Guilford Courthouse 1781, New Buckenham Historical Wargamers

[Jabba]

First Saturday game of the year at New Buckenham Historical Wargamers.

Initial setup pictures (Awaiting a couple of British galloper guns and some Continental militia)

After Action Report.

The British advanced with their usual confident elan, but they were to be surprised by the stoicism of many of the American units before them. Webster's and Leslie's Bgdes advanced either side of the road and with bayonets leveled aimed to sweep the first line of American militia from the field. The militia fired two volleys before the redcoats charged home and their 1,000 odd muskets caused heavy loss among the 23rd and 71st Ft. The 23rd lost 51 men before they routed the militia before them, but the 71st, with 83 casualties, collapsed into disorder and routed along the fence line they attacked. The North Carolina militia here were so exalted by this success the majority charged after the highlanders, only for many of them to run straight onto the bayonets of the 1st Ft Guard Bn. This check, and the sudden realisation that they were in no mans land, saw these militia now route back and continue to flee along with their comrades beaten by the 23rd. Cornwallis immediately steadied the remaining 167 men of the 71st and with their wounded Col. McPhereson now remounted, advanced again, but from now on remained in reserve. The 1st Guards meanwhile, along with the von-Bose reg't, advanced through the surrounding woodland on the British right. Here they encountered very stiff opposition from the men of Lee's Legion infantry and Campbell's riflemen. Among the trees the Legion infantry defeated a bayonet charge by the von-Bose and followed them up, only to then rapidly fall back as they realized how heavily outnumbered they were. Nonetheless these two American units held up the two battalions before them all the way as the latter also struggled to advance through the trees. The British on the left struggled with the same conditions, the trees, and tough American flank units. Here too were American riflemen ( Lynch's) and these were engaged in a brutal fight from tree to tree with the now deployed Hessian Jaegers. Kirkwood's seasoned Delaware Co. gave solid support until Tarleton's cavalry charged in among them. As the men from Delaware were driven off by Tarleton's horse, the American riflemen gave ground as the pressure from the Jaeger and supporting 33rd became too much. The American second line had, during all this fighting, pulled back to the far edge of the woodland and took up defensive positions there. This left the remaining American troops among the woods to continue the unequal fight as they withdrew to this new second line. This they did with great bravery, helping to fatally delay the steady British advance. Cornwallis meanwhile was bringing up the 2nd Guards and ordering up McLeod's three light cannon (the two American 6pdr cannon in the first line having been captured and secured). The firing died away for a short while as the British, and Websters Bgde in particular, prepared themselves to break clear of the woods and break through the American second line. Virginian militia held this position, now supported by the rifles of Lynch and Campbell and Cavalry under Washington and Lee, plus the latter's resilient infantry. A good number of the militia had already fled, fearing what was about to befall them, and joining the routing North Carolina men off the field, Webster's attack went in with the fresh light companies of the Guards leading with the 33rd and 23rd supporting. The 100 Guardsmen routed the Virginian militia at the point of bayonet, as the 33rd drove back the still game riflemen under Lynch. Washington's horse was frantically ordered to 'Get Back' to support the Continental held third line on its left flank. Webster's men had cleared the second line and now advanced on the hill. Before them American troops fell back or routed toward the waiting Continentals. Washington's dragoons forced their way through these retreating infantry as the Jaegers now led Webster's advance, trading shots with the determined riflemen, as the fire from the two American cannon beat the air above. On the British right the two foot Guard Bn's were now also at the wood edge and their combined fire of some 600 muskets now flayed the remaining Virginian militia before them. The militia returned volley for volley and despite giving ground, their fighting spirit made the 1st Guards falter when they seemed ready to charge, the safety of the wood edge andf firing away seemed to suit them better. During this musketry duel, Col. Norton of the 1st Guards took a severe musket ball wound to the head and this no doubt helped lessen the Guards wish to advance. The von-Bose, at the end of the line of Guardsmen had, finally, worn down Lee's splendid infantry detachment, but was then charged by Col. Lee with his cavalry. In a ragged state though they were, the Hessians put in a steady fire that halted this charge just short of their muzzles. Alas as Zeiser and the rest of Webster's men came on the game ran out of time and Greene could quit the field with his precious Continentals untouched. His losses were 206, with the Virginian militia losing 110, & Lee's hard bitten infantry 48 out of 80 ! Some 1,000 militia were also 'scattered'. Cornwallis' losses were 391 ; the 71st with 85, the 23rd, 77, & the 1st Guards, 65, the three heaviest hit. By comparison, the 23rd's fellow Bn, the 33rd took only 7 !


For the full AAR including in game photographs (Facebook) see here

[von Lucky]

Lovely looking game. In a lovely setting.

[dampfpanzerwagon]

This is a great looking gaming table.

Tony

[OSHIROmodels]

Splendid set up 

cheers

James

[wolfkarl]

Fantastic table and figures. This is one of my favorite battles and campaigns to study. Greene showed how you could win by losing. His re-building and handling of the "Southern Army" after the disaster at Camden was one the reasons that led to the British being bottled-up at Yorktown.

[Mason]

Lovely looking game.
 

[armchairgeneral]

Thanks for sharing this. Really nice looking game.

[Marine0846]

Excellent battle report.
Am now after about 30 years  starting to paint AWI again.
Seeing battles as well done as this one will get me to dig in and paint.
Thanks for the posting.

[ARKOUDAKI]

Looks like a lot of fun! Love the game table, especially the extras like the pig pen! Why are the FB photos not of the same quality as what you posted above??? Just asking...

[Jabba]

ARKOUDAKI,

The Facebook photos were taken by a different person. I took the ones posted here on my phone first thing on the Saturday morning.

Tony.

[Baron von Nickedoften]

Greene showed how you could win by losing. His re-building and handling of the "Southern Army" after the disaster at Camden was one the reasons that led to the British being bottled-up at Yorktown.

What's interesting about the way Greene is represented is that authors focus on this (which is fair enough, as it is the end result that counts), but invariably miss the fact that his four main battles - Guilford, Hobkirk's Hill, Siege of Ninety Six, and Eutaw - should all have been victories, but weren't because he mis-managed major advantages such as choice of terrain, superior numbers, etc.

[FifteensAway]

Love that you went vertical for the third line - pity you didn't get to the British having to assault up that steep hill.  Seems to be the norm to always game this battle along the long axis of a gaming table.  I hope to game it one day using the short axis of the table to give more 'flank' to the game.  Of course, I do game in 15 mm so that does make it easier.  It is, indeed, a very nice looking game and I, too, appreciate the extra detailing.