My Metal Meneken

This Tuesday (because of the vote), we continued our little AWI campaign of the 4 brigadiers (28mm, Black Powder and Eve of Battle). This Time Mike (American) and Alisdair (British) had a go at each other, with a little "help" of their team mates (Bart (Franco-American) and Peter (Hessian)). The weather was clear, the Americans had a strategic hill and some scouts, a gun and some dragoons and the Brits the full force of the crown (incl. dragoons but no gun). For good measure (and because of x-mas,) I gave both an extra small unit skirmishing sharpshooters (Riflemen and Jaegers) in the faint hope they will pick these units in the future...

The two sides were fast closing in and started immediately an intense fire fight. Bart had put the rifle men in the forrest patch in front of the British to slow them down, but he rolled abysmal, and then retreated. The Brits came closer and reached the edge of the strategic hill and that was the high watermark of the right flank. The two opposed lines on the left just did what was to be expected - they kept shooting until the hopefully somebody would break.

On the right, were Bart and Peter were sitting, the battle was rather the opposite - very quiet. I heard that both parties would "bottle each other up". Now I don't know, who was bottling whom, as both lines were of similar strength, but maybe it was just a ref to the drinks ...

On the Left though the battle was won and lost: Alisdair couldn't get the damn rebels to break and ordered a charge too late ... his Jaegers were previously shot away and now some Rebels were charging out of the woods into the back/flank of the British line ... another unit vapourised. This was the time when prudence won over want for glory ... and he send his compliments and offered defeat. (after the 6th turn, a player can, to minimize his loss, and offer his defeat and the opponent HAS to accept!!! - after all we are in a gentlemens (war game) club) ... the next time the turn to offer defeat will be one turn longer after the seventh ...

So now Mike is on third place with 2 victory points, while Bart and Peter still share the same 1st place with 6 vp each - giving the Rebels a lead of 2!!! Next time (some Sunday game in January) it will be a Grand battle with all 4 parties fighting ... in the snow (storm) again!!! I guess its our club x-mas/winter game... the 3rd round ... will the crown forces take back the lead? ... we will see ...

The Rebel line on the right

the Rebel line on the left of the hill

The British from the Hill

The Red line

Initial set up

Approachement

The Grenadiers in line with the Line(s)

First volleys and fire fights

The combat in the small woods full of Riflemen

The Rebels right is holding

slowly reducing the Redcoats

The Grenadiers are still holding

but so do the Riflemen

on the left just quiet ...

The Fusiliers just came up to the edge of the plateau

the Left though gives them Redcoats hell

until they are conned into a bajonet charge

they never survived ...

the score after the first two rounds

... cause it was snowing like hell, or better a blizzard was raging on the battlefield, that you couldn#t see the 18" in front of your 28mm line or even shoot!!

This Thursday we were back at our little AWI, 28mm, Black Powder campaign -  featuring my little scenario card game "Eve of Battle". In this second round Bart (Franco-American) and Peter (Hessian) (seconded by Alisdair) fought against each other with an absolute minimum of troops in an ice cold tundra landscape void of trees and other hills - apart from two farm houses that Bart had drawn on this side, to "make this his personal Hougemont", well strange tactic, but thats what they "pokered" for (Eve of Battle).

The visibility (and therefore the ability to charge and to shoot) was 18", movement was halved, and shooting wasn't allowed at all. Bart started and managed to get a foothold in both houses. while the German mercenaries were trodding through the deep snow-mud, inching their way forward ... and then after the second turn the snow stopped.

Here right at the start were some terrific moments when Bart kept his gun unwarded outside the mansion. But Peter couldn't capitalise on that his dragoons were shot into disorder. In short Peter cautiously advanced and shot the S**** out of Barts Frenchies, but could just not kill the damn gun or dislodge him from the centre hamlet - nearly, but just not yet. Alisdairs wing was formed just behind the low stonewall and giving the French all he could!!!

But then as it seemed that the Allies would be buried under a wooden rubble, Bart retreated "around" the farm house and the whole front line did nearly a face volte. The Hessians/ Peter/Alisdair were out-maneouvered. Further along the battle both parties killed one unit and so we decided to go for an extra turn ... and Barts (Washingtons) 3rd Dragoons were going in for the kill and after Peters Hessian failed their volley, they was slaughter, first a draw but then as the extension came  the Hessians went down. Bart and Peter are leading the chart now - both parties at loggerheads... next  will be Alisdairs Brits vs the local Americans of Mike. After that we will do a 4 party battle, with each brigadier getting cards for Eve of battle and be able to get points ... watch this space!

Battle plan

And initial set up

The Hessians in line

The Franco-American line

The Franco-American line (2)

Bart put the militia in the house ... and forgot them there for the rest of the battle

The Hessians are coming!

First shots around the house

The French Maginot line ... almost

But the German mercenaries have their eyes on the target

in a big sweep they fall in

severe fire fights around the farm

while the other half of the French and the Militia just watch

the air for the American gun is getting hotter by the minute ...

The American dragoons (3rd) are coming!

Then the French "counter sweep" around the house

The battle line has already turned 90 degrees

Still the Hessians cannot move the French ...

everybody is circling to get the best possible shot ...

But no decision ...

The hessians now get  some fire

... and gun shots!!!

Peters last bid to kill the gun

... failed and left him prone ...

... for the last all or nothing attack from the Dragoons, who delivered!

The score

Well I haven‘t posted for some time (I will put them in some time - 3 for one), but this Thursday we finally managed to play the second part of the 1st round of our AWI campaign. Remember Bart won vs Alisdair 3 to nil and gave the Rebels a 3VP advance. Today itwas Mike (as American) who fought vs Peter (as the Hessians). Previously we played shortly "Eve of Battle" and came to an interesting medium sized scenario. It seemed that the Americans were defending a large village against an approaching Hessian contingent. But that was a Guard one. Peter had a guard dragoon as well as two(!!) grenadier units, and 3 Line regiments. Mike fielded the obligatory 2 militia units and 4 Continentals and one gun!! The rebels had a flank attack (with one unit), but the Hessians trumped this with an surprise attack (1 unit as well) also.

To the chargrin of both players the first and deployment and the first turn ended in both armies in complete disarray, so the fighting and shooting had to wait, one would cautiously approach the village from each side. Then Mike with the rebels seem to get the advantage as he was first with his troops behind fences and stared to shoot. While Peter due to some blunders weren‘t in a particular charge friendly mood. Then Mike charged the Hessian unit and failed to break them, instead his unit of Continentals broke and lift off. That was his high water mark. From then on peter slowly tightened the noose around the American neck by moving and manouvering and shooting and waiting until the final deadly opportunity to strike would arrive. Mike had two chances to blow off 2 regiments but due to his insufficient dicing (or the regiments being better) he could not break them.

At the end the dragoons were in his flank and rode in to charge on an exhausted American Line. slaughtered them and rode through to another Militia and killed them off as well. That was at the end of the time and by then Peter had 4 units destroyed and was awarded 5 Victory points! The Crown forces are two points ahead! Next time the two winners will play against each other and the two loosers in the second round of the campaign!

Brigade-Gen. Mike Evans

Brigadier Gen. Peter von Mearnsen

The Rebel Militia circumvent the town

The Hamlet at the beginning 2 forces approach

The Hessians get organised ... sort of

The rebels are stuck in the woods

and then stumble into the village centre

are the Hessians too near?

The outflanked Hessians retreat and enfilade the outflanker but traversing them in doing so

the first Continentals reach the building the village is in Congress hands now!

A perfect American defense line

slowly the Hessians advance

But the Rebels have a gun!

The dragoons are in position

The hessians are beaten but not destroyed!

and they regroup!

and they can withstand fire

the Rebel gun in the centre of the web of houses ...

The outer Hessian Grenadiers are stuck

The American before the last charge of the dragoons

The Victory points after the first rounds ... Peter leads