AWI Batrep - The Battle at Church Road 25th July 1777

A game was booked up for last weekend at Reject HQ, but only 2 Rejects could make the bash, Reject Richard and myself and of course we had our own little Fuhrer, von Postie in charge!

This was gonna be our last big bash before we all go on our summer hols! Shame only 2 of us could turn up, but that's how it goes sometimes.

Anyway on with the game......

We drew out of the hat, Richard picked 1st and pulled out the American's

Funnily enough that left me with Cornwallis and his red boys!

(Can't remember the last time I played the Americans??)

Richard had the choice to set up first as he'd be in defence.

He was allowed to set up first and had the choice to set up to the fence line which he did.

I on the other hand had to set up 18 inches away from any of his troops, which as you can see, kinda pinned me to the table edge!

OOB

British C/O Cornwallis

1st Brigade C/O Agnew

8th Line Veteran

9th Line Veteran

55th Line Veteran

71st Line Veteran

2nd Brigade C/O Grant

27th Line Veteran

43rd Line Veteran

Combined Grenadiers Elite

3rd Brigade C/O Stirn

Prinz Carl Trained

Erbprinz Trained

Jagers Elite

Heavy Gun

Med Gun

Light Gun

American C/O Sullivan

1st Brigade C/O Stephens

3rd New York Trained

4th New York Trained

Lee's Additional Trained

Riflemen Elite

2nd Brigade C/O Heath

Haslets Delaware Veteran

1st New Hampshire Trained

2nd New Hampshire Trained

3rd Brigade C/O Woodford

Maryland Militia

New Hampshire Militia

Pennsylvania Militia

Delaware Militia

4th Brigade Weedorn

3rd Light Dragoons Trained

Heavy Gun

Med Gun

Light Gun

I placed my 3rd Brigade on my right, the plan with the Hessians was to get into a decent 

position and hold the ground.

Facing them was Richard's 1st Brigade. 

Rich placed 2 artillery pieces in the walled field, making it more like a redoubt!!

The American right was held by Richard's 3rd Brigade, the Milita. 

These were my prime target!

My Jagers were out front, 18 inches away from the enemy.

An American eye view

Facing Richard's Militia was my 2nd Brigade

The Royal Artillery take aim......

Fire!!!!

My Jagers move forward, while the American Riflemen move to the woods for protection.

My Medium gun fires at the American line.

Excellent shooting from the American artillery force a morale check on

Prinz Carl's who promptly fail and are pushed back.

A general forward order was issued for the rest of the British troops.

Not sure I want to advance further into the cornfield as I'm facing the 2 artillery pieces??

The 43rd and 27th advance, as my artillery is 6 inches from my and Richard's troops it can 

still fire, at a penalty though.

The 71st, waiting for the right moment to come out of the woods.

As I won the turn, I could fire first

Reject Richard stretching over the table!

His Nibs....the evil one

The American's fire back

And I move in next turn, but just don't reach the American's

I very wisely chose not to move forward with the 71st and 55th

Rich's artillery would have made mince meat out of me.

The 27th, my heroes!

Rich still held his 1st Brigade behind the Militia

Things seemed to be going my way when......

Rich got his 4th Brigade on the table, they randomly appeared right where Rich wanted them!! Dammit!

Again I won the first turn and fired fist. 

The American Dragoons really buggerd up my plans!

Luckily I had a unit who could turn and try and protect my flank, unluckily for me it was my hammer, the Grenadiers.

The Riflemen ventured forward and shot at my Jagers.

Next turn I charged the Militia at the fence, the Pennsylvania and Delaware both scarpered before

 I made contact

In a strange move, Postie suggested I could follow up the charge and hit the American artillery, even though I couldn't actually hit the front or flank of them, but hey ho, I'll take that!

Oh where's the gun gone?

he he!

Next turn I charged the 43rd and 27th, but the 43rd would have none of it and...................

Rout back right into the path of the Grenadiers!!!

Oh crap!

The 8th and 9th moved by the flank, trying to get out of the line of fire of the American guns.

The battling 27th smash the Militia who run.

And are left the sole occupants of the field.

I moved up to try and take a shot at the artillery, but Rich moved a line unit up, back into the

 range of my artillery.

In a desperate move, I pushed through the 43rd with my Grenadiers and became disordered, 

I had to threaten the Dragoons and I had to protect the flank of the 43rd.

The Dragoons moved up past the Grenadiers, I knew the swine wouldn't take the bait.

He didn't need to attack me he was enough of a nuisance just being there.

My Jagers took a bit of a pounding this turn, being fired at from everyone in range,

In the last move of the game Rich finally bought up his 2nd Brigade up to the fence line

ready for the next assault, which never came.

So that was the end, we were all a little unsure who had won as there was still a lot to play for in the game. Looking at the table we called it a draw as we both had lots of untested troops on the field. Rich was still in a pretty good defendable position all along his lines,

but.......

 when Postie added up the points for the game I'd won a resounding victory 21 -2.

I'd destroyed the Militia brigade who were dispersed off table, captured an artillery piece and killed a leader.

But 

even though I'd won on points

I think we'll call it a draw