Call to Arms 2015

[paulr]

By geometric terrain tiles, do you mean hexes like the Kallistra ones? I was thinking of getting some of those to go under my base cloth. If that's the effect they produce I'm well up for it.

I picked up a set of Geo-Hex terrain years ago on a trip through Portland Oregon. I think they are larger than Kallistra ones, 12" across.

[paulr]

The second day of Call to Arms was the 235^th anniversary of the Battle of Camden so...

The Battle of Camden, South Carolina, August 16, 1780

The Battle of Camden was not what either commander had intended. The American General Gates had planned to catch the mainly provincial and militia forces garrisoning the British outpost of Camden unprepared. Earl Cornwallis had reinforced the outpost with regular British troops and planned to attack the American army's camp at daybreak.

This lead to both armies setting out late on the night of 15 August. The Americans heading south down the road to Camden, the British heading north up the same road towards the American camp at Rugeley's Mill. At about 2:00am the light forces of Armand's Legion and the British Legion clashed in the dark. Both commanders hastily deployed their forces in the woodland either side of the road and awaited dawn.

Both forces deployed broadly historically. The Americans deployed the 1^st Maryland Continental Brigade in the front line, retaining the 2^nd as reserve.

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The Americans advanced seeking the British, half of the 2^nd Maryland Continental Brigade swinging left to cover the road.


The early morning sun should be from the top of this picture but we didn't think of that when we laid the terrain out the night before.

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A couple of turns later the British advance close enough to see the Americans through the open woods. The British open fire and the Americans reply.


The Continentals have gone stationary (green marker) making their fire more effective. The movement of both side's artillery, and cavalry, is hindered by the woods.

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Early success for the Loyalists, effective fire from the Volunteers of Ireland destroy one of the stands of the 1^st Maryland Continental Brigade.


Along the rest of the line casualties are limited by the saving throws from being in woods.

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The British Regulars charge the first line of the American Militia. To the surprise of all, two stands of Militia pass their morale tests and fought with the Regulars. One joins its comrades in rout, the other is destroyed.


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The second line of American Militia advance and fire on the British Regulars while the first line is rallied by General Gates, the Militia Division commander and their Brigadiers.


The American artillery is also starting to tell against the Loyalists. One wing of the Volunteers of Ireland is destroyed and one wing of the Royal North Carolina Regiment routs after failing two morale tests.

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The British Regulars charge the second line of American Militia. To the shock of all, most of the Militia pass their morale test and melee with the Regulars. The right wing of the 23^rd Foot lost the melee and was force to withdraw disordered. The remainder of the Regulars won their melees destroying 2 stands and forcing the remaining Militia to rout. The cumulative casualties were too much and all three Militia Brigades collapsed. The routing Militia had disordered the infantry of the Advance Brigade.


To the west casualties were mounting on both the Loyalist Brigade and the 1^st Maryland Continental Brigade. In an attempt to force the issue before the Loyalist were exhausted by the mounting casualties the British Legion Infantry and the remaining wing of the Volunteers of Ireland charged. The Legion routed one on the Continental Regiments but the Irish were repulsed. The Loyalist Militia was committed to fire in support of the surviving wing of the Royal North Carolina Regiment and together they managed to destroy another of the Continental Regiments but were routed by the American artillery.

After a bloody exchange the Loyalist Brigade was exhausted and the 1^st Maryland Continental Brigade collapsed.

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The infantry of the American Advance Brigade recovers from the disorder caused by the routing Militia and advances to fire on the British Regulars. Armstrong's Militia Light Infantry on the left of the line deploys in skirmish order to hopefully minimize casualties. The first line of the 1^st North Carolina Militia advance in support on the right.


The survivors of the 1^st Maryland Continental Brigade consolidate around Booker's artillery near the road. The remaining Maryland Continentals form a second line behind them preparing to act as rear guard if the army has to withdraw. The Delaware Regiment, the best of the Continentals, launches a counter attack against the British Legion infantry destroying them.

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The British Regulars charge yet again, the first line of the 1^st North Carolina Militia Brigade rout. The infantry of the Advance Brigade retire disordered.


In the center the Highlanders charge the survivors of the 1^st Maryland Continental Brigade. One stand is destroyed in melee the other by the combined fire of the 1^st Battalion of the Highlanders and the artillery attached to the Loyalist Brigade.

In the rear the Loyalist Militia rallied.

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On the American left the infantry of the Advance Brigade reform and advance again firing on the British Regulars, covering the rally Militia. In the rear the cavalry of the Advance Brigade form line ready to cover the withdrawal of the army.


In the center the Maryland Continentals desperately counter attack before the Highlanders had the chance to launch another fearsome charge. The 2^nd Regiment charge the left wing of the 33^rd Foot forcing them to retire, the 4^th Regiment charge the 2^nd Battalion of Highlanders who were disordered by the American artillery and rout them. The 6^th Regiment charge the 1st Battalion of Highlanders supported by two sections of Continental artillery and destroy them.

The third section of Continental artillery fire on the survivors of the Royal North Carolina Regiment destroying them. On the American right the Delaware Regiment charge the remaining wing of the Volunteers of Ireland, they rout as the Delawares approach allowing them to break through. The left wing charge the nearby British artillery in the flank repulsing them. The right wing advance and fire on some of the Loyalist Militia, destroying them.

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The American gamble had paid of more handsomely than expected.

The gallant 33^rd Foot formed the British rear guard with some limited assistance from the British Legion cavalry. The American army was too exhausted to pursue.

Victory points were used to determine the result.

British   3 American Militia Brigades collapsed @ 2 each   6   1 American Continental Brigade collapsed @ 4   4 Total   10

Americans   3 British Regular stands routed or destroyed @ 2 each   6   11 Loyalist stands routed or destroyed @ 1 each   11 Total   17

A difference of 5-9 giving a victory to the Americans.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Superb report!

[paulr]

Superb report!

I've posted some 'action' shots in my painting diary, here http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,8883.msg174114.html#msg174114

[Techno]

Superb report!

Wot Will sed.
Cheers - Phil