Fourth of July

[paulr]

To mark the 4^th of July we decided on an AWI game.

I'd been asked to include French and Indians so used a possible combined French & American force that could have opposed William Phillips & Benedict Arnold's operations in Virginia. Both forces were supported by small parties of Catawbas and Cherokee respectively who had moved north from the Carolinas.

On the British right Dundas' Brigade has advanced rapidly and occupied two thirds of the town at the cross roads and is extending towards the centre. Lafayette and Vose's Light Infantry Brigade has occupied the remainder of the town while one battalion, still in march column attempts to out flank the British. The artillery from Philadelphia is firing on the British in the town.



The majority of Dundas' Brigade moves into the centre almost unopposed.



On the British left the Abercrombie's Light Infantry Brigade has occupied some of the town at the other cross roads while Simcoe's Loyalists move to the woods further left. Dragging Canoe's Cherokee party skirmishes in the more central fields and wood. The French Régiment de Bourbonnais has occupied some of the town while the Volontaires Étrangers de Lauzun move round the French right flank lead by Lauzun's Legion Hussars.



Von Voigt's German Brigade has begun to arrive to support Dundas and deployed on the road. The American Light battalion has thought better of its deep out flanking move.



The 76^th Foot in the town is taking casualties from the American artillery and infantry and some disorder is being caused by the close range artillery. The remainder of Dundas' Brigade has deployed in the centre in two lines and is now ready to advance and relieve some of the pressure on the 76^th.



The remainder of the British Light Brigade has deployed to support the battalion in the town while Dragging Canoe's Cherokee party looks on from their position on the hill. General Newriver leads his Catawbas party past the fields with the French Régiment de Royal Deux-Ponts marching on is support (actually Germans in French service).



Back on the British right a dramatic charge by the 17^th Foot supported by part of the 80th Foot has driven one of the American Light battalions back onto their guns and inflicted heavy casualties. Casualties are also mounting on the American Light battalion in the town and on the British 76^th Foot.



On the British left a British assault on the French in the town has been repulsed leaving three companies exposed. Simcoe's Loyalists have occupied the wood. Régiment de Royal Deux-Ponts and Volontaires Étrangers de Lauzun continue to move up in support.



The 80^th Foot have destroyed the remainder of the American Light battalion opposing them and forced the American artillery to redeploy to the town. The close range fire of the American artillery on the British right has routed half the defenders of the right town sector. The American Light battalion between the town and the hill has roughly handled 1^st Battalion, Ansbach-Bayreuth Regiment destroying a third, routing another third and is now threatening the flank of the survivors. This has not been without cost to the Americans and the remainder of von Voigt's Brigade is closing in on the isolated battalion.



In the centre General Newriver and his Catawbas party successfully attacked the three companies exposed after the failed attack on the town. Dragging Canoe's Cherokee party successfully counter attacked the Catawbas but was then attacked by the lead elements of Régiment de Royal Deux-Ponts. Both parties have suffered significant loses and are unlikely to take further part in the battle.

On the British left the full weight of the French Régiment de Bourbonnais supported by the artillery, Grenadiers and Chasseurs of Volontaires Étrangers de Lauzun is starting to tell on Abercrombie's Light Infantry Brigade with casualties mounting. Simcoe's Loyalists are in danger of being cut off and any withdrawal will be difficult as the Queen's Rangers Horse are outnumbered nearly 3 to 1 by the Hussars of Lauzun's Legion.



The game will continue next week with each flank favouring opposite sides and the French Régiment de Royal Deux-Ponts only partly committed in the centre...

[mmcv]

Good fight, looking forward to part 2

[Orcs]

Looks like a really good game.

As a Brit its the American Revolution, not AWI

[Steve J]

Lovely looking game .

[fred.]

A good looking game, Paul (as we have come to expect!)

In the first few photos what are the smoke markers showing, they seem to be perpendicular to the units (and behind them) in later photos they seem to be showing units that have shot (as I would expect to see them)?

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Think they show march columns?
Great report

[paulr]

...
As a Brit its the American Revolution, not AWI

They 'won' therefore it is AWI

...
In the first few photos what are the smoke markers showing, they seem to be perpendicular to the units (and behind them) in later photos they seem to be showing units that have shot (as I would expect to see them)?

The dust coloured markers perpendicular to the units show units that are in column of march rather than a tactical formation. In V&B they move at double speed cross country or triple on road. They are very vulnerable if caught in column of march. The markers also mean they take up more space meaning units come on at a more realistic pace.

The white smoke markers in later pictures indeed show units firing and add to the look of the game.

[Techno]

Excellent, Paul. 

Cheers - Phil

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Looks good

[fred.]

They 'won' therefore it is AWI

The dust coloured markers perpendicular to the units show units that are in column of march rather than a tactical formation. In V&B they move at double speed cross country or triple on road. They are very vulnerable if caught in column of march. The markers also mean they take up more space meaning units come on at a more realistic pace.

The white smoke markers in later pictures indeed show units firing and add to the look of the game.

Thanks, makes sense

[Dave Fielder]

Let's make America Great (Britain) again.

[steve_holmes_11]

Let's make America Great (Britain) again.

Brits are cheating again, they've got a TARDIS by the crossroads.

[pierre the shy]

Looks good

Not sure its too promising an outlook for the British Light Brigade on the left.....another fine mess I got us into  

As overall commander General Benedict Arnold has been making sure he keeps a safe distance from any enemy forces   

[paulr]

And Lt. Col. Thomas Dundas and Lt. Col. John Graves Simcoe are still carrying copies of Benedict Arnold's letter of dismissal issued by Sir Henry Clinton before he went on the Virginia campaign

[paulr]

On the British right Dundas and von Voigt's Brigades pressed hard against the remaining American Light Infantry forcing their moral to collapse and destroying one of their artillery units. Unfortunately this had been costly and one of the British battalions that had charged the American guns, before they could fully deploy, had been routed.



In the centre the other half of Dundas' Brigade was forming a defensive line against the advancing French Régiment de Royal Deux-Ponts.



On the British left Benedict Arnold conducted a classic withdrawal, the Loyalist Brigade withdrew as rapidly as possible covered by the Queen's Rangers Horse and the remaining companies of the 1^st Light Battalion. The French pushed forward as rapidly as their more formal drill allowed.



Back on the right a second assault by Dundas' Brigade against the surviving American Light infantry in the town had failed with half the 76^th Foot routing. General Newriver determined to attack half of the isolated and disordered 17^th Foot but his heavily depleted Catawbas party (by the dice in the background) were unwilling to charge home.

Von Voigt's Brigade continued to press the remaining Americans at some cost to both sides.



On the British left Benedict Arnold continued to withdraw his troops to the new line as rapidly as possible. The Queen's Rangers foot replaced the 1^st Light Battalion as rear guard. The French continued to press as hard as they could, hampered by their more formal drill.



Dramatic events in the centre, the French Régiment de Royal Deux-Ponts had advanced into range and unleashed a series of devastating volleys supported by their and Régiment de Bourbonnais artillery.

The 80^th Foot were caught still deploying and were thrown into disorder by the concentrated fire of the French artillery and suffered heavy casualties. The 43^rd Foot had fully deployed and inflicted heavy casualties on the right of the French line, however their right companies were destroyed.

These major losses on top of those suffered against the American Light Infantry were too much for Dundas' Brigade and their morale collapsed.



With the British Light Brigade near exhaustion and von Voigt's Brigade having suffered significant casualties and too far away to support the Loyalists Major General Phillips decided that the only sensible course was to quit the battlefield.