Germantown 1777

Another excellent FoB battle, with Fitz returning to the fold to try out these excellent rules.

This is roughly 1 unit = 1 brigade, so we have less units than is perhaps warranted with other sets, but it still worked.


Washington tries to exploit a divided British force with separate columns of reinforcement under Greene, Stirling and Sullivan. Greene is a D12 commander in the rules.

 There's a little bit of tinkering with British organisation in order to make the rules work (particularly with light infantry) but not too much.

• The fog that added to the confusion during the early hours of the battle, was represented via the necessity for all units in place at the start to be 'out of command'. 
• This therefore meant that 'Leadership' cards became very important early on, which isn't normally the case.
• British units are allowed to 'immediate melee', representing bayonet charge propensity, whilst Americans charge only on melee cards.

An excellent game, with the usual to and fro of action and command pressures.

Armstrong's militia - they'd fare as expected. Perhaps that's unfair, as they did withstand an attack from British Guards. Just the first one, mind you.

Sullivan's continentals, attacked on the right, again and again, without achieving success.

Chew House in the foreground, which wouldn't be so much fought over (as historically), rather fought 'around'. 

 Early action with British light infantry and the militia in the centre.

Greene's reinforcements arrive on the 3rd move card, though are stymied a little through successive British initiative wins.

 The British reinforce their centre.

 ...with only militia to stop them.

 

 The American right becomes clogged and charges go in.

 Greene deployes on the left, and advances, though American losses on the right are considerable.

 

 

 Militia are routed.

 The centre is hotly contested now.

 Can the Continentals get some morale chips back? Surely the British can't withstand this assault.

The British hold the American right.

 ...and reinforcements can be held in reserve.

 Hessians charge the Continentals.

 ...while Jaegers hold the flank against cavalry...then drive it off

 Guards vs Militia. It isn't going to end well.

 The centre becomes a mass melee, as British bayonet charges go in.

The fight on the American right, is bloody though indecisive - though that of course plays into the British hands, as they strive to dominate in the centre, without having to reinforce the flanks. More and more American forces are plunged into the crucible on the right, when they could have been of more use in the centre.

 They think it's all over! It is now.

A superb game. The British gained the initiative early and hung onto it, weakening the American forces and bleeding them white. Great rules, and work very well for AWI.