Paulr's Fourth AWI Game

Started by paulr, 06 May 2014, 09:10:03 AM

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paulr

Our fourth AWI was based very loosely on the Battle of Freeman's Farm, 19 September 1777. The table covered from Freeman's farm on the Whig right to Coulter's farm on the Whig left. The forces were as for our previous games with the addition of the Guards for the British and a second Regiment of Continentals for the Whigs. Both sides also had a stand of 3pdr guns, our first use of artillery.



On the Whig left Lee's Legion advanced to the stream near the bridge. He was supported by the artillery and Butler's North Carolina Militia Brigade.



On the British right of Webster's Brigade supported by the artillery advanced behind a skirmish screen.



On the British left, the newly arrived British Guard advanced towards the fields of Freeman's Farm supported by Tarleton's British Legion Dragoons.



The Whig forces on their right were Huger's full Virginia Continental Brigade supported by Stevens' Virginia Militia Brigade. The Continentals rapidly secured the stream near Freeman's farm while the Militia moved up to cover the stream in the centre.



Back on the British right Lee's Dragoons advanced on the British skirmisher screen and survived the fire from the Guards Light infantry. 



The Dragoons then charged the Guards Light infantry forcing them to retire in temporary disorder (yellow marker). The left wing on the 23rd Foot was discomforted by this withdrawal.



The 23rd Foot recovered from its discomfort and supported by the 33rd Foot killed half of Lee's Dragoons and forced the rest to retire. Lee's Legion infantry moved over the stream to support his Dragoons while the Virginia Riflemen advanced to contest the woods with the Hessian Jagers and the Guards Light infantry. The Whig artillery opened fire at long range on the British Guard then redeployed to support Lee's Legion infantry against the advancing British line.



The 23rd Foot charged Lee's Legion infantry and the Whig artillery. The right wing fired at from the flank by Virginian Riflemen and battling the best enemy infantry to their front was destroyed. The left wing drove the enemy artillery back in disorder. The 33rd Foot destroyed Lee's remaining Dragoons as they tried to protect the exposed flank of the artillery.



The Hessian Jagers and Guards Light Infantry, having taken possession of the wood, engaged Butler's North Carolina Militia Brigade across the stream.



Around Freeman's Farm, on the Whig right, two battalions of Stevens' Virginia Militia Brigade pushed across the stream to engage the British Guards in a fire fight.



Near the central bridge Lee's Legion Infantry and the artillery withdrew back over the stream and poured fire into the survivors of the 23rd Foot inflicting heavy casualties. Butler's North Carolina Militia Brigade supported by a detachment of Virginia Rifle continued the ineffective fire fight with the Hessian Jagers and Guards Light Infantry in the wood.



It was at this point in the battle that your correspondent from the London Illustrated News found to his horror that his valet had failed to pack a spare sketchbook. (The batteries on my flash had gone flat.) He also started to wonder about the loyalty of his local guide who later began to comment repeatedly on how convenient this inability to record events in full detail was as the tide started to turn against the forces of his Majesty. (I was playing British for a change.)

On the British left the Guards charged the Virginia Militia who had crossed the stream forcing them back with heavy losses. The Guard were then faced with a general advance by both Huger's Virginia Continental Brigade and Stevens' Virginia Militia Brigade. Outnumbered over 3 to 1 the Guard and Tarleton's British Legion Dragoons fought a delaying action, the Guards charging when opportunity offered. However, casualties mounted from the sustained fire of over 1400 Whigs and eventually both the Guards and the Dragoons collapsed.

On the British right the survivors of the 23rd Foot withdrew to support the artillery. The 33rd Foot then launched two glorious charges. The left wing charged over the bridge into the still disordered Whig artillery destroying them. The right wing had even greater success. It wheeled right and charged across the stream into the flank of the Virginia Riflemen supporting Butler's North Carolina Militia Brigade. The riflemen withdrew in disorder through the North Carolina Militia, spreading panic through the inexperienced militia. Combined with casualties from the galling fire of the Hessians and Guard light infantry this was enough to destroy this militia brigade.

Lee's Legion, no longer supported by artillery or militia, attempted to withdraw into a small wood on the other side of the road to the bridge. Here Lee's Legion Infantry and the surviving Virginia Riflemen fought a desperate rear guard action against the 33rd Foot, Hessian Jagers and Guards Light Infantry. They eventually collapsed but the casualties they inflicted exhausted Webster's Brigade.

So with the British Guards, the British Legion Dragoons collapsed and Webster's Brigade exhausted the British were forced to leave the field. The Whigs had Huger's Virginia Continental Brigade and Stevens' Virginia Militia Brigade able to continue the fight but given the heavy casualties they had suffered they were not keen to pursue the British.

The British were again reminded that they need to avoid concentrated fire from masses of Whig troops. The Guards probably should have withdrawn when the Whigs started to advance across the stream. This would have shortened the front and limited the number of Whigs that could fire on them.

Both sides are still learning how to use cavalry in this period. With the much smaller numbers they are definitely weaker than Napoleonic cavalry. They can be destroyed easily by massed infantry fire, even with a saving throw when withdrawing from fire. We will have to continue to experiment, perhaps with Dragoons acting as a screen in skirmish order to gain an extra saving throw. Charges will have to be against disordered troops or from a flank.
Lord Lensman of Wellington
2018 Painting Competition - Runner-Up!
2022 Painting Competition - Runner-Up!
2023 Painting Competition - Runner-Up!

Techno

Terrific report Paul.....Even without the spare sketchbook ! ;)
Cracking photo's ! :-bd
Thanks for posting that....Very enjoyable.
Cheers - Phil

Hertsblue

Beginning to look like a decent-sized battle now, Paul. The lines have an authentic feel of late 18th century warfare, I would say.  8)
When you realise we're all mad, life makes a lot more sense.

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FierceKitty

Pretty. I must dust off my 18th century stuff one of these days.
I don't drink coffee to wake up. I wake up to drink coffee.


Ace of Spades

Superb once again! =D>

Cheers,
Rob
2014 Painting Competition - Runner-Up!

Duke Speedy of Leighton

Very nice report, sounds like a cracking game! 8)
You may refer to me as: Your Grace, Duke Speedy of Leighton.
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Steve J


paulr

Quote from: mad lemmey on 06 May 2014, 04:01:20 PM
Very nice report, sounds like a cracking game! 8)

Thanks all, it was our best game yet.  :) :D

Great fun for all but particularly tense on the British right where I was commanding. Lee's Legion infantry repelled three British charges ...  :o
Lord Lensman of Wellington
2018 Painting Competition - Runner-Up!
2022 Painting Competition - Runner-Up!
2023 Painting Competition - Runner-Up!

paulr

Lord Lensman of Wellington
2018 Painting Competition - Runner-Up!
2022 Painting Competition - Runner-Up!
2023 Painting Competition - Runner-Up!

nikharwood

That's an excellent batrep - thanks for posting  8)

Techno

Quote from: paulr on 24 May 2014, 12:19:41 AM
Over 100 views  :)

Over 200 now......Deserves lots more !
Cheers - Phil