Camden 1780: Part 2 The Stand of the Continentals

 

The American general Gates was swept up in the rout of the Virginia and North Carolina militia brigades.  Although some units managed to rally, the advancing British infantry quickly routed them and cleared the field.  The British Legion cavalry rode down the isolated American gunners silencing most of the artillery.

Ignoring the defeat and rout of the Militia, the 2nd Maryland Brigade went on the offensive.  Charging forward the Delaware regiment charged the Legion Infantry while the 2nd/4th Maryland regiment took on the North Carolina Volunteers.  Both regiments won their fights and the loyalists retreated back.  To add insult to injury the Continental artillery fired a load of canister at the Volunteers of Ireland which caused a morale check.    

loyalist militia run by for the hills!

The 23rd and 33rd flank the Continentals.

71st marching to the rescue.

Royal Artillery

Rawdon rallied his line regiments but the loyalist militia panicked and ran. Cornwallis ordered up the 2nd /71st to help hold the flank.  Webster redeployed his brigade to attack the 1st Maryland brigade.

23rd vs Virginia militia

Delaware regiment fighting the Legion infantry.

2nd Maryland Brigade sweeping away the Loyalist line.

With Gates having been swept away in the retreat of his militia, Baron De Kalb remained with his Marylanders and Delaware regiments.  Ordering Smallwood to hold his flank he charged forward to attempt to push the Loyalist brigade out if his way.  Already weakened, and with the loyalist militia not wanting any part of the fight they were watching  the line broke.  The Maryland and Delaware regiments fired and charged causing high casualties and both defeated their opponents in the melee.  The Legion Infantry was destroyed while left the NCV broke and routed.   

On the flank the 5th /6th Maryland regiment fired a devastating volley into the VoI causing high casulties.  In addition the remaining Continental artillery joined them and the combined casualties were too much for the VoI who routed back.  At least on this flank the Americans appeared to have some success.  

But it was not to last.  Webster ordered his brigade forward and fired a devastating volley into the 1st/3rd Maryland regiment and the North Carolina militia regiment to his front.   The North Carolina militia retired.

The 71st moved up onto the flank of the Delaware regiment and fired a volley into their flank.  Their morale held, but just.

After the Royal Artillery added their firepower Tarleton launched his Cavalry into the Maryland regiment.  A long range volley caused some casualties but the dragons crashed into the Continental and defeated them, capturing their colors and killing their colonel.  They also over ran the the artillery.  

At this point, the British had broken through and both groups of Continentals were isolated.  De Kalb ordered a retreat to try and save what he could of his command.  It had been a brave stand but the early rout of the militia had doomed his small command.

Thus ended our game of the Battle of Camden.  The results mirrored the actual results of the historical battle   with the early rout if the militia and the Continental line fighting steadily.  Although one sided it did provide a fun game.  Perhaps if the Militia could have held out a little longer?  I suspect the historical set up doomed the American side.  another time perhaps a different set up or on a different field might result in a different result.  After all the American army here was very similar to what Greene later fought with at Guilford Courthouse.

Camden 1780: Part 1 The Militia Flight

The Battle of Camden 16 August 1780 was a lopsided British victory.  It marked the high point of British success in the south and possibly caused Cornwallis to under estimate his opponent in the future.  Because of the terrain it was a line them up and march forward type battle. Tactically not very interesting.   Because of these reasons I have avoided the battle on the table top.  But, can I be a serious Rev War gamer and not fight this battle? Besides I have a project for this year to refight two campaigns in the southern theater for the Rev War.  So, here I am with this recreation of the battle today.  

The British right flank.  Webster's brigade of the 23rd, 33rd and Light Infantry.  The 1/71st us in reserve.  To their front is the North Carolina and Virginia militia brigades.

British left flank.  Rawdon's brigade of Loyalists (NC Volunteers, British Legion infantry and Volunteers of Ireland) with NC loyalist militia and 2/71st in reserve.  To their from the 2nd and 1st Maryland brigades.

  The set up:  The battlefield was open with scattered trees. These did not effect movement or musket/artillery fire historically so they will not in this re fight.  Due to the poor visibility that morning (A heavy mist)  both sides had set up close to each other.  I placed the lines about 20" apart.  Due to the swamps on both flanks this is a frontal fight with no manovering.  Both sides have set up historically.  Both sides have placed their best regiments on their right flank.  Unfortunately this means the British elite regiments are against poor quality militia.  The Continental line regiments of Maryland and Delaware are opposed by veteran loyalist regiments.  Although the Americans outnumber the British heavily the numbers are off set by the superior quality of the British regiments.  Now onto the game.

Nervously awaiting the British advance.

One militia regiment breaks and runs.

British advance against the American line. Artillery fire causes one militia regiment to rout.  Units to either side check and one regiment in second line is nervous but holds.  Brigade commanders are busy holding their men together.  

Rally with me my brave fellows!

Webster's brigade advances into musket range.  A devastating volley turns the militia line into ruin and regiments break and retreat. 

Delaware Regiment confronts the Legion infantry and Volunteers of Ireland.

2nd Maryland Brigade faces Rawdon's Loyalist Brigade whole the 1st Maryland brigade moves to protect the flank.

 On the opposite flank the 2nd Maryland brigade advances against the Loyalist line.  Both sides exchange volley fire and both sides stand steady.  

The  British right flank sweeping away the militia.

At this point following a close range volley from Webster's brigade the militia line collapsed.  All American Militia regiments are either all retreating or routed.  The British commander now charges forward into this mess and completes the rout of the American left flank.

2nd Maryland brigade closes the gap.

Seeing this Gates quickly moves the 1st Maryland brigade to cover his exposed flank.  One militia regiment holds, but for how long?.

Tarleton, moves the Legion cavalry forward getting ready for a decisive charge.

End of part 1

Next up The Continental line stands fast.

The Battle of Cowpens 1781

 

General Morgan gets ready for some down right fighting!

The battlefield from the American point of view.  Cavalry in reserve and main line of Continental infantry.  Ahead are militia regiments and ahead of them rifle armed skirmishers.

The British line.  Ahead are the (r to l) light infantry, legion infantry, light artillery and 7th Regiment.  A troop of cavalry are to both flanks.  In reserve (not on board yet) are the British Legion dragoons and 71st Highlanders.

Turn #1

British line advances onto board.  They advance steadily against the American line.  They will have to close with the enemy quickly due to limited  number of turns.

7th Regiment of Foot

The British Cavalry fan out on both flanks and approached American skirmish line.  The American skirmishes stay ahead of them peppering them with accurate rifle fire.  The light infantry split move lets skirmishes fall back after firing.

The American fire causes both cavalry troops to check morale, which they fail and fall back.  They are later rallied and return to the fight.

Turn #2 - 4

British line continue their advance.  The Royal Artillery takes aim at enemy and starts a slow but steady fire against the American Militia regiments.

Turn #4 and 5

Reinforcements arrive edge of board.  Tarleton brings the remainder of the British Legion Cavalry and the 1/71st Highlanders onto the field.

Artillery hits militia line and causes a morale check, but the  Militia holds. They are helped by the presence of the two American commanders, Morgan and Pickens.

Legion cavalry.

Turn # 6 and 7

The American combined cavalry under It. Col.  William Washington charge the British left flank.  In the melee both the Light and Legion infantry fall back to rally after their defeat.

 Tarleton Counter charges the victorious Americans. With two troops he fights Washington's continental dragoons and sends them fleeing back.  But the milita horse defeats his other troop.  Both sides then pull back to rally.

Turn #8 and 9

The American militia and rifles fall back to join the Continental line.  The rifles, using the rules split move are able to move into range, fire and then fall back out of danger.

Morgan readies his main line for the advancing British.  The Continentals firm the center with Militia and Rifle units to both sides.

Turn #10

The British line all move into musket range.  The 71st and 7th exchange fire with the Americans militia.  Pickens and Morgan steadied them and the line holds.  The return fire causes the 7th to rout.  The poor 7th had been steadily losing men advancing against first the rifles then the militia.  They have been slowly whittled down.

On the other flank the Legion Infantry and British Lights destroy the rifles, but take serious hits from the Militia and Continental line. In the exchange of musketry that follows  both units take hits against their commanders and have to test morale. Both fail and rout back.  In these rules light troops can aim at enemy commanders in a battalion.  It's hard to hit them but when they do it causes morale problems.

The 71st now alone!  They have  the Continental Light battalion and the Militia to its front and is heavily outnumbered.  The officers look about for support, where us Tarleton?

Turn #11

Tarleton, must test morale of his horse after the infantry routes past them.  They fail and turn about and race from the field.  Morgan, waves his hat and the entire American line moves forward to clear the field.  The poor 71st is an island surrounded by American troops.  

The commander of the Highlanders is heard to mutter, " This is what comes of being led by a beard less boy."

It was not my day!

Epilogue:

A decisive battle much as the historical one was.  The rules used worked very well and provided a fun and enjoyable game.  The split move of the light troops works very well in giving skirmishes the ability to shoot and run away.  

I think the results of the fight are pretty much pre ordained.  The British have but one commander who cannot be everywhere at once.  The Americans have multiple commanders who can steady troops.  Also, putting a time limit on the game forces the British to just move forward quickly and no fancy tactics.  But in the end Morgan had an excellent battle plan designed to defeat his enemy.