CapnJim's AWI Stuff: Freeman's Farm Complete AAR - Page 3 (09 Jul 24).

[CapnJim]

As I mentioned in vtsaogames's "AWI with Valour & Fortitude" thread, we're gonna do another game of it this Friday coming.  It's gonna be the Battle of Freeman's Farm in New York in September 1777 (1st Battle of Saratoga).

I'll develop and post army lists tailored to this fight before Friday, and an AAR afterwards.  Stay tuned...

 

[AKULA]

Lovely thread mate - apologies missed it originally..probably because my own thread on "Big Battalions" are much more recent - love the AARs and photos - look forward to more 

[CapnJim]

Well, I have the scenario info for our upcoming Friday game of Valour & Fortitude done.  As I mentioned, it'll be the Battle of Freeman's Farm (1st Battle of Saratoga).  We thought it fitting to do an AWI game one day after our Independence Day celebrations! 

Here's the map, with the area that will appear on the table outlined in black.  We'll be using 20mm/1-72 figures on a 6.5' x 4.5' table.



And here are the American scenario info sheets:





And the sheets for the British:





I've tailored these sheets specifically for this battle, based on the accounts of it I've read.  It should make for a good fight...

And, since we'll be using 20mm/1-72 figures, I reduced all measurements to 67% of published measurements (as those were designed for use with 28mm figures).  Those reductions are factored into these scenario sheets.  I also factored them into a revised QRS, as such:

   

The battle commences at 1100 hrs. Friday.  I'll post an AAR afterwards... 

 

[CapnJim]

OK.  I've set up the Freeman's Farm game for tomorrow (Friday).  Here's a pic:



On the American side, Morgan's Advance Corps is set up just south of Freeman's Farm (the 2 buildings in the small triangle formed by the roads).

On the British side, Burgoyne and Hamilton's Brigade are set up deployed along the road north of Freeman's Farm.  Fraser's Advance Corps is set up, as well, with the Grenadiers and 24th Foot in the field at upper left, the Lights in March Column on the road, and the guns limbered on the road.  Fraser's (a CPT Fraser) Rangers and Indians are set up in the scrub in the middle of the shot.  The battle will start just after Morgan's men have chased off the British pickets who had been set up at Freeman's farm.  It will last 15 turns, at which time night will fall. 

Reinforcements will come on as follows:

Turn 1:  Breymann's Advance Corps will come on in column at the northwest road.  Maj. Gen. Phillips will come in on the east road.

Turn 2:  Arnold and Poor's Brigade will come on on either of the south roads.

Turn 5:  Hull's Battalion of selectmen will come on at the southeast road.

Turn 8:  von Riedesel and his troops will come on by the southeast road.   Pausch may come on on either the east or southeast road.

Turn 10:  Learned's Brigade will come on by either of the south roads.

Hull's battalion, as well as the British and Brunswicker Lights and the British Rangers/Indians were able to act independently.  Thus they each may attempt to activate as if they are in command range, even if they are not.

Should, at some point prior to the end of Turn 15, either side decide to concede the field, they may begin retreating their units to move them off their respective edges (British - north; American - south).  The other side may choose to pursue, if they'd like.  Any units that voluntarily retreat off the field do not count toward victory points.   Freeman's Farm counts as 3 Victory points.  Otherwise, VP's will be determined per the rules.

As said previously, fighting commences at 1100 hrs. tomorrow...stay tuned!

[CapnJim]

Well, we did indeed play Freeman's Farm Friday.  Ted played the Americans, and I played the British.  And, oh what a battle it was!  Here's a teaser... 

The last vestiges of daylight were fading.  General Arnold, who had just witnessed the collapse of Poor's Brigade after they were swept with a hot volley of canister from the British and Brunswick guns, leaving a gaping hole in his center, rode over to the other side of Freeman's Farm to find ol' Dan Morgan.  He found him alright.  'Ol Dan was in the thick of it, doing his best to keep his men in the fight.  Morgan's Advance Corps had been fighting at the farm all afternoon, keeping the British out of that damned farm.  And now he was barely hanging on, as von Riedesel's Brunswickers were pressing hard from the east.  And a fresh British regiment was closing in on him, as well.

Arnold, having to raise his voice to be heard above the din of battle, said "Daniel, get your boys out of there as best you can, and get back to the Heights.  I've sent a courier over to General Learned to do likewise.  I'm going to go back and see if I can help General Poor get his Brigade back together.   Arnold could see the dark forms of bodies lying all around the farm.  Both his men, British, and Brunswickers.  It was an expensive day all around.  "We've given the British quite the what-for today, and you certainly have done enough.  More than enough, really.  I'll be sure to mention it to General Gates, if he'll listen to me.  Now let's go!"  Morgan replied "With my compliments, General.  We will see you on the Heights."  Morgan saluted, turned his horse around, and got back into it to begin getting his men out.  And with that, General Arnold turned and headed south, to see what he could do for poor General Poor...

Meanwhile, just a hundred yards north of them, General Burgoyne was, shall we say, a bit unhappy.  As daylight faded away, he could what remained of 2 of his regiments lying on the ground around him.  His gunners, even with men down, had finally driven some of those damned rebels away, but those buggers at the farm were more than he bargained for.  It was not cricket at all for those riflemen to deliberately target his officers.  Worse, the cream of his force, both his and Reidesel's Grenadiers and Lights, had already broken and ran.  He could barely make it out, but he could see that those damned rebels at the farm were finally moving off, but they did so in good order.  He did not look forward to seeing the casualty lists later that evening...

That oughta give you an idea on what to expect from the AAR.  Stay tuned, as I hope to start working on it later today (Sunday).

[vtsaogames]

Sounds like the buzzards and the crows had a good time. I await pictures.

[CapnJim]

Sounds like the buzzards and the crows had a good time. I await pictures.

Await no longer...

Part 1:  The Battle Lines are Formed (turns 1-5).

General Burgoyne had found his prey - General Hamilton's pickets had returned to the line, and reported that the American rifleman and their light infantry support were coming up from the south,  approaching Freeman's Farm.  He ordered General Hamilton to advance his brigade to meet them.  He also sent messengers to General Fraser to move in the direction of that farm as well.  Both Generals did so.  But not without some confusion.  The far left British regiment, the 20th Foot, did not move out right away, nor did Williams' or Walker's batteries.

   

The British regiments moved south, with the Light Infantry moving in the line to the right of Hamilton's Brigade..  And, Breymann's Advance Corps come down from the northwest road, and headed for Freeman's Farm.  His Light Infantry leading the way.





Breymann's men kept up their advance, as did Fraser's Grenadiers and 24th Foot.





The Americans were busy too.  Colonel Morgan's men advanced on Freeman's Farm, while General Poor brought his brigade up from the southwest.  Poor's Brigade moved toward Freeman's farm, to take up positions to Morgan's left.





The British Grenadiers and 24th Foot kept up their slow advance...



...while Poor's Continental Brigade took their place in line.  From left to right, the 2nd New York, the 4th New York, and the 1st New Hampshire in front, with the 2nd and 3rd New Hampshire in support.  Poor sent the Connecticut Militia to support Morgan.



Breymann's Brunswick Advance Corps continued their advance to the fight, while Walker's and William's batteries moved to deploy on a hill overlooking the field.



By now, Morgan and Poor had traded musketry with Hamilton's and Fraser's battalions.  Both sides took casualties, especially the British 9th Foot and the American 1st New Hampshire.  Hamilton's Brigade kept up their advance - the 21st Foot hit Morgan's riflemen at the farm, with the 62nd Foot moving up on their left in support.  The 20th Foot, on the British left, finally had gotten moving and advanced through the woods.  And on Hamilton's right, the 9th Foot fell back, with General Hamilton personally rallying the men.

And, Hull's battalion of selectmen moved up from the southeast to shore up the American right flank.



That does it for Turns 1-5.  I'll Post Part 2, with Turns 6-10 perhaps later today...

[AKULA]

A great looking game - love the photos 

[CapnJim]

A great looking game - love the photos 

Thanks!  And now for...

Part 2:  The Flanks Heat Up (Turns 6-10).

As General Hamilton rallied the 9th Foot, the British Lights and Rangers/Indians took up their position to the right of the 9th.  Breymann's Brunswicker Lights and Grenadiers advanced behind them.



Meanwhile at Freeman's Farm, the British 21st and Morgan's rifleman and Lights were locked in a bloody duel.  To their left, the 62nd Foot turned to face Hull's Battalion, who had come up, firing in the 62nd's flank.  The 20th, somewhat tardily, advanced to support the 62nd on their left.





Over on the British right, their Lights and Rangers traded volleys with New York and New Hampshire Continentals.  General Poor had gotten his 5 battalions of Continentals all in line, and had pulled his Connecticut Militia back behind them in support.  The Brunswick Lights and Grenadiers continued their advance.



Over east of the farm, Hull's Battalion and the 62nd Foot continued their musketry duel.  Meanwhile, Morgan pulled his battered riflemen out of the line, and sent Dearborn's Light Infantry into the 21st Foot.



In the west, General Fraser continued to lead the British Grenadiers and the 24th Foot down toward the fight, looking to take the rightward positions in the British line.  The Jagers spread out on the Brunswick Lights' right, while the Brunswick Grenadiers took a position to the British 9th Foot's right.  The British Lights and Rangers continued to trade volleys with the Continentals.





Then, von Riedesel, having marched up from the Hudson River road, appeared with 2 battalions of Brunswickers on the American right, behind Hull's Battalion.  Pausch's guns came up from the east road.



The fight around Freeman's Farm intensified.  Dearborn's Light Infantry and the British 21st Foot remained locked in combat, as Poor's Continentals continued to go volley for volley with the 9th Foot, the Brunswick Grenadiers, the British Lights, and the Rangers.  Men were going down up and down the line.





On the American right, Hull's Battalion turned to face the Brunswicker infantry.  The von Rhetz Regiment went in with the bayonet, with the von Riedesel regiment in support, but Hull's Battalion held on.



Then, von Riedesel's Regiment went in too, and Hull's Battalion broke and ran.  It was just too much for them.



Over to the west, the musketry from the British Rangers and Lights drove the 2nd New York from the field, and they broke and ran.  Then, as the Brunswick Lights moved up on the right of the British Lights, the British Lights formed up, and charged the 3rd New Hampshire.  The New Hampshire boys held, and sent the British Lights running.



Just to the west of that, Fraser and the British Grenadiers and 24th Foot had finally arrived, to take up positions behind a fence at another farm.



Back at Freeman's Farm, Dearborn's Light Infantry finally won their fight with the 21st Foot, who had broken and run away.  But the 62nd Foot advanced on Dearborn's Flank, and von Riedesel's infantry advanced after their fight with Hull's battalion.  The 20th Foot turned to advance on Freeman's Farm, as well.



The state of affairs hung in the balance.  The latest casualty was the Brunswick Grenadiers, who had broken and run from close-range Continental musket fire.  And, General Learned brought up his brigade of Continentals from the southwest, and deployed on the American left.  The 2nd and 8th Massachusetts led, with the 9th Massachusetts and 1st Canadians behind.  They were met with musket fire from the British Grenadiers and the Jagers, and the Brunswick Lights turned to face the new threat. Things were about to get even more interesting...



Stay tuned for Part 3, coming soon to a device near you!

[vtsaogames]

What a brawl! Looks great!

[CapnJim]

What a brawl! Looks great!

Thanks!  It was a hell of a battle!

And now, let's finish our story...

Part 3:  Poor General Poor (Turns 11-15).

On the western flank, the British Grenadiers got into a firefight with the 2nd Massachusetts, with both taking casualties.  Then, the 8th Massachusetts moved forward putting the Grenadiers to the bayonet, driving them from the field!  In turn, the 24th Foot turned and hit the 8th Massachusetts in the flank.  Just east of that, the British Rangers traded volleys with the Continental's 1st Canadians.



In the center, Burgoyne had ordered Williams and his 3-pounders down off the hill, to join Jones and Pausch with their 6-pounders.  Poor ordered some Connecticut Militia forward to relieve the pressure off of the 1st New Hampshire.  The Militia fired volleys into the gunners, fellign some, but almost a dozen guns swept the Militia with canister fire.  The 9th Foot, battered as it was, traded volleys with other regiments in Poor's Brigade, who were also pretty beaten up.



To the east, the 62nd and 20th Foot, along with von Riedesel's Brunswickers, began trying to turn Morgan's flank.  The 62nd foot charged Dearborn's Light Infantry.





Meanwhile, over on the western flank, the 24th Foot had driven off the 8th Massachusetts, after hitting them in the flank.  The 2nd Massachusetts turned to face the new threat.



In the center, the British and Brunswick guns were playing havoc in the fading light.  Canister fire had driven off a Connecticut Militia battalion, and Poor had to put the other Connecticut Militia battalion into the line.  Dearborn's Light Infantry had seen the 62nd Foot off, but von Riedesel's infantry and the fresh 20th Foot were bearing down on them.  Poor's Brigade, along with Morgan's men, were barely holding on.  It took Arnold's and Morgan's personal interventions to keep them on the field.  Muskets crackled and cannons roared.

 





Meanwhile, over to the west, the 8th Massachusetts had gotten into a musket duel with the Brunswick Lights and Jagers, and had driven them both from the field.  The 2th Massachusetts and the 24th foot went at it over a snake rail fence.



In the center, more canister fire had swept away a New Hampshire Continental Regiment, while at the eastern flank, von Riedesel's infantry went in after Morgan's men.  The sun was sinking in the west - there wasn't much daylight left.



 

Back to the west, by the other farm, Learned's battalions continued their fight with the 24th Foot and the British Rangers.



Then, disaster struck the Americans.  More canister fire swept Poor's Continentals.  A New Hampshire Regiment broke and ran, and, one by one, the other battalions in Poor's Brigade broke and ran.  Arnold's center had collapsed!



Morgan was barely holding on on the American right.  His men and been in the thick of it all day, and they were under tremendous pressure.  And on the American left,  Fraser's 24th Foot and Rangers were keeping what remained of Learned's Brigade busy.





And it was getting dark.  The sun had set, and General Arnold had decided, while his men had given better than they got and given the British a bloody nose, with the collapse of Poor's Brigade, he could not hold the field.  So, he rode over to the other side of Freeman's Farm to find ol' Dan Morgan....


And, there you have it.  It was a close-run affair, with the Americans causing more casualties than they received.  But at the end, they couldn't hold the field, and retreated back to Bemis Heights.  Just as in the historical battle, the British lost on "points", but held the field at the end of the day.  Another costly "win" for the British...

The British had 13 infantry units (11 battalions and 2 detachments), and 4 guns.  The Americans had 14 infantry battalions.  Using Valour & Fortitude, we played 15 complete turns, and fought to a tactical conclusion in just a bit less than 4 hours.

 

[vtsaogames]

What a game! Thanks for the AAR.

[CapnJim]

What a game! Thanks for the AAR.

Indeed it was!  Had Poor's Brigade hung just a bit longer, it would have been an American victory (both in points and holding the field). 

And you're welcome...