How was the march conducted?

 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, 52nd,  59th and  Marines.

** Grenadier companies - 4th, 5th, 10th, 18th, 23rd, 38th, 43rd, 47th,52nd,  59th and Marines.

North Bridge Fight Game for 250th Event

 

Doolittle print done in May 1775 of the Bridge fight.

  Want to play out a part of the 19 April battle for the 250th anniversary?  Here is my suggestion for a fun game based loosely on the events at the North Bridge in Concord.  Thus works well for two to four players.

   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:

Excellent map from obscure battle site blog

  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.

 

British Intelligence Letter on Supplies at Concord

 

 The first in a series of post to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the fight at Lexington and Concord on 19 April 1775

How prepared were the British for the raid on Concord on April 19, 1775?  I though that this item has a really good insight into British intelligence.  While the actual orders General Thomas Gage gave to Lieutenant Francis Smith have been repeated and republished numerous times the actual draft of the orders have not.  They are much more detailed about the items they were sent to destroy, where they were hidden and how to dispose of them.  I thought some of the readers here may be interested in reading this document so I transcribed it From the original in the Gage Papers at the University of Michigan.

   From the draft of Gate's orders to Smith:

"Sir, a quantity of ammunition and provision together as number of cannon and small arms having been collected at Concord for the avowed purpose of raising a rebellion against his Majesty 's Government, you will match with the corps of Grenadiers and Light Infantry put under your command with the utmost expedition and secrecy to Concord, and where you will seize and destroy all the artillery and ammunition, provisions, tents and all other military stores you can find you will knock off one trunnion at least of each of the iron guns and destroy the carriages and beat in the muzzles of the brass ones so as to render them useless. The powder and flour may be shaken out of the barrels into the water, the tents burnt and the men may put the balls and lead into their ( knapsacks crossed out)  pockets throwing  them away by degrees as they go into fields and ditches ponds and etc. (When you shall crossed out) you have a plan (a return crossed out)  Which is marked off the places where the artillery and ammunition is reported to be lodged, and after destroying the same you will return, and if your men appear much fatigued you may lodge them at Lexington or Cambridge and let them rest in barns or other outbuildings and may (get crossed out) hire waggons at Lexington for weak and fatigued men.  If any body of men dares to  (attack is crossed out) oppose you with arms you will warn them to disperse (and crossed out) or attack them.

 Four brass cannon and two mortors or cohorn with a number of small arms in the cellar or out houses of Mr Barrett a little on the other side of the bridge where is also lodged a quantity of powder and lead.

Ten iron cannon before the town house and two within it which town house is in the center of the town.  The ammunition for said guns within the house.

Three guns of 24 pounders lodged in the prison yard with a quantity of cartridges and provision.

A quantity of provisions and ammunition in other places, the principal deposits are the houses of Mr Hubbard, near the meeting Butler, Jones the tailor near the Hubbard's, two men of the rear of (ineligible) Bonds, and particularly at the entrance of the town, at a house plaisteted white a small fence in front and divergence a large quantity of powder and ball is reported to be deposited in his store adjoining the house.

Cannon hid in the wood a mile and half from the center of the village between the river and Malden pond.  The wood thick, a good deal of Underwood. The ground no little wet but not a marsh. Three guns still mounted, the rest dismounted and carefully hid and even buried.   In the same place some boxes of arms hid like the cannon.

The medicine chests and powder barrels, tents and etc distributed in the chief  houses, particularly Mr Barrett's, Captain Wheeler's , Mr Hubbard's stores and the two Bonds.  The three guns in the prison court remain their beside many different articles. "

  To give a better idea of what Gage was worried about the country was not only organising an army but equipping it as well.  According to the records of the Provincial Congress it showed that returns of warlike stores were received from almost all towns in Massachusetts and Maine dated 14 April 1775. (From Journals of each Provincial Congress of Massachusetts. Compiled by William Lincoln (Biston, 1838), p. 756)

Firearms - 21,549

Pounds of powder. - 17,444

Pounds of lead balls. - 22,191

Number of flints - 144,699

Number of bayonets. - 10,108

Number of pouches - 11,979

With all of this you could supply a good sized army!

Historical Presentations

 

  Last year I started giving historical talks to local museums and senior centers.  What started out as a one off presentation blossomed as more groups wrote or called me to do a presentation for them.  This year my calender has filled with a good number of talks.

Massachusetts Connections to the Titanic

April 15, 2025 (113th anniversary)

Harvard MA senior center

Although not well known these were a great number of residents of Massachusetts who sailed on the Titanic.  They included businessman returning from sales trips, families on tour of Europe, immigrants looking forward to joining families already in America and a best selling author.  

The Sudbury Fight

April 22, 2025 (349th anniversary)

University of Massachusetts at Lowell

On April 21, 1676 over five hundred Wampanoag, Nipmuc, and Narragansett warriors attacked the frontier settlements of Sudbury (today Sudbury and Wayland) in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Various companies of English militiamen from nearby settlements marched to that town's defense and were drawn into ambushes and suffered heavy losses. The battle was the largest fight and the last major Native American victory in King Philip's War before their final defeat in southern New England in August 1676. All but forgotten today, the sites and stories of this battle are still there to be found by the curious who look for them.

April 19, 1775: The British View Point

April 19, 2025 (250th anniversary)

Fort Devens Museum 1:00 PM

Although the events and story of Lexington and Concord are well known, the British side is too often dismissed or ignored. What did the British know about the supplies at Concord and the countryside? How was the march to Boston conducted? This presentation will explore the British side through the use of first person documents and accounts to provide a new and complimentary account of the days events.

Battle of Bunker Hill: A Tactical View

May17, 2025 1:00

Fort Devens Musem

The Battle of Bunker’s Hill is a milestone in American history; but also a terribly misunderstood battle. Far too often folklore and myth have replaced fact so that today most narratives are confused and misleading. Why didn’t the British outflank the Americans on Charlestown neck? Were there really three frontal assaults? Did the British outnumber the Americans? And did the Americans really only lose the battle because they ran out of ammunition?

This presentation will look at why the leaders made the decisions they did based on facts at the time. Rather than British arrogance and American inexperience, most decisions were based on sound reasoning at the moment.

Some Silly Humor

 Here is some very silly humor for today.  Have fun taking the test!