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| End Move 10 (Jack) |
This continues to be the most interesting game and for your delectation let me bring you moves 9 & 10, which continue from the previous posts...
Move 9 was one of consolidation for the Americans - the surviving Green Mountain Battalion shook out into line and headed for the end of the redoubt that faced the expected Hessian assault - on their way they divested some of their men to man the gun*.
The New York Regiment watches in bemusement as the Brunswicker's rout past them and off the edge of the table, but advance slowly towards the British cavalry who have wheeled and are doing the same....
Once again no American reinforcement cards turn up in 9, but in 10, I turn up the Jack and the American Militia Battalions (two of them) turn up... and guess where.... and don't forget this is all decided on a dice throw..... the picture's a give away... yep - exact same spot the Green Mountain Boys turned up - instant reinforcements for the Americans.... astonishing....
At the other end of the table, the British Dragoons crash home on the New York Regiment who stand, but in the ensuing melee are routed from the field...
Mixed fortunes indeed.....
Stay tuned - we have some American cavalry to turn up yet.... and then there's the fight for the redoubt.... if the Americans can hold it, the British/Hessians can't achieve their victory conditions..
* I have no rules for this, but it seemed infeasible that a full battalion of men, trained in the use of gunpowder and firearms, would turn their noses up at an artillery piece when it could be critical for the defence of the redoubt, so I played it as follows:
- -1 Strength Point from the battalion to man an artillery piece with a temporary crew - this is of course returnable....
- -1 Firing modifier for any artillery piece with a temporary crew
A most interesting game.
ReplyDeleteI always find it a tricky business garrisoning a fort with a 1 or 2 stand unit as opposed to single figures that can be spread out along the perimeter. I usually allow a unit to spread the bases out or similar but that's no guarantee that an over extended garrison won't be over run just as easily as a concentrated one defending the wrong wall.
I feel sorry for the escort. "we've come all this way and......" but they'll have bragging rights for sure if they pull it off.
I've played this scenario many times - and it's the first time it's turned out this way!
DeleteWith regard to the garrison'ing - I stipulate that in real life the regiment conforms to the shape of the fortification, but can't cover more than it's regular frontage.... in this case, a second regiment will help no end - leaving me with the 3rd as a mobile reserve......
Interesting, I don't think I ever considered them forming in ranks behind a breastwork but they may well have done so, I wonder if they would have spaced out the platoons or divisions to cover the ground? Now I'm curious, the hunt for evidence one way or the other is on! Even when I don't make use of it, I like to know how things were done.
DeleteRoss - don't keep it secret if you find out.. :o)
DeleteI'm reasonably read (I know a little - a dangerous thing) but I've assumed they would have formed up in double or triple ranks to maximize fire power wherever their frontage was limited, or allowed... at my level of game single ranks don't feature...
I think the "manning up" rule is a reasonable one. Only thing I might add would be a set number of shots before it is assumed the sighting is out/barrel fouled by the "gunners" not doing a proper job/ etc.
ReplyDeleteI've played this teaser a number of times . . . and it is always (or at least almost always) very interesting . . . and I've had it go both ways too. It is a great scenario.
ReplyDelete-- Jeff