Friday, July 6, 2018

Montcalm & Wolfe: Wolfe Hunts Down the French

Wolfe attacks Montcalm's hasty defenses
Montcalm, having been given the boot from Quebec by Wolfe and his regulars, was hotly pursued by the same after receiving safe passage.  Calculating that his force would be unable to outrun his pursuing adversary, Montcalm turned and offered battle.  After a heated exchange, Montcalm gathered his forces and made good an escape.  The French militia having tasted two recent defeats, melted away into the woods on the retreat.  For details of this action, please visit Peter’s Grid Based Wargaming.

After being interrupted by an unexpected British activation, play returns to the French.  Still needing to accomplish more than one activation, the French tempt fate and roll on the Command Table.  This time, the French receive three activations.  

With these activations, Montcalm and his remaining Regulars march to Trois Rivieres and prepare for the inevitable British attack.  One regiment of Regulars travels by bateaux to Trois Rivieres to lend some strength to Moncalm's defense while Drucour marches his force towards Fort Stanwix.

During July attrition, Rigaud's regiment of Irregulars disbands leaving Rigaud with one regiment of Regulars.  During this season, the French lose two regiments to the ravages of hard campaigning.  With only a few viable forces left in the field, the French may have to change their strategy for conducting the war.  Really, only Contrecoeur's isolated force at Fort Niagara remains a threat.  
French Movements July 1758
August 1758
Wanting to hit Montcalm before any more reinforcements arrive and to capture a supply base to avoid attrition in the heat of summer, the British opt for the one automatic Command Point to set Wolfe in motion.  That he does.  With three regiments of Regulars, Wolfe attacks Montcalm at the settlement of Trois Rivieres.

Battle of Trois Rivieres
OB:
British: Wolfe (A4D4), 3 x 5-6 Regular regiments
French: Montcalm (A4D4), 2 x 5-6 Regular regiments.

The settlement of Trois Rivieres is situated on the banks of the St Lawrence and St Maurice rivers.  Hasty works have been erected by Montcalm.  Will combat favor the defense?

18 comments:

  1. Hi Jonathan - just wanted to say how much I have been enjoying this concept of the board game being converted to the table top by another player...I have made a few comments on Peters page but would like to acknowledge your work too - well done!

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    1. Your positive feedback on our joint operations is very much appreciated! Pleased to read that you are enjoying the tag-team campaign. I have enjoyed this concept too!

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  2. This is fun to follow. Does the campaign system allow for command friction at all?

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    1. Glad you are enjoying the campaign, Markus!
      As for command friction, besides Command Points to activate a leader or force, each leader is given a rank. In a hex with multiple leaders, the one with lowest (lowest equals highest) rank commands the stack. To get a better but lower ranking officer to command a stack, one must find a place for the outranking general to "get lost."

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  3. Good campaign system and I really like the combination of board game with table top - works well.

    Cheers, Ross

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    1. Very good to have you following along, Ross! For me, it has been a pleasure providing the operational context for Peter’s tactical battles and then transferring his results back into the board game.

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  4. It's good to see the French and British warming up for Napoleon, Jonathan ;)

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  5. Fantastic and very interesting Jonathan!

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  6. All good fun, you do feel its entering the end game though.
    Best Iain

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    1. The campaign does seem to be entering the end game although a draw is still possible.

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  7. Hard to see hoe the French can hang on much longer, but perhaps Montcalm can score a tactical victory in the coming game... he certainly needs it!

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    1. Yes, the French have a difficult row to hoe, for sure. Perhaps, a draw is the best that can be accomplished? If Montreal can be successfully taken, I fear all will be lost for the French cause.

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