Club Game Night: Fighting Hobkirk's Hill

 

General Greene directing his Continental line.

  A brief pause on my fighting the Camden campaign.  I needed to do a little bit more research on the Battle of Hanging Rock and then up popped club game night.  Due to medical reasons I hadn't been to a club night in almost a year.  But Earl insisted it would be good for me to go;  and better for all if I put on a game.  Warren kindly offered to drive so we were off and running.

Game set up.  John and Byron on left and Warren and Mike on right.

 My game would be based on the Battle of Hobkirk Hill South Carolina in April 1781. Its a close run  action which saw a mostly Loyalist army take on General Nathaniel Greene's army.  In addition I wanted to run it remember a friend, Chase who recently passed away suddenly.  He had been painting up an army to refight this battle and we exchanged information on how best to fight it and uniform details of the regiments present.  So I thought how best to remember him.

  After the Battle of Guildford Courthouse (March 1781) American General Nathaniel Greene moves his army south to South Carolina to drive out the British occupation forces. While Cornwallis marched to Virginia, Lord Rawdon is left with a mainly loyalist force to defend the colony. In April Greene takes position outside the British post at Camden with his main army of Continental regiments while his light troops raid smaller outposts. Rawdon, although outnumbered decides to attack Greene before he can call in militia support.

Crown Forces on left and Continental line on right.

  The table is set up.  On the left side Lord Rawdon's forces marching towards Greene's line.  Crown Forces have  skirmishers out front, followed by 63rd Regiment, New York Volunteers and Kings American Regiment.  Second line Volunteers of Ireland, South Carolina Royalists and Royal Artillery.  Reserve are Major Coffins Loyalist Dragoons (i.e. mounted Infantry).  Greene's army on the right side.  Light Infantry skirmishing in front are Maryland/Virginia light companies and Kirkwood's Delaware.  On the ridge line from viewer are 2nd Maryland, 1st Maryland, 4th Virginia and 5th  Virginia Continental regiments.  In reserve are Lt. Col. Washington's 3rd light dragoons, two Continental Artillery guns and a North Carolina militia regiment with some attached Riflemen.  They are not placed on the table untill the second move and hidden from the British players.

Maryland Continental line.

  Greene's line is on a long ridge.  A single road heading to the town of Camden divides the table.  There is a stream on the side of table which is ford able by infantry and cavalry (at a penalty) but not artillery.  There are scattered trees but a very open growth which does not give cover or block sight.

Light Infantry screening advancing Crown Forces

  Crown Forces advancing on the Continental line.  Greene orders his light troops to hold off the enemy while his regulars form up They are to buy time for reinforcements to arrive.

 Kirkwood's Delaware  and the Marylanders light infantry companies fire and retire giving Greene time to organize his line and causing casualties among the advancing loyalists.

 Coffin's loyalist dragons ride down the Maryland/Virginia light infantry.  They pursue them up to the main Continental line  where the lights break and rout off the field.  Alas!  As happens too often the enthusiasm of the cavalry carry them too far and the two Virginia regiments wipe out the handful of dragoons.  Poor Major Coffin is left alone!

At this point the Continental artillery, North Carolina militia and Rifles arrive on the field.  A rather nasty surprise.  Historically Rawdon attacked because a deserter told him there was no militia and no artillery present.

  

  On the British right flank the advancing line steadily drives the Delaware lights back to the ridge.

 Coming off the ridge the two Virginia Continental line regiments with the North Carolina Rifle regiment march to out flank the advancing red coats.  

  The King"s American Regiment and South Carolina Royalist swing to their left to counter it.   Rawdon pushes forward to flank the Continentals on the ridge line.  The Virginia line attacks the loyalist regiments.  Heavy casualties for the King's American to break.  All that us now holding the flank is the SC Royalist regiment.

 The New York Volunteers and 63rd Regiment attack the Ridge.  They rout the 2nd Marylanders, capturing their colors!  The NC militia fail moral and routs off the ridge too!  All that is left is the 1st Marylanders and a artillery battery.

 Waiting in reserve is Lt.Col. William Washington and his 3rd Continental light Dragoons.   They charge forward and crash into the NYV.  In the melee the loyalist break, their colonel killed and colors lost.  The 63rd (who have lost over 50%) also retreats.  

  At this point the Crown Forces throws in the towel.  The Virginia regiments with the rifles and a gun are sweeping up the left flank while the 1st Marylanders and a gun hold the ridge.  All that is left of his army is the Volunteers of Ireland to cover the retreat.  A disastrous day for the Crown and Greene finally gets a victory.

  Thank you very much to Warren, Mike, John and Byron for a great game and a very fun evening.  I hope you all enjoyed it.  Curiously enough as it was set up for my friend Chase it ended with the dramatic charge if the 3rd light dragoons.  That was his favorite Rev War unit so I hope in some small way he enjoyed it.

  

Rawdon's Defense of South Carolina

  

 Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Rawdon had the job of defending the South Carolina Backcountry. His description of the strategic situation deserves to be quoted at length:

"Having been left in the command of the back country when Lord Cornwallis [i.e., Lieutenant-General Charles Cornwallis] went to Charlestown, I had (by my spies) kept a vigilant eye over the force which was collecting in North Carolina for the invasion of our newly acquired territory. Though Lord Cornwallis had not thought it probable that the attack would be made upon south Carolina till the violent heat of the summer should be passed, I had suspected that Gates might count on our inability to stand the climate (especially as it was known that we were very sickly) and might then make a speedier effort. I had on that account minutely examined the country and formed my eventual plans. Camden had from the first day appeared to me an objectionable station for the army. It was a false position relative to the country, and in itself indefensible beyond any ground that I ever saw. On learning that a body of the enemy's militia had advanced to the Pedee [i.e., the Peedee River in the northeastern part of the state], I considered it a sure indication that Gates would move immediately. I therefore detached [Lieutenant-Colonel James] Webster, a good and gallant officer, to the east branch of Lynche's Creek and I reinforced a post which I had at Hanging Rock. As soon as I had made the necessary arrangements at Camden, I followed Webster. Of distances, I must speak loosely. I suppose the point where the road crosses the east branch of Lynche's Creek to be thirty miles from Camden; the post at Hanging Rock, thirty-five. There was a ready communication between the two by a road of about twelve miles. My object in taking this forward position was to retard the progress of Gates' till Lord Cornwallis should collect force from other parts of the Province, or to reduce the enemy to hazard an action where my peculiar advantages of situation would compensate for my disparity in numbers. I had 1100 men with me, all regulars or provincials; the detachment at Hanging Rock consisted of 400 provincials and 800 militia. The latter was a requisite post, because Sumpter menaced that road to Camden with a corps of militia. Gates came opposite to me.”

British outposts South Carolina 1780

 

Before continuing the campaign with the Battle of Hanging Rock 6 August 1780 here is a little background information on the distribution of Crown Forces in South Carolina.  Based on Rawdon's and Cornwallis' correspondences as well as Tarleton's history here are the major British outposts guarding the South Carolina back country.  The information may be of interest in creating a historical force or in setting up small skirmish type actions.  

A.  Lieutenant-colonel Balfour ( afterwards Lieutenant-colonel Cruger) commanded at Ninety Six: the force there consisted of a battalion of De Lancey's, and the South Carolina Royalists with the 16th and three other companies of light infantry. 

B.  Major Ferguson's corps and a body of loyal militia traversed that part of the province situated between the Wateree and Saluda, and sometimes approached the borders of North Carolina.

C.  The post at Rocky Mount, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel George Turnbull, and defended by the New York Volunteers, a detachment of the British Legion, and a force of Loyalist militia.

D. The post at Hanging Rock, commanded by Major John Carden, and defended by the British Legion infantry, the Prince of Wales’ American Regiment, a detachment of the Royal North Carolina Regiment, Colonel Samuel Bryan’s North Carolina Volunteers, and some South Carolina Loyalist militia.

E. The post at Lynche’s Creek, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonels Francis Rawdon and James Webster, and defended by the 33rd Foot, the two battalions of the 71st Foot, and the Volunteers of Ireland.

F.  The post at Camden, defended by the 23rd Foot and the  British Legion dragoons, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Banastre Tarleton.

  

Rocky Mount 1 August 1780

 

After the success at Williamson's Plantation Patriot militia recruiting brought mire groups into the field. Thomas Sumter was made a General and united a number of smaller commands under his command.  Not a great commander and a very hard individual to work with he continued to be a thorn in the side of various British commanders.  Eventually, do his poor tactical handling of troops he faded unto the background as better commanders like Pickens, Marion and Hampton took us place.  But in 1780 he was a driving force.  His first action was against the loyalist outpost of Rocky Mount.

  Lt.Colonel George Turnbull commanded  about160 New York Volunteers and 140 local militia.   The outpost was three buildings surrounded by a ditch and a abatis.  The larger house was reinforced to make it proof against musket shot.   Unlike Captain Huck Turnbull had the entire garrison turn out armed and ready each morning before dawn

Brigadier General Thomas Sumter commanded 300 North Carolina militia and 300 South Carolina militia.  Rather then wait for reinforcement or a cannon he determined to surprise the garrison and repeat Bratton's success.

Instead of a surprise it was the Patriots who were surprised.  Advancing down hill towards the garrison Summer's militia were under fire.   Turnbull seeing he was outnumbered ordered his men into the houses.

Caught out in the open the militia took casualties and one group broke and routed back.  Soon another group also broke.  The abitis held the militia and prevented them from closing to the houses.  Although Sumter wanted to continue the attack the remaining militia also broke and reluctantly he left the field.

Again not a very inspiring action.  It capture the spirit of Sumter in that he continued to attack with little ability and always heavy casualties.  Defeat dud not bother him and already he was ready to attack yet another loyalist post.  This time a encampment near Hanging Rock.

Williamson's Plantation fight

 

  A small action which started the partisan war against the British in South Carolina during the summer of 1780.  While not a major set piece battle it did set the stage for small scale militia raids on British outposts or detachments.  A very one sided affair it was the first in a series of such fights.  It represents the bitter partisan war between factions in South Carolina very well.  In addition it illustrates the problem the British faced of small actions causing casualties which eventually they could not replace.

  Historically Captain Christian Huck of the British Legion was surprised on the morning of 20 June while at the Williamson Plantation.  His small detacment of 125 men was made up of  35 Dragoons from the British Legion, 30 mounted infantry from the New York Volunteers and 60 loyalist Militia.  Huck had made a name for himself raising patriot militia and pillaging their homes.    Colonel William Bratton had assembled a command of 260 militia to attack Huck.  In the very one sided action Bratton's militia surrounded the plantation and opened a deadly fire on the loyalists before they were assembled.  They broke and ran but most were shot down, including Huck.   With the death of their leader the remaining loyalists surrendered. 

 I fought this out solo with my usual Rev War rules, "Whites if Their Eyes." I think if you have a skirmish set like "Sharp Practice" it would work out much better.  I started the game with figures in place.  The Loyalist sure was just assembling.  The Patriot militia had taken position around the plantation.  I will allow them two throws of musket/rifle fire to simulate the surprise and the loyalists attempting to form up.   Instead of my usual 1:10 ratio of figures I am using a 1:5 ratio.

Captain Huck orders his command to firm up.

But Bratton's militia have moved up through the woods into range.  A blast if musket and rifle fire breaks the peaceful mornings air.  Numerous loyalists go down as casualties!  The New York Volunteers mounted infantry are all casualties!

  Huck orders his dragons to charge, but is shot down!

The Remaining loyalists fail morale and surrender.

Ok, not a terribly exciting game and mist definitely one sided.  But it did reflect historically what happened.  And it started my refight of the series of  battles preceding Camden.  I am sure thus could be made into a much more interesting table top action with a few adjustments.

Next time the defense of Rocky Mount by the New York Volunteers.....

Keeping busy

 

Its a snowy couple days up here in New England. So I have kept myself out of mischief by doing a few odds and ends around the hobby table.

I had thought I was done with Lauzon's Legion but not yet.  I decided that the lance carrying Guessed would look better with the red Lance pennants you see in numerous illustrations.  A little cutting of paper, glue and paint and that project was done.

I have long been wanting to glue my individual trees into larger bases.  They look better and are more steady.  Not truly artistic but the basic basing I do fits well on my table.  So again with the glue, some paint and flock/static grass.

Lastly setting up the table for the first battle of my re fight of the Camden campaign at Williamson's Plantation 20 June 1780.  A small action which started the partisan fighting in South Carolina.

My return and an update

 

   Greeting my fellow bloggers and brothers in the world of playing with toy soldiers.  I have returned from my snow bird adventures in Florida.  It was a delightful time of much activity and meeting  many new people.  But it has taken a while to adjust to the weather up here and going through a new round doctor visits and the like.  This has been a lot of fun and both Janine and are are seriously looking through our finances to see if we can make this an annual event.

  Unfortunately all this has gotten in the way of blogging and miniature wargames activities.  No posts for the month of February.  For this I apologize and do hope to make up for.  During my time away I have done much thinking and planning and the next two months should have many posts here.

  One table top adventure I have been planning is a refight of the Camden campaign in South Carolina 1780.  Researching the series of actions from July 1780 after the British captured Charleston to the massive defeat of the American army at Camden in August 1780.  Some actions will be played solo as the attack on the outpost at rocky mount or Huck's defeat do not lend themselves to group play.  Too one sided.  Others like the action at Hanging Rock have been poorly research or written about and its been fun doing that.  Should this go well I will continue the theme with the Cowpens - Guilford Courthouse campaign.  I am also preparing material about the 19April 1775 fight.  Some research materials and anew updated photo tour of the battlefield today.

  So thank you for the comments and for sticking to the blog during my absence.  I am back both physically and mentally and doing so much better.