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Saturday, August 28, 2021

Defense of Shoemaker's Bridge

The action at Shoemaker's Bridge is up for one last replay.  This time the Monday Night UK Group (which plays on Tuesday!) is set for an encore game.  Rather than umpiring three players in the first game (see: Shoemaker's Bridge: Game 1), I had seven players participate in this game.  Quite a fistful of players for a remote game.  No worries since there were seven brigades on the OB.  Each player could command a meaningful and independent brigade.  Still, managing and coordinating seven players in a remote game is a challenge.

How did the battle unfold?  Please continue reading to find out!

General Heard deploys his brigade and the independent units of Rifles and artillery as seen above.  The artillery is deployed in the rear covering the bridge.  The rifles and one militia regiment set up on the American right, likewise, covering the bridge while the two remaining militia regiments position themselves on and around Shoemaker's Hill.  All are given Hold orders enabling them to react to British movements on Turn 1.  
React the Americans do.  As the British begin reaching the battlefield on their approach to the bridge,  Heard snaps into action.  The Rifles quickly cross the stream and let loose a volley into the arriving Redcoats.  Militia situated at the bottom of the hill along the stream climb back onto the heights before contact with the enemy. 
First contact on the British left near the farmhouse
The riflemen are driven off with casualties but their bold move forces the Redcoats to bunch up around the bridge. This concentration of force makes an easy target for both militia and guns. One of Jones' regiments scatters in these opening salvos.  Brushing aside these Rebels may not be so easy as expected.
Or will it?  The Redcoats wade across the stream all along the front with one regiment scaling the heights to contest Shoemaker's Farm almost immediately.  Lord Percy, Matthews, and the two guard regiments swing wide around the Rebel left in an attempt to pressure Shoemaker's Farm from two directions.  American reinforcements can be seen hurrying toward the front. Will they reach the front in time?
The answer to that question is unknown.  The Redcoats, having crossed the stream in strength, are driving the Rebels back on the American right.  Pigott's men advance and fight into the fields deep into the American right.  Percy and Matthews drive deep on the Rebel left.  Smith's Brigade is preparing to assault the heights.  This rapid advance is beginning to show shades of battles' past.

Pigott and Jones are thrown back
But the American defense shows signs of stiffening as reinforcements spin off to the left and right to contest these British probes. On the Rebel right, Jones and Pigott's commands are driven back from the fields as Heard and elements of Nixon's Brigade pushes forward.  The British suffer heavy casualties as they are thrown out of the field.  On the American left, skirmishes erupt as Parsons’ Brigade interrupts Percy and Matthew's thrust.
In the center, Smith prepares to assault the heights in force having gained a foothold on the lower slopes near the bridge.  The American defense appears to be stiffening.
Smith's assault goes in as his command climbs the heights.  The Rebels are driven back swiftly but casualties are high.  Matthews throws in one of the Guard regiments in the assault upon Shoemaker's Farm.  For now, the militia in the farm hold but for how long?
Jones goes in again on the left
The Rebels counterattack!  On the left, Jones' Brigade suffers greatly as his command takes withering casualties as the Rebels press forward.  In the center, Nixon goes on the attack in hopes of stopping the British advance.  Parsons, on the Rebel left, forms up to contest Percy's planned encirclement of the heights.
Smith storms Shoemaker's Farm and the militia are ejected.  Both suffer great loss.  Lead elements of Smith's command descend the heights flushed with success.  Can the Americans hold?  
While Parsons holds the Guards at bay on the left and Heard dispatches the remaining Redcoats on the American right, Nixon turns the tide in the fight for the heights.  
With the situation at the bridge under control, Nixon can turn his attention elsewhere.  In their possibly over-extended positions on the hill, the Redcoats are flanked by elements of Nixon's Brigade.
Softened by artillery and then assaulted from the rear, the Redcoats waver and then break.  In a matter of minutes, Smith's command is in tatters.  Smith must now figure a way out of this vise.  With Parsons pinning the Guard, no relief is in reach.  While Smith still holds the farm, his remaining brigade is either dead on the field or trapped.
The Redcoats are pinned!
With the British left destroyed and only remnants of Smith's Brigade clinging to the Shoemaker Farm, Lord Percy orders the Guard to retire from the field.  The Rebels have held the field and prevented the encirclement of their army outside of Brooklyn.  Hurrah!

Well!  Finally, the Americans taste victory in the fifth replay of this battle.  This was a hard-fought scrap that the Rebels could have lost once again.  A well-played game by the Rebel commanders.  This American victory with provide another interesting piece of evidence to a battle retrospective.

How about the Butcher's Bill and Victory Point totals?
Butcher's Bill
Battle Losses: British lost 8 regiments of infantry and three generals (!) to the American's loss of 7 regiments of infantry and one general.
Victory Points: British 20. Americans 34.

I declare this a decisive tactical American victory.  The Rebels have blunted the planned British flanking maneuver upon Brooklyn.

Ian, Graham, and Phil, you demonstrated how to win an American victory in this scenario and save Fort Brooklyn.  Decisively too!  Well done!  

For the British players of Will, Steve, Chris, and Richard, you fought valiantly and I thought I would witness another in a long string of British victories.  Alas, the Rebels live to fight on.

For a player's perspective of the battle, see Graham's account at,

Great fun in umpiring this very large, player count remote game.  Thanks to all!

49 comments:

  1. It was a tough battle, and I thought we were on a losing wicket for most of the game. Still, tactical genius will out, even if Mr Internet was not my friend, and I missed the last 10 minutes.

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    1. The British came on in the same fashion and I thought the result would be similar. Boy, was I wrong! You Rebels fought valiantly to stop the British juggernaut. God WAS on the Rebel side!

      The fact that Rebel fortunes reversed after your internet failed must be coincidence. Right?

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    2. I'd set the situation up. I claim all the credit.

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  2. Great to see the scenario one final time. It shows what is possible with a
    Little fortune. Well done to you Jon for putting on the game and giving such entertainment 👍

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    1. Thanks, Matt! The Rebels played well in this one with just the right amount of luck.

      Never rule out seeing this scenario again. Not soon, though.

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  3. A great fight! The myth of the AWI 'Kobayashi Maru' broken at last.
    Good to see the interplay between multiple players too; I think this would make 'Freeman's Farm', with associated multiple commands, very do-able with the system.

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    1. It was a great fight, Darren! The Rebels, this time, solved the puzzle and put the Redcoats on the run.

      Freeman's Farm would be very doable in this format. I have been looking at the action Chadd's Ford at Brandywine as a possibility too.

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  4. Another great looking scenario Gents!

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  5. Excellent work. I suspect remote gaming like this will be more of a feature going forward, so keen to see it working so well.

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    1. Thanks! If we keep at it, remote gaming ought to be sustainable.

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  6. Very neat to see the colonists win! Our local group always said fight with militia because if you win, there are bragging rights! A win and proof this can be a staple AWI scenario. Good job Jonathan.

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    1. While I figured the Rebels had a fair shot at a victory, I was beginning to wonder. Very relieved to see the colonists pull one out for a win. Without a lot of defensive terrain, the rebels are always the underdogs in an even match.

      Thank you very much, Joe!

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  7. Finally, an American win and with seven players - great to see it can be done. I'm glad it happened at game five though, as it might have eventually started to take a toll on you if had taken until game five hundred.

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    1. Finally, indeed! Game 500? I don't think I would live that long! Besides, there are so many other interesting battles to fight. This has been a fun one for me. I am on the hunt for a similar battle to give a similar treatment.

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    2. I'm looking forward to Matt's treatment of the battle of New York, if he does one. I stumbled across a commemorative plaque when we were there having known nothing about it previously, and there's nothing like an unexpected find like that to pique one's interest.

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    3. I am looking forward to seeing what Matt cooks up next too. There are a number of New York battles to consider for the YE 1776. I may pick one that Matt does not and make a scenario too.

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  8. Vindicates your feeling that a British win is not a forgone conclusion, but still a tight game and big casualties, so everyone has to work hard - a good scenario to bank for a future roll-out.

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    1. Not a foregone conclusion, at all (in my mind anyway)! Tight game, big casualties, and hopefully an enjoyable scenario with challenges for all.

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  9. A very decisive victory - I assume the huge points disparity was due to loss of so many general officers on the British side? One suspects they were too ashamed of their loss to the Rebels and could not face the ignominy of being recalled in disgrace, so preferred to go down fighting at the head of their troops!

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    1. The VP disparity was primarily driven by terrain objectives seized. Casualties were about even and the leaders losses gave the Rebels a +4VPs. Taking the bridge gave +5VPs to the Rebels and they ended up holding most of the high ground. Had the British maintained the bridge the VP totals would have been British 25; Americans 29; a much closer looking result. Many a British general came back on his shield.

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  10. Great looking game, those damned rebels in the ascendancy again.

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    1. Thanks, Paul! If you want to win a war, you must win some battles.

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  11. Another exciting and close game Jonathan. Great to see that this scenario does provide a chance for an American win, which is good to see. However once again a rather bloody victory, with both sides taking a bit of a beating!

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    1. Watching and umpiring the game, was exciting to see the battle unfold. What looked like another British victory reversed advantage on a dime in the end game. The resiliency of the Rebel counterattack was a wonder to behold. Very bloody battle. I am considering adding in an Army Breakpoint to prevent armies from fighting to the last unit.

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  12. Thanks for the write-up, Jon. I stepped into Heard’s rôle at the eleventh hour, but I had the advantage of playing the British in the previous game, and in charge of the Guards. So the game plan had to be attack across the river, at whatever the cost. It would slow the advance down and, much to my surprise, it worked as the British vanguard did not continue crossing the bridge but stopped to engage me. This blocked the bridge for a number of moves, and when the British advance they got over the river in pursuit of my militia.
    My command and myself were wiped although the artillery and riflemen continued to the end, causing casualty after casualty on the British. My troops actually shot up two brigades!

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    1. You are welcome, Ian, and thank you for participating in two of the games. Since you were on the victorious side, it is hard to argue with your tactics. When I played the Rebels, I did exactly as you with Heard. Using your Hold order to activate and then cross the stream to attack the British in what is essentially a double move seems the correct play to me.

      In this battle, your artillery and riflemen skirmishers served you very well. Although General Heard died in battle, his sacrifice was worth the cost. Great job!

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  13. Grand gaming again, Jonathan. Very impressed with the scenario and multi-player virtual gaming.

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    1. Thanks, Dean. Seven players is a handful, no doubt.

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  14. Well if you kept playing it I guess it was inevitable that the rebels would win eventually, considering how close the other games have been, was the plan always to keep playing until the rebels were victorious!
    Best Iain

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    1. Hi Iain. There was no plan to keep playing until the Rebels won but glad to see the Americans can win this scenario. For the Rebels, the final Game 5 ended on a high note. They can rest on their laurels until next time.

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  15. Didn’t think the rebels could pull it off but they have. A big well done to the rebel commanders - this was no mean feat!

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    1. In theory, the way I constructed the scenario and victory conditions, the Rebels ought to have a fair shot at winning. I was beginning to wonder, though.

      Yeah, the Rebels played a good game and were rewarded.

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  16. A great game Jonathan- I intend to give this scenario a try!

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    1. Glad you enjoyed it and awaiting to see your replay. Which rules will you use?

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  17. At last a splendid if costly victory for the patriot forces. Perhaps combined command is the answer? Commanding the whole force one is often drawn into one area of the battle and forgetting the big picture.

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    1. At last! You may be right about the number of commands. Perhaps each American brigade needs to concentrate only on its section of the battle. Would the same concentration not apply to the British as well?

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    2. Indeed, perhaps though they were a little over confident, given the previous outcomes🤔

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    3. You have a good eye, Phil! Overconfidence may have played a role in Smith's fate upon Shoemaker Hill.

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  18. Admittedly late to the party here, Jonathan, but lovely to see the code was cracked!

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    1. Never too late to take the time to leave a comment, Steve! Good to see a Rebel victory after four attempts.

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  19. Rebel victory?! Those three fallen generals won't be the only generals who'll lose their lives for that loss. Heads should roll! :)

    Sounds like corralling all those players must have been a challenge, though a worthy one. Fun to read a different outcome to this scenario too mate.

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    1. Yes. Finally a Rebel victory and a well-earned victory at that.

      Coordinating seven players is not as daunting as it first may seem. Play does slow from F2F since I must interpret each player's intent and then move the pieces. I must handle all of the adjudication since resolution is serial and not parallel.

      Glad you enjoyed this series of battle reports!

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  20. That’s a great match. Finally rebels overcome the challenge:) I assume a luck on dice wasn‘t a reason of success but right tactics?

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    1. This battle was really a tough fight. There was some luck involved but the Rebels fought a sensible, tactical battle.

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  21. Fifth time luck for the Rebels. That great joy and benefit of wargaming; a second (third... fifth) 'life' is quite wonderful.
    The British tactic of attack along the entire front seemed sensible and set to pay off again, but it was the previously all-conquering left that failed on this occasion. Those timely counter-attacks worked well for the Continentals. Chalk one up for Independence. It's gonna be a long war...!
    Regards, James

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    1. James, it took a number of trials to pull out a victory but the Rebels finally succeeded. It was a hotly contested battle but the Rebels split the British line and capitalized on the breach. The counterattack was fun to watch unfold.

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