Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Montcalm & Wolfe: Quebec Falls!

British storm Quebec Fortress
Wolfe's ambitious siege of Quebec successfully breached the fortress walls and Montcalm capitulated.  Montcalm and the survivors were allowed the honors of war and marched out of the fallen fortress.  For details on the attack and capitulation, please visit Peter's Grid Based Wargaming blog.  Peter's recounting of the siege operations is a fine example of conducting a siege in the mid-18th Century.

With the loss of Quebec, Montcalm, one regiment of Regulars and one regiment of Militia march out from the city.  The Cayuga are recruited to the British cause and move to Fort Oswego to join Amherst.
For the French portion of June 1758 turn, more than one activation is needed to reposition forces after the loss of Quebec.  Rolling on the Command Table, an '8' is rolled giving the British one additional activation and preempting French activations.  When it rains it pours!  Faced with more than one option, the British decide to pursue Montcalm in an attempt to destroy his force before it can reach the relative safety of Trois Rivieres.  Not wanting to risk his entire force to the potential ravages of attrition, Wolfe leaves one regiment of Regulars to garrison Quebec.  Realizing his militia cannot outrun Wolfe and his party of regulars, Montcalm turns to face his pursuers.  Game 16 in the series will be the pursuit and catching of Montcalm in the woods west of Quebec. 

Pursuit of Montcalm:
OB:
British: Wolfe (A4D4), 3 x 5-6 Regulars
French: Montcalm (A4D4), 1 x 5-6 Regular, 1 x 3-5 Militia
Terrain: woods with clearings.

Will Montcalm make good his escape?

16 comments:

  1. A most fitting follow-on scenario.

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  2. First cheers to Peter on an amazing setup and seige scenario. Very interesting both visually and mechanically. Secondly jeers to the British whos "honours of war" were better defined as a headstart.

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    1. Peter's siege game is first rate, no doubt. Your comment about a "headstart" is exactly right. With it being very difficult to destroy an opponent, Montcalm will likely make it to Trois Rivieres not much worse for the wear.

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  3. Is the game up for the French? Surely it's going to be difficult for them to keep going with growing British forces?
    Best Iain

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    1. It will be very challenging for the French. French strategy must now focus on la petite guerre with an aim towards disrupting British advances. With the Political Track swinging in favor of the British, more militia are likely to be called up to augment their forces than for the French. Geography poses a challenge too. All British garrisons are more than one match away for French forces. That requires any French attack upon a British garrison to endure an attrition roll. If undertaken, French forces could melt away in the forests before a successful attack is launched. It does look dire, does it not?

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  4. Lots of lively action going on!

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  5. Good progress must look into some more campaign systems

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    1. This has been a fun exercise from the strategic/operational aspects of the war. Hopefully, this is accomplishing Peter's goal of games with meaning too.

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  6. I agree with Iain, looks like the game is up for the French.

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  7. Sans peur, mes braves, toujours en avant!

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    1. The French may be brave but do they have the resolve to continue the fight?

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  8. The fall of New France does seem imminent.

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