MUSKETS AND TOMAHAWKS

This week I arranged an AWI game of Muskets and Tomahawks at Hugh Wilson’s house.

The game was very vaguely based on the Wyoming Valley Massacre in 1777 in that I used the names of 2 of the forts in the Wyoming Valley.  It was a raid by a British force of Tories, Hessians and Indian allies opposed by Patriot civilians, militia and Continentals.  Hugh provided the terrain on the 12 ft by 5 ft table and most of the buildings, I provided the fort and the majority of the figures with Dave O’Brien providing the Indian allies and civilian settlers.



Peaceful scene - settlement A to the right and B to the left

Colin Jack, Tim Watson, Donald Adamson and Hugh Wilson played the patriots each having a mixture of units.  On the British side Bart Zynda commanded the Hessians, Angus Konstam the Tories, Cameron Hardie the irregulars (rangers, jaegers and lights)  and Dave O’Brien the Indian allies.  I umpired the game and kept it moving along.  Only 3 of the players had tried the Muskets and Tomahawks rules previously.

The superior British force deployed the Indians and the Irregulars on their left flank and they quickly overran the nearest settlement A routing 2 units of militia.  They then engaged Patriot reinforcements of a unit of mounted rifles and continentals which had moved to protect the next settlement B.   The Indians took the lead in the action and by the end of the game they had broken both the Patriot units and overrun the settlement.



Red War  - British led hordes overrun settlement A



Indians engage counterattacking  militia

On their right flank the British started with their Tories on the table who commanded by Angus moved to attack settlement C on the way to the fort.  Bart brought the Hessians onto the table by boat and after landing they moved thru the woods to attack the fort which had been reinforced by 2 units of militia. The Tories then used these boats to cross the river to attack settement D near the fort.  In the last turn the 2 Hessian units which had finally emerged from the woods fired and both inflicted 7 hits on the militia units and broke them.



Tories use the Hessian boats as a bridge

Our conclusion was that Muskets and Tomahawks worked well, I like the card system with the varying numbers of actions for different unit types.  However firing can very deadly - as shown by the Hessians.  We had provided numbers of boats, canoes and bateaux which could be used both sides on the extensive river network but disappointingly only Bart used them.

I had problems with my photos but there are more photos on Bart's flickr site at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/asienieboje/sets/72157632195940145/

Here are the player briefings and orders of battle for both sides.

BRITISH BRIEFING
You are in command of force of Loyalists supported by regular Hessians and numerous Iroquois which is moving along the Susquehanna River to attack settlements in the Wyoming Valley.  You know from your scouts that there are 6 civilian settlements in the district along with a small military garrison at Fort Wintermoot.  The main concentration point of Patriot troops and militia may be near to Forty Fort which is a few miles from this district.  9 of your 17 listed units are at hand when the action begins and can be deployed at your edge of the table. All your other troops are marching to the area and will arrive as reinforcements. Some could arrive on boats.

BRITISH OB
REG 2 BRITISH OFFICERS                28 Pts  56
PROV12 TORIES (Auxiliaries), Msk       5 Pts ea 60
PROV 12 TORIES (Auxiliaries), Msk      5 Pts ea 60
PROV 12 TORIES (Auxiliaries), Msk      5 Pts ea 60

IRR 6 RANGERS, Msk, Tmk                  9 Pts ea 54
IRR 6 HESSIAN JAEGERS, Rfl            14 Pts ea 84
IRR 6 BRUNSWICK JAEGERS, Rfl     14 Pts ea 84
IRR 8 LIGHT INFANTRY, Msk            10 Pts ea 80
IRR 8 LIGHT INFANTRY, Msk            10 Pts ea 80

REG GERMAN OFFICER                    28 Pts  28
REG 12 HESSIAN INFANTRY, Msk    7 Pts ea 84
REG 12 HESSIAN INFANTRY, Msk    7 Pts ea 84
REG 12 HESSIAN INFANTRY, Msk    7 Pts ea 84

6 INDIAN ALLIES (Auxiliaries), Msk, Tmk  8 Pts ea 48
6 INDIAN ALLIES (Auxiliaries), Msk, Tmk  8 Pts ea 48
6 INDIAN ALLIES (Auxiliaries), Msk, Tmk  8 Pts ea 48
6 INDIAN ALLIES (Auxiliaries), Msk, Tmk  8 Pts ea 48
6 INDIAN ALLIES (Auxiliaries), Msk, Tmk  8 Pts ea 48
6 INDIAN ALLIES (Auxiliaries), Msk, Tmk  8 Pts ea 48

PATRIOT BRIEFING
You are responsible for the defence of the Wyoming Valley.  There are 6 civilian settlements in the district along with the military garrison at Fort Wintermoot.  It has been reported that a force of Loyalists supported by regular Hessians and numerous Iroquois are moving along the Susquehanna River to attack the valley.  Immediately to hand to defend the settlements are a continental unit garrisoning the fort, 3 units of militia, and a unit of riflemen.  These can be deployed around the settlements.  All your other troops are marching to the area from Forty Fort and will arrive as reinforcements.  Some could arrive by boat.

PATRIOT OB
REG CONTINENTAL OFFICER      28 Pts  28
REG 12 CONTINENTALS, Msk        8 Pts ea 96
REG 12 CONTINENTALS, Msk        8 Pts ea 96
REG 12 CONTINENTALS, Msk        8 Pts ea 96

MIL 12  MILITIA (Auxiliaries),  Msk    3 Pts ea 36
MIL 12  MILITIA (Auxiliaries),  Msk    3 Pts ea 36
MIL 12  MILITIA (Auxiliaries),  Msk    3 Pts ea 36
MIL 12  MILITIA (Auxiliaries),  Msk    3 Pts ea 36

IRR PATRIOT OFFICER                 28 Pts  28
IRR 6 RIFLEMEN, Rifle                    8 Pts ea 48
IRR 6 RIFLEMEN, Rifle                    8 Pts ea 48
IRR 6 MTD RIFLES, Rifle, Horse    11 Pts ea 66

CIV 5 CIVILIANS as equipped     2Pts ea 10
CIV 5 CIVILIANS as equipped     2Pts ea 10
CIV 5 CIVILIANS as equipped     2Pts ea 10
CIV 5 CIVILIANS as equipped     2Pts ea 10
CIV 5 CIVILIANS as equipped     2Pts ea 10
CIV 5 CIVILIANS as equipped     2Pts ea 10