23 June 2009. Scenario 27. Attack on a Stockade

This game was played solo using 40mm AWI figures using Hearts of Tin.

Here was another scenario crying out for single figures and skirmish rules, and I actually had both, I just didn't feel like using them. So, I just doubled the shooting ranges in HofT and declared each base to be an average of 25 men, women children or cows which gave me: 1 unit of rifle armed frontier scouts (veteran), 3 herds of cattle, 5 stands of armed civilians with the "wimmenfolk' loading for their men. I also added a hospital run by a suitable matron assisted by a young lad with bucket. So a settlement of some 150 souls, attacked by a 9 stand raiding party of 150 Indians and 75 Butler's Rangers (veteran militia) . The raiders were out to capture the stockade and destroy all supplies and spoil the harvest.

The settlement was alert and spotted the raiders when they were barely on the table (flock of crows? stray dog?). The Reverend Black had to sortie forth to urge the cattle and field workers in but the sound of musket fire seemed to spur them on and eventually the cattle and people were all in and the gate slammed shut.

The fire was hot and heavy with a surprising number of 6's and before long the riflemen were all down to the hospital cabin being patched up. A rush by rangers and indians, clambering up on each other's shoulders, almost took the empty stockade wall but the Reverend led a a group of anxious settlers forward and in a brief scuttle, drove them back. More musket fire pounded the walls and soon settlers were streaming down to the infirmary  Eventually a makeshift company of wounded frontiersmen and settlers made its way back up onto the wall.

Another rush at the wall saw Michael Butler stretched out momentarily by a blow to the head. More musket fire followed as the indians and rangers wavered but soon Butler was back on his feet and covered by a fierce fire led yet another rush which drove back the riflemen. Then disaster struck the setttlers, in the confusion on the wall the Reverend found himself surrounded by rangers and recognized by a Tory ranger who was once a neighbor, and taken prisoner. As the raiders started to pour over the thinly manned stockade, casualties amongst the defenders grew and suddenly Farmer Brown had had enough, grabbing his wife and daughter he ran for the gate, moments later the whole settlement was fleeing in terror covered by the last few riflemen. By dawn there was nothing left but a smoking ruin as the raiders melted into the forest.

24 Oct 2009 Scenario 38: Night Patrols

This game was played using 40mm AWI figures and Hearts of Tin by George, Gary & Martin vs Lawrence, Jerry and myself.  

I decided to take the suggestion and fight this as a 2 part game, the patrols and then the ensuing fight.

The Americans (5 continentals, 2 militia, 1 rifles and 2 guns) were laid out on along the hill line then replaced by cards with an equal number of dummy cards. The stationary outposts (1 company each) were marked with a clump of lichen and the moving patrols put on the table and forced to move full along their designated paths.

The British then deployed their patrols 1 company each of Mohawks, Rangers and Light Infantry. These had to dice each turn for deviation unless following a terrain feature such as the river. They were allowed a slight chance to detect but not identify the enemy at 12", a better chance to identify at 6" and automatically found them at 2" (melee range).

On the British left the Mohawks snuck by the patrols, identified some artillery and continentals and then stumbled into a sleeping militia battalion. After a confused exchange of shots they slipped back into the gloom. On the right the light infantry got into a fight with a patrol of riflemen soon reinforced and were eventually driven off. In the center  the rangers slipped past all patrols and mapped out the center of the US position. At this point, with 9 of 10 units spotted the game was ended and the British given the option of a night attack or an assault at 1st light. Having had enough stumbling they waited for dawn while the rebels were put back into their positions and the outposts recalled at dawn.

In a surprise move, the British pushed their artillery and regulars (2 grenadier battalions, inc 1 Hessian and 2 line regiments through the defile between the woods and farm and assault the rebel left, screened by Canadians, Indians and Loyalist rangers on either flank. It was a near run thing as the Rebels rushed troops from the center but at the end of the day the assault was repulsed.

Over the years this pseudo-campaign has straggled on the score was now:  Nova Scotia Rebels 5 British 0.