On Saturday 5th July I staged
a second game of my refight of Camden.
Dave Paterson and Dougie Kirby commanded the Patriots whilst Mark Taylor
and I commanded the British. Since Mark
and Dougie had not played in the previous game we made them the respective commanders
for their sides. Mark took command of
Webster’s regular brigade and the British reserve whilst I controlled Rawdon’s loyalist
units. Dougie commanded the 2
Continental brigades on the Patriot right whilst Dave commanded the 2 brigades
of Patriot militia on their left. I
provided all the figures.
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| View of the armies deployed from the east |
I used the same OB as the first game but slightly amended the troop ratings. I made the British
skirmishers Crack and upgraded one line unit in Webster’s brigade to Stoic. In addition I also told the Patriot players
that if the North Carolina brigade became broken then the Virginia militia brigade
would from then also count as Wavering.
Mark who was facing them did not know this. Original OB and troop ratings are at
http://blenheimtoberlin.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/28mm-awi-black-powder-camden-16th.html
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| Patriot centre - the Wavering North Carolina men - they proved Unwavering! |
The British plan was to break the
Patriot left using the Regulars supported by the Reserve whilst my Loyalist command
screened the Continentals on the Patriot Right.
The Patriot plan was to hold with their militia and attack with their
good right wing. The British advance on
their right developed slowly due to poor command rolls and hesitancy on the
part of Mark their commander who seemed overawed by the number of militia units
he was facing. This slow advance
enabled Dave’s militia to redress their line thus enabling more of their units
to face the British attack. The Patriot
right under Dougie made a steady advance against my screening loyalist
units.
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| British begin their advance - to disaster! |
The British attack on the right was
held by the militia who were outshooting the British – repeated disorders
stopped the British from launching a coordinated bayonet
attack - the British brigade lost 2 units in the firefight. Webster’s
brigade was broken and had to withdraw to reorganise. Mark threw in the reserve but the 71st
Highlanders were also outshot and became shaken. The Legion cavalry made a gallant charge
breaking a North Carolina unit and their supporting Continentals but in their moment
of triumph they turned and fled from the field.
The Highlanders also now had to retire to reorganise as they were part
of a broken brigade and their commander Tarleton had been carried away severely
wounded.
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| Unexpectedly confident militia await the onslaught |
My Loyalists made a gallant stand
against Gist’s Continental Brigade in the firefight both sides became Broken
and had to retire to reorganise. My
problem was the Gist’s units rallied quicker than mine and under their artillery
fire my Brigade again became Broken.
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| Loyalists and Continentals engage closely |
At that point we ended the game. The British had only 6 units left whilst the
Patriots still had 10 units and 2 guns.
All the British brigades were broken and their centre and right had fragmented. We agreed it was a decisive Patriot victory.
Thanks to my wife Helena for providing
the excellent lunch in the garden. All my photos with descriptions at
https://www.flickr.com/photos/bill26048/sets/72157645133444629/
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