Tuesday, April 13, 2021

Action at Great Bridge, DEC1775

photo courtesy https://wargamesinthedungeon.blogspot.com/
In Matt's quest to fight his way through the American War of Independence in chronological order, his next scenario recreates the action at Great Bridge in December, 1775.  This is an action to which I was completely unfamiliar but turned out into a nifty little battle.

Matt drafted a scenario, OB, and map, and provided the particulars before the day of battle.  As expected from Matt, his table layout was exquisite.  Very tranquil setting, no?

photo courtesy https://wargamesinthedungeon.blogspot.com
photo courtesy https://wargamesinthedungeon.blogspot.com

In prior installments in this series of battles, the British have often found themselves attacking the Rebels.  Frontal attacks against defenders in Rebels & Patriots have proven quite hazardous.  Many a British attack has met with disaster.  Given the string of American victories and Matt setting the stage, I figured we may see a different situation and a different outcome.  Well, the situation was familiar.  That is, British infantry attacking prepared defenses.  Not only that but the British assault must pass over a narrow causeway to reach the Colonials.  The Americans were all downgraded to "Green."  That should help, right?

The Americans begin with a picket skirmish line out on the causeway with two militia up on the heights.  The Culpeper militia are sharpshooters.  The remaining American forces are still encamped beyond the town.  No one expects a British assault across the causeway. 
As the British light infantry advances on the causeway, it comes under fire by both sharpshooters up on the embankment and skirmishers on the causeway.
In the approach up the causeway, the lights take heavy casualties and are disordered.  
The grenadiers are brought forward to brush the Rebels aside.  This should be easy.
The grenadiers charge the skirmishers.  Failing to evade the oncoming grenadiers, the skirmishers hold their ground.  In an uneven fight the skirmishers are scattered although the grenadiers suffer some casualties.
The victorious and confident grenadiers march up the slope toward the barricades.
Not so fast!  Scattering the American picket clears fire lanes from both militia. Taking heavy casualties, the grenadiers turn tail and break for the rear and the safety of the bridge.  
Next, the remnants of the light infantry are pushed forward along the causeway as American reinforcing militia arrive to man the barricades.  Rebel fire sends the lights to the rear as well.  What is left of the British attacking force?  Two units of Loyalists.  
The loyalty of the Loyalists is called into question as they fail to activate, stalled on the causeway.  This pause allows the Rebels an opportunity to pour more fire into their ranks.
Seeing the last Loyalist formation off, the Virginians hop over the barricades and give chase to the fleeing troops.  As in the historical engagement, the British attack is repulsed with heavy losses while the American defenders barely suffer a scratch.  This fight lasted a little longer than the historical action at about 90 minutes.

Even rating the Americans as Green was not enough to offset the disadvantage of launching frontal assaults upon prepared positions.  The British enjoyed two Independent Fire missions from rolling double sixes.  Both of these off-table assets directed against the Culpeper sharpshooters was not enough to silence those pesky and accurate riflemen.  After the battle, discussion on play balance included adding a second unit of British grenadiers into the mix.  Attacking on a narrow front is a very risky proposition especially under R&P rules.  Battle for Great Bridge has potential as an excellent solo exercise since the defenders defend while the attackers can try various tactics to overcome the odds.

Be sure to check out Matt’s blog (Battle of Great Bridge) for his perspective on the battle and some better photos.

Next up in the series:  Battles for Long Island.

47 comments:

  1. A beautiful looking game as always by Matt and your post game thoughts are interesting. I think the only option is to try and hold fire, form line and then when in range, use Volley Fire. All of this assumes that in the meantime you haven't been shot to bits by the Americans!

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    1. Matt puts on a handsome game, no doubt. Always a pleasure to see what he presents for the day's action.

      This looks like another tough ask for the British. Historically, the Americans suffered one casualty while the British suffered about 100.

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  2. Thought that was a local action when I saw the location. A fine looking game again, but not for the British🙂 Matt puts on a fine game table.

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  3. Lovely looking action. Over the course of these games, is it case that frontal assaults are difficult and the rules are doing a good job, or is there a sense that the rules are not working for these sort of games?

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    1. Frontal assaults are brutal. With 6"-8" movement and musket ranges to 18" (24" if sharpshooters), attackers will have to absorb at least two and even three volleys before closing. With an expected loss of four hits per volley per defender, in the open, casualties can mount quickly.

      If the point of the exercise is to demonstrate that frontal assaults against prepared positions are suicidal, the rules work as expected!

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    2. I really don’t have any problems with the rules at the moment. As Jon has mentioned it is almost suicidal to assault a prepared position across a restricted front. The only criticism I have of myself is I should have set different and cleverer victory conditions. But this is quite hard as the battle of course is very much one about forcing the breastworks ?

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  4. As Norm says, Matt doesn't appear to be having much luck with his British and frontal assaults, does he? The table looks great though as usual, and I could almost see myself lying back on that ridge on a sunny day overlooking the pleasant valley below.

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    1. Matt is not having much luck because he is ALWAYS given a task to attack. We need to get him and his redcoats on the defense occasionally.

      The pleasant valley below is a swamp!

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  5. What a great looking game with excellent wargaming terrain!

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  6. Nice looking game, interesting fighting the whole thing.

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    1. Thanks, George! It is an interesting scenario that would be fun to replay and switch sides. Winner would be he who makes the most progres against the defenders.

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  7. A nice looking game again but I am starting to get a bit tired of all this bad news from the colonies - I think I may know how King George III felt in 1775/6!

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    1. Only bad news is coming from the colonies. KGIII ought to throw in the towel, so to speak...

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  8. Great gaming again, Jonathan. As always, Matt's figures and terrain are top-notch. BTW, just when I thought I'd be hosting games in the not too distant future - we've been pushed back to Phase 2 (here in Pierce Co).

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    1. Matt's presentation is top-notch, for sure. I saw your county went back into Phase 2. We barely squeaked by this time clinging onto Phase 3, for now.

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  9. Thank you for this well-illustrated and good looking game. AWI is a fascinating period, and I'm always happy to read a good AAR on it. I'm curious, was Matt under a time constraint to take the American position? If not, would an extensive bombardment with his artillery have helped? It looks like things went badly for the British gunners at the end of the battle, unless they abandoned their cannon and ran for it. Cheers, MP

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    1. You are welcome, Michael! There are plenty of other AWI BatReps using Rebels & Patriots if you are interested.

      The gun, in this situation, was used primarily to reduce the barricades which it did with great effect.

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  10. Tough situation, but great looking game. It's all good,though--pushing toy soldiers!

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    1. It's all good, no doubt, Ed! Even better when playing the defense in this one!

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  11. Wow, what a table!

    Poor red coats never really had a chance. Artillery needed to soften up those defenses?

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    1. Yes, it is a gorgeous layout, isn't it? The Redcoats really never had much of a chance.

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  12. That’s a nice scenario. The balance of R&P forces seems to be a tricky thing. Maybe a good idea to replay the scenario but with a beefed up British to find how much more is needed. Don’t know. Bet that you’re having the fun though. 😀

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    1. The scenario was a very interesting one. Matt has been doing his homework. Adding some weight to the British attackers may make a difference but we achieved an historical result which is a always a bonus.

      Yes, I am having a lot of fun.

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    2. Excellent report on a great game! The landscape is gorgeous.

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  13. Replies
    1. Bunker Hill? You missed it!

      https://palousewargamingjournal.blogspot.com/2021/03/battle-of-bunker-hill.html

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    2. Oops, no I didn't! I just forgot that I had!

      Almost time for Montgomery to come and siege my old college at St Jean Quebec!

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    3. I thought you commented on the Bunker Hill game. Quebec may get a pass as we head straight to Long Island. Perhaps, I should investigate Quebec?

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  14. Such a gorgeous table...and such a nice looking game!

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  15. Great looking game, lots of fun, pity the Brits lost again!
    Best Iain

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    1. Seeing the British in open battle or on the defense may turn the tide.

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  16. What a nice small game. Thank you for sharing your gaming experience. I recently managed to play some games but posted my reports on the HoW-forum only. I meanwhile still continue my serious about the battle of Freiburg and some thoughts about servants and masters for the 18th century period.

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    1. For a small game, this scenario offered a lot, Andrè. Well, except for providing a British victory. I have been enjoying your Freiburg posts but have not visited HoW forum lately to see your latest battle reports. I am off to have a look.

      Thanks for your comments.

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  17. A fabulous battle report! It can be so tough, as the Brits, in these games, but it looks like they gave it their best shot. The table looks great - love that mat 👍

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    1. Thank you, Andy! The table looks superb and the fight hard for the British.

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  18. A nice-looking game! It is not necessary an epic battle with tons of miniatures to enjoy the game, isn't it?
    But the tons of miniatures are always great :)

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    1. You are quite right, Dmitry! No need for a table full of troops to have an enjoyable game. We all enjoy seeing lots of troops on the table, though, for sure.

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  19. You are ion your way to becoming a famous Rebel Commander, Jon. Hopefully the Crown doesn't take TOO much interest in your activities! :-)

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    1. We must either hang together or hang separately...

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