White Plains - Chatterton Hill 1776. Game at NBHW

On Friday night I took part in a American War of Independence game at New Buckenham. The game was played using an in house set of rules and was based on the action around Chatterton Hill in 1776, part of the Battle of White Plains. For information on the battle see Revolutionary War US article.

The initial set up saw Continental regulars and militia defending walled field enclosures across the top of the hill with some rifles forward towards the Bronx river. The initial units of British had just crossed this river at a fortuitously discovered ford and were advancing towards the hill.

Initial set up, Bronx River on the left , Chatterton Hill down the centre.

I will concentrate on my command in this report, for more details on how the whole game played out and a shed load more photographs see the club's Facebook Album

My British command having just crossed the Bronx River.

My command consisted of the leading elements of General Leslie's 2nd Brigade, the 28th and 35th Regiments of Foot together with two 12lbs of the Royal Artillery. I immediately advanced the infantry towards Chatterton Hill with the 35th on the right drifting slightly further right to open up the arcs of fire for the artillery. The Continental rifle men to my front closed up and stood laughing as once again, becoming a bit of a habit when playing these rules, my infantry refused to charge. I blame the artillery fire from the continental 6lbers on the hill.

The rest of the 2nd Brigade arrived and deployed, with the 5th forward, 49th supporting, to my left and started advancing towards the centre of the hill.

5th and 49th advance on my left while General Leslie gives the 28th a bit of a talking to.

The Continentals chose this moment to abandon their defences atop the hill and advance down towards the British, good news for the Royal Artillery who started inflicting casualties as they came.

The 5th and 49th inexplicably stopped their own advance and traded musketry with the 19th Continentals whilst also now becoming the target of the 6lbers.

My 35th advanced to the right to engage the rebel left flank while the 28th dressed to the right of the 49th. The 35th soon found themselves engaged by over five hundred muskets of the 1st New York and Delaware regiments.

The 19th Continentals now charged the softened up 5th Foot who routed and fled back across the Bronx River. The jubilant rebels careered on into the steady lines of the 49th, who under General Leslie's personal command saw them off  before they were hit by artillery fire into their flank as they retired from distant Hessian guns, routing them.

The 3rd New York that had charged down the Hill with the 19th ran into my advancing 28th Foot and were routed in turn, with the 28th continuing their advance behind.

The 35th however decided to give ground and pulled back to enable the Royal Artillery to deal with the 1st New York and Delaware regiments who also started to pull back to their original positions.

Events to the left of the British flank plus the time resulted in the game being called at this point.

In the overall battle the Continentals suffered 243 casualties to the British and Hessian 237. More tellingly the Continental right flank had collapsed, so with the impending loss of Chatterton Hill it was called a British and Hessian victory.

Once again another great, close game with these rules played with some superb figures from other club member's collections.

Tony.