Chadd's Ford: End of the Struggle - BatRep

To remind one how we reached this stage of the battle see:
Part 1: Maxwell's Delay
Part 2: Maxwell's Destruction
Part 3: Brinton's Ford

Battle Continuation: Turn 7
As both British columns descend on Brandywine Creek, there is a crescendo of musketry fire all along the front lines.

Gaining the initiative, Knyphausen activates Grant on the British left.  After recovering from disorder caused by the 27th's sudden retrograde, the 40th fires into the 2/7 Maryland with a punishing volley.

40th volleys into Marylanders

Shaken from heavy casualties, the Marylanders fall back from the ford and disorder the German battalion as they pass through.  Being in reserve and in support of Marylanders, the Germans suddenly find themselves on the front line.  

With the Marylanders falling back, Grant orders the 40th forward.  During the advance, the 40th stops to let loose a volley into the beleaguered Germans.

40th volleys into the German battalion

Still wavering from their recent firefight and under heavy fire once again, the Germans scatter.  Meanwhile, anchoring the far left of the British line, Grant's artillery pounds the 4th Maryland on the opposite bank of the creek. The artillery fire exhausts the Marylanders.  De Borre's command is being ripped asunder.

British artillery pound the Marylanders

Following up in close support of the 40th, the 55th advances after reordering its lines.  The 27th recovers from its disorder as well.  To personally oversee the rallying of the 10th, Grant joins the regiment in an attempt to bolster its morale.  With Grant present, the 10th improves from exhausted to shaken.

Having witnessed the destruction of the Germans and the withdrawals of both the 4th and 2/7th Maryland regiments from Brinton's Ford, Sullivan turns his attention to his second brigade.  Smallwood orders the 1st MD to advance to the creek bank in hopes of relieving pressure on De Borre's command.  After halting near the banks of the creek, the 1st MD fires into the 40th.

1st MD in action

The British sustain casualties but remain firm.  To apply more pressure on the 40th, Smallwood sends a forced order to the 1st MD.  It refuses to act and becomes disordered.

1st MD halts in disorder

While the 1st Maryland may have balked at pressing on, Smallwood's artillery takes aim and fires into the redcoats.  Disordered by casualties from Smallwood's artillery fire, the shaken 40th falls back from the ford.  Once again, the 55th suffers disorder as a comrade retrogrades through its ranks.

British stacking up like cord wood

De Borre activates and successfully brings the 2/7 MD and 4th MD back to good order.  De Borre's guns fire into the 10th.  The 10th takes additional casualties but stands firm with Grant's presence.

On the American left, the guns overlooking Chadd's Ford open up against the Queen's Rangers.  Taking heavy casualties, the rangers are shaken and fall back through Vaughn's guns and the 4th foot as Vaughn's brigade continues its advance on the ford.  Both guns and 4th are disordered as the rangers pass through.

Queen's Rangers retreat

Vaughn's advance on Chadd's Ford

Turn 8
Winning the initiative, Washington activates Sullivan who, in turn, pushes De Borre.  The 2/7 MD reloads and double times back to Brinton's Ford.  A quick volley into the 55th Foot does little damage.

Returning the favor, the 55th pours lead into the Marylanders.  The 2/7 takes heavy casualties and becomes exhausted but maintains its position along the creek.  As Grant's guns join in against the Marylanders, the 2/7th scatters.  Having destroyed the 2/7, Grant's guns turn their barrels to the 4th Maryland.  The Marylanders suffer casualties and become disordered.

Firefight!

With more than half of De Borre's command either destroyed or exhausted, De Borre's brigade is broken.

Sullivan then sends Smallwood back into action.  Recovering from disorder, the 1st MD double times back to the ford and then puts out a ragged volley into the 55th.  No damage to the 55th is recorded.  With muskets empty, Smallwood sends a forced order to the 1st MD.  The effort of reloading muskets after their exertion disorders the 1st MD.  The 3/6 Maryland likewise double times up to the ford.  Smallwood's guns target the 10th.  Artillery fire opens holes in the British ranks but the 10th stands.  Grant's attempt to rally the 10th's stragglers and wounded back to the ranks is a success.  Huzzah!

Grant keeps the pressure on

Back on the British right, Vaughn continues his advance on the Americans' positions strung out defending Chadd's Ford.  First, the 28th Foot double times towards the creek, stops, and unloads two volleys into the 2nd Virginia.  Shaken from the musketry, the 2nd falls back from the ford.  Second, Vaughn's guns move up the road, unlimber, and fire into 1st/5th Virginia.

Vaughn's guns pound the Virginians

Taking heavy casualties, the Virginians fall back through the 14th Virginia, disordering their fellow Virginians.  The 1st/5th does not stop retreating until encountering Washington near Chadd's Farm.  On the far right, Wayne's light infantry is destroyed by musketry from the 23rd Foot.

Virginians driven back from ford

Attempting to stabilize the setbacks near the ford, Weedon's brigade responds.  The 6th VA pours three volleys into the 28th Foot.  While each volley was not devastating alone, the casualties mount and in aggregate, cause the 28th to become shaken.  The 28th holds its ground.

The 2nd Virginia double times to the creek as Weedon gallops to join the Virginians.  With Weedon's influence, the 2 VA lashes out with two crippling volleys into the already weakened 28th.  The 28th buckles under the firepower and scatters.

Destruction of the 28th Foot

Weedon's guns fire from the redoubt on the hill into the 49th Foot.  The 49th takes modest casualties and is disordered.  As the firefight at the ford continues, the plodding German brigade under Stirn breaks into view.  

Kynphasuen closes in on Chadd's Ford

Turn 9
Regaining the initiative,  Knyphausen chooses to activate Grant on the British left rather than press on first with Vaughn.  With De Borre's brigade broken, now is the time to act.  Grant, still attached to the 10th Foot, uses one CP to rally the stragglers and wounded back to the colors.  The 10th then uses its orders to rally itself from disorder.

Astride the road leading to Brinton's Ford, the 55th unleashes two volleys (one punishing) into the 1st Maryland.  The shaken 1st falls back through the 2nd Canadian, disordering both.

1st Maryland driven back

As the 1st MD passes through the 2nd Canadian, the 2nd becomes the target for Grant's guns.  The 2nd suffers casualties but stands solidly.

On the American side of Brinton's Ford, De Borre activates in an attempt to salvage his command.  Broken, each element must pass a Discipline Morale Check.  Already exhausted, the 4th MD fails and dissolves.  Shaken, the 2nd Canada, likewise fails, becoming exhausted.  The 2nd falls back.  De Borre's artillery passes the test and remains in place to lend supporting fire.  Targeting the 55th, De Borre's guns inflict numerous casualties and the 55th is shaken.

Back on the British right, Kynphausen activates Vaughn who continues with his probing attacks towards Chadd's Ford.  The 23rd Foot marches smartly forward and lets loose two volleys into the 9th Virginia.  The 23rd's first volley is ragged but the second is punishing.  Shaken and disordered, the 9 VA holds.

The 4th Foot advances along the ford road and then halts to deliver two volleys into the 14 Virginia.  The 14th takes heavy casualties and falls back, shaken.   

Clearing itself from disorder, the 49th, on the left of the road, advances and then halts to pour a punishing volley into the 2nd VA along the banks of the Brandywine.  Exhausted, the 2nd VA falls back from the ford.  Falling back is no respite for the wavering 2nd VA.  Artillery fire targets the disintegrating regiment and it is destroyed.  Gaps begin appearing in the American lines defending Chadd's Ford.

2nd VA destroyed

American defense of Chadd's Ford weakens

With De Borre on the American right broken and Smallwood beginning to waver, Grant looks to have a good opportunity to secure Brinton's Ford and make a bridgehead.  On the American left, cracks in the defensive line are likewise materializing.  Having Kynphausen's guns ready to lend supporting fire from the high ground, defenders will be fortunate to withstand the pressure.  As Stirn's fresh Germans are yet to enter the fray, an all out assault across Chadd's Ford would likely see eventual success. 

Battle map looking north

Battle map looking east

Needing to bring the game to a conclusion to make way for another game, I declare that Kynphausen would eventually prevail.  Fun solo exercise and a solid advancement of my understanding of Land of the Free.