28mm AWI BLACK POWDER: CAMDEN 16th AUGUST 1780 GAME 2 AAR

On Saturday 5^th 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. 

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

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.   

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 71^st 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.

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.

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/