'Indian Run' 1777. Game at NBHW.

On Friday night at New Buckenham we had an AWI game. It was a fictitious scenario that saw Washington attempted to deny General Howe's advance guard from crossing the Indian Run river as the Crown forces pushed on toward the capture of Philadelphia. We used our club rules for AWI ,which I will eventually get round to digitising.

I took command of General Grant's brigade which consisted of the 9th, 21st, 38th and 24th foot on the British left flank facing the rebel battalions of General Sullivan across a shallow stretch of river.
To my right were three battalions of Hessians under General von Knyphausen who were making for a plank bridge over the river. Unbeknown to the revolutionaries General Cornwallis was making a flank march to the far right with the Black Watch, a light infantry battalion and a combined grenadier battalion.

My command and supporting 12 lbs artillery face the river.

Lead Hessian battalion crosses the plank bridge with light artillery support

View from the american rear.

My command advanced across the ford towards the waiting rebellious colonials while the lead Hessian unit was met by a head on charge, by a unit from General Lee's command, determined to stop the Germans from gaining a foothold on the other side of the bridge.

"At the double, Advance!"

After a vicious scrap at the bridge the lead Hessian battalion managed to fight their way through the Pennsylvanians and establish a bridgehead before being assailed on three sides. Included in this assault was the lead element of Washington's reinforcements, a battalion of marines. This attempt to throw the Germans back got off to a slow start thanks to support from my 12 lb artillery who had now switched their focus to supporting the isolated Hessians.

Lead Hessian battalion in a spot of bother.

This delay allowed the Hessians to dress their ranks and get further battailons across the bridge in support, before continuing their attack.

Hessian support arrives.

Hessians attack again.

It was around this time that Cornwallis' brigade arrived on Washington's flank, forcing him to turn his remaining reserves to face this threat and so relieving some of the pressure on the Germans.

Back to my command. After finally fording the river under musket and light artillery fire my lead battalions were given the order to level the bayonets and charge!

Time to get stuck in.....or not.

Unfortunately both units declined to obey and it was only the direct intervention of General Grant that finally saw the fusiliers charge home against the regulars of the 1st Maryland battalion. The 9th however could not get to grips with the stubborn 2nd Maryland battalion and a close quarter musketry duel commenced.

The 1st Maryland broke before the determined charge of the fusiliers who followed up after the routing colonials. This left room for the 24th foot to charge into Sullivan's militia battalion, with the expected result.

24th foot charge home.

At this point the game was called. On my flank two of the three continental battalions had routed, despite inflicting heavy casualties on my troops, 177 in total. In the centre the Hessians were now firmly across the bridge and pressing on with Cornwallis soon to make contact on the right.
It was deemed that Washington would rapidly withdraw his remaining forces after a hard fought action.

The Hessian bridgehead just before games end.

British left flank.

Centre and right flank at games end.

Another great game, many thanks to the two members whose figures were used.

As usual lots more photos and AAR in the clubs Facebook Album.

Tony.

Update:

Order of Battle

Crown Forces:

Left wing:   Grant's Brigade -  9th, 21st, 24th and 38th Foot. Two 12lb cannons.
Centre:        Von-Knyphausen's Brigade - von-Rall Grenadier Battalion, von-Lossberg fusilier                                  Battalion and von-Knyphausen musketeer Battalion. One 6lb cannon.
Right wing: Cornwallis' Brigade - composite light and Grenadier battalions and 42nd Foot. Two 6lb                        cannons.

Rebel Forces:

Right wing: Sullivan's Brigade - 1st and 2nd Maryland battalions and a militia battalion. One 6lb                            cannon.
Left wing:   Lee's Brigade - one each Virginian and Pennsylvania continental battalions and two                              Pennsylvania militia battalions. One 6lb cannon
Reserve:     Washington's Brigade -  Marine Battalion and one other Pennsylvania continental                                  battalion. Two 6lb cannons.

More new British Napoleonic additions.

Over the weekend I attended another gaming boot sale (bring and buy) at Alpha Games near Bury St Edmunds. While the main focus of these sales seem to be sci/fi, fantasy and board games sometimes some historical stuff can be found.

This was one of those occasions and I was able to pick up a British Napoleonic army in 15mm, painted to a high standard with some unpainted or primed leftovers for what I considered a reasonable price. The figure include, I believe, some Minifigs, Battle Honours and a third manufacturer judging by the sculpts.

Having got them home and sorted out I have four regiments of cavalry, six battalions of line infantry, one and a half battalions of rifles, four artillery pieces, a rocket team and some commander figures.
The leftovers can probably make another two battalions of line infantry.

Hussars

Light Dragoons

Dragoons

Scots Greys

Infantry

Infantry

Infantry

Rifles

Artillery

Left overs

There are a few historical inaccuracies that will bug me if I don't correct them such as officer sash colours ,drummer jacket colours and the such. So a little bit of paint work plus new flags and basing and these should be good to go, now that 15mm games are making more appearances at the club.

Tony.

Nyezane 1879. Game at NBHW

On Friday night we had a game of Black Powder based on the scenario of the Battle of Nyezane 1879, The first pitched battle of the Zulu Wars. This battle is known as Wombane by the Zulus, another alternative is Inyezane.

The scenario was taken from the Black Powder 2 rule book, modified slightly to account for available figures. We played this, as usual at the club, using 2/3rd distances.

Opening positions. Excuse the lack of draft animals, forgotten on the night.

Initial positions have the British, having started to break camp and beginning to move off across the river and along the track, spot Zulus ahead of them. Units of Natal Native forces along with Royal Naval and Infantry are pushed forward to engage and protect the column.

The British objective is to get three wagons and escorting units off the far end of the table or break two of the three Zulu brigades.

The Zulu objective, prevent this.

The rear guard

As part of the British team our plan was to form a corridor of troops either side of the road and push along as fast as we could go. So of course having won the initiative for the first move we mostly failed our command rolls allowing the Zulus to hit our left flank pretty much in their starting positions.

British right flank starting positions.

We soon managed to get support to this beleaguered flank however and British firepower soon started to take it's toll, not before one unit of redcoats was overwhelmed though. The Natal Native contingent were left to face the oncoming Zulus alone, again more tardy command rolls from me with their British support, this they managed to do for a couple of turns before they inevitably broke. But they did hold long enough for my troops to finally get into position.

Natal Natives engaged while their "support" finally gets into position. Naval units fully embroiled on their left.

By this stage the initial Zulu assault on our left had been destroyed and while some troops moved up on the left flank others were redeployed to the right to bolster the defence against a large Zulu force sweeping down off the hills.

The assault on the head of the column soon saw the naval gattling gun and rocket team overrun before support was finally brought up to halt and then repulse this Zulu force.

Right flank just before the Natal native contingent broke.

With this second Zulu brigade now broken and the third just reaching the British lines, and destroying the artillery, the game was called as a British victory despite suffering higher casualties than their historical counterparts.

A fun game for a Friday night and something different from this conflict.

As usual more photographs can be found in the club's Facebook album

Tony.