Shoemaker's Bridge: Game 2

Heroic Stand of the Continental Artillery

Game 2 in the three game series was fought out between Steve at Sound Officers Call and Darren at Warfare in the Age of Cynics and Amateurs.  Both have accounts of this battle on their respective blogs.  Be sure to see their thoughts on the game.  For a scenario refresher, please visit my Shoemaker's Bridge scenario.  Steve took on the role of the American Army.  Darren commanded the British.

 

Without further adieu, let's pick up the action in the battle pictorial.

Rebels opt to defend Shoemaker's Farm in force
covering the bridge with the rifles only.

Defenders of Shoemaker's Farm

British arrive in two columns.
  One on the road and the other to the right.

Lead British elements form up at the stream
 while militia moves off the hill to contest the crossing.

Redcoats stream onto the battlefield.

Rifles are driven back on the left as the British advance
 but American reinforcements reach the battlefield
to lend support.

As pressure mounts against the battery on the hill,
 American infantry quickly forms up into line.

Americans veer off to their right to contest
the rapid advance through the fields on the flank.

British are seemingly attacking EVERYWHERE!

Americans are driven back from the field on the right
while reinforcements snake their way to the left.
A second militia moves up to contest the stream crossing.

The high ground in front of Shoemaker Farm is taken.

Americans attack on the right a second time
 to drive the redcoats away from their LOC. 
The defenders of Shoemaker's Farm erupt in volleys,
crippling the lead Redcoat on the hill.
The Rebel column on the left deploys into line and advances.

Are the rebels planning a counterattack?

It appears that is a possibility.

Continentals move up to support the guns.

Perhaps no counterattack yet. 
 The Rebels lose the contest for the field on their right
 and Heard's Brigade is being shredded.
Rebel losses show five militia regiments in the Dead Pile.

Redcoats hold the end of the heights for now
 but casualties climb.

The British fall back from the heights!
On the hill by the road, the guns fend off repeated attacks.

Is the Rebel defense stiffening?

The Continentals retake lost ground!

The Rebel guns are lost as the Redcoats carry the heights.

After the guns fall,
 the Shoemaker Farm defense is breached.

The Redcoats renew their attack on the hill.

With nine American regiments scattered to the winds, the American general orders a retreat from the field.  Back to the safety of Brooklyn!

At battle's end, the state of the armies are:

Butcher's Bill

Game 2 saw even heavier casualties than in Game 1.  The British lost six regiments to the American's nine regiments.  Very bloody engagement but the British are once again victorious.  Even in defeat, the Rebel artillery performed astounding service by repelling multiple British attacks throughout the day.  Outnumbered, they hung in there until the last.  How did the victory points count up?

For Victory Points, The British tallied 25 points against 20. A tactical victory for the British.  Congratulations to Darren for the win!  As the VP total shows, this was a close match and could have gone the other way with a bit more luck and recalling that exiting units earns points.

The game took about three hours to fight to conclusion and the time passed quickly.  Very quickly.  Play was smooth without incident.  It was hard to believe that I had been standing on my feet for three hours pushing lead across the table without a break.  I remembered to take a few more photos than last time too.  Great fun! 

Both Steve and Darren were exemplary players in all regards.  They picked up the rules quickly and seemed to enjoy themselves as their blog posts suggest.  I enjoyed myself greatly getting to know two more gamers from around the world.  There is talk of a rematch...

With two Shoemaker Bridge games in the books, one battle account remains to be told.  Perhaps, next time.  Please visit Steve and Darren's blogs to read their impressions of the game.