Well, I finally got back and re based some more of my French and Indian war troops! Since I now have guns again, I decided to the battery scenario from the rule book to get them on the table. I just finished the Indians the other night, so I included them too.
The table was set up with an open center, with a string of hills running along the center line. The boarders of the terrain were covered in fields, woods, swamp and a farmstead. The French would have the battery and would be the defender. Two guns and a company of infantry would be defending the hill. The French reserves would include Native Americans and more French fusiliers.
The British forces would set up on the opposite side of the table. They would include regular infantry, some elite grenadiers and a unit of skirmishing militia. The British would have the first turn.
The British plan was to move forward and cover their advance with their light troops, using skirmish fire as they approached the guns. They started their attack and followed their plan for a few turns. However, this did not work to their advantage, as the French artillery and forward infantry tore into their ranks with close order fire. As the casualties started to climb the British changed their plans and tried to enter into a firefight themselves.
The British fire had some effect and cleared one of the guns. However, their delay gave the French time to move up their reserves and solidify the position. Fire casualties pileup on both sides, but the French still held the hill.
Having pulled up their reserves, the French set up a cross fire against the British, who held the center. This caused the British to have to divert forces from the hill to face the threat. The French and Indians continued to pour in the fire.
The British did finally manage to silence the guns, now they just had to take the position! Unfortunately, the French and Indian infantry had a lot to say about that, as they continued to fire on the thinning British line.
As it seemed the British were going down, there were a series of unfortunate events (known as poor die rolls) and the French all of the sudden began to waiver and fall back. Had the British been able to wrestle victory from the jaws of defeat?
Seeing the French falling back and the guns silenced, the thin red line started to move forward to press their advantage, However, just as quickly as the tied turned for them, it turned the other way. The French recovered and, once again, started their accurate fire.
The British once again started to fall like flies, with only a fraction of their forces still combat worthy. They immediately tried to reorganize, as the French moved in for the kill. With the day looking lost, the British tried one more hail marry, charging their grenadiers over the hill to settle the score once and for all. They were successful at first, pushing over the hill and clearing the forward French. Unfortunately, the French had been holding their last reserve, a fresh company of Native Americans. They swept forward and fought a sea saw combat against he grenadiers.
Unfortunately, for the b British, they just did not have the numbers and succumbed to the counter attack. This was compounded by their company commander being gunned down in the field at the same time. In the end, the French still had the field and it was full off British losses, with scalps for everyone… A major French victory!
- Mantueffel