Woodlands Battle - AWI Campaign

Below is an AAR (written by Will D.) of one of the games played in our 1777 AWI Sharpe’s Practice campaign. This battle day (3 games) ended the current mission, our second, with the British side holding off the American side as it tried to intimidate the local population. The American side was only able gain 40% completion. Based on the results of the previous two missions (both British success) I’ll be moving the campaign map down towards Albany, New York for our third mission.
August 28th, 1777 Major Blaine orders scouting patrols out to both the east and west in order to locate the rebels. He makes it clear to those on patrol that in no way can the rebels get past this picket line unnoticed. The major paces the camp in the late in the morning hours on edge, as he yet has to find the rebels. As the morning fog clears into the afternoon a runner arrives at the camp finally with news on the rebels. It seems that the rebels are indeed moving north, the scout reports their location and indicates they were not spotted. While the major pondered an option to march parallel to the rebels in order to get ahead of them, he is clearly tired of being subtle and decides to bring them to battle soon as possible. Though the column was ready to move out, it was going to be late in the evening when they would intercept the rebel force as the wooded terrain will impede there progress. So it is not until 7pm that the leading scout patrols contact the rebel picket line and firing rings out as they engage each other. The leading company holds up and the major sends the other companies to the left and right straight into battle.
Dearest Lady Chatterly, Despite losing some of Sgt. McUreigh’s rangers for picket duty [-6 figs], this afternoon, we met the enemy once again and fared positively.  Moving through the woods to the far right of the centre company, we were led northwards by Lisette, the half-Indian who has been a proven pathfinder, to a clearing interspersed with thick stands of trees. Lieutenant Moon and Chief Ochataquin’s Hurons [2 groups plus bruiser] soon delved under the canopies to the right while Ensign Townshend took his men [2 skirmisher groups] into the trees in front.  A line of rebel militia, supported by a cannon and some riflemen appeared in short order opposite us.  I recognized their mounted leader as the one we faced a previous day [Captain Hartwell].
Our skirmishers downed some of their gun crew [officer wounded, 10 Force Morale], who retaliated with a shot that sheared branches and sent splinters across them.  The Hurons crept through the undergrowth, and Moon suffered a sprain crossing a log [Bally, My Leg result].
Upon hearing the cannon, I ordered my men [2 regular and 1 Provincial group] to lie low on the ground and then to crawl in between the two stands of trees, and thus progress was slow [waited to also use the secondary deployment point, but no Leader 1 card came up until turn 5!] until our muskets were within 80 rods of the cannon.  With the lieutenant trailing behind, the Huron chief led his warriors to the edge of the woods and gave the Continentals a fusillade that was soon returned very quickly by them at three rounds a minute!
Townshend’s men retreated into the woods to reload and emerged back out to re-engage the cannon and rifles.  A few more of their men and ours dropped before the cannon turned to face my line, spouting fire.   The ball whistled over us [about 4 shock], we rose from crawling, and unleashed our first fire [20 shots] upon the rebels.   This discouraged their line enough that their Captain began to signal a withdrawal. The remaining two gunners understood and spirited their 3 pounder to safety, but the eight regulars in front of the Hurons must have misheard and started to cautiously approach the woods [At ‘em, boys! rolled a 3” movement].   Chief Ochataquin must have seen the opportunity and launched all of his braves from the woods in a forward rush of flung tomahawks!
Townshend’s men retreated into the woods to reload and emerged back out to re-engage the cannon and rifles.  A few more of their men and ours dropped before the cannon turned to face my line, spouting fire.   The ball whistled over us [about 4 shock], we rose from crawling, and unleashed our first fire [20 shots] upon the rebels.   This discouraged their line enough that their Captain began to signal a withdrawal. The remaining two gunners understood and spirited their 3 pounder to safety, but the eight regulars in front of the Hurons must have misheard and started to cautiously approach the woods [At ‘em, boys! rolled a 3” movement].   Chief Ochataquin must have seen the opportunity and launched all of his braves from the woods in a forward rush of flung tomahawks! The savagery of the assault threw the browncoats in disarray [after fisticuffs, Force Morale down from 10 to 6 to the British FM of 10], but exposed Ochataquin to a violent volley from the line of blue behind them, sending a couple braves reeling to the ground.   I could not halt in time the vengeful butchery that happened afterwards to the rebels left upon the field, as the rest of them retired into the growing darkness with the worst of memories [Captain Hartwell now hated enemy]. An Indian medicine man accompanied me in place of Doctor Nixon who was up to his arms in surgery at the Johannson house.  The elder quickly began tending to both Indian and English wounded with his strange poultices and herbals, particularly the revered Lieutenant Moon.   The other Indians did mourn their losses again …and collected more ghastly trophies in return for scattering the enemy off.  I have grown to respect their Chief, as his battle prowess and leadership with Lieutenant Moon has led to our growing victories in this wilderness despite their band’s ever dwindling numbers [bruiser pocket friend].   I discern that there is a dangerous fever for revenge in him. During our Company officer council, he spoke forcefully of keeping a “white man’s war” away from native villages.  His words reinforced my initial desire that our army move southward as planned to New York rather than up the Mohawk River valley. We are getting closer to succeeding in our endeavor to cut off New England from the rest of the colonies.  In due time, God willing, this rebellion will capitulate. Ever Yours, Captain Reginald Daltrey, 24th Regiment of Foot
August 29th Maj. Blaine is once again pleased with the performance of his troops as they drive off the rebels; though not many dead there were a lot of wounded in this exchange. Again with the darkness there is no opportunity to immediately pursue the rebels. The morning breaks with heavy fog that pretty much insures there will be no pursuit. Instead Maj. Blaine orders the column to march to Bennington so they can drop off there wounded and get back onto the road. Familiar with the area they easily find Bennington in the thick fog by late morning. Once the fog lifts in the afternoon, Maj. Blaine get the column in pursuit of the Rebels whom has vague reports are moving south at a fast rate. He sends off a Patrol to check on the Sutter farmstead to the southeast to see if it was burned down. By evening there is no sign of the rebels and he suspects they are fleeing to south. Once the patrol returns information them that the farmstead was intact, he decides the Rebel incursion is over. He’ll march of Pittsfield and see what damage was done in the morning however.

Battle of Strausbach Farm - SP2 Campaign game

Note: the below After Action Report was written by Wil D, and was one of six games (#3 to be precise) that made up the second battle in our Sharps Practice 2 campaign.

August 12, 1777

Strausbach Farm near Hoosick, New York

Dearest Lady Chatterly,

We spent brief time recovering from the previous skirmish before ordered by Major Potter to resume column and retaliate before the enemy finds our main body. My Company was in the centre of march when the sound of musketry came upon our left a few hours down the trail.  A runner gave word to the Major, and we debarked from the trail into the woodlands to find them.

The Indians guiding us through the forest, I learned from Lieutenant Moon, were actually of the Huron Nation, larger in build and of fiercer countenance than the Mission Mohegans. They had travelled the furthest and had departed from Fort Stanwick and St. Legere’s command after sorely losing much of their personal effects in a sally by those besieged. Enraged, Moon explained that, they seek to recover their “honor” (in the savage’s sense of the word) by plunder and destruction. One among their number is rumored to receive Burgoyne’s pardon a few days ago after the unfortunate Jane McRae affair, but the Lieutenant would not candidly reveal which. I can only hope to civilly temper their lust for retribution against any further loyalist families we encounter, with the help of the Indian Department’s agents and Moon. At this time, though, they have performed very reservedly upon the battlefield, perhaps waiting opportunistically for a lone homestead rather than a militia firing line. I am hoping to receive some local loyalists from Peter’s Corps to keep them escorted during scouting duties in the future.

As for the band of Highlander's with me, I sobered them up after a fierce lecture about fire discipline and command calls after this last fiasco. I entrusted them to Ensign Townsend and the forward Skirmishers (1 group plus 1 provincial militia) who, this time, fired first as the remainder of my Company (2 regulars plus 1 skirmishes) approached between two copses of trees.

What we beheld was a strong line of numerous Militia (4 groups) emerging from tall grass, with their frontiersmen running on either wing towards the same trees holding my hidden Indian party and skirmishers. My own front men moved into the right trees so that my line would have a field of fire, while the rebel rifles started to seek targets among the left trees. (Turns 3-4) Not yet within musket’s reach, I could see that my sixteen could not withstand a face-off with the militia line.

As would have it, my left skirmishers worried by the rifles, saw seven in hunting shirts charge them brandishing hatchets. They hastily fell back into the interior (evade), but the militia sergeant fiercely harangued his six to catch them at their backs (step out, lads) that all, except one who bolted back to us, went deep to ground in the thickets for the remainder (-1 FM, but casualties recovered). The steady hand of Townshend kept the Highlanders nearby from also running. But where were Moon’s Hurons?

I could not stand to see my men in the woods overrun, so I faced my line towards the brash rebel scouts instead of the militia and loosed our first fire. This was enough to kill or send them packing back to their lines, brave as they were. (Turn 5, -2 FM). As my skirmishers and Highlanders continued to exchange with their riflemen, their second group of scouts neared the right woods in front of my other skirmishers. That is when Moon’s Indians finally revealed themselves.

Not wanting to expose themselves to the formidable line of militia, they ambuscaded instead to the rear of the trees and threw musketry at the scouts on the right in the open (2 x 12 shots) starting their eventual withdrawal as well (another -2 FM over next two turns). But the militia of 40 muskets continued its inexorable advance and I thought it better to also take my line, in columns of twos, into the woods to the right for protection. From there, we relieved Sergeant Entwhistle's front men, whom I rallied to return to the fight alongside our line, now fighting for their lives behind trunk and branch. The good Doctor Nixon also restored Entwhistle enough so that he could send his soldiers into defilade in an adjacent creek bed, though filled with muck.

Meanwhile on the left flank, the militia and Indian party had wisely also pulled back among their trees to avoid a devastating volley, only exposing themselves enough for a stray shot to the far end of the militia line. As the rebel scouts and riflemen retired, so too did the whole grand division of militia through the grass, leaving us shaken, but maintaining the field. (Final FM 7 vs. 4?). We fought more like them, quickly taking to tree, while they fought more like us.

Under Grenadier Sergeant Entwhistle who needed further treatment of his wounds and return to his home unit, I packed the Highlanders to the rear back to McClewlis with a missive that “they all earned their farm, rather than burial, plots,” and thanked Lieutenant Moon for his handling of the natives, even as they scoured the battlefield for trophies I dare not mention. We had suffered seven injuries and, surprisingly, no losses with what we had faced. Reports from the rest of the column were also good. A detachment of the Queen's Loyal Rangers, led by a Sergeant Frederic McUriegh, joined my command to bolster our ranks, depleted from many hard months of campaigning. My desire is that these Provincials will help recruit more locals to our just cause, or at least police any excesses that the Hurons are want to commit. I survive another day for the Crown, and for you.

Yours Dearest,

Lieutenant Reginald Daltrey

The Neilson House - Saratoga NY 1777

As we have been gaming a lot of Sharp's Practice games of late, I thought I would make a building to use for our future games. I first did a minimal search for "1777" structures and found a pic of a red cabin at the Saratoga National Park, the Neilson House. I liked the design of the house, but was not so sure about the color of it, very red! But alas that seems to be historically accurate and who am I to buck history :)

I sketched out the design on some graph paper using a perry figure for scale ... while I admit it is a little larger than I anticipated, it is not nearly as "large" as these pictures make it out to be; must be the angle of the camera phone. Out came the foam board, balsa wood, rulers and cutting blades.

Most of this was simple measure and cut, but the "cut out" section proved a little harder to do than I thought it was going to be. Fortunately, I had plenty of extra scrapes to fix any of the walls that came up short. I also wanted the roof to come off but had not had much success with my previous buildings. So on this build I tried out a "new" reinforced technique which worked well and I kind of feel dumb not doing this on most of my other buildings. I just cut out foam board and stuck the roof tiles on to it, instead of two end pieces and running the roof tiles across ... doh!

The slat planking for the sides were pretty tedious to do, but do look really good. I cut lots of strips of thin cardboard (such as cereal boxes) then glued then onto each other to form each side of the building. Unfortunately I did not actually have a cereal box and started to run out as the box I used was pretty small! So I ended up combining several shorter pieces to finish every side. That said, I actually really like the look of this, as no two boards are actually the same. IMO this gives a much more realistic look than the "perfect" laser cut mdf buildings.

For the windows I started out like I normally do, gluing cut strips of balsa wood to a piece of graph paper to line them up, then glue it the side of the building (and spackle around it) ... in this case I had to cut out a section of the plank siding to get in order to fit in the window. This was not working out very well, so I decided to measure and cut the windows on the siding first, then glue the siding to the wall, and then use the cut out to "measure" the balsa wood pieces for the frame to fit inside for each window. I really should go back and add in shutters but was getting anxious to finish, so skipped them. I can always add them in at a later date anyways.

I wanted to roof to look different than the siding so made the "tiles" a little longer. Then I took a pen and drew in the "individual" tiles. Cut up the bottom of and generally scuffed each layer before gluing it down. I also paid special attention to the front porch overhang and the removable roof, as I wanted to have fairly seamless line when the roof is on. I was mostly done with the roof, when I realized I had not put on the chimney! So I just added a couple of layers of foam board and glued it straight onto the roof tile ... by far the worst looking chimney I have done and plan to redo it in the near future.

Now onto painting ... first up I wanted to try and "stiffen" up the building, so as seen on Youtube, I mixed some Mod Podge, brown paint and water; then painted the mix onto the building as a primer, as well as stiffening the build. This worked pretty well, though I need to get better at mixing the concoction, as the colored "primer" was really thin.

I next broke out the Iwata airbrush and loaded it up with some Vallejo Fire Red to paint the sides of the building. I then added some a sand color to the red and airbrushed some faded areas on it. To my surprise the red actually turned out pretty good! I next used a grey blue and sprayed the roof, but used a large brush to dry brush the edges and picking out individual tiles. I also painted the windows and the porch, though the worn wood look I was going for, did not come out like I wanted. To "fix" it, I applied some wash to it ... and was still not happy with it, so may line each plank to make them standout a little better.

For the most part I am calling this house done, it is very game usable right now and I can get to the other little things at any time. I have come across some close up views of the house and now realize that it sits atop a layer of stone ... sigh :) When I am really feeling like it, I will cut out a thin base of blue board and outline a stone base for it. Because of this I am not going to base the building right now and just use it without a floor.

Battle of Hoosick Falls 1777

Thanks to Wil for writing up the text and taking the pictures. He is tracking how his command does in the Sharps Practice campaign we are running at the store in the form of a journal letter from Lieutenant Reginald Daltrey of the 24th Regiment of Foot to his sweetheart in England.

Battle of Hoosick Falls, New York August 11, 1777

Dear Lady Chatterly,

Dr. Nixon

The fortunes of war are fickle, as our folly today proved justly so.  I write this while recuperating under the ministrations of Dr. Nixon, who has been so good to accompany us in the field and assist our regimental surgeon.  He assures me a quick recovery so that I may rejoin my soldiers, as with the fall of Major Grant at Hubbarton, our officership is a precious commodity to be shuffled as needed.

Speaking of, I have now been made field captain of the whole Light Company of the 24th (Ldr 2, with three groups of regulars), with Ensign Townshend (Ldr 2, with 2 groups of skirmishers) as my capable subaltern, and the experienced Sergeant Entwistle (Ldr 1) transferring from the grenadiers to  assist me.

Our company in it's current assignment has been joined by a large party of Mohawks (2 groups of Indian Allies) led by a liaison officer of the 9th, Lieutenant Moon (Ldr 2, a "Kurtz" guy), or "Moondrummer" as he is has introduced himself. By his non-regulation adornment, he looks to have spent much time among the savages... perhaps too much.

Primary Deployment Point diorama

They have brought news of the Oriskany battle and remain among the most vengeance-thirsty among the tribes to have then travelled east seeking common cause of us. A half-bred, most likely the camp wife of Moon, and a mangy dog follow them everywhere.

On our rotation to the baggage train for munitions resupply, I ran into my father's friend, Angus MacLewlis, an aging codger who recruited for the recently founded 84th Regiment of Scottish Emigrants in Montreal.  His small detachment, bedecked in new highlander finery, had been assigned to guard the artillery park, but he kept insisting that I talk to my command and allow 10 of his men (1 group of loyalist militia, I really wanted just some ne'er-do-well frontier types, but these were the only figs at hand) to join our Advanced Corps "...so that they get a thorough bloodying!" in his words, "...to earn their plot of land."  And that is where the afternoon's mishap begins.

On the approach to Bennington, our company has led the screening of the main column eastwards for the past days.  Major Potter only had sent a few dragoons further beyond us to mark a road, and ordered us to form line facing south.  Just as we had begun to anchor the left wing, we heard the first reports of muskets to our southwest, battle had been joined.

We deployed behind a hedge in a plowed field with the militia attaching on the right and Townshend's skirmish screen watching the front.  A group with Sergeant Entwistle were returning from scouting a gully further out between us and the 20th Lancaster.  Then we saw the column of
Massachusetts regulars approach with a field piece from behind a barn.  Meanwhile, Moon's war party behind us awaited the signal of their scouts.  All went fairly well, but the skirmishers began to take a few hits from riflemen appearing on the barn's right and began to fall back behind us.

A cannonball gave my left squad a shake as one of them fell,  but our position was still stronger than the approaching bluecoats and their second ball was less effective. With the cannonade and rifles worrying them, the highlander's excitement and lack of drill got the better of them and they did not await my order to present. Our whole line commenced firing at will onto the enemy's field piece and bluecoats to some effect, though I yelled above the din twice to stop the firing.  Their column then deployed in line facing us at just over close range, blocking any further fire from their cannon. 

Our superior cover should lead to besting them, and I saw Moon's party rush the woods to protect our left as new groups of militia appeared and attempted to rush that flank.
However, things went badly at this point. The Mohawks let out furious war whoops and ambuscaded towards their scouts, but the rain-soaked ground slowed the Indians enough so that they could not see the approaching enemy through the woods.  At least, our left was covered as the Mohegan began to shoot from behind the trees, sending a party of militia running back to their own lines.

Just then, on my right, one of the damned highlanders drew his heirloom claymore and pointed forward!  ("Charge them to Hell!" result) The clamor and smoke confused my whole line enough to think I had ordered a general charge, over the hedge!! (lose lowest move dice)

On that, the Continentals loosed deadly fire at just close range and many of us fell as we stumbled across the brambles. As I went to the front to prevent a disastrous charge, a ball struck my shoulder.  Corporal Chaucer pulled me back over the hedge. Though the doctor rushed to aid me, I waved him off and began urging the shattered remains of my line to retreat at quickpace.  We fell back just as Entwistle's six returned and joined the other skirmishers in time to cover our backs. Dusk, by then, had settled in and the noise further down the battlefield had subsided to an occasional musket crack.

I heard that Lieutenant Moon was also hit and had to retire his natives, leading me to believe in the rumors of ungentlemanly conduct among the sharpshooters of the enemy.  The diligent Quaker doctor and the half-French Indian worked busily through the next hours, keeping two out of four of my men alive, while one Mohegan would be mourned by their number.  And I remain alive to fight again, and eventually to return to you.   Although discretion is the better of valor, I am still stung that my debut of command allowed the rebels to almost turn our left flank.  I question my decision to take on MacLewles's men, who will need much more drill and less highland battle cries to match the discipline of a true British redcoat.  Though a stray claymore be drawn in the heat of battle , I pray that my own won't get fooled again.

Yours Always,

Lieutenant Daltrey

24th Regiment of Foot

1777 Saratoga Campaign - Sharps Practice 2

So our SP2 Mexican-American War II has been going pretty well ... we just finished round three and I am prepping for round four which will be our 1st "big" game where all six of us will be at the same table.

That said, most of us are already working on our forces for the next narrative campaign: 1777 Saratoga. I am no exception and have finished my first group for my Mixed British-Loyalist force ... British Grenadiers!

Eight Grenadiers from the 20th Regiment of Foot

The 20th Regiment of Foot has already had combat experience, assisting in the relief of Quebec in May 1776. The grenadiers will be the hard hitting unit of my force, ie my foot cavalry.

Lt. Whitham of the Flank Company, 20th Regiment of Foot

The Grenadier detachment is led by Lieutenant Whitham, who is familiar with the colonies due to his family having holdings in New York. An experienced officer serving with the 20th for several years; he is the senior lieutenant of the force.

1777 British Mixed Column	99		elements from Brig. Gen. Simon Fraser Advance Corps
Leader III	9		Major Stedman
Leader I	3		Ensign Bramley
British Regulars (8)	6		24th Rgt
British Regulars (8)	6		24th Rgt
British Regulars (8)	6		24th Rgt
3pdr (1+5)	6
Indians (12)	7
Leader II	6		Lieutenant Fraser
Loyalist (8) - Provincial Regulars	4		McAlpin’s Corps of Royalists
Loyalist (8) - Provincial Regulars	4		McAlpin’s Corps of Royalists
Loyalist (8) - Provincial Regulars	4		McAlpin’s Corps of Royalists
Leader I	3		Lieutenant Beaubien
Loyalist Ranger Skirmishers (6) - Canadians	7		3rd Company (quebec)
Leader I	3		Sargeant Trahan
Loyalist Ranger Skirmishers (6) - Canadians	7		3rd Company (quebec)
Leader I	3		Lieutenant Whitham
Grenadiers (8)	7		20th Rgt
Musician	1		24th Rgt
Exploring Officer or Scout	3		Ensign Adams of Adam's Rangers
Specialist - Marksman	2		from Captain Frasers Ranger Company
Water Cart	2