Big Fight at Hanging Rock Part 1

  Early morning at the Hanging Rock loyalist encampment.  In each of the four camps the Loyalist regiments were assembling and standing to arms.

 Colonel Bryan's loyalist militia were totally surprised.  The early morning peace of their encampment was broken by rifle and musket fire.  Attacked on all sides the South Carolina loyalist militia broke and ran to safety.  The North Carolina loyalist militia were made of  sterner stuff and stood their ground returning fire and hoping for help.

  Colonel Irwin's command arrived on the board.  After crossing the creek and climbing up the hill they cone in on the north east corner and Eastern side.  (each unit rolled to find where on board they would arrive in). 

  Davie's rifle men and the NC militia finish off the loyalist militia who break and run.  The first camp is captured and the militia ignore the loot to continue their pursuit of the enemy. ( rolled a 4,5 or 6 to contunue).

 Colonel Bryan rallied the NC loyalist militia but the SC militia continue their race for home.  The Royal NC Regiment (RNCR) and British Legion infantry (BLI) move forward to engage the enemy.  The RNCR gets a good volley into the militia who fall back to think things over!

Coming out of the woods the rifle armed militia destroyed what was left of the fleeing loyalists.  Sumter and Irwin try and bring more troops into line to take advantage of the situation.

 But before they can the RNCR charges to militia marching down the road and send the running back.  The militia horse and other nearby troops also fall back.  Sumter and Irwin are now trying to rally them.

The BLI charge Davie rifle men and also send them back.

The Prince of Wales  America Regiment (PoWAR) charges and forces back the militia lights. 

The victory by the RNCR is short lived.  Out of the woods the Catawa Indians flank the loyalists and put a devastating fire into them. Then the SC militia charges and send the loyalists back.

Irwin and Sumter rally the forces.....

But in the distance clouds of dust suggest reinforcements are on the move and should be arriving soon!

To be continued....... 

Setting up The Battle of Hanging Rock

 

   In corresponding with Steve Haller he mentioned that he had fought Hanging Rock as a miniature Wargame.  About twenty years ago he first put it on at Historicon and he kindly sent me his map, order of battle and scenario rules.  It looked great so I am going to be running my game based on his.  All credit should be directed to Steve Haller.  This will give you a fun game with a wide range of unit types  based on the Battle of Hanging Rock that captured the spirit and confusion of the battle.  

  All regiments are based on a 5:1 ratio of numbers per figures. Some units strengths have been fudged for playability.   Rules used are Steve Haller's "Whites of Their Eyes" with 25mm miniatures.  In the order of battle I list the units, how many figures in it and its morale rating.   My table measures 6 feet x 5 feet.  This just works but a slightly longer table would be much better.  Game lasts 10 turns.  Victory determined by most points at end of game.

Top of table is North.  Bottom is south.  Fields mark camps.

British Command:

Major Carden' s command

Royal Artillery  3pdr.   Elite

Prince of Wales American Regiment  30/regulars

Royal North Carolina Regiment  30/regulars

British Legion Infantry   20/lights

Colonel Bryan's command

Bryan's North Carolina Militia  30/militia

Rugeley’s South Carolina Milita 30/militia

  The Loyalist Forces are set up in four camps widely spaced apart.  From north to south on the table the camps are occupied by:  1st camp North and South Carolina Militia regiments, 2nd camp Royal North Carolina Regiment, 3rd camp British Legion Infantry and 4th camp Prince of Wales American and Royal Artillery.

 To represent the surprise attack on the camps and the time needed to assemble the regiments on the first move of the game only the militia in the first camp can move.  On the second turn of the game the rest of the Crown forces can move

Possible Reinforcements:

British Legion Dragoons   8/Cavalry

New York Volunteers     30/regulars

  Historically a troop of the British Legion Dragons or mounted infantry arrived during the battle.  In addition it was possible that the New York Volunteers from Rocky Mount could have also come out to help.  On turn three of the game roll D6 for each of these units.  They will arrive on the turn determined in road column formation on the road on the south edge of the map.

1 - 2 =  turn 3 

3 - 4 = turn 4

5 - 6 = turn 5

Victory Conditions: by the end of the game on turn 10

A.  Inflict maximum casualties on enemy.  1point for each enemy unit under 50% and 2 points for each enemy unit routed.

B. Hold camp.  Must be held by at least one stand and not in melee. Each camp held is 2 points. 

American Command:

General Thomas Sumter field commander

Col. Irwin's North Carolina Brigade

Col. Davie

Davie's NC Horse. 8/cavalry

Davie's NC Rifles. 18/rifles

Col. Irwin

1st NC Militia. 30/militia

3rd NC Militia 30/militia

Col. Hill's South Carolina Brigade:

Col. Hill

Hill's South Carolina Horse  8/militia horse

Catawha Indians  4/lights

SC State Infantry  18/lights

2nd SC Militia  30/militia

3rd SC Militia  30/militia

Set Up:

The Patriot forces will move first each turn.  On the first turn Davie's horse and rifles set up 6" from the table edge in the north west corner.  Irwin's command set up 6" from the table edge on the northern table in the woods in the center. 

On the second turn each unit of Hill's command rolls a d6 to see where they enter the table.  Section 1  is north east corner, 2  is center Northern edge, 3 - 4 is 12" south of north east corner and 5 - 6 is 24" south of north east corner.

Possible Reinforcements:

Continental Artillery       light gun/regular

Maryland Continentals   18/regulars

  Although there were no historical reinforcements during the battle If you wish you could have a possible group of Continentals from Gate's army.  Historically Gates did detached a small force of Marylanders and a gun.   If you want to add  this command they will enter on the north east road in road column.  Roll D6 on turn four.  On a 1,2 or 3 they arrive on turn 4 otherwise they arrive turn 5.

Victory Conditions: by the end of the game on turn 10

A.  Inflict maximum casualties on enemy.  1point for each enemy unit under 50% and 2 points for each enemy unit routed or artillery stand captured.

B. Capture enemy camp.  Must be held by at least one stand and not in melee. Each camp captured is 2 points.  

 Note: Patriot units that capture a camp must roll D6. If a 4,5 or 6 they carry on and continue fighting as normal.  Otherwise unit is out of the fight being too busy pillaging and getting drunk from captured supplies and taking there ilk gotten goods home!

Notes on the Battle of Hanging Rock

 

  The Battle of Hanging Rock was a confused affair that has been made more difficult to follow because of poor secondary sources and the repetition of them.  

  Before posting my table top refight here are a few notes to explain where I am coming from.  Please note the historical marker signs also got a lot wrong!  No 63rd or 71st  at the battle. It was American Loyalist vs American Patiot.  A newer sign has since replaced this one.

  First off the name.  The Battle site is named after the curious rock formations in the area.  Today there is a pleasant walking path through the park.

 British at Hanging Rock

Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Rawdon in a Letter to Colonel McMahon, January 19, 1801 that Hanging Rock was defended by "400 provincials and 800 militia."  Who were they?

Regular loyalist regiments: there were soldiers from three different Provincial or Loyalist regiments: The British Legion infantry, The Prince of Wales’ American Regiment, and the Royal North Carolina Regiment.There total losses were 38 men killed, 69 wounded, 71 missing. 

In regards to the number of missing, 43 men were captured by the Americans. Half of these men were privates and noncommissioned officers of the Prince of Wales’ American Regiment that surrendered to the Americans during the fighting. The other half had been both wounded and captured (most, if not all of these, were also of the Prince of Wales’ American Regiment).

Some secondary accounts claim that the King’s Rangers, commanded by Colonel Thomas Brown, were at the battle. This stems from a misreading of Tarleton’s description of the battle, which refers to Brown’s regiment, but means Colonel Montfort Browne, commander of the Prince of Wales’ American Regiment. Browne was not present on this occasion, and command of the Prince of Wales’ American Regiment was left to Major John Carden. Because of absences in the field officers for the other regiments, Carden also commanded the entire post.

Reinforcement:  A detachment of 40 mounted infantry from the British Legion arrived during the battle.  I suggest rolling two d6 for when they arrive.

American Strength and Losses at Hanging Rock

Thomas Sumter claimed that he had “Six hundred brave men,” and other participant statements point to a similar total.  He divided his force into three parts, and each contained around 200 men. These divisions are henceforth referred to as the left, center, and right divisions, after their relative positions at the beginning of the battle. Possibly the left division was commanded by William Hill, the center by Robert Irwin, and the right by William Davie.

Left Division: South Carolina militia regiments, including William Bratton’s regiment, Andrew Neal’s regiment, Edward Lacey’s regiment, and Joseph Brandon’s regiment. Most of the men in these regiments had seen action before, including at Williamson’s Plantation and Rocky Mount. 

Center Division: A battalion of 200 North Carolina militiamen under the command of Robert Irwin.  These men hailed from Mecklenburg Countries.  A small group if Catawa Indians fought with them.

Right Division: Major William Davie’s troop of dragoons (70-80 men), supported by a mixture of North and South Carolina militia units. Again most of these men had also seen battle before.

American Losses:

Thomas Sumter claimed that he lost 20 killed, 40 wounded, and 10 missing. Other American participants gave lower figures, but their claims are less reliable. The 10 missing men were likely killed or wounded, but as the fighting took place over a wide area, they were not found by their comrades before the end of the battle. The British estimated American losses at about 100 men.

Notes:

Wikipedia reference:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Hanging_Rock

Todd Braisted (2001). A History of the Prince Of Wales' American Regiment

 The Revolutionary War Sketches of William R. Davie

(Davie's account also appears in, John H. Wheeler (1851). Historical Sketches of North Carolina from 1584 to 1851, Vol. 1.)

Banastre Tarleton. (1787). A History of the Campaigns of 1780 and 1781. 

Charles Stedman. (1794). The History of the Origin, Progress, and Termination of the American War, Vol. 2.

Club Game Night: Fighting Hobkirk's Hill

 

General Greene directing his Continental line.

  A brief pause on my fighting the Camden campaign.  I needed to do a little bit more research on the Battle of Hanging Rock and then up popped club game night.  Due to medical reasons I hadn't been to a club night in almost a year.  But Earl insisted it would be good for me to go;  and better for all if I put on a game.  Warren kindly offered to drive so we were off and running.

Game set up.  John and Byron on left and Warren and Mike on right.

 My game would be based on the Battle of Hobkirk Hill South Carolina in April 1781. Its a close run  action which saw a mostly Loyalist army take on General Nathaniel Greene's army.  In addition I wanted to run it remember a friend, Chase who recently passed away suddenly.  He had been painting up an army to refight this battle and we exchanged information on how best to fight it and uniform details of the regiments present.  So I thought how best to remember him.

  After the Battle of Guildford Courthouse (March 1781) American General Nathaniel Greene moves his army south to South Carolina to drive out the British occupation forces. While Cornwallis marched to Virginia, Lord Rawdon is left with a mainly loyalist force to defend the colony. In April Greene takes position outside the British post at Camden with his main army of Continental regiments while his light troops raid smaller outposts. Rawdon, although outnumbered decides to attack Greene before he can call in militia support.

Crown Forces on left and Continental line on right.

  The table is set up.  On the left side Lord Rawdon's forces marching towards Greene's line.  Crown Forces have  skirmishers out front, followed by 63rd Regiment, New York Volunteers and Kings American Regiment.  Second line Volunteers of Ireland, South Carolina Royalists and Royal Artillery.  Reserve are Major Coffins Loyalist Dragoons (i.e. mounted Infantry).  Greene's army on the right side.  Light Infantry skirmishing in front are Maryland/Virginia light companies and Kirkwood's Delaware.  On the ridge line from viewer are 2nd Maryland, 1st Maryland, 4th Virginia and 5th  Virginia Continental regiments.  In reserve are Lt. Col. Washington's 3rd light dragoons, two Continental Artillery guns and a North Carolina militia regiment with some attached Riflemen.  They are not placed on the table untill the second move and hidden from the British players.

Maryland Continental line.

  Greene's line is on a long ridge.  A single road heading to the town of Camden divides the table.  There is a stream on the side of table which is ford able by infantry and cavalry (at a penalty) but not artillery.  There are scattered trees but a very open growth which does not give cover or block sight.

Light Infantry screening advancing Crown Forces

  Crown Forces advancing on the Continental line.  Greene orders his light troops to hold off the enemy while his regulars form up They are to buy time for reinforcements to arrive.

 Kirkwood's Delaware  and the Marylanders light infantry companies fire and retire giving Greene time to organize his line and causing casualties among the advancing loyalists.

 Coffin's loyalist dragons ride down the Maryland/Virginia light infantry.  They pursue them up to the main Continental line  where the lights break and rout off the field.  Alas!  As happens too often the enthusiasm of the cavalry carry them too far and the two Virginia regiments wipe out the handful of dragoons.  Poor Major Coffin is left alone!

At this point the Continental artillery, North Carolina militia and Rifles arrive on the field.  A rather nasty surprise.  Historically Rawdon attacked because a deserter told him there was no militia and no artillery present.

  

  On the British right flank the advancing line steadily drives the Delaware lights back to the ridge.

 Coming off the ridge the two Virginia Continental line regiments with the North Carolina Rifle regiment march to out flank the advancing red coats.  

  The King"s American Regiment and South Carolina Royalist swing to their left to counter it.   Rawdon pushes forward to flank the Continentals on the ridge line.  The Virginia line attacks the loyalist regiments.  Heavy casualties for the King's American to break.  All that us now holding the flank is the SC Royalist regiment.

 The New York Volunteers and 63rd Regiment attack the Ridge.  They rout the 2nd Marylanders, capturing their colors!  The NC militia fail moral and routs off the ridge too!  All that is left is the 1st Marylanders and a artillery battery.

 Waiting in reserve is Lt.Col. William Washington and his 3rd Continental light Dragoons.   They charge forward and crash into the NYV.  In the melee the loyalist break, their colonel killed and colors lost.  The 63rd (who have lost over 50%) also retreats.  

  At this point the Crown Forces throws in the towel.  The Virginia regiments with the rifles and a gun are sweeping up the left flank while the 1st Marylanders and a gun hold the ridge.  All that is left of his army is the Volunteers of Ireland to cover the retreat.  A disastrous day for the Crown and Greene finally gets a victory.

  Thank you very much to Warren, Mike, John and Byron for a great game and a very fun evening.  I hope you all enjoyed it.  Curiously enough as it was set up for my friend Chase it ended with the dramatic charge if the 3rd light dragoons.  That was his favorite Rev War unit so I hope in some small way he enjoyed it.

  

Rawdon's Defense of South Carolina

  

 Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Rawdon had the job of defending the South Carolina Backcountry. His description of the strategic situation deserves to be quoted at length:

"Having been left in the command of the back country when Lord Cornwallis [i.e., Lieutenant-General Charles Cornwallis] went to Charlestown, I had (by my spies) kept a vigilant eye over the force which was collecting in North Carolina for the invasion of our newly acquired territory. Though Lord Cornwallis had not thought it probable that the attack would be made upon south Carolina till the violent heat of the summer should be passed, I had suspected that Gates might count on our inability to stand the climate (especially as it was known that we were very sickly) and might then make a speedier effort. I had on that account minutely examined the country and formed my eventual plans. Camden had from the first day appeared to me an objectionable station for the army. It was a false position relative to the country, and in itself indefensible beyond any ground that I ever saw. On learning that a body of the enemy's militia had advanced to the Pedee [i.e., the Peedee River in the northeastern part of the state], I considered it a sure indication that Gates would move immediately. I therefore detached [Lieutenant-Colonel James] Webster, a good and gallant officer, to the east branch of Lynche's Creek and I reinforced a post which I had at Hanging Rock. As soon as I had made the necessary arrangements at Camden, I followed Webster. Of distances, I must speak loosely. I suppose the point where the road crosses the east branch of Lynche's Creek to be thirty miles from Camden; the post at Hanging Rock, thirty-five. There was a ready communication between the two by a road of about twelve miles. My object in taking this forward position was to retard the progress of Gates' till Lord Cornwallis should collect force from other parts of the Province, or to reduce the enemy to hazard an action where my peculiar advantages of situation would compensate for my disparity in numbers. I had 1100 men with me, all regulars or provincials; the detachment at Hanging Rock consisted of 400 provincials and 800 militia. The latter was a requisite post, because Sumpter menaced that road to Camden with a corps of militia. Gates came opposite to me.”

British outposts South Carolina 1780

 

Before continuing the campaign with the Battle of Hanging Rock 6 August 1780 here is a little background information on the distribution of Crown Forces in South Carolina.  Based on Rawdon's and Cornwallis' correspondences as well as Tarleton's history here are the major British outposts guarding the South Carolina back country.  The information may be of interest in creating a historical force or in setting up small skirmish type actions.  

A.  Lieutenant-colonel Balfour ( afterwards Lieutenant-colonel Cruger) commanded at Ninety Six: the force there consisted of a battalion of De Lancey's, and the South Carolina Royalists with the 16th and three other companies of light infantry. 

B.  Major Ferguson's corps and a body of loyal militia traversed that part of the province situated between the Wateree and Saluda, and sometimes approached the borders of North Carolina.

C.  The post at Rocky Mount, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel George Turnbull, and defended by the New York Volunteers, a detachment of the British Legion, and a force of Loyalist militia.

D. The post at Hanging Rock, commanded by Major John Carden, and defended by the British Legion infantry, the Prince of Wales’ American Regiment, a detachment of the Royal North Carolina Regiment, Colonel Samuel Bryan’s North Carolina Volunteers, and some South Carolina Loyalist militia.

E. The post at Lynche’s Creek, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonels Francis Rawdon and James Webster, and defended by the 33rd Foot, the two battalions of the 71st Foot, and the Volunteers of Ireland.

F.  The post at Camden, defended by the 23rd Foot and the  British Legion dragoons, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Banastre Tarleton.

  

Rocky Mount 1 August 1780

 

After the success at Williamson's Plantation Patriot militia recruiting brought mire groups into the field. Thomas Sumter was made a General and united a number of smaller commands under his command.  Not a great commander and a very hard individual to work with he continued to be a thorn in the side of various British commanders.  Eventually, do his poor tactical handling of troops he faded unto the background as better commanders like Pickens, Marion and Hampton took us place.  But in 1780 he was a driving force.  His first action was against the loyalist outpost of Rocky Mount.

  Lt.Colonel George Turnbull commanded  about160 New York Volunteers and 140 local militia.   The outpost was three buildings surrounded by a ditch and a abatis.  The larger house was reinforced to make it proof against musket shot.   Unlike Captain Huck Turnbull had the entire garrison turn out armed and ready each morning before dawn

Brigadier General Thomas Sumter commanded 300 North Carolina militia and 300 South Carolina militia.  Rather then wait for reinforcement or a cannon he determined to surprise the garrison and repeat Bratton's success.

Instead of a surprise it was the Patriots who were surprised.  Advancing down hill towards the garrison Summer's militia were under fire.   Turnbull seeing he was outnumbered ordered his men into the houses.

Caught out in the open the militia took casualties and one group broke and routed back.  Soon another group also broke.  The abitis held the militia and prevented them from closing to the houses.  Although Sumter wanted to continue the attack the remaining militia also broke and reluctantly he left the field.

Again not a very inspiring action.  It capture the spirit of Sumter in that he continued to attack with little ability and always heavy casualties.  Defeat dud not bother him and already he was ready to attack yet another loyalist post.  This time a encampment near Hanging Rock.

Williamson's Plantation fight

 

  A small action which started the partisan war against the British in South Carolina during the summer of 1780.  While not a major set piece battle it did set the stage for small scale militia raids on British outposts or detachments.  A very one sided affair it was the first in a series of such fights.  It represents the bitter partisan war between factions in South Carolina very well.  In addition it illustrates the problem the British faced of small actions causing casualties which eventually they could not replace.

  Historically Captain Christian Huck of the British Legion was surprised on the morning of 20 June while at the Williamson Plantation.  His small detacment of 125 men was made up of  35 Dragoons from the British Legion, 30 mounted infantry from the New York Volunteers and 60 loyalist Militia.  Huck had made a name for himself raising patriot militia and pillaging their homes.    Colonel William Bratton had assembled a command of 260 militia to attack Huck.  In the very one sided action Bratton's militia surrounded the plantation and opened a deadly fire on the loyalists before they were assembled.  They broke and ran but most were shot down, including Huck.   With the death of their leader the remaining loyalists surrendered. 

 I fought this out solo with my usual Rev War rules, "Whites if Their Eyes." I think if you have a skirmish set like "Sharp Practice" it would work out much better.  I started the game with figures in place.  The Loyalist sure was just assembling.  The Patriot militia had taken position around the plantation.  I will allow them two throws of musket/rifle fire to simulate the surprise and the loyalists attempting to form up.   Instead of my usual 1:10 ratio of figures I am using a 1:5 ratio.

Captain Huck orders his command to firm up.

But Bratton's militia have moved up through the woods into range.  A blast if musket and rifle fire breaks the peaceful mornings air.  Numerous loyalists go down as casualties!  The New York Volunteers mounted infantry are all casualties!

  Huck orders his dragons to charge, but is shot down!

The Remaining loyalists fail morale and surrender.

Ok, not a terribly exciting game and mist definitely one sided.  But it did reflect historically what happened.  And it started my refight of the series of  battles preceding Camden.  I am sure thus could be made into a much more interesting table top action with a few adjustments.

Next time the defense of Rocky Mount by the New York Volunteers.....