Brandywine: Knyphausen Attacks!

As mentioned in Saturday's post, the Battle of Brandywine was set out on the table in preparation for a Saturday remote game.  A refresher of the battlefield topography is illustrated below:

Brandywine layout

Terrain for the battle uses a roughly 5 foot by 5 foot section of game table marked off in four inch hexes. Brandywine Creek runs generally in a north/south direction with Washington's colonials on the east bank and Knyphausen on the west bank of the creek. Sullivan defends Brinton's Ford while Greene defends Chadd's Ford.

Brandywine Creek is only crossable at the two marked fords and is considered ROUGH in melee. Units must stop when entering a ford hex and move no farther that turn. Brandywine Creek, fences, buildings, woods provide soft cover.  American redoubts provide hard cover.

Victory points are awarded for holding key terrain objectives, destroying enemy units, or exiting units off the table.  Largest point total wins a tactical victory. 

Four players participated in Saturday's game with two British/German players (Darren and Ivan) and two Americans players (Steve and Ken).  This game would be Ken's first remote game.  The other three players have at least one of my remote games under their belt.

Without further adieu, let's get to the battle to see how the action unfolded.

Anglo-Germans make their approach march
toward Brandywine Creek.
The Americans lay in wait.

Vaughn's Brigade leads the British column as contact
 is made with Maxwell's light infantry.
Vaughn's infantry deploys into line astride road to
Chadd's Ford.

Stirn's Germans march quickly toward Brinton's Ford. 
 The lead regiment deploys into line.

Vaughn and Maxwell skirmish in front of Chadd's Ford.

Greene orders his command to stiffen the defenses
 at the ford.

Mirbach takes fire from the ford
and the artillery on the hill.

Vaughn attempts to outflank Maxwell.
In the distance, Greene crosses the ford in strength.
What?

Battlefield overview

Greene chooses to take the fight to the enemy
on the west bank of Brandywine Creek.
Is he trying to defeat the British before
they can form up or buy time?

As British regiments arrive, they are deployed
to the left and right of the road in
an attempt to turn Greene's flank.
Casualties are beginning to climb.

The British are working around both flanks
 of the Americans in front of Chadd's Ford.

16th Lt Dragoons swing around to attack from the south. 
 Their attack is repulsed with casualties.
The Americans still control the approaches to the ford
 as more American regiments pass over to the west bank. 

Back at Brinton's Ford, the Germans charge
 into the defenders at the ford and take fire
from the artillery in the redoubt.
They are repulsed with casualties.

The Germans attack!

A second effort sees the Germans gain control of the ford.
The grenadiers are moving up quickly in support as heavy
 artillery unlimbers on the hills overlooking the fords.

In a vicious counterattack,
 the Germans are repelled from the ford.
One German regiment is destroyed and Stirn is down.

Stirn orders a third attack into the ford.

This attack meets success as the 71st enters the fray.
Sullivan's defenders are driven back as British guns take
 chunks out of the American defenders.

In front of Chadd's Ford, the lines are extending as each
 tries to outflank the other.
The American bridgehead is under pressure.

And in a blink of an eye, the American bridgehead at
Chadd's Ford collapses.
Rebels are scrambling to reach safety on the
 east bank of the creek.

Many American regiments are cut down in
their attempt to escape.
Few survive.
Both Maxwell and Greene's Brigades are broken.
Muhlenberg and Greene are hors de combat.

With Greene's Division broken and in retreat,
 the British pick up the chase. 

At Brinton's Ford, the Highlanders push on.
The battle is over.

The Anglo-German forces under Knyphausen claim a convincing victory on the banks of the Brandywine.  In the Butcher's Bill below, the Americans suffered mightily but many of the British regiments still on the field were in a sorry state.  Still plenty of energy left to celebrate this great victory, though.

Anglo-German losses

American losses

Well!  After about four hours of play (maybe four and a half?), battle was won by Knyphausen.  The battle was on the large side with 20+ units per side.  Plenty of troops to command for four players.  Play moved along at a good pace but still allowed time for some hilarious banter among the players.  Rules continue to provide a satisfying and well-paced game.  Of course, a further modification or two may creep in before the next outing. 

Really good fun for me too.  I wish I would have taken a screenshot of Ivan in his ten-gallon pirate tricorn.  The Scottish and German accents were gut-bustingly funny.  From my vantage point watching the big screen TV across the room, I could see all laughing as the comedy routine unfolded. 

What about a battle analysis of commander performance and strategies employed?  I may save that for another time.  

Thanks to the players for volunteering for this gaming session.  For me, this really was great fun.

For Darren's perspective of the battle, please visit Brandywine Online.

OK. Back to the painting desk.