Battle of Bunker Hill BatRep

Prescott's militia garrison the redoubt

Scott offered up a chance to return to a familiar time and ground.  The time and place?  June 1775 at the start of the American War of Independence and the heights of Bunker and Breed's Hill.   Bunker Hill has been refought on more than one occasion using a variety of rules and scales.  The last time the Battle of Bunker Hill saw action on the gaming table was in 2014 using Land of the Free rules and 28mm figures.  That game ended in a British victory as the grenadiers took the redoubt.  That 2014 action can be found at (Battle of Bunker Hill).

Today's game features Scott's wonderfully painted 28mm AWI collection and the rules, British Grenadier.  Kevin would command the British while I commanded the colonials.  Scott would take the role of umpire and game facilitator since both Kevin and I are quite rusty with our memory of British Grenadier.  While we managed to get through the scenario twice in about four hours, I am recounting the effort in Game 1 pitting Kevin vs myself.  To see details of Game 2, please visit Scott's MacPhee's Miniature Men blog.  On to the game!

The battle began with the British stepping off with the historical plan of attack.  That is, Howe approaching the colonial positions from the north towards the rail fence while Pigot demonstrated with a frontal assault against the redoubt.  

Initial Deployments

Prescott manning the redoubt

Howe advancing on the right

Pigot advancing upon the redoubt

Stark defending the rail fence

While Pigot brought his command slowly forward in column toward the redoubt and Charlestown, Howe led his command forward toward the rail fence.  The weak spot in the Rebel line appears to be the fleches, manned by a single unit of Prescott's militia.  With the fence well-defended and an attack upon it likely to suffer enfilading fire from the fleches, what will Howe do? 

Howe advances upon Colonial positions

Prescott need not wonder for long what the British have planned.  With the British grenadiers preparing for a direct assault on the north end of the redoubt, the other two regiments have their eyes set on an attack against the fleches.  The Stark orders one of his regiments to move to support the fleches.  The British begin taking a few casualties from the American 3-pounder.

British attack begins

Without much softening up and perhaps under-estimating the resolve of the colonial militia, the British grenadiers crash against the redoubt.  The militia maintain their ground not flinching from the fearsome Grenadier attack.  Coolly discharging their muskets into the face of the Grenadiers, the British assault is stopped.  Huzzah! 

Grenadiers assault the redoubt

Surprised by the determination and good marksmanship of the militia, the grenadiers break and run for the rear.  Huzzah!  Against the fleches, casualties mount to both the militia and the 43/52 Foot.  Harassing fire continues from Gridley's 3 pound guns.

Grenadiers break for the rear!

With the grenadiers in flight, having been repulsed by the stalwart Americans, Howe's remaining two regiments press on.  While remaining on the right flank of the 43/52, the light infantry battalion has angled itself into long musketry range of Stark's colonials lining the fence.  With guns and colonial muskets sending volleys of lead into the lights, casualties increase rapidly.   

Casualties mount on Howe's regiments.

The Lights have had enough!  Not expecting the fight to be so hotly engaged, the Light Infantry battalion routs.  Having both flanks uncovered by routing comrades, the 43/52 appears to waver in its mission.  On the south against the redoubt, Pigot experiences a similar fate.  The 38th, discounting the abilities of the colonial militia, approaches the redoubt while still in column.  As may be guessed, Prescott's boys unleash a deadly volley causing the 38th to run tail and withdraw.  

British Light Infantry battalion break for the rear!

One more exchange of musketry and the 43/52 is put to flight too! Huzzah!  Howe's entire command is in flight, likely heading back to their transport barges.

Howe's command flees the field of battle

Howe attempts to rally his routing command but to no avail.  Both the Light Infantry battalion and the 43/52 foot disperse.  Excited by the sight of the running Redcoats, Stark orders his command to jump the fence in pursuit.  Stark will never catch the fleeing British since "they ran so fast, the hounds couldn't catch'em."  Wait.  That's a different war.  Seeing his command disintegrate on the slopes of Breed's Hill, Howe calls off the attack and heads back to the landings to re-embark what remains of his command.

Howe calls off the attack

A quick and decisive result in the Americans' favor.  Great fun to be an American on the battlefield this day.  With Scott at the helm running the QRS, play progressed at a rapid pace.  Kevin and I only needed to concern ourselves with tactics and objectives.  The details of combat resolution were left to Scott.  The rules worked well and brought about a decisive conclusion in a reasonable amount of time.  Great fun!  I look forward to the next AWI battle.