Battle #2

     Here are a few pics of the layout for the next battle.

View from the Canadian side

      Yet again, I think the Americans will have the edge.  Unlike the last battle, where the Americans had superior numbers and better quality units, at least in my opinion, this time I think their advantage lies in how the terrain is setup, and where the objective marker is.

     With so much rough terrain in the middle of the table, as well as the stream to the American right, I think this will cause the attacking Canadians some problems, in how to get to the objective in a timely manner.

View from the American side showing the objective

       The area with the most open terrain is on the American left, allowing them to consolidate most of their forces on that side, should the Canadians go that way.  If the Canadians decide to go up the middle, I think the Americans can then use a pincer type envelopement, coming along just to the west of the stream and to the west of the left most woods, while the Canadians slog it through the plowed fields.

Overview of the whole table

     I am really looking forward to how this battle goes!

de Salaberry's diary - April 2, 1813

     As our scouts had reported, the Americans have indeed begun another assault of the Lake Champlain region, no doubt attempting yet again, to take Montreal.

     We engaged them just outside Odelltown on the morning of the first of April, and I must admit were fortunate to remain relatively unscathed, as the Americans far outnumbered us.  Four regiments of Regulars, field guns, a cavalry platoon, and militia advanced upon our position, which consisted merely of three regiments of infantry, a platoon of my proud Voltigeurs, and a handful of militia and Native warriors.  

     It was disconcerting to see that Wilkinson has managed to convince or coerce the American militia to cross the border, and I wonder if more are on their way to bolster his numbers?

     The battle lasted most of the day, however little was done on both sides, except perhaps for the constant bombardment of the American field guns, which did effectively isolate my force on the right from Captain Brugière's on the left, with Odelltown exposed right in the middle. 

     I am still at a loss in knowing why the Americans advanced so slowly towards us.  Was it perhaps that they overestimated our numbers?  Did they feel reluctant to engage our Native allies, who were hidden in the woods?  All I know, is that their hesitant manner benefited us greatly, and by the time the battle was to begin in earnest, night began to fall, with the Americans falling back to their camp, which I have been informed by the Indian scouts, lies only a mile to the south, just past Charbonneu's farm.

     I have sent note to the garrison at Lacolle Mills to muster up any militia they can, and along with an artillery battery and a platoon of Dragoons stationed there, to meet up with us post haste, so we can take the fight to the Americans, as I fear they may be waiting for reinforcements, before continuing their offensive.

     Already the Indian scouts spotted another regiment of Regulars at their camp.  Were they already there as a reserve force, or are they the first of many, now crossing the border?

     With increased numbers and God on our side, may we repel these invaders back to their land!

Tweaking the Army Lists

     I think I finally have finished tweaking the army lists for both the Canadians and Americans.  

     For the Canadians, I moved Les Compagnie des Guides, to the Militia brigade, added an extra Light Dragoons to the Cavalry brigade, altered the Skirmisher values for the Fencibles, and also made the British Regulars of Valiant esprit.

     For the Americans, not as much tweaking as the Canadian list, however I did replace 1 unit of American Regulars from the Infantry support brigade, to a unit of Regiment of Rifles.  This regiment uses Rifle Volleys, so they get one heck of a range when firing (8BW's), but are Irregular in nature, so that should not make them so powerful.  I made them Irregulars, based on what I have read about how they were used and in what kind of tactics they utilized.  From what I gather, they were often used as scouts and also used guerilla tactics, and tended to emulate Native tactics, as well.

     Hopefully the army lists are fairly balanced, yet give each side enough differences, to make for some interesting setups on the table, as well as for some intriguing battles!  

Final Thoughts on Battle #1

     Although not much happened, I think I learnt a great deal, especially when it comes to using Linear Tactics.

     Right off that bat, I started to notice that once any units went into line and encountered rough terrain, their movement came to a crawl, and that was most apparent with the infantry, as they were then reduced to 1BW of movement.  With only 8 turns available for each army, unless they got bonus turns, that did not leave much for either side to really get into action. 

     Therefore, in order to remedy this for future battles, I am going to increase the minimum turn count from 16 to 20 (10 turns each), and also keep the units in column far longer than I did in the first battle.  I really think this will help.

     Next up will see the Canadians attacking the Americans.  I have already set up the table with terrain and the location of the objective, with the help of my friend Chris, who visited last week.

     The table setup looks really interesting (will provide a picture very soon), and gives the Americans plenty of defensive options, as well as the Canadians some things to ponder, on how to reach their objective.

     Okay, off to paint more figures!  

The Last Turn

     Well, it ended up that the Americans had the last turn, without reaching the objective or breaking the morale of the Canadian army.  

     They did however, manage to eliminate one Select Embodied Militia through the combined volleys of the two Militia units, as well as recovering enough of their most advanced Regulars, to be able to mount a charge into the woods, that is of course if they had been able to get another turn in, and not suffer any more disruptions from the Six Nations Warriors.
     
     The Canadians managed to more or less stay put throughout the battle, and ensured Odelltown remained in Canadian hands, although with the Americans not being aggressive enough and also falling into line early,  they certainly benefited from the American blunders.

View from the American left flank

 
     

View from the Canadian left flank

View from the Canadian centre

Turn #16

     Well, next up will be to roll to see if there are bonus turns.

      Here you can see that there has been much firing and disruptions on both sides, yet no charging or the breaking of any units have occurred. 

 

     On the American right flank, the Regulars are almost at the woods with the Six Nations Warriors firing for the past two turns, and have been good enough to almost get the Regulars to be so disrupted that they will be unable to charge.

     In the middle, the Beauharnois Militia have become the new target for the militia artillery, letting the Voltiguers recover, while a unit of American Regulars seem prepared to either fire on the Beauharnois Militia or perform a flanking charge on them.  Will they be able to do it, considering it is now up to bonus turns?

      Looking from the Canadian right flank, both American Militia units have been firing on the advanced Select Embodied Militia, and is almost at breaking point.  Although the Canadian unit and one of the Militia are within charging range, neither can, due to their mutual 3 Disruptions.     The Fencible unit has wheeled to face the US Dragoons, hoping to fire off a volley, if the Dragoons decide to charge the Embodied Militia.

      Will the Americans get to continue their fight?

 

     

Turn #12???

     I can't remember which turn these pics were taken, as I forgot to record that, and also that it took ages for me to get them off my daughter's laptop, which helped in me forgetting the turn, but I think it is around turn #12.

     As you can see, the Beauharnois militia have left the town, facing the advancing Americans, and have yet to deploy into line.  The Voltigeurs have continued to be fired at from the American militia artillery, and have remained in place, attempting to recover from the disruptions they have been taking.

     After advancing from the woods, the Six Nations Warriors thought the better of it, and have retreated back in, hoping to fire volleys into the oncoming American Regulars.  Les Compagnie des Guides, remain where they are, effectively useless at the moment, and will only have any impact if they are able to charge an American Regular unit that is about to break.  That probably would only come about if the Six Nations Warriors are able to fire effectively, yet the Irregular cavalry would then make themselves targets of the other American Regulars, as there are four of those units advancing.

     On the American left flank, their militia have advanced towards a unit of Select Embodied militia, and have begun firing, inflicting 1 Disruption, with two additional Canadian units attempting to support their comrade, all the while the American Dragoons wait to pounce.

     Still, the game is nearing the time to roll for bonus turns, and the Americans are far from breaking the Canadian morale and/or taking the objective.

Turn #9

     Not much has happened, although things are going to get a bit messy, fairly soon.
     As I mentioned before, the Canadian left flank is woefully inadequate to repel the approaching four units of American regulars.  Now that the artillery has begun firing canister into the only Regular unit the Canadians have on that side (the Voltiguers), which have just taken two disruptions, the Canadians better be hoping for a miracle.  The only thing that seems to be saving them at the moment, is that the Americans are taking so long to get into Line and advance with purpose!

View from the American right flank

     On the Canadian right flank, not much has been happening, as both sides are trying to get their units into Line and in position for combat.  The Beauharnois militia deployed in the town, but seeing the serious threat to the Canadian left flank, are poised to leave Odelltown, and help shore up that side.  Will they leave from the front and risk canister fire, while the are formed up in March column?  Will find out on turn #10!

View from the Canadian right flank