BatRep Long Island: Grant Attacks!

Gowanus Road
photo courtesy wargamesinthedungeon.blogspot.com/

Before the armies arrive, the road from the Red Lion Inn to Brooklyn is quiet.  General Alexander will be deploying his force on the heights expecting a British attack from the south.  The British will be attacking to the north (from right to left in the photo above).  Outnumbering the Americans and with artillery in support, General Grant figures he has a chance to turn the American right before General Howe fully engages and outflanks the American left.  Will this day see a long awaited British victory?  We will see.

Initial deployments

The Americans await

Alexander arrays his command of five regiments facing south as shown in the photos above.  The sharpshooting Penn. riflemen are deployed in the woods anchoring the American left.  The two militia regiments are deployed upon the crest of the hill with the two Continental regiments forming a second line.

The Continentals move up in support

as the British prepare to attack the heights

Alexander's plan for defense does not survive contact with the enemy.  With Grant seemingly putting more weight to attacking the American right along Gowanus Bay, Alexander begins shifting his second line to the right.

Smallwood shifts to the right

The British assault the American right

The artillery has been ineffective thus far in softening up the American positions before the attack goes in.  As the lead regular regiment reaches the crest with grenadiers in close support, the lead regiment is stopped by a volley from the militia.  Falling back, the regulars allow the grenadiers to carry on with their work.  Unfortunately, the orderly retreat turns to rout and a regiment of regulars is done for the day.

On the American left, the riflemen stationed in the woods maintain a steady, harassing fire upon the British advance.  Little progress is made in advancing upon the American positions from the British right. 

Grenadiers charge!

The grenadiers, upon reaching the crest of the hill, charge into the militia defending the crest.  The initial attack leaves the grenadiers short of their objective.  Stunned by the attack, the militia remain motionless, unable to respond.  Matt, in great relief lets out a cheer.  The grenadiers charge home in a second effort.

Militia recoils

The grenadiers are stopped

In hand-to-hand fighting, the militia falters and is pushed back.  The grenadiers follow-up and attack the militia second time.  In this clash, the militia is defeated and seeks succour as it retreats through the ranks of its support.

Smallwood gives the grenadiers a volley

A close range volley into the face of the grenadiers

The grenadiers break and run!

With momentum exhausted, the grenadiers stare down a solid line of Continentals.  The Americans loose a volley into the face of the grenadiers and they break and run toward the rear.  Their day is done.

Artillery finally finds a target

driving off the militia

American resolve is weakening

After spending much of the battle either failing to activate or missing its target, the British artillery finally finds its mark.  One militia regiment is sent packing to the rear in disorder.  This success is short lived as the determined riflemen send a second British regiment routing to the rear.  

Another American regiment breaks

Americans bent but not broken

Grant calls off the attack

A volley from the British regiment stationed adjacent to Gowanus Bay hits the American regiment nearest the crest.  Another well-placed volley drives off another American defender.  

While much of the American right is in retreat, two American regiments remain virtually unscathed while much of the British force is in tatters.  With no British reserves and the Game Clock striking 15 turns, the battle comes to a close with an American victory.

As seen before, attacking in Rebels and Patriots is a difficult proposition against a formed defense.  If not for the poor start by the British artillery and the British right, the outcome could have been much different.  The Rebel riflemen proved to be a huge thorn in the side of the British throughout the battle by controlling almost half of the entire battlefield.  While the Americans were badly battered in the fight, the British simply ran out of fresh troops with which to push the assault to victory.  The final Honor count was 7-4 to the Americans.

Does the British player have a path to victory in this scenario?  I think so but perhaps General Grant could have an option of bringing on one more regiment at a cost to an Honor Point or two?  I would enjoy a replay of this scenario to see.

Thanks to Matt for presenting another terrific looking game and for absorbing another British defeat in good spirit. 

Look out for Matt's account of the battle at:

wargamesinthedungeon.