Suggestions for fighting Guilford Courthouse

 

  Guilford Courthouse is one of the most refought battles of the American Revolution.  Back in 1997 I decided to fight the battle as my contribution to the club's convention Tricon.  This was a all 18th century miniature gaming day put on by our club the northern conspiracy.  

  As part of the game I wanted the British player to experience the surprise and frustration of there counter parts at the actual battle.  Surprise in that each time they pushed away a line if Americans a new line appeared.  The woods had blocked there view so they could not see what was ahead of them.  Frustration in that the Americans just kept appearing and fighting.

  In my game the set up was the first line and only the first line.  Once the British players broke the American militia I stoped the game and gave everyone a mandatory break if ten minutes.  When they returned the table had been cleared off and now the second American line was set up.  Only those British units that had advanced a certain distance were set up.  The others were struggling and arrived in a turn or two.  The reaction was surprise.  Apprehension was the feeling when I called a break after the second line broke.  More frustration when they arrived back to see the third American line set up.  

  Victory conditions were different for each side.  Naturally the British had to break each line and force the Americans to retreat off the boards.  The Americans had to preserve the Continental line at all cost.  They lost points for heavy Continental casualties.  This replicated nicely Greene's withdrawal just as it looked like they might win.  Militia casualties did not count towards victory points!

  The final result was a fun game which both players won.  It modeled the battle rather well and both sides had a fun time.  Which after all is the mist important thing.

Battle of Guilford Courthouse 15 March 1781

 

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"Come on my brave Fusiliers!"

  " As at Camden, the British went forward as soon as they were in line. Captain Peter led the 23rd on as acting commanding officer, with the regiment effectively in two wings under captains Saumarez and Champagne. As they went forward, one of them noticed the ‘field lately ploughed, which was wet and muddy from the rains which had recently fallen’.

On they trudged towards the fence that marked the end of Hoskins’ cornfield and the beginning of the woods to the fore, observing as they grew closer that the rails were lined with men. MacLeod’s cannon opened fire, sending their ball whooshing into the American lines. Colonel Webster, on horseback, trotted to the front of his brigade and called out so that all could hear, ‘Charge!’ The men began jogging forward, bayonets fixed and muskets levelled towards the enemy. A crackling fire from their left, Kirkwood’s riflemen, began knocking down a redcoat here or there, but did nothing to check their impetus.

North Carolina militia

When the British line was little more than 50 yards from the North Carolina militia everything seemed to stop for Serjeant Lamb: … it was perceived the whole of their force had their arms presented, and resting on a rail fence … they were taking aim with the nicest precision. At this awful period a general pause took place; both parties surveyed each other for the moment with the most anxious suspense … Colonel Webster spurred his horse to the head of the 23rd and bellowed out, ‘Come on my brave Fusiliers!’ Some of the Americans started to run, but most held on for a moment; there was a rippling crash of American musketry when the redcoats were at optimum range, 40 to 50 yards away. Dozens of Webster’s men went down as the musket balls cut legs from under them or smashed into their chests. Lieutenant Calvert worried for an instant how his men might react to such a heavy fire: ‘They instantly returned it and did not give the enemy time to repeat their fire but rushed on them with bayonets.’ Captain Saumarez noted with pride, ‘No troops could behave better than the regiment … they never returned the enemy’s fire but by word of command and marched on with the most undaunted courage.’..."

Quote from;

Fusiliers:  The saga of a British Redcoat Regiment in the American Revolution  by Mark Urban

WuFun miniatures

 

  Question for those out in the blogging world.  Have any of you bought or gamed with the WuFun figures?  They look interesting and could make a cheap, easy way into the hobby. Also a nice way to try out a new period.  I am just curious how they workout on the table top.  They remind me of early gamers who played with flats.

In addition to the figures they have now released many of  the rules sets as a free PDF.  You just go to the site and under rules put them in a cart and"buy"them for free.  Its much easier then it sounds.  Here is a link;

https://wofungames.com/

When on the home page s roll down to the free rules.  I picked up a couple and am very impressed by them. A quality looking publication with nice pictures and some diagrams.  The rules are written by Andy Callan.  I have always looked his rules.  They are easy to learn but a you have to read they carefully.  I will be doing a in-depth revuew if his American Revolution set next post.

Continental line gun carriages

 

  What color should you paint your Continental line cannon carriages?  The answer is a surprising depends.  Depends on the year and they type of carriages.  Gray, red brown and finally blue are all correct, depending on the date and type of carriage.

  According to Harold Peterson's "Book of the Continental Soldier" iron guns and all other iron were to be painted black. This was to prevent rust.  At the start of the war gun carriges were painted grey similar to the British Royal Artillery.  Returns from quarter masters suggest the actual shade of grey varied depending on the paints available.  

  In Charles Wilson Peale painting of Washington at Princeton the cannon is painted a grey color.  

  In the Battle of Princeton painting by William Mercer in the first-round there is a grey carriges gun.  Off to its left there is also a red brown carriges on another gun.  Perhaps thus was a French Valliere system carriges as these were usually painted red brown in French service.

  After 1780 there are many returns for blue paint.  We see many carriges are now painted blue.  These are carried forward to the post war years and is standard practice for the army during the war of 1812.

  What about waggons?  For military service waggons there are returns for grey and also red brown waggons.   Interestingly an Hessian office from Stirn's Brigade on Long Island mentions using captured waggons to carry tents and baggag; "little chariots painted red."

Sailing

 Today I am off sailing in the lake.  In the video my ship is dead, #99.  I definitely have a lot to learn about sailing but it is great fun and very relaxing.