French & Indian Wars: Gorham's Rangers

The other day Lance at Galloping Major kindly asked for permission to include one of my photos of my Gorham's Rangers unit in an updated Rangers Guide he is preparing for his website. I offered to take some 'clean' non-game photos for him, which I did, subsequently realising I had not posted pictures of the unit here when I painted them (nor the 1st Virginia which I'll dig out).

The main reason I went with Gorham's Rangers rather than Rogers' more famous compatriots was mainly because everyone and their Aunt Nelly seems to have Rogers Rangers in their French & Indian Wars armies, but also because I liked the uniform colour (green is soooo 1758 you know...)

The miniatures are Galloping Major and are an absolute joy to paint. I recently picked up some more following a recent sale with a view to adding some Native Americans to my force, and to convert some to North Carolina provincials who on the Forbes Expedition of 1758 were noted to be wearing native dress.

American War of Independence: Mounted Rebel Militia

With a game of Sharp Practice lined up for tomorrow taking a scenario from the Swamp Fox scenario book, I have managed to finish a unit of ten mounted rebel militia for it that have sat in grey undercoat for rather too long.

In Swamp Fox a number of scenarios have the option of mounted rebel militia and whilst not completely necessary I liked the idea but baulked somewhat at price of the lovely Perry Miniatures Mounted Militia.

However Perry plastics rode(!) to the rescue with their extremely versatile ACW cavalry and AWI sprues in the spares box with spare heads, arms etc. On a few models I added some Green Stuff tails to their coats to reinforce the C18th look. As with my other AWI rebels they have been block painted and smothered in Army Painter dip which reinforced the dirty campaign look of troops in the South Carolina swamps.

Rebels and Patriots: The Battle of Darling's Farm

Having pushed the boundaries of how big a game Rebels and Patriots could handle, George, Steve, Andy and myself ventured late last year into what probably should be Black Powder territory by using an 8' x 6' table down Bristol Independent Gaming and pretty much all our toys!

With 96 points a side we chose the First Clash at Lament Ridge scenario from the rulebook, employing a farm as the objective.

I commanded the American right, pushing my Militia out of the flank with the Continental line more central to push towards the farmhouse (well that was the plan).

Andy commanded the American left with his force largely made up of Militia alongside one Continental regiment and some State troops.

Opposing Andy was George's British force which included some Iroquois and the loyalist British Legion.

My troops were opposed by Steve's Hessian mercenaries who were disappointed to find that this was not a cabbage farm...

As the battle started I pushed my light troops forward into the treeline...

Whilst the Hessians advanced stoically in the centre...

Concentrating their advance on the American far right against the Militia.

The British advanced en masse with a small Highland reserve held back to reinforce success or stem failure...

With both sides deploying cannon in the centre, my Continentals began to advance up behind the light troops...

Steve advancing his Jägers into the cover of the orchard to try and snipe at the Continental artillery.

His central Hessian force advancing slowly towards the American Continentals alongside Iroquois support.

In a bold move Andy advanced his States troops forward to try and occupy the farm and use it as a stronghold against the advancing British,

Unfortunately George has a similar idea and his lobsterbacks moved up to engage the Americans.

On the British right (opposing Andy) he pushed forward his Light Infantry...

And the British Legion.

Whilst Andy's Continentals checked their flints ready to receive them!

On the American right the Hessians deployed against the Militia regiments...

 With Militia skirmishers peppering them with musket fire.

In the centre the Hessian artillery came unstuck against the fire of Andy's State troops and my Continentals becoming Broken after a failed morale check and 50% casualties.

At this stage of the battle the Hessians were fiercely engaged with the American Militia and on the far left George's British were moving up to attack Andy's Militia.

Steve pushed his second group of Jägers forward to deal with the Militia skirmishers harassing his Line regiments...

Then charged his Iroquois at them, somewhat unsuccessfully.

However the distraction allowed his Line regiments to concentrate on the Militia to their front and one regiment of them was Broken by Hessian musket fire.

Whilst in the centre the State troops and British exchanged fire over the farm...

George moved his Light Infantry up to engage the Militia on the American left.

Pushing on Militia regiment back...

And after initially being held up by second regiment of Americans...

Routed them following a terrible Morale check roll by Andy! Fortunately the first regiment shrugged off the flight of their comrades on their subsequent check.

However that was not the end of Andy's bad dice rolling as his Continentals managed to pick up two Disorder markers to their existing one when they checked their reaction to the fleeing Militia and decided to join them on their sprint to safety! In one turn Andy had lost two of his regiments including his Continentals! :-(

With the Militia on the American right starting to amass Disorder markers I advanced the reserve Militia regiment and the Continental Dragoons to stem the Hessian advance... 

However this was too late for one Militia regiment who peppered by Hessian musket fire picked up a third Disorder marker and Routed.

On the American left the British Light Infantry went in again on the remaining American Militia...

And Routed them. The entire American left wing had now fled and only open fields stood before the advancing British!

However Andy's State's troops were still fighting for the farm itself and charged by the British line...

Saw them off, Routing the Lobsterbacks! Hurrah the State Line!

Despite that, things were looking bleak for them as the British began to encircle the farm.

The American right was in better health, although on Militia Regiment was Broken and in danger of Routing. The Hessians were bloodied but still in overall good health.

At this point time ran out though I think it was clear that with the collapse of the American left there was little chance of the remaining Patriot forces securing a victory, though the remaining Continentals and Lee's Legion Lights would have exacted a bloody price from the British and their Hessian mercenaries!

Overall a fun game (well maybe not for Andy! :D ), it was interesting to see how Rebels and Patriots stood up with ease to being played with FOUR times the suggested points recommended in the rulebook. Be good to have another game of Big R&P sometime soon... 

Rebels and Patriots: Take Colling's Ford!

The second 'lost report' from last Autumn was a large Rebels and Patriots game played down BIG with George and Steve. The specific scenario was the 'Take The High Road' one from The Men Who Would Be Kings, the hill replaced by a ford held by the Rebel forces which had to be taken by the British in 12 moves.

The Loyalist forces were a mix of British and Hessian, the Ansbach-Bayreuth Jäger Company leading Regiment von Bose forward...

Flanked by the British Legion (aka Tarleton's Raiders).

As the British army advanced, the Americans rush to deploy...

The Ansbach-Bayreuth Jägers pushing forward to harass the enemy...

As the 1st Virginia and 2nd Maryland marched across Colling's Ford to defend the vital crossing point.

The 1st Virginia formed up in line in the woods to the right of the road.

At the ford the 1st Maryland, the North Carolina Militia and 1st Continental Artillery formed a rearguard to provide a final line of defence if it was needed.

Spotting the 1st Virginia, Tarelton's Raiders trotted forward...

Then charged the Continental line!

Despite the 1st Virginia being in the tree line, the Legion cavalry inflicted a number of casualties and pushed the Continentals back. However with the Americans being in woodland the Shock Cavalry could not follow up the attack to try and finish them off

This exposed them to an attack by Lee's Legion who were also in the wood and who charged into the British cavalry.

Whilst skirmishers from Kirkwood's Lights fired into their flank.

This saw a number of the Raiders fall and the unit fall back Broken with two Disorder markers - a third would see them Rout.

To their right the British line advanced. The 23rd Foot (Royal Welsh Fuzileers), 17th Foot and 1st Battalion Light Infantry followed by the 71st Foot, Fraser's Highlanders...

The 1st Battalion Lights soon engaging the Americans to their front...

Inflicting casualties and a Disorder marker on the 2nd Maryland.

A lucky double 6 roll by George saw him roll for a 'good thing happen' - he rolled a 3. Independent Fire! An off table unit targets an enemy unit. George chose the 1st Continental Artillery and one gunner fell victim to the unseen enemy!

Unfortunately for the British Legion a bad thing was about to happen as they took fire from Lee's Legion and lost more troopers.

A failed Morale check saw them take a third Disorder marker and Rout!

On the American left the Highlanders of the 71st went in with the bayonet on the 2nd Maryland Continental line.

Killing several and inflicting a Disorder marker on the Americans.

The 1st Battalion Lights pushing forward to engage the Virginian Militia holding the American flank.

On the British left the Grenadiers von Bose marched smartly forward to avenge the British Legion.

Whilst on the right the 71st took pause in their attacks on the 2nd Maryland...

Allowing the 17th Foot to take over!

Who, whilst only inflicting one more casualty on the Continentals, caused them to fall back Broken with a second Disorder marker.

Meanwhile the 1st Battalion Light Infantry took on the Virginian Militia.

On the British left the Musketeers von Bose engaged the light infantry of Lee's Legion.

But were forced back having suffered several casualties - but not failing their Morale check. No Disorder marker for the Hessians.

In the centre the German Grenadiers charged into the 1st Virginia...

A first fierce round of melee saw both sides stand firm...

However a second saw the American Continentals forced back towards the river bank!

The 17th Foot then charged into a group of Kirkwood's Lights, forcing them back across the river on the right flank...

As the 71st renewed their attack on the 2nd Maryland going in once again with bayonets...

Suffering two more casualties the Continentals took an automatic Disorder marker for falling under half strength, then an extremely naff Morale roll by yours truly saw them pick up two more! Three Disorder markers saw the 2nd Maryland Routed!

With a big hole now appearing in the American left it was up to the 1st Continental Artillery and Virginian Militia Regiments to hold back the British, though one Militia regiment was engaged with the 1st Battalion Lights and the second having a Disorder marker which they had taken when they saw the 2nd Maryland rout.

Despite firing at half effect due to a half stength permanent Disorder marker, the 1st Continental Artillery fired at the oncoming Highlanders - killing the British commander Tarleton! Hah!

On the British left the Musketeers von Bose and Lee's Legion continued their own personal battle, the Hessians taking more casualties and a Disorder marker.

In the centre the 1st Virginia attempted to hold back the Grenadiers von Bose firing a volley into them to minimal effect.

The Ansbach-Bayreuth Jägers then cleared the woods of the remaining skirmishers of Kirkwood's Lights...

As their Grenadier comrades charged in on the 1st Virginia...

Pushing the Americans back, with a Disorder marker, onto the very edge of the river!

I then made another awful Morale role adding two more Disorder markers to the one the Continentals already had - and they too Routed!

Things were now looking grim for the Americans, though there were only a couple of turns left - could the rearguard hold the ford?

On the American right one of the Virginian Militia units, now with two Disorder markers having lost a man to the fire of the 17th, failed its Rally check and had fallen back further weakening the American position.

Thought a change of luck next turn saw them Rally off the Disorder markers. Could they now move forward and stop the inexorable advance of the 17th Foot?

The 1st Battalion Lights charged in on the other Militia regiment but the brave boys from Virginia beat them back inflicting a Disorder marker on them.

George took umbrage with this and sent the 17th Foot in on the brave Virginians!

Who suffering two casualties fell back with a Disorder marker.

The 71st then charged across the river at the half-strength 1st Continental Artillery...

Who, despite being Disordered, forced the Highlanders back with a round of case shot!

The Ansbach-Bayreuth Jägers then charged across the ford at the 1st Maryland who failed to see the pesky light infantry off!

The final turn saw the 71st charge in again on the 1st Continental Artillery destroying the light cannon and its crew.

And the Ansbach-Bayreuth Jäger fall back to allow the Grenadiers von Bose to try advance and try to hold the ford against the anticipated attack from the 1st Maryland...

Who, disastrously refused the order to advance!!! The cursed shag-bags!

Pushing the Continentals aside the brave boys of the North Carolina Militia charged into the Hessian Grenadiers in an effort to wrest control of the ford from them right at the death...

But unfortunately their effort was in vain as the Grenadiers beat them back.

That was the end of turn 12 - the British had won.

Another incredibly close game of Rebels and Patriots, the system holding up again as we abused its intended points size with another mass battle. 

It was all going so well until both the 1st Virginia and 2nd Maryland routed following my bad Morale rolls (the law of averages suggest they should only have picked up a second Disorder marker not three) and the least said about the failure of the 1st Maryland to advance and win the game in the last turn the better!