Fighting Hubbardton

 

Diorama from Hubbardton Battlefield State Park

  The game starts with the British 24th regiment having  surprised the American skirmishes at Sucker Brook.  The rest of the British are in column marching down the trail.  The American Continental line are forming march column on monument hill heading towards Castleton. Both sides have rolled for possible reinforcements and the turns they will arrived are marked down.  Rules used were Loose Files and American Scramble.  All figures are 25mm.

Rather then a straight simulation of the historical battle this game includes  possible reinforcements. I have also rounded up the unit strengths but kept the figure ratio.  Lastly, I will use the battle to explain how I play the rules. These include house rules and my interpretation.

And now onto the battle!

Turns 1& 2

 

 The American skirmishes fire at long range at the 24th.  In LFAAS rules this is 8" with "6" a hit. You roll a D6 for every three figures shooting.   Skirmishers reroll  "5's" with a 4,5 or 6 a hit.  They score a single hit which is 1 Disorganization Point or DP.  Note that units can only fire or move but not both in a turn.  Unless they are skirmishes who can do both.  So the 24th dies not return fire.  Instead during the movement phase they move to within four inches of the enemy so they are now in close combat.  A house rule I use lets the American fire first in a turn, but British move first.  If they contact a enemy unit within four inches that unit cannot move as they are pinned.  To me this solves the problem of order of movement in the game as well as reflecting the standard tactical practice of the time.  Americans are happy to stand off and shoot but British want to close to combat.

In the close combat the British advantages of higher moral and fighting an enemy in skirmish order makes it an easy victory.  The Americans get two DP's, and a casualty (lose a stand of figures) and retreat.

Up on monument hill the Americans change facing and move up to the fence line.  The nect move move they cross the fence line (and take 1DP each for this). They make for the stone wall on the lower slope and await the British. 

Turns 3 & 4 & 5:

The 24th and Light Infantry cross the brook and form line to advance against monument hill.  General Fraser rides up to the 24th to remove the DP's (note if a line regiment stands in place for a move it removes a DP.  Generals can use there Command points to also remove a DP).

The Grenadier cross the brook and advance against the retreating skirmishes.

THe Continental line await behind wall. They have removed the DP's from crossing the fence and are in excellent shape to await the British.  They are uphill and behind a stonewall.

Turn 6:

The Grenadier charge after the skirmishes  who have retired into the woods.  Following them the Grenadier easily defeat them and they rout off the board. Note that for each DP on your regiment you lose a dice for firing and get a minus 2 in close combat.  So if you have more then one DP you can be in trouble fast.

But during their movement turn Warner moves his regiment off the hill and threatens the Grenadier's flank. The Grenadier  turn about to face the new threat.

The remaining Americans on monument hill start a long distance shoot against the advancing British. The few hits are quickly rallied off before the British continue their advance.

Turn 7:

The two American militia regiments arrive on the table edge.  Fraser wonders where are the Brunswickers!

The Americans along the stone wall fire a long range volley which puts three DP's on the 24th, who half in place to rally one off. Line regiments remove a DP if they stand fast for a turn.

The light infantry charge up the Hill and engage one of Francis' battalions in close combat.  Both generals assist their battalions adding their Command points.  The Americans  roll a 5 and add 1 point for the general  (he spent 3 cp to do so)  and another + 2 points for being behind the wall and being up hill.  The British roll a 4 get +3 points for higher training grade,  1 for a bayonet attack, +1 for the general attached (he spent 3 cp to do so) and +1 for outnumbering the enemy.   The difference in the score is 2 which us a successful victory for the British and a driven back for the Americans.  The Americans retreat, with 2 DP and one casualty.  Francis, who was attached to the battalion checks to see if he is hit, and rolls a killed!  He is removed.  The Light Infantry take 1 DP and a casulty then vault over the wall. They must stay in place one move.

Note, casualties are three figures.  Thus gives the unit a -2 for  for the rest of the game.

Turn 8:

Both American regiments behind the wall now check morale due to the retreat of the center battalion.  They each get 2 DP for seeing the battalion retreat.  During movement they fall back a half move facing the enemy.

The Grenadier charge and rout Warner's regiment.  But at the sane time the two militia regiments arrive on their flank partially hidden in the woods.

The 24th, with three DP is rallying and trying to remove one before it can do anything.

Turn 9:

Warner's regiment halts behind the stone wall.  The militia who are in range open a long distance fire on the Grenadier causing 4 DPs!  The Grenadier battalion now has 5 DPs and is in a world of hurt.  any further DP will result in casualties.

Up on the hill the Lights fall back behind the stone wall and are joined by the 24th. 

Turn 10:

The Grenadier fall back away from the woods.  The lights and 24th hold and rally off DPs.  This gives the Americans time to retire behind the rail fence. Warner arrives atop the hill to help rally the troops.

At this point things are not looking good for the  the British.  The Grenadier battalion is disordered and the militia are going to continue to snipe at them. The American Continental line us once again snuggly secure behind cover and in good shape. With no sign if reinforcements on the table the British decided to call the game.  The American rear guard had held them off and given time for the army to escape.

Conclusion:

This was a fun game and the addition if possible reinforcements and rolling for when they arrive adds interest. The British have a edge in quality of troops which in close combat with these rules is very decisive.  But there are more Americans and they have terrain advantages. I think rolling for a very late arrival of the Brunswickers and the early arrival if the militia proved decisive for the American victory.  Just too much for poor General Fraser.  

The rules give a very fast game with I think a good historical flavor.  The disorganization points  represents things going wrong and by taking a regiment out if line and rallying it can come back in better order.  I think my house rule of letting the Americans fire first and the British move first captures the tactical  standard operational procedure for each side.  Overall I am most pleased with the results.