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Thursday, December 11, 2025

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 Freeman's Farm 1777.  

25 comments:

  1. Lovely looking game, of course and surely not? A British victory?
    Best Iain

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  2. A very brief AAR Jon, not an action for the Rebels to crow about in their broadsheet, obviously!

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    1. Not even I could put a believable spin on this one.

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  3. Matt does put on a lovely game, his table and figures look great and it seems like it was a bloody nose for the American in this one.

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  4. Great looking game and a tough day for your troops it would seem!

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  5. Huzzah! for a stunning British victory it would seem:)! Sadly I've played games where like Poor's Brigade, one unit failing a morale test has resulted in a dominoe's style collapse of my force:(.

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    1. I figured you would enjoy seeing this! Matt has his BatRep up now.

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  6. Sounds great! Looking forward for a Matt's report!

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  7. These games are always beautiful to behold. I have purchased a copy of Rebels and Patriots off the back off yours and Matt's AARs. I'll still eagerly await his companion scenario book.

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    1. Matt sets a very high standard to table presentation. Companion scenario book is a good idea!

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  8. Another great looking game by Matt!

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  9. Bad luck Jon. But Bemis Heights up next?
    Chris/Nundanket

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    1. Some bad luck but mostly just outplayed. Not sure what is up next in the chronology. I would like to try this one again one day.

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  10. Bad luck Jonathan... maybe spin it as a feigned retreat to catch the British off guard 😂

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    1. There ya go but how do I explain the piles of dead colonials all over the field?

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  11. As Matt always puts on a spectacle, bravo to both of you. Your coolness under duress and misfortune are well documented in evenings like these!

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    1. The best part is spending a quality time with friends, no matter the outcome, right?

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  12. Just back from reading Matt’s report. A great game and it is always a pleasure to fight over Matt’s fine tables.

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  13. Great looking battle, Jonathan. Just read Matt's report. You really were blown away by the British.

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  14. The rebels took a drubbing, but with Learned’s Brigade intact and much of Poor’s Brigade fleeing the field I fear we will just face the same enemy again at a later date ?

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