Farming with Matt

photo courtesy wargamesinthedungeon

Picking up the long-running AWI campaign finds the campaign in 1777 and at the Battle of Freeman's Farm.  Long-running campaign, indeed!  Looking back into the archives, I discover that Matt and I have been fighting our way through the AWI since 2021!  Incredible, and we are only up to 1777!

Wednesday's action saw the combatants meeting on the fields of Freeman's Farm.  As always, I commanded the American Army and Matt took the helm of the British Army.  This is a large battle and Matt laid out a beautiful spread across the breadth and length of his 8'x5' table.  

The Americans had great difficulty coming up for battle and a huge traffic jam developed.  Not what you want to see when facing those menacing Redcoats!  Well, unless you are the British!

American traffic jam!
photo courtesy wargamesinthedungeon

Choosing to bring the American Army on behind Freeman's Farm, it was a mad dash to thwart the British attempt to turn the American Left.  Poor's Brigade (Gosh, how appropriately named!) made it just in time to line the fence before crashing British volleys rang out.  Taking fire from multiple directions, scores of Americans were cut down before Poor had seen enough and began to be retire.  Retire?  That suggests an orderly withdrawal.  There was no orderly retrograde.  One unit was destroyed triggering a calamity of morale checks.  Several regiments fled on the spot.  Much of Poor's Brigade was skedaddling to the rear!

Poor comes up...
photo courtesy wargamesinthedungeon

and goes back!
photo courtesy wargamesinthedungeon

How did the battle ultimately turn out for the Americans?  This is a tale best told by the victors!  One for the history books, no doubt.  Farming with Matt?  Well, many Americans were planted on this bloody field.

Great game and great fun!  Thanks, Matt, for a most enjoyable session!

See Matt's battle account at Wargames in the Dungeon.