North Bridge Diarama Updated

 

  As I have mentioned earlier I love dioramas and they have instilled in me my love of model soldiers.  While the Lexington Green one will always be my sentimental favorite this one of the North Bridge fight is up there with it.  Because it was local whenever I was in Concord I would try and stop by to visit it.

   This great diorama is at the Concord Museum in Concord Massachusetts.  It was commissioned by the historian Allen French and built by  Guernsey and Pittman in Cambridge Massachusetts in the 1930's.  Allen French provided the historical research for the builders.  If you are not familiar with him,  his books, "Day of Lexington and Concord" and "General Gage's Informers" are the foundation of any study of the battles.  While working at Minute Man National Historical Park I took some time going through the Allen French papers.  Included was his  correspondence about the diorama and notes to the builders.  After all these years I was curious how it held up and what shape it was in.  I am very happy to say it still looks great!

   Guernsey and Pittman are famous for their quality of dioramas.  They had a office in Harvard square In Cambridge Massachusetts.  Both men had been professors at Harvard University.    I plan on doing a blog posting about the in the future in which I will showcase some of their work.  Here is a picture from the Concord Museum of the two men bring the finished diorama into the museum in 1930.

British Light companies in street fighting position.  

    

Nice detail of the fight.

The front rank of British soldiers are retiring to the rear to reload after firing.  Note the soldier leaning on his file mate and standing in his tip toes to get a better view!

Although the miniatures are very crude by today's standards they are still works of art. Each figure us individually made.

There are neat little details in the diorama that reward multiple viewings.  Note the planks pulled up on the bridge.  

Or the man knocking the cap off the head if his file mate.

  In the picture here Lt. William Sutherland calls for volunteers to join in him to flank the Americans.

How was the march conducted?

 

  On the afternoon of April 19, 1775  Ensign DeBerniere, 10th Reg’t of Foot, wrote “…we began the march to return to Boston, about twelve o’clock in the day, in the same order of march, only our flankers were more numerous and further from the main body… "

     How on April 19, 1775 was march  to Concord and back to Boston performed by Lt. Col. Smith and later Lord Percy?   It is interesting that the two men took similar but slightly different approaches to the problem.  Where would the officers get inspiration or suggestions on how to conduct this march?  Although there were few colleges or schools for officers at the time, there were a great number of books which appear again and again in military libraries.  These "how to books" gave advice and suggestions for young officers to learn their trade.

   One of the most  influential military books of the 18th Century was “A Treatise of Military Discipline” by Colonel Humphrey Bland.   Officers learned how to be a commander by reading text books.  This book shows up in the libraries of numerous officers in the British and also American  Army officers libraries at the start of the American Revolution;   including George Washington;  who's personal library included Humphrey Bland "A Treatise of Military Discipline (9th ed., London, 1762)"; Lancelot Théodore, comte de Turpin de Crissé, "An Essay on the Art of War, translated by Capt. Joseph Otway" (London, 1761); Roger Stevenson, "Military Instructions for Officers Detached in the Field" (Philadelphia, 1775); Captaine de Jeney, "The Partisan: or, The Art of Making War in Detachment," translated by J. Berkenhout (London, 1760); and William Young, Manœuvres, or Practical Observations on the Art of War "(London, 1771).

  What did these books tell us in how to conduct a march?  Let us quotes from Bland who had a chapter entitled “…Marching of a Regiment of Foot, or a Detachment of Men, where there is a Possibility of their being Attacked by the Enemy.”  He suggested forming a strong "van guard" and a "rear guard." The purpose of the van-guard was “to reconnoiter, or view, every place where any number of men can lie concealed, such as woods, copses, ditches, hollow ways, straggling houses, or villages, through which you are to march or pass near…” The rear-guard was “to take up all the soldiers who shall fall behind the regiment” and to provide security for the rear of the column and prevent it from “being fallen upon (attacked) in the rear, before they have notice to prepare for their defense.”  In addition “small parties, commanded by sergeants, marching on the flanks (sides) of the battalion with orders to examine all the hedges, ditches and copses which lie near the road…" 

  Lt. Col. Smith organized his march to Concord with the combined  ten Light Infantry companies* first followed by the eleven Grenadier ** companies.  As they got closer to Lexington he detected six Light Infantry companies to march ahead of the column and capture the bridges in Concord.  

  It is known from the statement of private James Marr 4th light company that there was a "advanced guard of a sergeant and six or eight men."   In addition a number of volunteers who went out with the march joined the advanced guard as we know from the account of  Lt. William Sutherland.   

  Within the column how did the individual companies form?  According to  Captain William Souter who commanded the Marine light company;  "our companies were not able to march more then half of its  front on the open road, or more properly speaking, in two platoons, the second in the rear of the first."

   Brigadier General Hugh Earl Percy who led the reinforcements  that afternoon had been commanding his Brigade for over a year now.  On a number if occasions he marched the entire Brigade out if Boston into the countryside for exercise.   Lt. Frederick MacKenzie of the 23rd Royal Welch Fusiliers, who marched with Percy, wrote that the brigade “… marched in the following order, Advanced guard of a captain and 50 men; 2 six-pounders, 4th Reg’t, 47th Reg’t, 1st Bttn of Marines; 23rd Reg’t, Rear guard of a Captain and 50 men.” This tactic was straight out of Bland’s Treatise.  In the Lord Percy papers there is a drawing of a march by the 1st Brigade.  The drawing is a brilliant illusion of how to conduct a march with advanced guards and flankers. 

 

* light infantry companies- 4th, 5th, 10th, 23rd, 38th, 43rd, 47th 59th and 1st and 2nd Marines.

** Grenadier companies - 4th, 5th, 10th, 18th, 23rd, 38th, 43rd, 47th, 59th and 1st and 2nd Marines.

The British Army in Boston: Order of Battle, April 18, 1775

    

Commander in Chief and Staff

Lieutenant General the Hon. Thomas Gage (Colonel, 22nd Foot), commander in chief 

Major General Frederic Haldimand (Colonel commandant, 2nd Battalion, 60th, or Royal American Regiment), second in command

Col. James Robertson, Barrack Master General

Major Stephen Kemble, Deputy Adjutant General

Major William Shirreff, Deputy Quartermaster General

Lieut. Harry Rooke, 4th foot, Aide de Camp

Capt. Brehm, Aide de Camp

Capt. Oliver De Lancey, 17th Light Dragoons, Aide de Camp

Samuel Kemble, Esqr., Confidential Secretary

1st Brigade

Brigadier: the Rt. Hon. Hugh, Earl Percy (Colonel, 5th Foot)

4th Regiment of Foot, or the King’s Own (Lt. Col. George Maddison)

23rd Regiment of Foot, or the Royal Welch Fusiliers (Lt. Col. Benjamin Bernard)

47th Regiment of Foot (Lt. Col. William Nesbitt)

1st Battalion, British Marines (Major John Pitcairn)

2nd Brigade

Brigadier: Robert Pigot (Lt. Col., 38th Foot)

5th Regiment of Foot (Col. the Hon. Hugh Earl Percy)

38th Regiment of Foot (Lt. Col. Robert Pigot)

52nd Regiment of Foot (Lt. Col. Valentine Jones)

3rd Brigade

Brigadier: Valentine Jones (Lt. Col., 52nd Foot)

10th Regiment of Foot (Lt. Col. Francis Smith)

43rd Regiment of Foot (Lt. Col. George Clerk)

59th Regiment of Foot (Lt. Col. Ortho Hamilton)

18th Regiment of Foot, 3 companies (Capt. John Shea)

65th Regiment of Foot, 2 companies (senior officer unknown)

Troops not brigaded in garrison, Castle William, Boston harbor

64th Regiment of Foot (Lt. Col. the Hon, Alexander Leslie)

4th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Artillery (Col. Samuel Cleveland)

35 Battery (Capt. William Martin)

38 Battery (Capt. Lt. W. Orcher Huddlestone)

39 Battery (Capt. Anthony Farrington)

42 Battery (Capt. Lt. Robert Fenwick)

British Marines, shipboard detachments (Adm. Samuel Graves)

Royal Engineers (Capt. John Montresor)

SOURCES:

 Thomas Gage, Distribution of His Majesty’s Forces in America,” July 19, 1775, Gage Correspondence, II, 690; Gage to Richard Rigby, July 8, 1775, with enclosure, “List of General and Staff Officers on the Establishment in North America, from 25th December 1774 to 24th June, 1775,” ibid., II, 687-89.

 Vincent J.-R. Kehoe, “We Were There!” April 19, 1775 (mimeographed typescript, 1974), vol. I,

11-27; Barker, British in Boston, 9, 11; Mackenzie, Diary, I, 8; Regimental Rosters, Muster Books and Pay Lists, W012/2194-7377, PRO

North Bridge game suggestion

Doolittle print done in May 1775 of the Bridge fight.

   I worked for thirty years for the National Park Service.  The majority of that time was at Minute Man National Historical Park in Concord and Lexington.  Although I had not thought about a miniature wargame  involving the fight at the North Bridge two things recently changed my mind.  This was inspired  by the article in  Wargames Illustrated "Battle at the North Bridge"  (#291 January 2012) and the post on how he fought this out on the blog "Steve's Painting Shed."  Steve's blog is always a fun visit and full of great ideas if you are interested in the America Rev War.  Highly recommend and one of my first stops in the blogging world.

What really happened:

  The game concerns the action around the North Bridge in  Concord on 19 April 1775.  Historically,  after arriving Concord that morning  Lt.Col. Francis Smith sent seven companies of light infantry (about 32-36 men per company) to the North bridge.  Four light companies under Captain Lawrence Parsons      ( from the 5th, 38th, 23rd and 52nd) crossed the bridge and marched two miles further to Colonel James Barrett's farm to search for cannon. Three light infantry companies (4th, 10th 43rd) under Captain Walter Laurie stayed to guard the bridge.  The remainder of the British force stayed in Concord and searched for supplies. 

View from hillside over looking bridge held by Militia and Minute companies

  During this time various Minute and Militia companies from the surrounding towns gathered on the hillside by Major John Buttrick's house overlooking the bridge.  The town of Concord was just visible in the distance.  They numbered about 400 men and were divided into a Militia battalion under Colonel Barrett and a Minute Man battalion under Major John Buttrick.   

The bridge from the British side.

  When the Militia and Minute Men saw smoke rising over the town they assumed the British were burning their homes.  They marched down to cross the bridge and exchanged fire with the Light Infantry at the bridge and drove them away. The British broke and retreated back towards town leaving two dead at the bridge. Part of the militia returned up the hill they had just come down from carrying there two dead and wounded.   The minute men crossed the bridge.  Buttrick placed them behind a stone wall by the Jones house and they and the Grenadiers with Smith cautiously eye balled each other for a few minutes until Smith counter marched back to town. The Minute companies soon discovered the town was not being burned!  A fire set to burn some cannon carriges were the source of the smoke.  When some worried towns folks complained the fire could spread to the town buildings the British put out the fire.  

 

Diorama of the North Bridge fight.

  Undecided what to do now the various Minute companies moved to the ridge overlooking the town to keep an eye on the British.  Some companies marched to take position further up the road for when the British started their return march to Boston. There they were joined by other companies from further away towns.

   When Captain Parson's light companies return later they found the bridge deserted and two dead British soldiers nearby!  

The game:

  The table is set up to represent the area by the bridge very loosely.  I am looking for an interesting game not a historical recreation. Unlike the actual events both sides are eager to a fight!   The British must hold the bridge long enough to allow the detachment to return to town.  The Americans want to capture the bridge and prevent this. There will be blood!  The British have better trained and disciplines troops but the Americans have more men.

  Captain Laurie's detachment (4th, 10th and 43rd)  is by the bridge while  Captain Parson's  detachment (5th, 23rd, 38th and 52nd)is off-table and is expected to return soon. Reinforcements from Concord are in the form of a battalion of  Grenadiers and Lt.Col.Smith.

 The British at the bridge can call for reinforcements.  Roll a d6 and the battalion of Grenadiers arrive on the road from town on that turn.  

  Parson's force  attempt to enter the table beginning on turn 10. On this turn roll a d10 and they require 1-6 to enter. If they fail then they roll again on turn 11 needing 1-9. If they fail then they automatically enter on turn 12.

  Colonel Barrett and Major Buttrick are on the hillside overlooking g the bridge.  Their object is to capture the bridge and prevent the British forces returning to town.  To represent the hesitation on the part of company commanders to march down and confront the British each militia/minute group must pass a morale check.  If more then half the group fails they will stay in the hill to talk it over some more.  If more then half pass then enough talking its time for action.

Order of Battle:

Lt.Col. Francis Smith commanding: 

in town with Grenadiers.

Captain Laurie's  light infantry detachment at the bridge:

(30 figures/ regular)

Captain Parson's  light infantry at Colonel Barrett's farm:

(30 figures/ regular)

British Grenadier battalion: in Concord

(30 figures/ Elite)

  I have rated the Light infantry as regulars and not elite.  This is because of their erratic performance throughout the day.  At Lexington green they fired against orders and lost all control and at the North Bridge they again fell apart (although I personally think it was more Laurie fault). Light companies were still relatively new (added to the establishment in 1770), and this was the very first time in Boston they had been brigaded worked together.  I think poor command and control plus no standard light infantry drill manual were the problems that day and later at Bunker Hill.  These would be corrected later under General William Howe.  On the other hand the Grenadiers lived up to their reputation that day so they stay elite.

Colonel James Barrett commanding: on hillside overlooking bridge.

Concord-Acton Militia battalion

(30 figures/militia)

Bedford- Lincoln Militia battalion

(30 figures/militia)

Acton-Concord  Minute battalion

(30 figures/militia)

Bedford-Lincoln Minute battalion

(30 figures/militia)

  I have rated all the Americans as militia.  Minute Man companies trained more often so in theory they we're better discipline.  But in looking over the performance of both groups I see historically little difference that day.  I am giving them more units as they did seriously outnumber the British throughout the day.

 

The Concord - Lexington Battle Road 19 April 1775

  In observance of the events of April 19, 1775 I thought I would post a few pictures of sites associated with the fighting that day.

   The North Bridge in Concord.  

North Bridge fight Concord
By Don Troiani.

North Bridge from
The British side.

View of the bridge from the Americans marching
 down the hill

  Merriam's Corner Concord.  This was about a mile east of Concord and here was the start of the local Minute and Militia companies harassing the British on their return to Boston.

Merriam corner from 1890's

Merriam House.  The Reading company of Militia under 
 John Brooks  took cover by the house and fired at the British in the road.

View from the road. The 
British March column was looking
 towards Merriam house

   As the British defended a steep hill east of Concord the road turned sharply to the North before again turning sharply to the east.  Here, at the "Bloody Angle" in Lincoln the British were caught between two large groups of minute and  militia companies.  Due to the unusually heavy woods they could not deploy flankers.  The Road here has been closed to traffic and restored to its 18th century appearance.

"Bloody Angle"

"Bloody Angle"
 British column caught between groups
of militia on both sides of the road.

stone walls lined the road.

Hartwell Tavern area

Illustration of fighting in above area.

Lastly, since almost everyone has hear about the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere here is the area where he was captured by British officers in the way to Concord

Paul Revere capture site
1890's

Site today

  On Lexington green that morning The first shots of the day were fired.  The green today is almost unrecognizable from its 1775 appearance.

Lexington Green 1775

The Green today

Later that day Captain John Parker took his company of Lexington militia to fight The British as they returned to Boston.  He placed his men on a steep hillside looking down along the road where a small bridge crossed a shallow stream.  

View from the British column towards area
Captain Parker deployed his company.

Concord Bridge Diorama

Diorama of the North Bridge Fight at the Concord Museum. Picture from the book "Lexington Concord  Battle Road. "

   This great diorama is at the Concord Museum in Concord Massachusetts.  It was commissioned by the historian Allen French and built by  Guernsey and Pittman in Cambridge Massachusetts.  Allen French provided the historical research for the builders.  If you are not familiar with him,  his books, "Day of Lexington and Concord" and "General Gage's Informers" are the foundation of any study of the battles.  While working at Minute Man National Historical Park I took some time going through the Allen French papers.  Included was his  correspondence about the diorama and notes to the builders. 

  Guernsey and Pittman are famous for their quality of dioramas.  They had a office in Harvard square In Cambridge Massachusetts.  Both men had been professors at Harvard University.    I plan on doing a blog posting about the in the future in which I will showcase some of their work.

British Light companies in street fighting position.  

    As I have mentioned earlier I love dioramas and they have instilled in me my love of model soldiers.  While the Lexington Green one will always be my sentimental favorite this one of the North Bridge fight is up there with it.  Because it was local whenever I was in Concord I would try and stop by to visit it.

Nice detail of the fight.

The front rank of British soldiers are retiring to the rear to reload after firing.  Note the soldier leaning on his file mate and standing in his tip toes to get a better view!

Although the miniatures are very crude by today's standards they are still works of art.

There are neat little details in the diorama that reward multiple viewings.  Note the planks pulled up on the bridge.  In the picture here Lt. William Sutherland calls for volunteers to join in him to flank the Americans.

Thank to my good friend Scott Leach for permission to use the pictures from his blog.

Lexington Green Diorama

   Ever since I can remember I have loved toy soldiers. As a very young boy I was thrilled to discover an exciting diorama of the Battle of Lexington Green in my public library.  My parents would drop me off at the library and after getting a arm full of books I would stand in wonder in front of it.

  This diorama is still in existence and is in the town of Lexington visitor center.  It was made by John Scheid.  His technique for making the British Grenadier caps look like fur still amazes me.  There is a very nice write up about him and better pictures of the diorama in Peter Blum's book "Military Miniatures" The Odyssey Press, New York, 1964.

    Due to the state "stay at home" I was unable to take any pictures of it today.  So the ones here were ones I found on the internet.  I hope the owners do not mind.  Also I would like to thank my friend Scott Lesch of Gloucester Massachusetts for his help with his and the Concord bridge diorama.

     This will be the first in a series of posts about great dioramas in my area.