Return to Steven's Landing

So, due to popular demand we once again journeyed to Steven's Landing for a bit of fun using the Black Powder rule set. Bob and John took over the British forces while Steven and I ran the rebels.  It turned out to be a very closely fought battle but the Rebel forces were once again able to hold on and blow the bridge.  

June 5th 1781,  Cornwallis has been chasing Lafayette all through Virgina and has finally committed the deadly sin of splitting his forces in the face of the enemy.  With no relief coming from NY Cornwallis is desperate for supplies for his ragged forces. However, his supply line is stretched very thin so he has dispatched Lt. Col Simcoe with a small force to capture a large magazine store guarded by Baron Von Steuben at the convergence of the James and Rivanna rivers known as Steven's Fork.  The British will need to capture the bridge intact so that they can safely cross to capture the magazine.  Von Steuben needs to prevent them from doing this.  

Right from the start this game had a different look than the first time we ran it through, with the British getting a spectacular roll and launching their main column straight down the road and nearly onto the Bridge.  It looked like this was going to be a short game with the British prepared to storm the bridge immediately.

"Do my eyes deceive me, or do I see militia forming in the center??

Send a column right down their throats and we will be done by tea!

The stout lads of the Md Brigade man the defenses while the engineers hurry to blow the bridge.

However, once again the Rebel commander had placed his best militia, The Over the Mountain Boys, on his right flank hidden in some cornfields.  They popped up and blasted the lead company in the flank while they were still in column.  This devastated the unit and forced them back.

Riflemen hidden in the cornefields?? That's not quite cricket.

Take out the leaders and NCO's first. Aim small miss small!

Meanwhile, the others units, also still in column, took additional fire which disrupted most of them causing them to be locked into column and not allowing them to effectively line up and assault the bridge. As the British were bottled up at the bridge the tide started to turn a little in favor of the Rebels.  For several turns they were able to keep the British forces bottled up on the road and flanks and prevent them from organizing a solid assault on the bridge.  But the superior quality of the British would start to tell. 

Bloody Hell! You lot get off the road and let us through.

The Over the Mountain Boys stand tall in the cornfields.

Slowly the British started to get themselves organized and into a battle line of sorts.  As they did the pressure on the bridge started to mount.  Eventually the firepower of the Brits enabled them to wear down the Rebel defenders and force them back off of the bridge.  The engineers had done their job well this evening and the demolition charges were set and the powder dry and ready to go.  With the bridge cleared and the final assault about to happen the bridge was blown sky high denying the Brits their victory and supplies.

Fun was had by all.  I think the big takeaway was that even thoug a good roll will launch a column straight down the table you need to be able to get into a firing line before closing with the enemy.  If Bob could have gotten his battalions lined up in front of the bridge this game might have been over before it started.  As it was, Steven's militia was able to put a lot of pressure on the Brits from the flanks denying them the ability to get setup.

The next scenario is setup and should allow the British a good chance to even the score on these upstarts.

Cheers!

Yankee Doodle comes to Steven's Landing

June 5th 1781,  Cornwallis has been chasing Lafayette all through Virgina and has finally committed the deadly sin of splitting his forces in the face of the enemy.  With no relief coming from NY Cornwallis is desperate for supplies for his ragged forces. However, his supply line is stretched very thin so he has dispatched Lt. Col Simcoe with a small force to capture a large magazine store guarded by Baron Von Steuben at the convergence of the James and Rivanna rivers known as Steven's Fork.  The British will need to capture the bridge intact so that they can safely cross to capture the magazine.  Von Steuben needs to prevent them from doing this.  

The Continental forces have setup at the bridge while the engineers work furiously to  prepare the bridge to be destroyed.

The British forces moved down the road while one battalion moved around the hill to flank the Continentals. Unfortunately for Colonel Simcoe the hot June sun had taken it's toll on his troops and they were slow to obey his commands.  One company actually got very confused and headed off to the rear of the column throwing everything into confusion. Meanwhile the over the mountain boys moved up and poured a steady fire into the British as they emerged from the woods in confusion.  The British column was thrown into confusion for some time as a second company of militia moved up and poured a deadly fire into the reeling Brits.

Things were looking up for the Continentals unfortunately the experience and training of the British was starting to show.  Slowly they got themselves organized and moving on the bridge again. The Over the Mountain boys fought bravely in the face of overwhelming odds but the superior numbers took their toll and eventually the militia gave in and fled the field.  However, they managed to hold up the British column while the engineers packed the bridge with explosives.  On the Continentals left flank the British had moved through the rough terrain hoping to outflank the Continentals.  Again the militia held firm and allowed the Continental line troops to move up and outflank the British instead.  Facing stiff resistance to their front and galling fire from their flanks was just too much for the British who broke and headed back down the road.

Having finally pushed through the screen of milita the British began to move on the bridge.  Meanwhile the engineers had finally put all the explosives in place and lit the fuse.  Unfortunately, the fuse appeared to be wet and fizzled out.  As the British drew closer they tried again.  Again the fuse fizzled out.  The British began to assault the bridge itself and were driven back while the engineers reset the fuse.  This time the fuse lit but was burning slowly.  What originally looked like a huge victory for the Continentals was now looking like a win for the British.  Again, the lined up and charged the barricades but were driven back by accurate fire from the Maryland Continentals.  Finally, the British troops had enough of the continual fire from the Continentals and started to flee back down the road.  Even though the engineers never were able to get the explosives lit, the British leaving the field was enough for the Continentals to win.

We used the Black Powder rules which gave a very good game.  Dewey and I noticed that every game we have played with Black Powder has started with at least one general blundering.  We felt the results were quite accurate and the scenario was a good one.  We are looking forward to the next Black Powder game.