Battle of Princeton, 1777

Washington's Attack
Photo courtesy wargamesinthedungeon

Matt and I convened for the next in our, now, long-running AWI campaign.  The battle on the game docket for this day was the Battle of Princeton.  For a complete review of the game, historical overview, and close-up battle photos, please visit Matt's blog at, Battle of Princeton.

In a change from typical engagements, the Rebels are on the attack across open ground against the British deployed within favorable terrain.  As we have seen in numerous games before, attacking is a hazardous proposition in Rebels & Patriots.  Will it prove so today?  Let's see.

The battlefield
Photo courtesy wargamesinthedungeon

The Americans enter from one side of the table and must cross the table and secure both the bridge at the top of the table and the road entry at the barn near the bottom.  The Rebels hold about a 2-to-1 advantage.  Will this be enough to overpower the defenders?  Can the Rebels accomplish their task?

Washinton arrives

Since I could only see part of the battle on the main camera,
I switched to the dual camera view to keep an eye on my left.

British dragoons rush forward to slow the advance.

View from the camera on the left.

Dragoons rush to the fence while Washington advances.
British artillery near the bridge opens up on skirmishers.

Rebel skirmishers give fire to the dragoons
while the British gun at the bridge turns its
attention on Mercer's formed infantry in the field.

American light gun joins the skirmishers
 in bringing the dragoons under increasing fire.
Mercer's infantry is taking a pounding from artillery.

Firefight with the dragoons intensives as
Mercer's infantry on the left is decimated.

Mercer's infantry retreats broken
while the dragoons suffer the same fate.

Firefight develops all across the battlefield
as the Rebels reach the orchard.

Washington's green troops fall back from the orchard.

As the grenadiers lose nerve and fall back,
the 55th Foot arrives.
The dragoons are harassed by artillery as they retreat.

With the battle raging all around,
the dragoons fire into their own 55th Foot.
Stunned, the 55th Foot breaks and runs.
The dragoons follow. 

Bogged down at the orchard,
 Washington tries to outflank the enemy position.

As the Rebels close, they are hit with volley after volley.
The skirmishers absorb most of the fire.

As the Rebel skirmishers withdraw,
Rebel muskets and cannon return the favor.

Rebels in the orchard are assailed from multiple directions
as the grenadiers join into the fray.

British defenders are driven back, broken on the right
 while American reinforcements arrive on the left.

The long lines of American reinforcements marching up
 the road on the left are stopped dead in their tracks.
  Artillery fire is too overpowering,
and the entire column is thrown into disarray.

While progress is being made on the right, Washington sees that the bridge will never be taken.  Mercer's attack on the left never made progress.  Mercer's entire brigade was held up and undone by a lone British section of artillery and a handful of skirmishers.  The green Rebels troops were reluctant to fight, failing many an activation roll.  Without the two American gun sections on the right, Washington, himself, may not have made much progress either.

Despite some moments of fortune smiling upon the Rebels, Washington realizes that attacking is hard under the current rules of engagement.  The attack is called off.  This was a bridge too far.

Another enjoyable, remote game hosted by Matt.

Thanks, Matt!  I will get you next time.