Craney Island 1813 at Huzzah

I ran the Battle of Craney Island 1813 using Carnage and Glory 2 computer aided rules at Huzzah in Maine last weekend.  I follow the blog," Those Must Be Regulars, By God" which presented research on gaming the battle.  I was inspired by their great work and Blog and brought my favorite rule set to bear on gaming the battle. 

Craney Island is located in the Chesapeake Bay area of Virginia and guards the northerly approach to the naval base at Norfolk where the USS President was being repaired.  A scratch force of sailors, marines, Virginia Militia and US Regulars are tasked with defending the Island.  The British, under Admiral Cockburn have been raiding the Chesapeake region.  They have landed a group of British Infantry and Marines to conduct a land assault across the shallows to the island.  It will be supported by a amphibious assault including a large naval and marine landing party.  

Time and tide wait for no man.  As the tide begins to flow back out the going gets harder for those attempting to cross the shallows and to row to shore.  On each turn all boats must roll a D-6 to see how they fare.  On a 1-2 they ground for the turn.  a 3 means half speed and a 4-6 allows 300 paces of movement.  Those wading in the muck move 100 paces a turn. 

The British land element advance toward the island connector to the mainland seen below in the far right of the first picture.  The naval landing element encountered fierce opposition from the US batteries crewed by experienced gunners from the USS President and took heavy casualties.  On turn 4 the US received reinforcements, one regiment was rushed to the island while the other two units and one battery defended the river crossing from the advancing British infantry.  Those British units that made it to the island pushed through the tiring artillery and ran into the militia reinforcements before their morale broke.  The results:  A major US Victory with over 1200 British casualties compared to 300 or so for the Americans.  Fun was had by all and we won best of session.

Battle awaits.  Viewing the island from the land side. 

The British march on and the boats move forward.

The British Marines and Sailors advance on the Island's defenders as reinforcements arrive.

Action at the breastworks, the British take the guns.

The garrison view north and west prior to the commencement of action .