit too tough). Making the artillery the overwhelming weapon of the armies.

In front of me ,I had Campbell dealing with the French Hussars and lot, so I just attacked.

Funnily, I just lost the most units, and even my flank collapsed a little bit, but I think the French hadn't enough fire power to continue and so the Brits were declared victors. 

Nevermind, that is nothing unusual in our days, and we all enjoyed a bit Seven-Years-War bashing. Who doesn't? Following some impressions of the Ferdinandious event ... enjoy!

Initial Set-up

Opposed to my flank Campbell's French Husarians

as opposed to my 17th Death or Glory Boys / Dragoons

And the AWI Regt. Rall, Knyphausen and Leib posing as Hessians of the 7YW

Angus' assortment of French left Flank posing as a threat 

And I just attacked

again the French set up posing as an orderly line

Mon Dieu, the "grazing" hurts!

The Brittanic right Flank

My Dragoons get hurt, but dish out as well

Finally the Brits move 

My centre get shot to pieces, the following images couldn't be shown because of the brutality of the content!