Guilford Courthouse 1781. Game at NBHW

A couple of weeks ago on Friday 15th and Saturday 16th March we refought the Battle of Guilford Courthouse during the American War of Independence, 238 years on from the actual date.
The figures were 28mm and the rules, our club's regular set of AWI rules that came from somewhere the distant past.

For those who don't know the battle the Continentals under Greene are deployed in three lines with militia forming the majority of the forward two lines and his core continental army units forming the third. The first two lines are sited at the edge and within woodlands while the third await on the crest of a hill. His plan, to delay the British and inflict as many casualties as possible without sacrificing his best trained troops.
The British, under Cornwallis, were aiming to push on and destroy Greene's forces after successes at earlier encounters.

From Wikipedia

View from the British rear.

The long view, first line engaged.
Continental regulars in the distance

I was given command of the British artillery and Tarleton's loyalist dragoons. The artillery rolled up the road supporting the advancing infantry and occasionally engaging in a bit of counter battery fire.

Tarleton's dragoons were ordered to support the left as Washington's dragoons had been seen loitering behind the american rifles on that flank.

I'm sure the militia should have run away by now, oh look the rifles have.

That's better, off they go. Keep after them!

Combined Guards battalion in support.

By end of play on the Friday night the American right flank was in disarray with only one small unit of continental regulars still in action against Hessian Jagers. The rest of the forward line had routed and taken one unit from the second line with it. On the British right the Americans were proving more stubborn, even those who routed when their colleagues on the other flank did were soon rallied.
This flank would prove troublesome throughout the whole battle.

The battle resumed the next day with the British continuing to press along the whole front. It wasn't long before I managed to destroy both of the american guns in their forward lines, for the lose of one of my three. My artillery then continued along the road through the woods assisting with the infantry advances to both sides.

Tarleton meanwhile found Washingtons dragoons in the open to his front and eventually both sides managed to charge, there was a general reluctance from the cavalry of both sides throughout.

Charge! eventually

Victory for Tarleton although he was unhorsed during the action.

After some tough fighting the second line of Americans on the British left were forced out of the woods when a few units turned and rallied under the watchful eyes of their regular troops on the hill, others continued to flee from the field.

On the British right things were still slow going with Lee's legion putting up a stubborn resistance, their dragoons even managing to get into the British rear to then threaten the supporting Guards battalion. The guards being the guards merely about faced their rear rank occasionally to let off a volley to deter these horsemen.

Americans forced out of the woods on the British left.

Americans attempt to form a rally line.

View from behind the Continental regulars

Rumour has it this was the militia commander from Friday night.

Tarleton, now re-horsed managed another charge, seeing off the opposing horsemen once and for all whilst receiving "a mere flesh wound" for his troubles. At this point a unit of Americans surrendered and were marched off into captivity.

Prison hulk for you lads.

With the British now finally shaking themselves out into order again, after the confusion of the fighting in the woods, and contemplating the final assault up the hill we ran out of time.

Final positions. Lee's dragoons sandwiched in the trees between the Guards and Jagers

So pretty much like in the historical encounter the battlefield would belong to the British as Greene withdraws his precious Continental regulars but also like the real battle the British paid a heavy price for their "victory"

Another great two session game. For a more balanced AAR and a load more photographs see the clubs Facebook album here.

Tony.