I thought I would write up a battle report on Sven\'s and myself AWI project at Tactica.The scenario is Bunker Hill that was fought on June 17 1775 near Boston on the Charleston neck.
The Rebels(American\'s) commanded by Major General Putnam had dug in on Breeds Hill near Bunker Hill with the intent of bringing up heavy guns to bombard the British occupying Boston.This of course could not be tolerated by the British and thus Lt.General Howe moved against the works with his crack British regulars to remove the upstart American militia.
The rebels continued to strengthen their works while the townsfolk went on with their daily lives of transporting materials,harvesting the wheat and tending the farms.
Until the beating of drums and the steady marching sounds herald the arrival of the kings troops.This soon will put a stop to all regular daily activities as the townsfolk seek their wagons to get out of the immediate area of the oncoming battle.
Meanwhile the rebels man the redoubt,fletches , rail fence and begin arming their muskets for what they believe will be a hard day to come,but are resolute to not give any ground.
Under cover from barrages of cannon fire the British regulars look up at the imposing works on the hill and begin their march to push the rebels off their works.
Beginning with some flank attacks the British attempted to hit the rebel right flank but were reduced to a crawl from first heavy skirmish fire supported by a small cannon and volleys from the redoubt.Seeing no progress there the British then resolved for a fast attack on the rail fence on the rebel left but once again were halted from withering flanking fire from the fletches combined with heavy fire from the front left the badly mauled British in a severe state of disorder that the assault on the rail fence only resulted in brutal repulse and forced a withdraw to regroup.
However,the British were not finished yet, and with a heroic effort decided to redouble their efforts and assualt the left side of the redoubt itself to include the forward fletches.Pushing through a hail of musket fire that caused havoc in the ranks the redcoats made it to the redoubt.Musket to musket with savage clubbing and thrusting of bayonets both sides struggled for supremacy in which it looked as if the British might make it into the redoubt,but the Americans rallied and stormed right back with renewed vigor.With a whole day of marching up and down a battlefield,going uphill and repeated assaults through heavy fire proved just to much for the British and they fell back from the redoubt.Gen.Howe was forced to withdraw leaving the rebels in control of the redoubt.
This weekend the Americans won both engagements but we have fought the battle at my house where the British did succeed in getting into the redoubt.The scenario is a tougher one for the British,but can be won as was proven earlier.
Historical outcome-Historically the British did win the engagement,but it took them three assaults with the rebels running out of ammo to do it.They suffered so many casualties(around half) that never again did the British attempt frontal assaults on redoubts or similar fortifications for the duration of the war.
I would like to thank everyone who played in the game at Tactica as each and everyone showed great sportsmanship and patience making it a great weekend of gaming. :sm_pirate_biggrin:
Cheers
Christopher
