Musket and Tomahawks day in Dresden

Gaming Dresden style

Last month I got a chance to take part in a Musket and Tomahawks campaign day organised by Martin and the Dresden Tabletop club.  Martin is a little obsessed in the southern campaign in the American war of independence and the day was themed around this part of the conflict.   Martin took command of the American rebels reinforced with Tonio’s French expeditionary force. Sacha and myself took command of the Crown forces.

Tiger Valley

Rebel Banner

Martin’s force (Captain Smith) was mostly rebel guerrilla types no doubt planning on shooting someone in the back as soon as possible. Tonio’s French Captaine(Chastellux) were more honourable, well as much as can be expected from the French, and included some regular troops who could form a decent firing line for an honorable duel.

Not so secret Rebel base

Marines on the march

Sascha (Lord Winterbottom) took command of a traditional red line consisting mostly of regular infantry with a small section of light infantry. I opted for an aggressive strike force consisting of a Marine lieutenant (Horatio Cornblower) leading squad of elite marines with a pair of elite light infantry sections to clear woods of rabble. The force is hard hitting if a little unforgiving to casualties. 

Something moving in the woods

The orders of the day was for the British to clear the rebels out of a contested valley.  The first part of the day was to be spent skirmishing trying to establish favourable conditions for a final assault on the rebel base later in the day.

Reviewing the map of the area the British plan was for Lord Winterbottom to march straight down the road securing tiger field village and the Durham farm on the way. While Cornblower’s force would clear the woods of rebels.

Marines meet resistance

While scouting Smokey woods the Cornblower encountered the first American rebels in the form of captain Smith’s militia. Both sides were attempting to scout the wood with the rebels also keen to capture a prisoner if possible.  There was some concern to see some of the rebels armed with rifles with three times the range of the marines muskets.   Cornblower lead the marines to scout the centre and right flank while the Lights scouted the left flank. As the force advanced it took fire from the rebels who pulled back rather than face Marine’s bayonets.  Cornblower spot Captain Smith hiding in the woods and promptly shot him for defying the king.  The marines pushed forward on their mission but rebel musketery was beginning to tell as marines casualties mounted. Having finished scouting the centre and flanks the marines began to withdraw. But before they reached safety rebel musketry wiped out the section with Cornblower was also taken casualty.  Elsewhere the Lights were making better progress. The flank was lightly defend and they promptly pushed back any resistance and quickly scouted their area. The loss of the marines left the Lights isolated and about to be out flanked. Opting for discretion over valour the Lights ran away tactical withdrew to safety, pursed by reinvigorated rebels.  In the following chase the lights (barely) escaped having completed the mission. 

Cunning crown plan

After securing Smokey woods the Marines moved on to their next objective which was to destroy an old outpost the rebel the rebel had been using to store supplies. The Outpost was garrisoned by captaine’s Chastellux’s French.  Fortunately captaine Chastellux was on the wine at the time and had given orders for his men not to fire first (Got to love the Musket and Tomahawks subplots). While lieutenant Cornblower was ordered not to engage in personal combat with the French, no doubt still recovering from his wounds at Smokey wood.  

The old outpost in the woods

Not being able to fire first without risk the anger of their superiors was a disaster for the French.  The British Marines promptly marched forward and delivered a crashing first volley decimating the French regulars while the light infantry overwhelmed their opposite number. The remaining French, consisting of Militia and Indians, struggled to reply to strong opening move by the marines. To make matters worse it began to rain hampering firing on both sides but this meant the remaining French had to get closer to the Marines to do damage and closing against elite marines in good order is a big request at the best of times.  In short order the remaining French were dispersed and the rebel outpost was put to the torch. Having cleared both of their initial objectives the Marines moved on to rejoin Lord Winterbottom for the final assault on the Rebel base.  

Lord Winterbottom protecting the loyalist

Meanwhile Lord Winterbottom was having a more challenging time. Advancing down the road, his initial objective was burn down tiger field village to deny supplies to the rebels. However, the village was garrison by French regulars under the command of Captaine Chastellux. Firing from cover the French repulsed the British assault.  After the set back at the village Lord Winterbottom moved to the Durham farm to raised additional loyalist units to support the assault on the rebel base. While recruiting at the farm Captain Smith’s militia struck hoping to disperses any loyalist supporters before they could assist the British. This time the British were defending in cover and the Rebels were on the receiving end. The rebels were quickly ejected before they could stop the rallying of the loyalists.  

The Wild life and the French

Lord Winterbottom, accompanied by the newly raised loyalist militia, joined lieutenant Cornblower to survey the rebel base. After a brief review of the terrain the Crown forces agreed a plan of attack.  Lord Winterbottom would march down the road while the Cornblower would move through the woods and to flank the position.  Both forces were to assault the camp at roughly the same time. The plan was a little repetitive but effective.  Perhaps a little cynically the newly raised militia was left isolated on the refused flank to hopefully distract the Rebels on that flank.

Marines move to secure the old outpost

Militia try to hold back the red line

Cornblower’s flank march encountered French militia, Indians and rifle armed Rebels but the Marines pressed forward, steamrolling the opposition. Things became a little unstuck when the Lights contested control of the woods on the flank of the Marines advance. The French regulars, no doubt still smarting from the defeat at the outpost, were determined to clear the Lights from the wood. After multiple charges, the Lights  eventually defeated the French but both sections were reduced to a single man in the fighting. Meantime the Marines cleared the flank and moved up to assault the rebel camp.

Light infantry sweep the flank

In the centre Lord Winterbottom’s regulars faced French regulars reinforced with American  rifleman. Captain Smith made some offence reference about Lord Winterbottom’s mistress resulting in Winterbottom challenging him to a duel (M&T event). Ignoring both firing lines Winterbottom went after the captain like a hound after the fox.  Chasing him down in a wood and skewering him for the offence. Afterwards, Lord Winterbottom routed some french chasseurs who had been using the woods for cover.  With both side missing their leaders the redcoats firing line began to erode the rebel forces. The French regulars re-deployed to try to clear the woods of British light infantry.  The remaining rebels reduced the British grenadiers but by the time Royal Marines appeared on the flanks the American centre broke and the rebels ran for the hills abandoning the camp.

One minute before the Marines rout the militia

Overall a great days gaming winning three of the four skirmish events put the British in a strong position for the final assault.  It can be difficult to get the balance right the these type of mini-campaign days too little and they are meaningless, too much and they are overpowered but Martin did a great job in the preparation.  Thanks to Tonio for putting on a brave face when he was informed he could not fire first when facing a force that was designed to kill with one shot.

Attack on the main rebel camp

Thin Red line on the move

Marines clearing the woods (again)

The main force fires on the camp defenders 

Lord Winterbottom (left in the woods) chases after Captain Smith
 after he said something rude a Winterbottom's wife.

Under pressure from the front and about to be outflanks the Rebels routed from the camp

The view of the Elbe from the venue
(not bad is they would cut down the power lines)

That is all for now thanks for stopping by.