Guilford Courthouse AWI using Carnage and Glory II at the Hobby Bunker, Malden, MA August 19, 2012 as part of Boston Trained Bands Games Day. Rob Walters of Eureka USA was our game master and Rob did an outstanding job with the terrain and figures, as you will see. Steve Umbrell and I commanded the Americans under Nathaniel Greene and Adam Carnegie and Rich Wallace presided over the British forces of Cornwallis.
Adam and Rich review the initial British dispositions while I ponder the prospect of commanding militia against British Regulars. ( I would take the US troops to the right of the road and Steve would take those on the left).
The initial line of US troops with two units each of militia on the fence rails supported on each flank by rifle armed troops (on the US left flank its Lee's Legion and a unit of rifles and on the right its the Delawares (B grade) and a rifle unit) and cavalry (Lee's cavalry on the left and Washington's horse on the right). Two six pounders point down the road toward the oncoming British troops.
The view from behind the British left center across the fields toward the US militia and guns.
A better picture, taken by Michael Paine, shows the British as they begin their advance across the fields toward the US lines. The two US Rifle armed units closest to the militia are facing toward the fields to support their colleagues in their time of need. Nice terrain!
Adam and Rich advance their forces toward the militia.
Rich chargeshis troops up to the fence, Rob has programmed the British to be in extended order, which gives them a wider frontage and play balances the scenario a bit. He had intended to set the US Army morale at 65% instead of the usual 75% as an additional play balance technique. More on that later.
I have withdrawn my rifles and light horse on the first turn, leaving my militia and the Delawares to face Hessian Jagers, a unit of converged grenadiers and lights, and two British line battalions. The red limit of charge markers (Litko) indicate the limit of charge. I wisely choose not to attach my leader to the militia.
Steve, not having the same amount of C&G II experience as the rest of us, on the other hand, has attached his general.On his far left flank the Hessian Regulars have yet to reach the first fence and are lagging far behind. This leaves his rifle and Lee's Legion troops unmolested by the initial advance.
Charge results are unfavorable to the Americans. Militia don't like being charged by cold steel wielded by screaming Scottsmen and other unsavory types.
My horse wending their way through the woods hear the clash of steel and muffled nose of muskets in their rear.
The limbered Continental artillery can be seen on the road (facing away from the British to signify their limbered status). I have rallied one of my militia units. The others have dispersed having been caught by the British charge after failing to retreat a sufficient distance after failing to stand before their charge. Visibility is liimited to 75 paces in the woods. My Delaware and militia unit are beginning what they hope will be a long slow delaying action as they withdraw toward their rear supports.
Our game master contemplates the situation as the British surge forward and Steve and I practice the Yankee two-step retrograde version.
The British advance though the woods on their right flank as Steve continues to fall back. Where are our supports?
The confused fighting in the woods. My rifles and the Delawares keeping one step ahead of the Hessians and Converged Grenadiers and Lights.
Until the British run into our supports, four units of former Continentals who have re-enlisted as militia. Our troops are revealed when the British come within 75 paces. We greet them with devasting volleys all along the line. except with my units nearest the road (the one adjacent to the road is my rallied Carolina militia unit - the only member of the front line militia still in the game.)
Adams Hessians have abandoned any thought of advancing through the woods. They formed column and are at last deployed on the road, following the British guns. After the initial volley Rich's unit of Converged Grenadiers and Lights has received a shaken marker. I am busy deciding which unit will charge them.
Another shot of the jumble in the woodlands.
My tan coated Virginias charge the Converged Grenadiers and Lights and can fire at full effect before tangling with them. My Delaware troops fire on the Hessian Jagers once again. The Blue Coated Virginians and the Carolina Militia fire away as well.
Adam and Rich continue to bring up their second line to support the troops who have stumbled upon the US second line.
My victorious Virginians are on the right of the picture, chasing off the target of their charge who happily disperse. I am unable to keep my boys from tearing off after them for the time being, so I only advance another 25 paces in my 'pursuit'. The Delawares and rifles continue to fire away at the jagers and line troops. Rich prepares to charge the blue coated Virginians. Bob tells us that the confusion and jumbled lines in the woods is reflective of the actual battle.
Steve has manuvered Lee's rifles onto the flank of Adam's right most unit. Steve attempts to close with both the rifles (they have been shooting flank shots for a turn or so) and his tan coated ex continential unit.
Adam's flanked unit falls back to avoid the charge. This leaves a victorious Continental unit on his remaining units flank in the woods.
Wainwright's British advance in pursuit of the Blue Coated Virginians who are skeedadaling from the board. I position my Delaware units to their rear and move my horse up hoping to force them to surrender. Rich has stopped the British 75 paces from the edge of the woods, so I can neither see nor shoot them.
I advance my Continentals toward Wainwright's British troops and attach a general to my Delaware unit in order to charge his rear. Other British have advance to keep pace with him and my rifles and tan coated Virginias are dancing with their counterparts, the jagers and British line battalion, in the woods.
Adam's troops have recovered and are slowly advancing toward Steve's open flank. He has three units arrayed against one battalion of British, but everyone is quickly tiring from their slog in the woods.
Wainwright's troops stand and engage the tired Delaware boys in melee. We send them packing. The only place they can retreat (away from the enemy) is in front of their colleagues along the stone wall bordering the woods.
Which is where my two fresh Continental Infantry charge them. My Delaware boys no longer are interested in action, so I cannot squeeze the Brits between two forces. My tan coated Virginians stand off against the jagers and the other British battalion which is equally disinclined to advance toward its opposition. At the end of this turn the American forces fell below 75% morale giving a victory to the British. If Rob had been able to preset the morale at 65% we might have been able to change things up a bit. As it was, a well fought victory was achieved by Rich and Adam.
And our game master received an award for best event of the time slot! Well done Bob. It was a really fun game that went down to the last turn. Bravo to Bob for his fabulous Eureka 28 mm troops and terrain and to Rich, Adam and Steve for locking horns to do Battle at Guilford Courthouse.
Great game, and your Louis XIV armies look great as well.
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