Battle of Bladensburg -Third Session - Wednesday 16 may 2018

This was a short session of about three turns from 1400 to 1430.

 The advance light companies are reduced to 50% and so must conduct a morale check in the morale phase of each turn. They continue to support the 85th light infantry who are licking their wounds after being thrown back over the river in RETREAT by Maryland cavalry.

 The militia cavalry horses are BLOWN and so the Bladensburg Light Dragoons and the Baltimore Hussars (who have forced the 85th L.I. to retreat across the river) must now regroup behind their lines. LCol Tilghman salutes their gallant efforts while the remaining Maryland cavalry squadrons cheer.

 The Washington (Irish) Light Artillery have recovered from a RETREAT and are now UNFORMED on the Georgetown Road.

The Following Photos represent the end state at 1430.

 The 44th Foot have forced the First Baltimore Regiment to RETREAT out of the redoubt area. As part of their melee victory, the 44th charged again causing it to RETREAT (next compulsory phase) with additional casualties. Perhaps the First Baltimore may be saved by the American regulars who are just north of the engagement area. 

 The Royal Marines (right) are steadily advancing on the American right flank to engage the famous Fifth Maryland Volunteer regiment (left).

 The 21st Fusiliers changed into line to face the Baltimore Rifles (armed w muskets), the latter wisely choosing to withdraw.

 The much needed British artillery cross the Bladensburg bridge.

 Major-General Ross (center to the right of the church) acknowledges the cheers of the Colonial Marines as they march past on their way to cross the bridge.

  Colonel Beale's Annapolis Brigade are lined up as the third line of American defence while the Virginia Brigade (center - on the Washington Road) receives orders from Brigadier- General Winder.

 The Colombian Brigade forms a second line on the left flank of the American Army.

 Looking north on the Washington Road at the Virginia Light Dragoons and the 60th Virginia Militia Infantry. The naval artillery (middle) is moving north to join Barney's sailors and marines.

 The Second Baltimore holds the left flank of Brigadier-General Stansbury's first line across the Georgetown Road. They are now somewhat relived as their cavalry counterparts have just driven off an attack by the 85th and the advanced light companies.

 Barney's sailors and marines march towards the Georgetown Road. They appear to be reinforcing the American left flank.

A view west with the town of Bladensburg in the foreground and the first, second and third American defensive lines looking westward.  The British have successfully gained a a solid foothold on the west side of the East Branch of the Potomac and have forced the Americans out of the redoubt. However, there is a stalemate on the British right flank.

Regarding American command and control; so far Brigadier-General Winder's Poor Command rating (can only attempt to order/change orders of one brigade per turn) has not had a significant impact on the positioning of the American army. It will be interesting to see if Winder's control continues as the action becomes general.

The Battle of Bladensburg -Session Two - 3rd May, 2018

After some maneuvering on both sides the British quickly assaulted two objectives; the redoubt and the mill.

The following photos represent the situation about halfway through the session.

 The 44th cross the Bladensburg bridge.,

 The 85th Light are across the riverand must now face canister fire and the threat of militia cavalry.

 The light companies give supporting fire to 85th.

 LCol Tilghman's Maryland Cavalry Brigade wait for an opportunity.

 The 44th and and 21st Fusiliers charge the redoubt. Fortunately for the British, the Maryland First Artillery regiment has only round shot, otherwise canister would have ben devastating.

The American Light Dragoons seize the initiative with an opportunity charge against the 44th.

 After a devastating canister volley by Burch's light artillery, the 85th had retreated. In the following turn the Baltimore Hussars charge the rear of the Retreating 85th. This does not good for the 85th.  However, a unit in retreat must face the enemy.

Burch's Light Artillery fail a morale check and are forced to retreat.

The following photos represent the end state at 1420. 

 The British have won the melee forcing the Maryland Artillery to rout. The 44th now occupy the redoubt and will face the First Baltimore Regiment who are waiting for them. Incredibly, the American Light Dragoons failed in their opportunity charge against the column of the 44th. 

 The British Third brigade led by the Royal Marines crosses the bridge.

 The Baltimore Hussars have charged the retreating 85th in the rear but shockingly have lost the melee and are pushed back. Must review how the British player calculated his melee results and a review of the rules regarding units in retreat during melees.

 Looking west; the Columbian Brigade has formed a second defensive line (center right). Beyond the second line, Colonel Beale's Annapolis Brigade has formed a third line on the hill ridge (center left). And beyond Beales Brigade Barney's Naval brigade is moving north in column of route. 

The American players were fortunate to roll a D5 on the first time chart opportunity (needed a D 5 or 6) at 1400, which brought on the small Virginia Brigade (one large infantry battalion and small squadron of light dragoons). In the actual battle Colonel Minor had been searching most of the day for the quarter master to obtain muskets, ammunition and flints. The quarter master clerk refused to issue anything to the Virginians without Col Carberry's signature. In the end they finally received them late in the day. They eventually arrived on the periphery of the battlefield as the American army was routing.

 An addendum concerning the charge of the Baltimore Hussars against the rear of the retreating 85th column:

Firstly, a unit in retreat (85th Light Infantry) should be facing the enemy.

Secondly, after a review of the rule 12.13 Retreating Units in Melee; the Baltimore Hussars automatically win the melee. The rule states; "Retreating units contacted by enemy troops automatically lose the melee and continue to retreat. The attacking unit automatically inflicts casualties at their winning rate and the retreating unit inflicts casualties at its losing rate and continues to retreat in the next Compulsory Movement Phase. No 2D6 rolls are made. Winning cavalry take a pursuit test, infantry a formation test."

An addendum concerning the charge of the American 2nd Light Dragoons against the 44th Infantry in column.

A vociferous debate ensued about the flaw in the GdeB rules which does not lay a negative Melee modifier for infantry not in square who are charged by cavalry. I had raised this issue on the GdeB forum many months ago. However, the author, David Brown, argued that infantry could rapidly change from column to square therefore cavalry were in effect not a threat to columns of infantry. I did not accept his argument nor did a few other commentators. I still do not accept the argument.

So, my decision is to change this glaring flaw in the rules immediately. Until the Melee Table is amended; it is understood that the Melee table has an additional Factor: " -4 modifier to infantry not in square charged by cavalry". Also, in the melee table right column,  the factor "Formed Infantry Square or Column v.s. Cavalry +4 "; "or column"  is deleted.  

A subsequent note: A legitimate protest with opposition support rescinds the immediate application.  The application of a  -4 modifier to infantry not in square charged by cavalry is postponed until the next game.

An addendum concerning a three gun battery firing singly rather than as a collective battery.

During this session, the American player instead of firing his militia six pounders as a battery of 3 model guns chose to fire them singly at the same target. His argument was the odds of causing casualties was better firing singly (I couldn't see that ) and more importantly he argued that he had three times the chance of rolling a double six against the target. The latter is correct but a bit gamey but at the time I could not find a rule prohibition. and so allowed it. 

So, I posed the above scenario to the GdeB forum and received two constructive replies that pointed to rules that I had not noticed. The first response was as follows:

The first response:

"I don't find where the GdB Deluxe rules forbid firing each gun model as an individual battery either.  But I agree with you, IronDuke596, it is gamey and in my opinion not in the spirit of the game.  
I'd also point out to the player, that each gun model that fires individually is an individual battery and subject to all casualty rules for a one gun model unit.   For every two hits, a gun model must disperse (page 135, para 13.8 Disperse & The Dispersal Point), and include all required unit and brigade moral checks."

The second response pointed to the correct rule:

"Only infantry or artillery units can split their fire if ..... See "10.7A Split Fire" 

10.7 Multiple Targets. When firing at two or more targets one 2D6 dice roll is made and this score is used for all calculations. Units firing against multiple targets spread the fire and casualties as evenly as possible against all eligible targets. If firing at several units in different formations then apply the majority formation modifier or the modifier of the most prominent target."

10.7A Split Fire: Infantry and artillery may only split their fire if in a square or with a refused flank or facing in several directions. Artillery batteries must fire at the same ammunition type; different sections within a battery may not fire a combination of canister and shot. Squares may issue fire from each flank. A single 2D6 dice roll is used to work out all calculations for split firing.

The Third Response from the Author David Brown:

"All firing is by unit - either a battery or infantry battalion".

Clearly the intent is apply one 2D6 roll for all artillery fire and that is what we will do.