With the two of us we managed to get through four action packed turns. The Americans are conducting a skillful defence. This stalwart defence coupled with the British difficulty of changing their orders to more aggressive operations has slowed down Ross' army. The following photos represent the culmination of the four turns from 1740 to 1820.
The glorious 5th Maryland battle it out with with 1st Naval Contingent while two companies of Royal Marines maneuver around the American right flank.
The Second Royal Marines have driven out the American riflemen from the buildings and the yanks ultimately rout. However, as the marines achieved their objective the brigade order reverts to a HOLD. The British tried to change their orders to an ASSAULT two time without success. Subsequently, the Americans roll a lucky double six which causes three casualties and forces a morale check on the 2nd Bn Royal Marines; they FALTERED.
The British three six-pounder battery manages only to kill one skirmisher of the 27th.
As its brigade is on a HOLD order (re the 2nd RM achievement) the 21st Fusiliers must content themselves with exchanging musket fire with the 36th Regiment.
The 4th 'King's Own' of the 2nd Brigade is in musketry duel with the American 38th Regulars. It is slow going through the swampy ground for the 2nd Brigade. Nonetheless, the 44th 'East Essex' (right of the 4th) plods its way through the swamp in an effort to get behind the the U.S. 38th regiment.
With only four turns left in the game and the visibility about to drop to 36 inches, I think the American's are going to win this battle barring a major American rout in the next turn or so.
Session Three finds just two players engaged; Rod and Paul G. Consequently, the turns are taking a bit longer, particularly as a lot of units are in the ENGAGED status. With some time spent taking about the tactics of the period we nonetheless completed four action packed turns. The following photos represent the end state at 1740.
The Naval contingent led by the indomitable Rear-Admiral Cockburn is now fully engaged with the 5th Maryland Regiment (in the distance behind the fence).
The British howitzer has already been withdrawn from the artillery firing line. It seems the American battery has been targeting the howitzer in the hope of forcing a brigade morale check on the Divisional assets. However, in the first turn of this session the British battery inflicted a gunner casualty, which forced off one gun leaving two American guns. In the remaining three turns there were no gunner casualties.
In the center the 2nd RMs are successfully engaged with the American riflemen in the buildings while the 21st Fusiliers are moving through the cornfield to engage American regulars on the fence line. The Royal and Colonial Marines are in reserve behind the 2nd RMs.
To the rear (foreground) the light Brigade are taking a well earned rest having suffered the brunt of the British casualties.
In the center foreground MGen Ross watches the engagement of the Third Brigade.
On the British Army right flank, the Second brigade (4th and 44th), commanded by Colonel Brook, is moving across the river in an apparent bid to engage the American regulars in the flank.
A view of the American left solidly anchored by the regular brigade.
A view of the Virginia Brigade acting as an army reserve or perhaps to cover a possible American withdrawal?
It appears that the Americans are endeavoring to slow the British advance in an effort to exhaust time and so prevent the British from gaining their objective before darkness. With only eight turns left before night the American strategy might work.
