When Maurice met Blucher in the battle for Arlington county

After a couple of delay due to life we finally got round to a second game on Maurice meets Blucher.

The idea being to use the Blucher pre-game campaign to set the scene for a game of Maurice. It provides a nice narrative to the Maurice game so when you are outflanked or somehow  pulled of a clever deployment you know now why.  Setting was a followup from the Maurice meets Blucher game where the american score a minor win over the British in Providence county. The Americans had a slightly larger force and were encouraged to attack while the British with a smaller force more focused on defending the county. As an added bonus. Alex had agreed to umpire the pre-game campaign meaning I could take part in the game rather than umpire.

Charge!!! British legion cavalry over run the french gun

From the available forces the Americans created four brigades with Washington commanded a foot brigade of six regiments with rifle company support, Rochambeau commanded a foot brigade of five regimens with artillery rifle company, lauzun commanded a cavalry brigade of three regiments with an infantry regiment in support and Greene command an infantry brigade of four regiments.

The British concentrated their forces into three brigades. Colonel Campbell garrisoned Arlington city with six infantry regiments by four militia companies. Colonel Collier commanded a mixed brigade of 2 infantry regiments supported by, two cavalry regiments and two batteries of artillery. Colonel St. Clair command an infantry brigade consisting of six infantry regiments.

The lines begin to clash

On the defensive the British opted for a conservative plan with focusing on securing all the settlements south of Arlington and Harrisville line then holding the line to wait for an American assault. Being some what more aggressive the American opted not to secure any settlements instead moved on mass trying to outflank the British line.  

Washington's brigade clear the river

As per the British plan Campbell secured Harrisville before returning to Arlington to wait for reinforcements. Collier arrived from the South and moved along the western side of the river securing settlements as he marched North. St. Clair arrived on the eastern side of the river and moved secure settlements and secure Campbell right flank, Collier crossed the river to secure Montgomery and was about to move back across to take up a position on Campbell’s flank when he ran straight into the entire American army attempting to outflank the British line.

Fortunately Campbell's brigade was able to arrive before the battle and St. Clair brigade was on route to provide reinforcements. Nonetheless two British brigades would face four American brigades for the start of the battle.  The battlefield itself was a mixed results the British were defending the village of Montgomery with a river between them and the Americans. But Collier did not have enough men to secure the river and the village broke up the British lines.  For the Americans they had managed to outflank the British and would initially outnumber them two to one but now had to assault across the river into a defended village.

Von Donlop's fusiliers (bottom left) counter attack 

After discussion Two_dice took command of Colliers brigade and I got Campbell’s brigade. For the Americans ICs commanded the Americans (Washington and Greene brigades) while Tonio commanded the french  (Rochambeau and Lauzun brigades).

Collier deployed in Montgomery with Campbell to his North. Opposite Campbell was Lauzun with Rochambeau facing Collier, Washington and Greene deployed to the south and on the British flank.

Despite being outnumbered two to one the British won the roll of to be attacker and after ordering the artillery to open fire Colliers first command was to order the British legion cavalry to charge across the river to clear the french gun battery that had deployed a little too far forward [Apparently defensive battle for Two_dice means charge on turn one :)].  While the Campbell's militia began to drift South to contest Washington’s crossing of the river.

Getting charged by militia cavalry was not part of the french plan and Rochambeau brigade began to deploy to counter the unexpected treat in his front while Lauzun's cavalry stayed static waiting for a opportunity to engage.  On the Americans side Washington's brigade to move forward to the river and Montgomery.

The British legion cavalry continued to overrun the hill in the centre of the American lines forcing Miami rifles to disengage and over running the Providence rifle company. While Arlington militia companies took up positions near the river to contest Washington@s advance. They would not be able to stop the brigade but they would by time hopefully for St. Clair to make an appearance.  The rest of Collier’s brigade began to pull back to Montgomery  contracting their line hoping to minimise the American advantage in numbers. For the Americans Greene’s brigade began to move forward in column hoping to cross the river at an unguarded ford while Rochambeau continued to deploy to counter the British legion cavalry that had just clear the hill in the american centre.

With the hill cleared  The British legion cavalry began to rally preparing for another charge. While the 14th and 15th regiments from Campbell's brigade began to deploy to move to support Collier’s brigade.  Washington contemptuous pushing back the Arlington militia contesting the river but the process meant some of regiment stayed in the river longer than he would have liked.  Meanwhile Rochambeau finished re-organising his brigade and began to put pressure on the British legion cavalry holding the hill in his centre.

The British legion cavalry again had to rally to recover the damage from Rochambeau brigade while Collier’s infantry now began to engage Washington’s brigade as they crossed the river. With the 14th and 15th regiments moving into Montgomery.  Washington first line cleared the river and began to engage Collier. Rochambeau finished off the British legion cavalry and recaptured the hill.

American lines on the advance

With the American clearing the river and the French seen off the distraction by the legion cavalry St. Clair made a very welcome appearance. Greene’s brigade was forced back across the river and the cost of Von Raill Musketeers.  But Washington and Rochambeau still had the numbers and began to break Collier’s infantry and forced his remaining cavalry and artillery to relocate to safer positions.

Campbell's brigade facing the river

But night fell before the Americans could push on to Montgomery. At the end of the battle both sides still contested the battlefeild.  The British still held the village of Montgomery and the road to Arlington but they had lost more units and the Americans had force a passage across the river.  

Washington prepares to move his troops forward

From the battle the Americans scored a minor win but in the pre-campaign the British scored a major win so the net result was a minor British win. But the Blucher meets Maurice game format was great fun from organising the armies to planning the campaign and fighting the battle.  In hindsight neither plan was particular good. For the British only holding the line at Arlington meant they surrendered the settlements to the North and if the battle was fought and lost at Arlington it would have been a double blow since they would lose the battle and the capital compared to if they had of march North the capital would not have been a risk from the battle. For the Americans concentrating all their forces for a knock blow meant less units available to capture settlements which increased the margin of victory they needed from the battle.

end of battle positions
(The Americans are just across the river but it is late and time for bed)

That is all for now thanks for stopping by.