The Second Battle of Sawmill Village

 Having exhausted my dice in close combat, I'm repeating the game under Junior General rules. Units fight as bases and are six bases strong. As this post explains, I'm having each base stand in for two, with casualty figures to indicate odd numbers remaining. I also took fewer photos; let's try for a shorter battle report.

The rules are those in Junior General's Saratoga scenario - it has light infantry and Built-Up Area rules.

I decided to treat the first battle as the first step of a campaign, so since the French won, they start in the village and the British must come onto the field. I used different units (the originals were badly battered by the action) and also tried Charles Grant's units for his second run-through. So instead of three infantry regiments and a gun, each side had a light infantry regiment replacing one of the line regiments.

This is a good thing, since two light infantry regiments is all I've got.

The British side are the 43rd Scots, the Yorbourne Grenadiers, the 1st Loyal Highland Company and a gun, commanded by Brigadier Smith.

The Franco-Scots are the Bulkeley Regiment, Royal Ecossais, Border mercenaries and a gun, under General de Brigade Forgeron. 

The Franco-Scots hold the village with the Borderers and the gun; the regular French units will march to their assistance later, rolling a 6 on the first turn, a 5+ on the second, etc, until they both arrive.

The Brits come on in the first two turns, starting with the Highland Company.

After turn 1, the British skirmish line is halfway to the village. The French gun's line of sight is good, but out of range.

After two turns, they're even closer, but musketry range is 6", so still no firing. The Royal Ecossais come on in response to messages from the garrison, accompanied by their brigadier. As the skirmishers move at 6", the British troops follow suit and shake into line.

On the third turn, the British come into musket range, and the Highland Company's fire into the village is deadly accurate.

On the fourth, the French form into line on the left and all fire goes into the skirmishers. 17 dice and a single six to hit! The British skirmishers move to their right to give the line regiments room to charge. The battle goes poorly - despite outnumbering, having the general present, and a grenadier unit, the desperate mercenary Scots drive the British back!

On the other hand, the British gun is in position to pour fire into the village. The Scots are punished for their resistance.

Then the French line go in. Ecossais and Bulkeley, the cream of the foreigners in French service, drive the Highland Company off. 

The British gun would seem to be in trouble at this point. The Irish wheel to take it in flank ... but they fail their morale check to charge, obviously daunted by the thought of a charge of canister in the face. Instead, the gunners blast the village again, which is probably well and truly afire at this point as the skirmishers are driven out!

The British line march back into the fight, but the 43rd Highlanders take a volley from the Ecossais. The Irish pluck up courage and charge into the British gun. The luck of the Irish is with them as the gun misses! Impressively, the gunners pass morale and then hold their ground in melee.

The 43rd desperately charge the Ecossais, settling old scores with fellow Scots in the melee and their commanders urging them on. The exiles lose this one, but the Wild Geese nearby manage to eliminate the English gun.

At this point, the British have taken severe casualties, including a precious cannon. But the French have lost their skirmishers and the village. Generals Smith and Forgeron exchange haughty nods across the field. There will be another day.

A much faster and simpler game than my last try. I made enough mistakes and reversed decisions, though, that I'm even more interested in Free-Kriegspiel style now. Every game provides new ideas and seeds for the next.