Notes on Camden

 

I greatly enjoyed playing out the Battle of Camden on my table top.  Using the historical set up and terrain makes this a very difficult battle for the American side to win.  A different set up and different terrain makes this a very difficult game.  If you compare Greene's army at Guilford Courthouse to Gate's at Camden you see they are very similar.  While I will eventually get around to refuge ting this battle I first have a couple other small actions I have been working on.  Blackstocks, Hanging Rock and Rocky Mount are up next.  

  Couple points on the rules I use for American can Rev War.  These are "The Whites of Their Eyes" by Stephen Haller.  They were published in the (original) Courier Wargames newsletter in the 1970's.  I have had the pleasure of "meeting" the author on line and he has sent me updates to the rules and generously allowed me to share copies with interested players.  I enjoy the rules very much and they provide me a fun, fast moving and enjoyable game.  

  The rules are IGO UGO per turns.  One player moves, shoots and fights close combats.  Then the next player does the same.  Morale checks are all taken at the start of your turn.  There are various factors that cause a check like being hit by artillery, casualties, friends routing past you.  To check you roll 2d6 and add/subtract modifiers.  If you get a seven or better you pass.  If not you roll 1d6 and check to see if you stand, retreat or rout.  Pretty simple really.  Modifiers include elite or light troops, staff officer within four inches for plus; percentage of casualties, hit by artillery.  There are some specific modifiers like Indians in the open -2, Rifle men in woods +1. Militia get a -3 which I think too high and usually use a -1 or 2.  But for this game I kept the -3 to reflect their panicky nature in this battle.  

  Another unusual aspect of the rules is that each regiment gets a internal command.  If you get seven or more hits you roll a separate dice to see if your regiments commander is hit.  If so you get a negative modified roll for the rest of the game.  This can also happen if light troops skirmishes take aim at the units commanders.  Hard to hit as the command gets an extra saving throw but again can cause mischief.

  As mentioned there are the dreaded saving rolls for hits.  While some object to it, I like it.  Rather then  adding and subtracting modifiers each troop type gets a saving roll for hits.  Easy and simple.  Look on the firing chart and see how many hits.  Roll that many dice and remove casualties.  Easy.

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.

Happy New Year and a Review of 2021

 

What did you do in 2020?

  Another year just about finished.  And another year with covid restrictions.  I am hopeful that we will be seeing the light at the end if the tunnel in that topic;  but I am afraid it is just the lights of an in coming train.  It has been a roller coaster ride of a year that started with me in "retirement" and ended with me back to work.  In between I did pack in some hobby time.

Too often war gamers talk about gaming more and painting less.  This was the year I did that.  I probably played more games, both in person and solo then any other time of my life.  And a very interesting variety if games too!  

So, what did I play in 2021?  During the year I was able to get each of my armies out if their boxes and on to the table top.  

Crimean War

Rev War

War of 1812

I was also active in club game night and with our smaller group of Monday morning gamers.

I started a new project, King Philip's war 1675-76.  Its a period I have always been interested in and many if the site associated with it are near to where I live.  This is not one if those massive projects with waves of parading regiments.  instead its a smaller skirmish type game. Think of French and Indian war with no regulars and ECW style clothing.  Oh, and cavalry too!   The figures are mostly from Bridge games and the rules are based on the old favorite The Sword and the Flame.  I have made great progress with 40 native figures and 30 Colonists painted.  In addition I got to visit some if the actual battle sites of this conflict like Turner's Fall and Sudbury.

I discovered MDF house and have greatly enjoyed building them.  Especially those from Things From The Basement who have made some excellent 17th/18th New England style homes.  All are great value and beautiful works of art.  And perfect for Rev War battlefields!  Presently I am putting together the Hartwell Tavern kit. like the Captain William Smith house this building was also in the the park I worked at.  In fact my office, during the summer was in the building itself.   More about it later.

Towards the end of the year I was notably absent from both gaming and blogging.  In November I returned to work.  Although my station at Worcester was closed I transferred to Boston and went back to ground operations.  Its been a great adjustment and lots of retraining.  This includes flying down for a week to Florida for retraining and certification.   But I have greatly missed the work and the people and am most happy to be back.

  For 2022 I am hoping to again play more games.  Balancing work and play I want to continue to be active with the club and also the Monday Morning gamers.  I hope to add to my King Philip's War collection.

  Here is wishing all of you most happy new years and thank you for taking time from your day and visiting here.  I appreciate it and look forward to hearing from you again.

ChrIstmas Time

 

Wishing all a very Merry Christmas.