On January 2, 1777, Lord Cornwallis and a sizable British/German Army was marching toward Trenton, with the aim of destroying the Continental Army there.
Washington realized that he needed to delay His Lordship from reaching Trenton, while there was still enough daylight to fight a battle.
Washington ordered Count De Fermoy's Brigade to delay Cornwallis from reaching Trenton, before sunset.
The Brigade consisted of the First Pennsylvania and the German Battalion. The 1 ST PA began the war as Thompson's Riflemen, was reorganized into the 1ST Pennsylvania Riflemen and finally, they became the the First Continental Line.
Washington chose Riflemen, because they could fire their American made Rifles from a distance with great accuracy.
They were also adept as ambushing unsuspecting soldiers
They could then melt away in the forest, only to return down the road where they would resume targeting the enemy.
Count De Fermoy claimed to be a French Noblemen and was given command of a Brigade
When the Count de Fermoy, lost his nerve, got drunk and fled the field, as the battle started, Colonel Edward hand assumed command.
Hand did a spectacular job of arranging ambushes around every bend, at creek crossings and in the nearby woods.
His men fired from the safety of the forest, far enough away from British Steel to do any damage.
Several times during the day, Cornwallis was forced to draw into battle lines, only to find the Americans gone!
Hand and his men made to to the safety of the American stronghold on Assunpink Creek.
Cornwallis attempted to storm the American position via the Assunpink Creek Bridge three times.
All three ended in the slaughter of His Lordship's men.
I was too dark to continue, so Cornwallis rested his army for the night.
When darkness fell, Washington and his army slipped away and attacked Princeton, leaving his Lordship quite miffed!
Here are Hand's Riflemen as they ambush His Lordships troops from the safety of the forest.
They hid behind downed logs and rocks where they could fire from cover.
As the weather had begun to turn warm, the snow and ice began to melt, as the day wore on.
These pieces are primarily for the battle of Assunpink Creek.
I think I can also use them for Princeton.
Here are the 8 single stands that I made from scratch
October 24, 2012, 06:24:21 PM