Take The Blockhouse

[Westbury]

A FIW outing for 'The Regulars' today.
Four groups; British regulars, French regulars, Rogers Rangers and Hurons, all with the objective of securing an abandoned blockhouse where (allegedly) the pay chest was left behind.
Entry points were randomly generated - this rather favoured the British and Rangers and into the woods they plunged.

[trev]

Looks good, what rules did you use? FFOL?

[Westbury]

The opening moves were fairly quite; the French blundered through the woods near the river but didn't think to try and swim across it - they were nearest the blockhouse  the British and Rangers cheated by actually behaving like troops in a dangerous place - the British threw out their Indian scouts to delay the French and the Rangers split their group to make best use of their wood craft skills, the Hurons just headed for the river being as sneaky as they could.

[Westbury]

Trev, the rules were our own home grown set.

[Westbury]

As soon as individuals could see the opposition the better troops spotted and the woods rang with the crash of musketry.
Of all the groups the French came off worse; the two British Indian scouts and about half of the Rangers shot nearly half of them down over several turns and they eventually decided that maybe swimming the river was the better idea - a bit late!
The Hurons left a lone archer to delay the Rangers - it worked for a while and then he died  while the rest got onto the opposite bank just in time to get into a shooting match with a lone Ranger (no not that one  ) who had made it to the bridge - the Ranger died along with one Huron
The British were quite splendid advancing and firing by introduction, scaring most of the wildlife but hitting very little.

[Westbury]

The Huron tactic of ignore everything and concentrate on the objective paid off, they got into the blockhouse despite musket balls whistling around them from the British and Rangers and they even kept the gate open for their French allies, however......
The hapless French, or what was left of them, crossed the river and raced up the hill toward the sanctuary of the blockhouse only to take further casualties from the forces of the crown, fail their morale and run away  The Hurons duly bolted the gate and searched for the cash and yes, it was in the attic!
The Rangers raced across the bridge and the British marched smartly behind but too late, victory to the Hurons.

[Westbury]

Thanks to Bob, Pete & Dave for their participation. Fun was had, little lead men died.

[has.been]

An enjoyable day's gaming. Tea, pop, sandwiches, crisps & lashings of pop too.
I will add comments & pictures tomorrow, as I've left the camera out in the car.
It is dark and wet out there.

[flatpack]

The Huron tactic of ignore everything and concentrate on the objective paid off.

I love it when a plan comes together 

I played the Huron “the correct way”.

Sneaking thro the woods, trying to use cover, avoiding the “trained” enemy. 

My plan was to sneak along the river bank, then pop over the bridge to the blockhouse.

Unfortunately Dave’s Lone Ranger (not that one again  ) had other ideas.
This just made my boys swim the river to the other side.

As Ian says, we got into the blockhouse, and even left the front door unlocked to help our French partners in, but they were cut down by gunfire from the Roger’s Rangers.

Oh well, may as well bolt the door and spend a pleasant evening COUNTING THE GOLD 

Move 1, Huron carefully move thro the woods.


Enemy trained troops everywhere you look. Best avoid them.


My lone bowman, delays some of the British and Roger’s Rangers.


Sneaking along the riverbank might work ?


Gunfight with the Lone Ranger on the bridge.


As the Ranger defended the bridge, we took the decision to swim across the river towards the blockhouse.
Safely making it to the far bank.


With musket balls peppering the Hurons, they made it to the blockhouse door.
Luckily they found the key under the door mat, and they were in  :


Huron’s, masters of the woods, yet again.

Very enjoyable and fun game.
Thanks to Ian for his great hospitality, and for Dave and Pete, for being willing targets.

[has.been]

Dawn has broken, & the rain has stopped. Camera recovered from the car.
556 = My lovely squad of Redcoats. Non of this 'sneaking' about like the
          colonial Rangers. Stand shoulder to shoulder in a bright Red coat, like MEN.
557 & 558 = The French, wearing their, surrender flag, white and filthy blue coats.
                    They 'sneak'.
559 = My local scouts. I send them off to keep an eye on the French. Two scouts
          is enough to deal with all the French.
560 = The abandoned Fort, 'Todays Fox gentlemen' The French reportedly deserted
          it in such an unseemly rush, that they left their pay chest there.
561 = The bridge. We intend to cross the stream there.  The sergeant does NOT
          want those neat clean uniforms soaking wet & muddy, so no swimming/wading
          for the British.  The road-side shrine a typical Papist touch near to an old French
          stronghold.
563 = Volley fire! That is the way to deal with the Huron and their Gallic masters.
564 = The Huron flee from us (OK they got to the fort & gold before us)

Overheard some of those Roger's Rangers chaps talking after the battle. I just had to
put the record straight. It was NOT the four French that they dropped that caused their
rout, but the one the British line brought down. Volley fire, scares the Frechies every time.

Nice day gaming with friends.

         

[Zingara]

Good looking game and fun had by all. Not to mention the victuals - an army marches on its stomach after all (apart from those smart British - Pete!). Thanks for the report Ian.

[flatpack]

Sandwiches, crisps and the best made biscuits ever 

[Westbury]

The appreciation of the biscuits was passed on to the cook 

[Tom Dulski]

Looks great the figures, terrain, blockhouse everything

[LouieN]

Great pics all around.  What rule systems was in use? 

I guess the Hurons keep their eye on the prize.  Loot!