Setting up the next game.

 

One of my favorite American Rev War battlefields is Hubbardton Vermont.  An rear guard action following the fall of Fort Ticonderoga it remains one of the best preserved battlefields I have visited.  Because of it's size it makes a great table top battle.

  After evacuating Fort Ticonderoga the American commander St. Clair set up a rear guard to hold off the pursuing British.   On the morning of 7 July 1777 that rear guard was surprised at Hubbardton.  The three Continental line battalions were just forming a march column towards Castleton on Monument Hill.  The stragglers and sulkers down by Sucker Brook were quickly over run.  The British under General Fraser attacked the Continentals up on Monument hill.  He was having some difficulty when General Riedesel arrived with reinforcements to save the day. 

Now for setting up the game.  For the table top terrain I have used the map done by a Brunswick engineering officer.  A long Ridge on one sure, a narrow stream in the other and assorted woods.  A high wooden wooden fence was North if the Castleton road and formed a fall back position for the Americans.

Looking over the various  order of battles here is how I will set up the regiments.  

For the Americans, Colonel Francis’s rear guard consist of “chosen men” from the  Massachusetts and New Hampshire Continentals regiments. In all, he would command about 450 troops. These will be fielded as two battalions of 24 figures each with Francis as a commander. 

 Sent to assist him was Colonel Seth Warner and his Green Mountain regiment of about 150 men with about 100 Vermont militiamen called up at Hubbardton attached to his command.   I will field them as a 24 figure battalion.

Colonel Hale’s 2nd New Hampshire regiment of about 235 soldiers were escirting an estimated 300 invalids, sick and intoxicated stragglers.  I will give Hale a battalion of 24 figures and place a skirmish line of 30 figures by Sucker brook.  This group will have the lowest moral in the game to represent their poor status.

About four miles south of Hubbardton were two Massachusetts militia regiments under Colonel Benjamin Bellows. These units were part of the main army, not Warner’s command, but could be called on to go to Warner’s assistance.  Once the game starts the American player rolls a dice; a 1 or 2 and he gets the two militia as reinforcements.  If so, roll two dice for turn they enter g the game. Historically they declined the order to march to help out.  

Fraser’s command would include ten companies of grenadiers under Major John Dyke Acland, ten companies of light infantry under Major Alexander Lindsay, the Earl of Balcarres, and two hat companies from the 24th Regiment commanded by Major Robert Grant. In all, Fraser claimed he commanded about 850 men from his Advance Corps.  There might have been some loyalists or Indians as scouts but I am not including them.  The Grenadine and Light Infantry will gave 30 figures each and the 24th Regiment 24 figures.

Riedesel's  advance guard of Jäger and grenadiers had about 180 men (100 jager and 80 Grenades) and the main body following consisting of the Brunswick Grenadier and Light battalions. In all, Riedesel had about 1,100 Brunswick infantrymen under his command.  The main body arrived too late for the fighting to be included.  The Jagers will gave 9 figures and the Grenadiers 9 figures.  The British player will roll two dice to see which turn they arrive on the table.