Cowpens-Guilford Courthouse Campaign Refought: Cowen's Ford Action

Setting the stage:
Marching hard after Greene's army Cornwallis found his army frustrated by numerous river crossings. These were usually defended by local militia. One such crossing was at Beattie's and Cowen's Ford. North Carolina Militia General Davidson was defending both fords  with his brigade.

 Under cover of darkness Cornwallis divided his army. Webster would hold the attention of most of Davidson's men and Morgan's light division while Cornwallis crossed at the lower Cowen's Ford. The heavy morning fog prevented the men guarding the Ford from seeing the British untill  the advanced guard was crossing the river.  They quickly called for reinforcements and set up firing positions.

Game rules;
To cross the Ford takes three turns. First move up to Ford and stop.  Next turn move into river then stop. Third move move into bank and stop. No firing while crossing.
American reinforcements wants can be called by a roll of a D6.  A 1-4 and Davidson arrives with the remainder of his brigade.  A second die roll and a 1-3 Morgan's division arrives.  At this battle Davison arrived but Morgan did not.

Battle:
While the British Guard's Grenadier and Light Infantry companies crossed the ford the North Carolina riflemen continued to snipe at them.  Although the Guard's suffered some casualties their morale held and they established themselves on the shore.

 Charging forward the Grenadiers caught the  riflemen and routed them off the board. But by this time they had held up the British long enough for the North Carolina brigade to deploy into line. Three battalions faced the Guard's battalions. Cornwallis had brought the 23rd and Bose regiment into the field and they faced for a lower Ford. As the 23rd started to cross additional riflemen commenced sniping at them.

At this point things happened fast and furious.  The 1/Guard's charged the two militia battalions to their front. The North Carolina militia horse charged the 2/Guard's and caught them in column.  The 23rd crossed the Ford and moved to engage the rifles.
Although the militia horse had caught the Guard's in column, they were too few in numbers to defeat them.  The 2/Guard's saw them off with little fuss.  So too did the 1/Guard's who routed the two battalions to their front.

 With his front collapsing Davidson called for a general retreat to save what was left of his forces.  The only one disappointed by this result was Tarleton who was just crossing the Ford with his dragoons.  Mabey next time.

The game had been a lopsided British victory. The superiors morale of the Guard's battalions had enabled them to clear the militia with little difficulty.

St. David's Day

1st March 1775;  This being St. David's Day the officers of the 23rd Regiment, or Royal Welch Fusiliers, dinned together according to the custom.  All the General & Staff Officers, the Admiral, and several other person's were invited to dine with the Regiment...."
From the diary of Lieutenant Frederick MacKenzie.

The "custom" was on each Saint Daivid's Day following dinner the regimental goat with the drummers and fifers are led around the mess table.  The drum major has a silver plate with raw leeks and the mess sergeant carries a loving cup filled with champagne. They halt by the newest joined officer who then stands on his chair with his left foot and places his right foot on the table and eats a leek while the drummers play a continuous roll.  Once he has consumed the leek he is handed the loving cup and before drinking toasts "And Saint David!"  All present who have not eaten a leek, including guests are expected to do so. Similar ceremonies occurs in the sergeants and the other ranks mess.  This custom, described as "ancient" in 1775  is still observed in peace and during war time up to the present time.

Cowpens-Guilford Courthouse Campaign Refought: Battle of Camden

  January 1781

General Morgan invades South Carolina with his Light Troops.  He successfully linklinked up with Pickens' South Carolina brigade and  Sumter's brigade.

 Morgan decided to attack the British base at Camden.  Outnumbered but trusting in his better quality troops Lord Rawson matches out to attack him.

Morgan deployed his troops along the ridge line overlooking Camden .He placed his brigade of Light troops in the center.  Picken's brigade covered his right while Sumter's brigade covered his left.  All three commanders held their cavalry in reserve  the rifle armed troops covered each flank.

Advancing through a gap.in the woods Lord Rawdon advanced straight for Sumter's brigade.  He held his tiny cavalry force in reserve and led with the Volunteers of Ireland and New York Volunteers.  The Royal North Carolina Regiment and South Carolina Royalists followed behind  his loyalist militia covered his left flank.

The American Riflemen free first blood .They caused a couple hits to the Royal North Carolina Regiment who passed morale and continued their advance .But Picken's men fired a devastating round which caused six casualties among the militia.  They failed their morale test and routed off the board.

 Rawdon brought his cavalry into the field to cover his exposed get flank  , which caused Picken's riflemen to retire behind his infantry.  The Royal  North Carolina Regiment advanced into the woods to drive back the riflemen.  Matching forward the Volunteers of Ireland and New York Volunteers traded vollies with Sumter's militia.  The militia got The worse of it and both battalions failed their morale test and routed off the board taking Sumter's cavalry with them.  



at this point the game turned against the British.  Coffin's cavalry charged one of Picken's militia battalions who calmly shot it to pieces . As the cavalry routed off the table Picken's cavalry and rifles emerged from the woods and threatened the British left flank.  While one of his militia battalions engaged the South Carolina Royalists to their front the other battalion flanked them.  Morgan had  the Maryland Delaware Light battalion charge the New York volunteers.   The melee saw the Volunteers defeated  and fall back.  Tripplett's Virginians held the Volunteers of Ireland.

With his line crumbling Rawdon ordered the Royal North Carolina Regiment and the Volunteers to save themselves and dashed back to Camden to organize its defense.  Morgan, having destroyed a fine British  army and avenged last year's defeat at Camden retired to join up with Greene's army.  Although Tarleton and his legion  tried to intercept him he failed (poor die rolling)  and Morgan escaped  to fight another day.  

The American army won a decisive victory and were awarded 5 points. Cornwallis, infuriated with the result gathered his field force to chase down Morgan and Greene.

Cowpens - Guilford Courthouse Campaign Refought: British Order of Battle

British Southern Army:  December 1780 to March 1781

January 1781

Camden Brigade:
 Lt. Colonel Lord Rawdon
Royal North Carolina Regiment (30)
Volunteers of Ireland Regiment (30)
New York Volunteers Regiment (24)
South Carolina Royalist (24)
Coffin's Dragoons (6)
Camden District Loyalist Militia (30)
Royal Artillery (6 pdr)

Ninety-Six, South Carolina
Cruger's Loyalist Brigade:
Lieutenant Colonel John Harris Cruger
1st Bn/Delancey's (18)
3rd Bn/New Jersey Volunteers (24)
South Carolina Royalists (30)
Loyalist Artillery (6 pdr)
96th District South Carolina Loyalist Militia Brigade:
Brigadier Robert Cunningham
King's Long Cane Loyalist Militia (24)
Cunningham's Little River Loyalist Militia (24)
Stevens Creek Loyalist Militia (24)
Dunlap's Loyalist Dragoons (6)

British Legion: Lt. Colonel Banastre Tarelton
British Legion Dragoons
1st Squadron/British Legion Dragoons: (8)
2nd Squadron/British Legion Dragoons: (8)
3rd Squadron/British Legion Dragoons: (8)
British Legion Infantry (24)
British Legion Artillery (3-pdr)
 17th Light Dragoon (6)


February - March 1781
Cornwallis Field Force: Lieutenant General Lord Charles Cornwallis

Webster’s Brigade: Colonel James Webster
23rd Regiment of Foot. (30)
33rd Regiment of Foot. (30)

 Brigade of Guards: General Charles O'Hara
Guards Light Infantry Company (12)
Guards Grenadier Company (12)
1st Guards Battalion (30)
2nd Guards Battalion (30)

 Leslie's Brigade: Major General Leslie
1st Bn/71st Highland Regiment (24)
2nd Bn/71st Highland Regiment (24)
von Bose Regiment (Trumbach)  (30)

Unbrigaded:
British Light Infantry battalion (12)
 Jaeger company (9)
Royal North Carolina Regiment (24)
Royal Artillery ( 6-pdr & 3-per)

British Legion: Lt. Colonel Banastre Tarelton
British Legion Dragoons
1st Squadron/British Legion Dragoons: (8)
2nd Squadron/British Legion Dragoons: (8)
3rd Squadron/British Legion Dragoons: (8)
British Legion Infantry (24)
British Legion Artillery (3-pdr)
 17th Light Dragoon (6)

Cowpens - Guilford Courthouse Campaign Refought: American Order of Battle

   The following are the troops available, each month for the American commander.  Please note that the order of battle changes each month.  This is due to reinforcements arriving, and militia enlistment ending so they are going home.

 January 1781

Brigadier General Daniel Morgan 

Continental Light Brigade:
Lieutenant Colonel John Eager Howard
Maryland/Delaware Light Battalion (30)
Triplett’s Virginia Battalion (24)
Washington's Dragoons (10)

Pickens' South Carolina Militia Brigade:
Colonel Andrew Pickens
1st Spartan SC Militia Regt. (30)
2nd Spartan SC Militia Regt. (30)
McCall's State Dragoons (6)
Cunningham's Rifle Battalion (12)

Sumter's South Carolina Brigade:
BG Thomas Sumter
1st Militia battalion  (24)
2nd Militia battalion (24)
Hampton's South Carolina State Dragoons (6)

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February 1781

American Southern Army: 
Major General Nathaniel Greene 

Singleton's Continental Artillery (2 guns and crew)

Continental Light Brigade:
Lieutenant Colonel John Eager Howard
Maryland/Delaware Light Battalion (30)
Militia battalion (24)
Rifle Battalion (12)

Virginia Continental Brigade (Brigadier-General Isaac Huger)
1st Virginia Regiment (Lieutenant-Colonel John Green) (30)

Maryland Continental Brigade (Colonel Otho Williams).
1st Maryland  battalion (Colonel John Gunby) (30)
2nd Maryland battalion (Lieutenant-Colonel Benjamin Ford) (30)

Washington's Dragoons (10)

Lee's Legion (brigade)
Lee's Legion Dragoons (12)
Lee's Legion Infantry (12) 

Stevens' Virginia Militia Brigade:
Stevens' Virginia Militia (24)

North Carolina Militia Brigade:
Brigadier General William Davidson
William's Surrey County, North Carolina Militia Battalion (24)
Polk's Mecklenburg Militia Battalion (24)
Locke's Rowan County, N.C. Militia Battalion (24)
Graham's Mecklenburg County, N.C. Dragoons (6)
McDowell's North Carolina Riflemen (12)
Winston's North Carolina Riflemen  (12)

Pickens' South Carolina Militia Brigade:
Colonel Andrew Pickens
1st Spartan SC Militia Regt. (30)
2nd Spartan SC Militia Regt. (30)
McCall's State Dragoons (6)
Cunningham's Rifle Battalion (12)

---------------------------------------------------------

March 1781

American Southern Army: 
Major General Nathaniel Greene 

Singleton's Continental Artillery (2 guns and crew)

Virginia Continental Brigade:
Brigadier-General Isaac Huger
1st Virginia Regiment (Lieutenant-Colonel John Green) (30)
2nd Virginia Regiment (Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel Hawes) (30)

Maryland Continental Brigade:
Colonel Otho Williams
1st Maryland Regiment (Colonel John Gunby) (30)
2nd Maryland Regiment (Lieutenant-Colonel Benjamin Ford) (30)

Virginia Militia Brigade:
Brigadier-General Edward Stevens
Moffitt 's and McDowell 's militia battalion (30)
Perkins and Cocke's Militia battalions (30)

Virginia Militia Brigade:
 Brigadier-General Robert Lawson
 Munford's militia battalion (30)
Holcombe's and Randolph's militia battalion (30)

North Carolina Militia Brigade:
Brigadier-General John Butler
Butler's Militia battalion (30)

North Carolina Militia Brigade:
Brigadier-General Thomas  Eaton
Linton's militia battalion (30)
William's militia battalion (30)

Rifle Regiments
 Colonel William Campbell (12)
 Colonel Charles Lynch (12)

Light Dragoons and Partisan Corps:
Col. William Washington
Delaware Light company (12)
William Washington’s Light Dragoons: (10)

Lee's Legion (brigade)
Lee's Legion Dragoons (12)
Lee's Legion Infantry (12) 

Continental Artillery (two 2-gun sections)

Cowpens -Guilford Courthouse Campaign Refought

   In his introduction to the article "Campaigning without Maps" Steve Haller wrote, "War gamers who enjoy the variety that acampaign offers for the use of their collections are often discouraged by the time and clutter involved when maps are used.  An alternative method might employ the use of an scenario based on a historical campaign (complete with OB's, etc) which allows elements of choice and chance to determine the nature of each battle of the campaign.  Each battle is assigned a number of points that are awarded based on the results of the Battle (e.g. comparison of casualty ratios). "   To me this has always been a fascinating idea which I wanted to try out.  Taking his article I have slightly modified it by changing some of the options for battles and created my own order of battles based on historical returns.  But the spirit of the campaign remained what Steve wrote way back in the early 1980's.  Here is my outline and rules for the Cowpens -Guilford Courthouse Campaign.  The campaign order of battle including militia desertion (i.e. going home) and reinforcements will be in the next post  as will a outline of the rules used and my interpretation.  Stay tuned!

Campaign Guide Lines:
1.  Rules used are Fife and Drum miniatures AWI rules.    House rules and interpretation by game master.

2. Figure scale is 10:1 although historical order of battle have been consulted some regiments have been consolidated  and regimental strengths rounded up or down to provide better playability.

3. Terrain to be based on historical battles in the area.

4. After each battle 25% of casualties will be returned to each unit.  One month after that battle all American units (including loyalists) receive an additional 25% returned.  Two months after battle British and Hessian units receive back 25% casualties.  Units that drop to under 20% of their original strength after a battle are eliminated.

5. Staff Officers return after battle if roll a 4-6 on a D6.

6.  Players should be familiar with the historical campaign.

THE CAMPAIGN:
1. January 1781
General Morgan invades South Carolina with his Light Troops.  He can successfully link up with Pickens' South Carolina brigade by rolling 1-4 on a D6;  Sumter's brigade will join on a roll of 1-3.

Morgan now has three options:

1.  Fight Cowpens as the historical battle with historical order of battle.

2.  Attack Camden.  The garrison under Rawden will march out to fight him at the Hobkirk Hill area.  After that battle Tarleton will try to intercept Morgan by rolling a 1-3 for an encounter battle.

3. Attack the Fort Ninety-Six garrison. A defense will be set up by Cruger  outside of the fort.   The garrison can be reinforced during the battle by Tarleton by rolling 1-4 on a turn determined by a die roll.

2. February 1781
Cornwallis' chase Greene's and Morgan's forces through North Carolina.  The following battles are possible and determined by a die roll:

1. Cowen's Ford will be defended by Davidson's militia brigade as the historical battle by rolling 1-4.  Greene can detach elements of the Continental Light Division to assist on a turn determined by a die roll.

2.  A meeting engagement on random terrain involving all units if a 5-6 is rolled.

March 1781
Greene's reinforced army turns to fight Cornwallis army.
1. Guilford Courthouse as the historical battle by rolling 1-4.
2. Greene attacks Cornwallis army at Guilford Courthouse by rolling 5-6.

Norbert Sissell RIP

I have not been updating my blog as of late. This is because I am still in shock, and morning. One does not usually feel this way for a boss. But Norbert was anything but a typical boss. He died suddenly and unexpectedly on Friday 15 January and his memorial service was on Friday 22 January. But struggled as I have it has taken me this long to write this. People sometimes say that they would take a bullet for some one, or they would go to hell and back for someone. Norbert was that type of person. Norbert's title was director of Airport Operations for JetBlue airlines at Logan Airport, Boston Massachusetts. He has had that job since 2013. He has overseen JetBlue grow from about 40 flights a day to now over 180 flights. They are now the number one airline at Logan in terms of flights daily. He has also seen their expansion to Worcester Massachusetts. But to us who worked for him he was much more. I am sure he was busy in the board room and behind the scenes. But each day he could be seen on the front lines checking up and making sure all was well. No matter who you were Norbert knew your name and something about you. And he spoke to everyone the same way. No matter who you were; lowly boots on the tarmac ground operations or vice president of operations. If something's bothering you he would invite you to his office to talk about it. And if you did not show up he would come to you to find out if you were ok. During holidays like Christmas or Thanksgiving he would make sure each employee on every shift got a home cooked meal. He would be there, either cooking or if catered passing out food. I heard someone ask him once when he got to eat. After all my workers have had their food he said. At busy airports planes come in early, or unexpectedly. And ground operations have to move it to bring them in. One time we had just come into the break room when we told to run out to gate 33 and bring a plane in. As we came out who do we see running to join us but Norbert. He was pulling on a safety vest and yelled out for someone to throw him a set of wands so he could wing walk. After that he stayed and helped us down load the bags. He later thanked all of us and said he knew personally what a pain it was to bring in a aircraft you were not ready for when you should be on break. Couple years later I had transferred from Logan to Worcester. Janine and I were flying out of Boston. Flying standby is always exciting as you wait to see if there are any empty seats for you. I introduced myself to the gate agent and said I was flying standby on this flight and wanted to let them know I was here. She did not look up from the computer and told me to sit down and she would call me when ready. At this moment I heard a booming voice calling out my name. I turned around and Norbert came up and gave be a bear hug. We all miss you since you left he said. Janine later told me the gate agents eyes bugged out. After Norbert left the gate agent came up to me and apologized and gave me my boarding passes. (Lesson learned, always treat everyone with respect when at the gate). At the memorial service the funeral home was pack with people who came to pay their respects. There was a line of people out the door and around the corner. We arrived at 4:00 and did not get inside until 6:30. When we left an hour later the line was still around the corner. Boston hired two large buses to bring crew members out who had just finished their shifts so they could say good bye. That was the kind of person Norbert was. I am lucky to have known him.