Sunday Game - The war of 1812

Thanks to all the commenters on my previous post regarding the death of my father in law. As mentioned, our group had a final Sunday game for 2020, and this one was of special interest to me as I provided the bulk of the figures, along with Mark and Julian.

It was a war of 1812 affair where the Americans held a small town containing supplies that the British wished to seize. Forces were pretty evenly balanced with approx 20 btns per side, a few guns and virtually no cavalry. Barry, John and I were the Crown forces while Julian, Chris and Nick commanded the US troops, with Mark as umpire.

In many ways it was a similar scenario to our Napoleonic engagement a few months back, when the combined Austrians and Prussians had to attack a withdrawing French force. On the British left were woods and in front a small fortified redoubt that protected the approach to the town. Although aware of the risk of becoming fixated with the redoubt a la Hougemont at Waterloo, we still had to clear it before we could advance on the town. 

To the right were more woods, so the British advance was more or less forced to proceed down a narrow central area of open ground - which the Americans covered with the bulk of their forces. 

Hostile natives appeared in the woods on my left and slowed the advance for a while, even causing a btn of Marines to rout at one stage - oh, the ignomy! Thereafter, the Brits advanced slowly but at great cost from American artillery although our one bright spot was an early success with a double six, setting the small redoubt on fire and causing its evacuation! Alas, it was not enough and the US forces fell back then advanced with perfect timing to inflict devastating musketry on our men. One of my two brigades broke and fled as a result and in the final move, both John and Barry's commands had been blasted to a stand still and were also close to breaking point.

The two British commanders surveying the scene of battle

The map of the game pinched from Marks 1866 site

Slightly blurred view of the table from the American end

The US redoubt with local militia adjacent

Nicks command rides to the rescue, led by Old Glory US Light Dragoons (most of my 1812 figures are Old Glory)

Canadian yeomanry cavalry - plastic Perry light dragoons

The British army advances - to the left are the Glengarry Light Infantry

The right of the line - Barry's command, with a small unit of 95th rifles - these are Warlord figures from my collection

Johns brigade advances - these are some of my Peninsula era Brits by Front Rank

The marines lead the way

American regular riflemen observe from the woods to my left - again, my figures from Old Glory.

The first American reinforcements arrive at the town - Maryland militia by Old Glory

The head of the US infantry column 

Native Americans in the woods - the two groups I located were hostile - of course!

The two battalions of marines deploy to engage natives in the woods

Meanwhile, the centre and right continue to advance - these are Marks Perry plastic Brits

The Glengarry Light Infantry engage the natives in the woods

My double 6 with the artillery......

...... and the result!

Chris and Nicks American infantry form a solid line across the field of battle

American infantry in the town

On the other flank, Chris advanced into the woods to engage with the riflemen - the US figures here are Marks and by Brigade Games

Some of the right flank natives who were friendly to the British cause - they are plastic and I think Warlord or Victrix - again, painted by Mark

Three more views of my Old Glory US troops 

The British advance up the open centre of the table - our artillery had created a large gap in the front line of the American defenders

But pretty soon, a solid wall of blue was re established

My advance against Julian's forces defending the approach to the town.

US infantry defending the town

A couple of US guns that wrought much destruction on the advancing Brits - crews are Old Glory and guns Front Rank

Another view of our main advance

And the struggle on the left flank - these are the four battalions of my second brigade, the first having decamped by this stage...

This was to be the high point of the British advance...

Below, because I cannot be bothered re ordering them, are a number of shots John took of the game. They are generally close ups and nice quality

Some of Marks Perry Brits

The defenders of the redoubt

The American battle line

British advance

Old Glory Glengarry Infantry

Injuns in the woods

My wing deployed to engage said Injuns...

Marines to the fore

Two more shots of Marks Perry Brits

Johns command advancing across corn fields

Aerial shot of the redoubt pre ignition

Riflemen skirmishing in the woods on Barry's flank

The redoubt aflame!

American gunners in action

Old Glory Second Edition Brits 

Americans battle the riflemen in the woods

Allied Natives in the woods in front of Chris's US forces

Final two shots of my Warlord riflemen who engaged in inconclusive melee with a US battalion for most of the game

Well, not a great result to end the year on but given the state of the world and the fact most gamers cant even countenance a face to face game, I cant complain. It was nice to get most of my 1812 collection plus a few additional Peninsular Brit units on the table again. We are hoping to give Beneath the Lilly Banners a couple of runs through during our Christmas break (being the southern hemisphere, Christmas and New Year coincide with summer, so most people have two or more weeks off around Dec or Jan - schools closed about a week ago and dont reopen till the beginning of Feb) That will provide an opportunity to air my WSS troops, which will be good too.