The British dispatched their two strongest brigades (Howe and Charlton) to the north and secured Astoria and Pennington. There they held position expecting an American assault on Pennington. Clinton and Riedesel’s brigades moved to the south capturing Glenvale and taking up a position to flank any assault on Pennington or capture Maidenhead if the opportunity presented itself. But the Americans had differing plans Lauzun’s brigade moved north secured Bergen then moved south to rejoin the main army. The rest of the army moved south securing Gravesend, Flatbush and Maidenhead. Campaign wise the British held two towns and village while the Americans had one town and three villages so neither side could claim a victory in the campaign step. But interestingly the Americans were able to concentrate four brigades against two British brigades with an assault on the British flank rather than the expected march onto Pennington.
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| The battlefield from the north west |
The battle saw Washington’s brigade deployed on the American’s right at Maidenhead. With William’s brigade deployed in the centre at Flatbush. The British had Clinton’s brigade in the centre with Riedesel’s brigade facing Maidenhead. Of the brigades on the battlefield Riedesel started the strongest with Clinton having the weakest. Washington and William’s brigades were average.
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| Clinton's brigade |
But reinforcements were on the way. First to arrive would be Morgans brigade from the west down the Flatbush road. Howe would arrive from the east down the Pennington road. Then Green from the south along the Maidenheads road. With Clinton coming from the north. Followed by Lauzan also from the north. Both sides were only aware of where they could expect reinforcements but not when or where were the enemy reinforcements coming from.
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| Riedesel’s Hessians |
The Americans attacked with Washtinston’s brigade streaming out of Maidenhead to form up in front of the approaching Riedesel’s Hessians. William deployed at Flatbush while the American artillery fired on the Hessians while they vulnerable marching columns. The British decide the best defense was a good offense with both Clinton and Riedesel moving to engage the advance Americans. In the centre 88th and 89th foot were reinforced with Grenadier regiment Von Rall and they advanced to the tune of the british grenadiers. On the flank the remaining Hessians formed line to receive the advance Americans.
The pressure on the British increased when Morgan’s brigade arrived to reinforce the centre. The Americans were not having it all their way. In the centre Williams was struggling to deploy. The village and the presence of the 16th Dragoons forced his regiments to go into line in bad positions. And this block the approach from Morgan's arriving brigade. Effectively this meant only the 1st providence county militia and the artillery on the Flatbush heights could counter the advancing British.
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| Washington's brigade |
On the flank Washington advanced with the regulars of the 1st and 2nd Maryland regiments screening the Connecticut militia. Taking fire from the Hessian the regulars paused and exchanged a volley before the militia passed through their lines to assault the Hessian positions. In their assault Fusilier regiment Von Knyphausen was broken.
The Hessians reacted with a furious counter attack breaking one regiment of militia and forcing the American brigade to retreat. Counter battery fire also cause damage destroying one of the American batteries at Maidenhead. Washington led from the front and that is where he was shot further demoralising the brigade. The Americans fell back to Maidenhead and once there they started rally. The Hessians were too exhausted to follow up on their attack.
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| British advance on the heights |
In the centre the 88th broke under fire from Williams brigade, with Williams personally commanding the guns on the heights. The remaining British broke the 1st providence county militia. William’s brigade was too badly placed to prevent the British loyalists and Hessian grenadiers from storming the heights and taking the guns. In the struggle the second American brigade commander fell.
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| Washington's brigade assualt on the Hessian |
But the British assault had cleared the path for Morgan's Americans who obliging opted to charge and ejected the British off the heights. In the struggle the 89th regiment broke and with it the British force morale broke and they withdrew from the field to give the Americans a minor victory.
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| Morgan's Brigade arrive |
The victory was not cheap with the Americans losing two militia regiments, three batteries of artillery and two brigade commanders while the British lost two regiments of militia and one regiment of Hessians.
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| Iresedesl counter attack does in the Connecticut militia |
Overall the Blucher met Maurice experiment worked rather well and while it may not be worth the effort for a pickup game it is worth a try for a monthly or special event game.
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| Washington's brigade rally at Maidenhead |
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| Morgan's brigade regain the heights |
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| Reinforcements on the painting desk |
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