Victory or Death: A Wargamer's Guide to the American Revolution, 1775-1782

 

  There are a number of  good authors who write about the American Revolution.  One of my favorites is David Bonk.   I have a number of his books ("Men who are determined to be free", "Trenton and Princeton" and "Continental vs Red Coat").  All are well written and show great research which sets them apart from too much that is published today.  So it was with a little surprise (I had not heard of this yet) and a great delight that I saw this at On Military Matters and quickly scooped it up.  If you are gaming the period, interested in the period or just need to be inspired please do yourself a favour and check out this book.

  The book is hefty and good sized.  Its packed with a lot of information.  In some ways it can be a one stop shopping for the American Rev War gamer or buff.  There is a very handy guide to uniforms to assist you in painting your miniatures.  Not only the unusual American and British either.  Americans are broken up for uniforms in 1775, 1776 and 1778.  Really good stuff here.  There is information for your various German states, some loyalists and also the often neglected Spanish.  Where it really shines is for the French explaining the various uniform regulations and what was probably worn when.  You don't get this information in too many places unless you seriously dig and here it us at your finger tips.  In addition there is handy guides about tactics and weapons which should answer any questions you have.  Finally a number of very well thought out scenarios are added for you to play.  Did I mention pictures?  Lots and lots of pictures to inspire you and make you want to up your game in the table top.

  In addition to guides for the war by years I was especially impressed by his strategic over views.  Once the French and Spanish entered the war it became a global conflict.  Britain's war effort and resources were stretched thin and its remarkable they were able to hold to what they did.  This part of the war us often overlooked or ignored by too many authors and David deserves great credit for including it.

 My favorite chapter is on terrain.  How to set up your table and what is North American terrain.  He breaks thus up by geographic locations. Brilliant!  What is true for New England is not true for South Carolina.  How were farms later out, what types if fences and fields were command and buildings are all explained.  This is backed up by outstanding pictures if his award winning table top games.  I wish more guides included things like this.  

  I am very glad I picked this up and have greatly enjoyed reading it and looking at the pictures.  

  

General Wayne's Pennysivannia Division1777

  

  Finally finished up my Pennsylvania Division!  Two brigades of four battalions each and command stands.  As I mentioned it was made up from extra figures I had and re painting some half finished figures or adding new facing colors.  I also broke from my usual habit of a standard size unit.  I went with more historical numbers but rounded them up or down to fit with 20 or 24 figure battalion.

Historically the division was very active from 1777 to the end of the war.  In addition to the Pennsylvania campaign battles (Brandywin, Germantown and Paoli) it also fought through the war in Virginia at Green springs and Yorktown and then South Carolina in 1781.  A hard fight command.

 Commanding his division is Anthony Wayne.  Ambitious and aggressive commander he would command this division from 1777 all the way through to the end of the war.  Nickname "Old Tony"  or "Mad Anthony.". In addition to his service during the American Revolution he later came out of retirement to organize and commanded the American Legion during the campaign and battle of Fallen Timber.

The 1st Pennsylvania Brigade commanded by Brigade Thomas Hartley made up of the 1st, 2nd, 7th,  and 10th Pennsylvania regiments.  

The 2nd Pennsylvania Brigade  Commanded by Brigadier Richard Humpton and made up of the  4th, 5th, 8th and 11th Pennsylvania regiments.

  On a personal note this is my salute not only to Wayne and the Pennsylvania troops. But especially to  my friends in the recreated 2nd Pennsylvania regiment from my reenactment days, the Morristown NHP crew and my on line friends from Pennsylvania.

Painting Mojo back

 

Somehow I have regained my painting mojo.  I am still having difficulty coordinating my hand and eye but I am enjoying it much more.  After doing the Pennsylvania division I have been doing a few command figures as well as civilian figures.  As I said before not my best work but I am enjoying it much more and my frustration factor us diminishing.

Figures of General Charles Lee's command stand.  He was noted for always being followed by a pack of dogs so I am adding a few.  

Civilian figures from the vanguard miniature line to liven up my backgrounds.

And lots of continental line soldiers for the Pennsylvania Division 1777!!

Bad Roads and Poor Rations: A Review

 

  What an outstanding book!  I have been on the lookout for this for a while and  picked it up at Historicon.   "Bad Roads and Poor Rations" provides the War of 1812 gamer with 59 scenarios for battles ranging from minor skirmishes with 50 or so men per side to multi Brigade battles with thousands on each side.  In addition there are also a number of naval actions included.  Its a  buffet for the gamer to pick and choose from in preparation for their next game.  You will not only find information on battles and how to fight them but available figures for the period as well as ship models.  Lastly, there is plenty of eye candy of outstanding Wargames figures in a variety of scales to inspire you.  The book is 220 pages long and is paperback.  Price is $39 but varied around the internet.  What do you get for all this?  Lets take a look!

  First off the author.  A serious scholar Dr. Adrian Mandzy is also a miniature wargamer. He is knowledgeable and excited about this period.  Many of the pictures in the book are of his 40mm and 10mm figures.  Turns out when I bought the book from the On Military Matters booth he was standing at the Winged Hussar booth next door.  I introduced myself and we had a wonder conversation about the book, wargaming and the War of 1812.  He also kindly autographed my copy.  Outstanding!

The book is a hefty 220 pages.  Its big and packed with information.  There are 59 war game scenarios in the book.  These range from small skirmishes to larger Brigade size actions.  There are also naval actions which include landings and individual ship to ship actions.  Something for everyone.  On each section there is a brief background to the action as well as a equally brief description of the action itself.  Terrain is discussed as it effected the action.  Last there are suggestions on how to fight the battle and rules to add color and fun.  And example would be night fighting at Lundy's lane.  Each regiment that fires roll a D6 to see if they fire at a friendly unit or not.   Another area the author touches in us native warriors.  His suggestions for how they operate on the table top is well thought out and accurate for the time.  Well done sir!  

  In addition there is a map of each battlefield as well as a order of battle of troops involved.  The author gives you the number of troops in each Regiment/company/detachment.  I like this rather then saying how many figures each unit must have.  On the other hand the maps are at best general outlines.  I think this is one area the book could be improved.  Lastly at the end if each action us a suggested reading list is bibliography.

Each battle is organized by geographical location.  If your looking for actions like Chippawa or Lundy's Lane you will find it in the  in the Niagara Peninsula/Western Lake Ontario section.  So if you have a particular area of interest this makes it easy to find.  In addition you could fight a series of battles in a given area to recreate a campaign.

  To inspire all gamers the book is filled with photos of wargame figures.  These range in scale from 54mm plastics to 40mm Saber and Sash miniatures to 25mm Knuckkeduster miniatures to 10mm Pendraken figures and a few more in between.  You want ships and boats?  Wonderful looking sailing ships and also landing boats are shown. And a Appendix of Available Figures of War of 1812 miniatures.  This divided by scale from 54mm to 40mm to 25mm to 15mm to 10mm.  I especially like when he mentioned which figures work with other ranges.

  As you can tell I am really excited about this book.  I have had my eye on it for a while and it certainly lived up to my expectations.  There is a lot in it and lots of ideas, inspiration and information to be gathered from it.  If you are interested in the underappreciated period I highly recommend getting this book.  It needs to be in your library.  Very highly recommended!!

  

Battle of Brandywine game by Oldenburg Grenadiers

   Although mostly a miniature table top guy I do like the occasional board game.  I grew up with the old Avalon Hill and SPI games and spent hours playing and enjoying them.  At the time (1970's). Most of my money I earned went to books and my reenactment gear.  But when I could I would pick up a new game.  

   During that time I was intrigued by an add in Campaign Magazine for a series of American Revolution games by a company called Oldenburg Grenadiers.  Especially the Brandywine game as I gave always been fascinated by that battle.  Alas!  Because no one stocked these and I was shy about ordering by mail I never bought one.  Soon I found the company went out of business and these games became scare.   Fast forward to thus year at Historicon and one of the dealers had a copy for sale.  It was missing three counters and little banged up but I could get it for the price of $15.00 (it usually goes for much much higher prices).  I put it down and decided to think about it.  While I was doing so my buddy George came up to me holding the game.  Here you go, I got it for $10 and thought you might like it!!!   I was floured and delighted.

  Now here I am in September just getting around to doing a review of the game.  I have been tinkering around with it between house projects but now have some serious time to devote to learning it.  I came down with Covid, so am locked down for a few days in the house.  I have just enough energy to set up the game, take a break, play a few turns and then nap.  Sounds like a goid time to write up this review.

  The game is very much of the old school Avalon Hill type.  On opening the box and examining the board its colorful and almost cartoon like.   Very unlike the modern game boards.

The counters are what you would expect with the name of the unit, its movement and combat capabilities listed.  Crown forces get two counters per unit as historically they were larger then the American regiments.  

Movement is simple series of sequences.  American go first and when done British go.  Each sequence consists of 1. Unit Morale determination, 2. Movement and 3. Combat.  Morale is done for units that were disordered through combat.  You move a commander counter up to it and roll a 6D.  If the number rolled is even then the unit rallies and operates as normal.  Otherwise it is disordered and cannot enter combat and can move just one hex.  If attacked its eliminated.  

Combat is also simple.  You must be next to a counter to fight.  You cannot attack with more then one counter against the same enemy.  Instead you resolve each attack separately.  So no ganging up!  

To fight the attacker consults the Combat Option/Resolution Chart.  They decide if they are charging or just firing line.  The defender decides if they are counter Charging, Firing line or retreating.  You the cross reference on the chart, throw a 6D and look up your result.  

So in our example lets say the attacker is charging and the defender is firing line and you roll a 1.  The British loses one point, the American 3 points and retreats 2 spaces and is disordered.  Pretty simple.  Rifle units may fight a unit two hexes away while artillery can fight a unit five hexes away. They use a different chart which records how many hits they inflict, if any.  In combat Militia units can only use the firing line option in defence.  And British units fighting militia add subtract 1 from roll.  Cavalry can only charge.  The unit they charge must take a morale check.  If fail they retreat two spaces.

The game uses a step reduction for combat.  For each combat loss you mark off a box, and when the unit reached 0 it is eliminated.  Under strength units can combine combat point with one unit giving the other its points and then removed from the game.

The game starts with all American units deployed west of the Brandywine River.  The British arrive at selected points four units at a time.  Americans must maintain a line if retreat off the board which the British must try and capture.  These are first near Chadd's ford but later at other points along the river.  So in the first few turns do the Americans concentrate on destroying the British on the table at the ford?  But then the British turning moment can out flank them. But the British cannot waste and turns otherwise the game ends before they win.    An interesting problem

So there you go.  A most simple and nostalgic game.

Blog Issues

 My apologies but somehow all comments on my blog have disappeared!  Not sure how it happened but everything is now marked removed.   So, please know I have not removed anyone comments and I am working on the issue 

Jutland 3D Game

 

 How many of you remember the old Avalon Hill Jutland game?   I had it and always wanted to play it.  Something about big fleets of battleships.  But it never happened.  Could not get people interested enough to learn the rules and not enough space.  So my game sat and gathered dust. Fast forward to this week and I finally got to play a game.

  John, who hosted the game has made it visually interesting.  He took and Xeroxed the card board counter.  These were cut out and glued to magnetic bases.  He then painted 1:48000 scale ships and glued them to the counters.  You now have a visually pleasing game which plays simply but looks good.  Outstanding!  Rules used were right out of the box which provided a simple but enjoyable game.

  As to the battle itself it was a tactical German victory but a strategic British victory.  British battle crusiers sunk at a alarming rate but otherwise the capital ships took and gave out tremendous damage.   

  The Germans lost one capital ship when it lost all power for four turns and the British main line if ships passed by firing at it one ship at a time.  Otherwise the German fleet sunk a number of  weak battle crusiers then turned tail to run home to Germany.