Canadian Patriots Rebellion - test game

 Last Tuesday there were a few folk away and numbers at the club were low so an off the cuff Rebels and Patriots games was arranged as I hadn't put my boxes of 1830's British and Canadians away I took them along with my snow mats and winter fences and we played a scratch game of the early rebellion using the stats for forces from the R&P rules. 

I need to paint the edges of the roads white and look at a simple method of adding snow to the house roof.

We played two quick games, in the first, the British, commanded by John, decided to shoot their way across the river, but skirmish fire from the Patriots held them back and nibbled away at the units. I was unable to being up the larger units of Patriots to support my skirmishers and when I did one of them got shot down in pretty quick order. However by now John was not in any fit state to force the bridge and we wrapped up the game.

In the second game I took over the British and determined that a little more dash was called for, so sent two units straight up the road and over the bridge, while two units fanned out to screen.Johns dice throwing improved and he was able to bring his skirmishers into play against the column and men started dropping. The lead unit stalled and with Patriots on three sides was quickly down to half strength and less. Casualties were mounting on the second unit two and when the advance unit inevitably failed its morale test, everyone piled back across the bridge.

Two quick games, two different approaches and two similar results.

But historical ones. In the first actions of the revolt, the British sent a force to St Denis and it too was forced back. neither John nor I were able to do much better, indeed we failed to get anywhere need the building, but as games go it was good fun to play and I have to say I think my figs and terrain went to tether quite well too!

Figures from Empress and Studio Miniatures (now Bicorn) for the British and Artizan and North Star for the Patriots. Mat from EBay, fences from Emperor Toad and roads from way way back! Trees are last valley and the buildings are Conflix

A Return to the Sugar Islands... in 40mm

 Last weekend I had the opportunity to catch-up with Graham H and we decided that it had been a bit too long since his excellent 40mm SYW figs had been on the table. So we decided to play the Ambush scenario from my Sugar Islands book. 

The scenario was designed to game the British struggle to get their men through rough country to be able to capture Fort Royal. The British advance was hindered by the narrow road to Fort Royal and the fact that the French were able to continually harass them with swarms of skirmishers taking advantage of the home ground. The British sent their Grenadiers and highlanders forward to clear the way and capture overlooking high ground. 

In  our game a unit of Grenadiers, one of Scots and a supporting unit of line infantry were advancing towards a hill with large house on it. They were attacked by three French units, one of line and one each of marines and militia. 

The game went very well, with the British finding it difficult to engage the French, casualties were not overly high, but Graham suffered from some poor morale rolls which disordered his grenadiers and highlanders and even had them scuttling back to the road in what could otherwise have been said to have been a rout! But there they reformed and the French decided it was time to head for the hill and call it a day. 

A great game, with a few surprising twists. We used Graham's 40mm figs and Jim Purky of Fife and Drum's AWI rules to play. Piccies below - 

Both Wargaming the Sugar Islands and Against Spain are still available , directly from me, from Caliver or from On Military Matters. The UK's postal woes continue at the time this post was written, and a recent order to the US took quite a long time to arrive safely. However it did arrive - thanks Brett for your patience!