28mm AWI MAURICE 4 ARMY BIG GAME

On Sunday as the last part of my busy week I set up a 4 player Maurice AWI game using most of my collection.  I commanded the British Army and Hugh Wilson the allied Hessian Army.  Colin Jack and Dave Paterson commanded the 2 Patriot armies.  We used the multi-player alliance game rules as set out in Maurice.

The Patriots won the scouting roll and decided that they would defend.   I picked an extra unit of regular infantry and Hugh added 2 units of Canadian irregulars.  The table was effectively split into 2 halves by a steep hill in the middle of the table which could only be climbed by irregular infantry. 

British army deployed

We began our advance against both wings of the Patriot army and Dave moved his cavalry to take up a position behind the central steep craggy hill so as to flank both of our attacks.  This tactic delayed our advance until Hugh’s Jaegers climbed the steep hill to bring the Patriot cavalry under fire.  Whilst we waited our troops were being bombarded by the Patriot artillery. 

Hessian army deployed - steep hill to their left

Once the cavalry threat was partly under control Hugh and I both advanced to the attack.  After an apparently successful infantry firefight on my flank I decided to make use of A La Bayonette and charged 3 units of my infantry.  It proved a debacle with my first elite grenadiers breaking and my other2 units being driven back in some disorder.  The action after that continued as a firefight on this flank and the British made some headway but with losses. 

Hessians begin their bomabrdment

On the other flank Hugh’s attack was worn down by the Patriot fire and faltered.  Hugh did eventually get all his irregulars into action but they could only help cover the withdrawal of his regular infantry who finally lost 6 units.   It was a long tough fight and it could have gone either way.  When our combined army morale broke the Patriots were then down to 5 morale points and there were only 6 cards left in the final deck.

British and Patriots exchange long range artillery

The British allied army lost 10 regular infantry, 1 irregular infantry and all 4 guns.  The Patriots lost 8 regular infantry, 2 regular cavalry, 1 irregular infantry and 2 guns.   None of the cavalry on the British side ever got into the action so no doubt they could cover the sad retreat. 

All the photos from the game with descriptions are on flickr at

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bill26048/sets/72157636543144093/

Here are the forces for this game.

PATRIOT ARMY 1

8 TRAINED REGULAR INFANTRY
2 CONSCRIPT REGULAR INFANTRY
2 TRAINED REGULAR CAVALRY
2 ARTILLERY
2 IRREG INFANTRY
National advantages
OBLIQUE ORDER, SKIRMISHERS
Army Morale 14

PATRIOT ARMY 2

6 TRAINED REGULAR INFANTRY
4 CONSCRIPT REGULAR INFANTRY
2 TRAINED REGULAR CAVALRY
2 ARTILLERY
2 IRREG INFANTRY
National advantages
OBLIQUE ORDER, SKIRMISHERS
Army Morale 14

British engaging the Patriot centre right for the 2nd time

BRITISH

2 ELITE REGULAR INFANTRY
4 TRAINED REGULAR INFANTRY
2 TRAINED REGULAR CAVALRY
2 ARTILLERY
2 IRREG INFANTRY
National advantages
OBLIQUE ORDER, RALLY TO THE COLOURS, A LA BAYONETTE
TOTAL Army Morale 10

HESSIAN
2 ELITE REGULAR INFANTRY
5 TRAINED REGULAR INFANTRY
2 TRAINED REGULAR CAVALRY
2 ARTILLERY
2 IRREG INFANTRY
National advantages
OBLIQUE ORDER, STEADY LADS
TOTAL Army Morale 11

Advanced Rules in use – Oblique Order, Light artillery, All Guns bombard, Honours of War