The Battle of Whitemarsh
December 5th, 1777
Historically, the Battle of Whitemarsh did not happen, as after General Howe probed Washington's lines outside that Pennsylvania village in early December, he declined to attack the American position. Howe was not interested in a refight of Bunker Hill, and so he fell back to winter quarters in Philadelphia. And sent in a request to give up his command in America. However as a what if battle it has some interesting possibilities, especially as we had done a refight of Germantown several months earlier which was a tactical American victory. For Howe, stung by that battle, and having already decided to resign his command in America, Howe could have well decided to toss the dice in an attempt to win a final victory before leaving the American shores.
The game was fought with troops from my collection, so that a number of formations and commanders mentioned here were not present historically. Likewise the terrain was modified for game purposes and the place names were changed to reflect local gamers and friends. I used the wing scale version of V&B which covers Warfare in America, and is based on 1" equals 25 yards, one SP = 50 men or 1 gun, and turns are 15 minutes.
The game was played on a 6' by 25' table, with the Americans holding a series of heights in front of the village of Whitemarsh. Their left was protected by Wissahickon Creek, which was considered unfordible, with the troops deployed as follows:
Between the Lower Road and Old York Pike was Sullivan's Division, with a brigade of Pennsylvania militia backed up by the Southern Continental Brigade and the Pennsylvania Continental Brigade. The American line was centered on Edgehill, with one battery of 4 8 lb. guns at the west edge, and a battery of 4 3 lb guns in the woods at the east edge of the ridge. The positions at the east edge of Edgehill were behind works, with the rest of the troops formed up behind fencelines and in woods at the east edge of the hill. Overall Sullivan had 2,350 Continentals in 7 regiments/battalions, 1,400 militia in 5 regiments/battalions, and 4 6lb and 4 3lb guns for brigade weapons for a total of 3,650 men and 16 guns.
The next American sector was between the Old York Pike and Bethlehem Pike and was commanded by General Gates. The village of Whitemarsh was directly behind Gates sector. A redoubt was built on Chesnutt Hill in front of the village and armed with 2 6lb guns, 2 4lb guns and 2 6" howitzers. The redoubt and the outworks were manned by a second brigade of Pennsylvania militia, and backed up with two brigades of Continentals that Gates had brought with him from the Northern Army. Overall Gates had 2,000 Continentals in 5 regiments/battalions, 1,450 militia in 5 regiments/battalions, and 2 6lb and 4 3lb guns for brigade weapons for a total of 3,650 men and 12 guns.
Lord Stirling was in command of third sector which was tasked with the defense of Chadwick House Hill. The house was surrounded with brick walls, and a small redoubt was built to cover the western edge of the hill and the Bethlehem Pike. Stirling commanded a brigade of New Jersey militia as well as a brigade of northern Continentals. He had 1,200 Continentals in 3 regiments/battalions, as well as 1,450 militia in six regiments/battalions. A pair each of 8 lb field guns and 6" howitzers was placed with Stirling's forces, which also had 4 4lb guns for brigade weapons, for a total of 2,650 men and 8 guns.
The far American left was where Washington expected the weight of the British attack to fall, and so he placed his best troops there under the command of Greene, Two brigades of Virginia Continentals, the Maryland Delaware Brigade, and the Corps of Light Troops under the command of Morgan where assigned to Greene.
A redoubt was constructed on Kelly's Knob at the hinge of the American line, and manned with 2 12 lb guns and 2 4 lb guns. Greene had 3,300 Continentals in nine regiments/battalions, as well as 600 riflemen in three small battalions, and another battalion of Light Infantry with 300 men under Dearborn. One rifle battalion (Campbell's) was placed in the Harris Farmyard, another (Shelby's) was ordered to hold the Bliss Woodlot, and the third (Tate's) held the fences about the Bliss Wheatfield. Dearborn's Light Infantry was used as a reserve linking Campbell's and Shelby's battalion. The 1st Virginia Brigade was assigned to hold Kelly's Knob, the 2nd Virginia Brigade was the hinge of Greene's line, while the Maryland Delaware held the far left backstopping Morgan's troops. There were 8 6 lb guns assigned as brigade weapons, so Greene had 4,200 men with 12 guns.
Total American forces were 9,550 Continentals, 4,400 militia and 48 guns.
Howe's plan also divided his army into four wings. On his far left, General Knyphausen had three brigades of German troops two musketeer brigades and one grenadier brigade. Each brigade had a small battalion of jaegers as well as a detachment of brigade artillery. Overall Knyphausen had 12 regiments/battalions totaling 3,850 men, along with 6 6 lb guns and 4 3 lb guns. Knyphausen was ordered to operate against the American position on Edgehill by caring out a pinning attack to prevent the Americans moving reinforcements to their left.
To Knyphausen's right, Lord Percy operated in command of three brigades of British line infantry, reinforced with a battery of 4 12 lb guns. Percy had ten regiments under his command, totaling 3,450 men, supported by 6 6lb guns serving as brigade artillery. Percy's orders were to also carry out a pinning attack on Chesnutt Hill. In effect, Knyphausen and Percy were to pin the Americans in place so the British right could hammer them and roll up the line.
General Grant's command was part of the hammer with which Howe planned to carry out his plan. Grant commanded the Highland Brigade two battalions each of the 42nd and 71st Foot, as well as the two super sized battalions of light infantry. The two brigades each had 4 3 lb guns, and a pair of 6 lb guns and 5.5" howitzers completed his command, Overall, Grant had 6 battalions totaling 3,100 infantry, all of whom were considered as shock infantry, and ten guns.
To Grant's right, Lord Cornwallis commanded the other half of Howe's "hammer" with the two large battalions of grenadiers, along with the two battalions of the Brigade of Guards on American Service, as well as his own 33rd Foot. Two sets of 4 6 lb guns served as brigade guns for his command, and he was also supported by a pair of 6 lb guns and 5.5" howitzers. This command numbered 5 battalions/regiments with 2,350 men, along with 12 guns.
Howe's command numbered 12,750 men and 44 guns fewer men then Washington had, but all of his troops were professional soldiers. To hold the works outside Philadelphia he left an additional brigade of British infantry, as well as two Hessian brigades. As well as a number of Loyalist units.
In contrast all of Washington's militia, and 80% of his Continentals were considered as PT (Poorly Trained), meaning that in the V&B world that they did not get a free facing, moved at a rate of 12" instead of 16", and fought with one less die per formed infantry stand getting only 2 dice as PT as opposed to 3 dice. The only Continental units considered as being equal to the British line was the Maryland Delaware Brigade, the 1st Rhode Island, Dearborn's Light Infantry, and the 14th Continental.
Both commanders drew up their plans based on a sketch of the battlefield, and issued ordered to their commanders. As mentioned, Washington planned to use his militia to hold his front line, keeping the Continentals in reserve. If the British failed to press their attack all along the line, the Continental's could be shifted as needed. Washington's deployment of his left was a gamble his best troops were placed where he expected the weight of the British attack to fall. However his Continentals would be able to shift to reinforce Greene if Howe failed to press his attack, and the Americans would be operating on interior lines.
Howe's plan was that which Washington was planning for, but it had its merits. With luck, the weight of the elite of the British Army would fall on and crush Greene's command before Washington could react. Once the best of Washington's army was smashed, the British could roll up Washington's command before it could redeploy. Caught between the pinning force of Knyphausen and Percy, and the hammer of Grant and Cornwallis, Howe could win his glorious victory before he returned home to England
Unknown to either commander some of their sub commanders were operating under slightly different orders issued by the game master. The player serving as Gates was reminded that his friends in Congress were seeking to remove Washington from command, and give that post to himself due to his victory at Saratoga. Accordingly if the battle were to go badly for the American cause, Gates needed to see that he kept his troops intact to cover the American retreat, and provide him a nucleus to rebuild the Continental Army. If things went well for the American cause, Gates needed to be seen as a key player on the battlefield.
In the case of Knyphausen and Percy, a similar set of additional orders were given. Knyphausen was reminded that when the German soldiers arrived in America in 1776, they were regarded by both sides as being some of the finest troops in the world. Since then defeats at Trenton, Red Bank/Fort Mercer, and Bennington have lowered the regard that the German solders are held. They are no longer considered as worthy of serving in the front line of battle, and it is time to once again show both sides what the German soldier is able to do, and storming Edgehill would prove that fact.
For Lord Percy, his orders have reminded him that he has asked to be recalled to England due to his unhappiness with the cause here in America. He is opposed to the idea of American Independence, but the Americans starting off demanding their rights as "free born Britons", a cause that Percy supported prewar. He has been accused of being "soft" on the rebels, and so he does not wish to sit waiting while he can prove his ability as a commander before returning home.
At 10 AM in the morning the British advance was sounded by the firing of the 12 lb guns attached to Lord Percy. Knyphausen pushed his Jaegers across Whitemarsh Creek below Edgehill to harass the American militia and moved his Musketeer Brigade across the creek along the lower road. Von Dirfurth covered the flank of the other two battalions, and suffered from the fire of the American artillery. Von Knyphausen's Brunswick brigade advanced to the right of the Hessians, but were delayed by the need to move through dense woods. In the center Lord Percy advanced slowly on Whitemarsh, crossing the creek as well and driving back a battalion of American militia riflemen.
On the British right, Grant threw detachments of light infantry to screen his troops and drive back the American light troops. His highlanders and the remainder of the light infantry advanced behind the screen. Cornwallis was more aggressive, tossing his 2nd Battalion of grenadiers forward at the Harris farm which was held by elements of Campbell's rifle battalion. The riflemen has thought that they were out of charge range of the grenadiers, but the use of a "Fog of War" card by Cornwallis (Good going add 1 D6 movement) allowed the grenadiers to melee the stunned riflemen. Two SP's were lost by the riflemen, the unit went into exhaustion, and collapsed. The remainder of the 1st Battalion of grenadiers followed to the 2nd Battalions flank, but where not able to close to contact.
Morgan brought Dearborn's light infantry into position to form a new line on the far side of the Harris Farm, and attempted to rally the remains of Campbell's riflemen along the fence line. (Dearborn's command was one of the few that could actually carry out this operation as it was not considered as PT) They fired a volley into Grenadiers, and Washington ordered Stirling to shift one of his Continental regiments to support Greene. Along Edgehill the American light artillery found itself trading shots with the jaegers, who remained outside the range of the American muskets. The American artillery continued to fire at the units of Kpyphausen and Percy all along the front.
The second turn of the game found Knyphausen bring on his grenadiers on to support his musketeers who advanced into the woods between Wissahickon Creek and the Lower Road/ Von Dirfurth stood fast covering their flank, and was pounded yet again by the American batteries on Edgehill. The jaegers continued to skirmish against the rest of the ridge, while two Brunswick battalions advanced behind them into the meadows along the creek
The 9th Foot charged two American militia regiments holding fences on either side of the Old York Pike, and successfully routed both, opening the way for the rest of the 1st Brigade to follow. However the losses taken by the 9th in its advance put it into exhaustion, after which additional casualties from American artillery removed it from play. On the Bethlehem Pike the 27th Foot advanced as well also routing an American militia battalion. Lord Percy now found himself in a position to attack Chesnutt Hill from two sides, while still pounding it with his 12 lb guns.
On Grant's front, the light infantry and the highlanders advanced on the American lines, covered by the skirmishers. On the far right, Cornwallis hurled the 2nd Grenadier battalions at the attempt to reform the American line at the Harris Farm, while the 1st Grenadiers continued to cover its flank. The Guards Brigade followed up in support of the grenadiers. One wing of the 2nd routed the remains of Campbell's riflemen, but the other wing crashed into Dearborn's Light Infantry and was repulsed. The other grenadier battalion came under a hot fire from the Maryland Brigade's artillery as well as from Shelby's riflemen. Greene sent in the 2nd Maryland to counterattack the 2nd Grenadiers, and to the amazement of all they drove the Grenadiers back into the Harris farmyard. When the dust cleared the 1st Grenadier Battalion had gone exhausted (on an exhaustion number of a 9!!) while the 2nd Grenadier Battalion was getting close as well.
On the third turn the British advance continued all along the front with mixed results. Knyphausen continued to storm the gap between Edgehill and Wissahickon Creek with von Bose forcing the American riflemen out of the woods. However the American battery continued to keep up their fire pushing von Dirfurth into exhaustion, and ignoring the counterbattery fire that von Knyphausen directed on that redoubt, switched their fire to the advancing grenadiers. In the meadow along Whitemarsh Creek, the Brunswick battalions deployed into line of battle, covered by the remains of the jaegers.
On Lord Percy's front the 7th Foot continued to drive through the woods along the Old York Pike, driving the American riflemen out of their positions. The 23rd Foot, 43rd Foot and 27th Foot stormed the American redoubt on Chesnutt Hill advancing on opposite sides of the American position to maximize their attack. The American militia however, was secure behind their works, and supported by the Continental Artillery, and managed to drive the British forces back in disorder,
However the British attack on the Chadwick House was far more successful. Percy sent the 63rd and 64th Foot against the redoubt at the end of the hill overlooking the Bethlehem Pike and routed the militia holding that position. Leslie sent in the 2nd Battalion of the 42nd Foot, supported by the Grenadiers of the 42nd against the remainder of the hill, and forced the rest of the militia back as well. The Tyron County militia was forced back as well, opening a gap between the American positions on Kelley Knob and the Chadwick House
The Light Infantry continued to skirmish against the defenders of the Wheat Field, while the light guns took up a position where they could fire against the 3rd Virginia Regiment at the hinge of Greene's line. On the far right Cornwallis rallied the 2nd Grenadier battalion, and throw them against the 2nd Maryland across the Harris farmyard one more them. Once against the 2nd Maryland stood fast, and the grenadiers fell back to their starting point. Cornwallis brought the 33rd Foot and the Bridge of Guards up to support the grenadiers, and ordered his artillery to concentrate on the guns supporting the Maryland-Delaware Brigade.
The British attack on Chadwick Hill caught the Americans on the wrong foot. Worried about the weight of Cornwallis' command, Washington had ordered Lord Stirling to send his best regiment the 1st Rhode Island to move to support Greene. Lord Stirling followed his orders and shifted the 1st New Jersey to shift over to cover the 1st Rhode Island's position. He requested that Gates to shift a regiment to replace the 1st New Jersey, but Gates declined until he knew the results of the Chesnutt Hill fight.
Lord Stirling rallied the militia on the slopes of Chadwick House Hill and ordered it to exchange volleys with the 42nd, and ordered Webb's Additional Regiment to counterattack against the 63rd and 64th Foot. The red coated men of Webb's command drove the 63rd and 64th Foot back in disorder, but failed to drive them fully out of the redoubt. The 1st New Jersey and 1st Rhode Island were ordered back to support Lord Stiring's men, but the fact that they were badly out of position happened at a critical moment in time.
On Greene's front, he ordered the 2nd Maryland to once again go after the Grenadiers, and they crossed the Harris Farmyard one more time. The 2nd Grenadier Battalion went exhausted and collapsed, with the remnants of the battalion routing to the rear. The two rifle battalions in the wheat field and in Bliss's woodlot continued to hold out.
At the start of the 4th turn, Howe found that the attacks at his flanks were both in danger of failing, the American position on Chesnutt Hill had held, but that the attack on Chadwick Hill threatened to break the American line in two. On the far left, Knyphausen continued to press his attack on the Edgehill redoubt, as well as turning the American flank. Lord Percy pulled his troops back from Chesnutt Hill in order to allow them to reorganize out of range, but continued to support Leslie in his attack on Chadwick House
On the British right, Grant ordered his light infantry to clear the Wheatfield at the point of the bayonet, while Cornwallis ordered the Brigade of Guards to retake the Harris Farmyard as well as the Bliss Woodlot. Cornwallis had the best success of the turn, with the 2nd Battalion of the Guards meleeing the 2nd Maryland and destroying them, The 33rd Foot attacked Dearborn's Light Infantry and pushed it back, exhausting it in the process. The 1st Battalion of the Foot Guards advanced into the Bliss Woodlot, clearing it of Shelby's riflemen and destroying that unit.
Grant's light infantry were successful as well. The skirmishers of the light infantry silenced the brigade gun section of the 2nd Virginia Brigade, while two wings of the light infantry stormed the Wheatfield and wiped out Tate's riflemen at the point of the bayonet. The 3# guns of the light infantry continued to batter the 3rd Virginia Regiment, causing it to go exhausted.
On Chadwick House Hill events were not as successful as before. The 1st battalion of the 71st tried to exploit the gap between Chadwick Hill and Kelley Knob, and was exhausted in the process. The 2nd battalion of the 42nd pushed on to clear the American militia out of the Chadwick House yard, it was only partly successful. A stubborn knot of Dover County militia held off the 42nd, supported by the light guns of the 1st Continental Artillery. An attack by elements of the 63rd and 64th Foot to push Webb's Continentals out of the redoubt area failed as well, with the two regiments falling back in disorder.
On the rest of Lord Percy's front, events slowed down. The 7th Foot and 43rd Foot had been driven back in disorder across Whitemarsh Creek, so Percy ordered them to fall back rather then let them recover from disorder under the close range of the American guns. The 4th Foot advanced against the redoubt; its fire combined with the support of the 12# guns silenced one of the American batteries. In addition, the British Artillery on Bethlehem Road managed to break the men of Warner's Continental Regiment and push them back.
On Knyphausen's front, events went from bad to worse. The Brunswick troops moved across the meadow at the base of Edgehill covered by the Jaegers, but the jaegers were all but wiped out in the process. On the lower road few things went right for the Hessians. Counter battery fire silenced one of the field gun section is the redoubt, but an attempt by the Linsing Grenadier Battalion was repulsed with the battalion going into disorder. A charge out of the woods by von Bose against the Georgians was also driven back in disorder, with part of the Anspach Regiment being disordered as von Bose fell back. With half of his battalions on the Lower Road now exhausted, events hung in the balance.
For Washington, the turn had been a nail biter, and it was not over yet. Chadwick House Hill had not fallen, and his line was not broken yet. On his far left Greene sent in the Delaware Continentals to cross bayonets with the 33rd and though the attack failed to dislodge the 33rd that command went exhausted and then suffered a morale collapse. In his center Greene ordered the 2nd Virginia Brigade to form a new line in the Bliss Farmyard and await the British advance our of close range of the light infantry's 3# guns.
Lord Stiring took advance of the time gained by the Dover County militia to get the 1st New Jersey back into a position on the far side of the Chadwick House Hill, as well as by reforming the militia in the woods behind the hill. Webb's Regiment remained in position on the hill, though they had not been able to recapture the redoubt. Chesnutt Hill was hit by British artillery, with the result that most of the guns there were out of action. In fact at this point in the battle, the difference in artillery strategies had shown up the British concentrated on counter battery first and infantry second. The American artillery concentrated on the British infantry and counter battery second. By the end of the turn no less then six American gun sections were out of action, as compared to two British sections.
The relative success of the American strategy can be best seen on the Lower Road area. Of the ten American cannon in this area four were out of action but the Hessian infantry had suffered great losses and things then got worse. Moultrie ordered his Georgia troops and Continental Marines to counterattack von Bose and the 1st Anspach-Beyreuth. Two of the Hessian stands failed morale, and setoff a chain reaction of panic that broke von Bose (they routed, exhausted, and failed their collapse check in a singe turn. All three grenadier battalions were exhausted, and the one surviving musketeer battalion had a single point to give before it followed in turn.
For turn five, Knyphausen realized that his attack had failed on the lower road, and ordered his troops to withdraw across Whitemarsh Creek. He ordered the Brunswick Brigade to continue it assault on the other end of the hill, in the hopes of breaking the militia there. The von Rhetz battalion cracked the center of the American line, routing back the Orange County and Halifax County Militia Regiments. However the 1st and 2nd Pennsylvania Battalions at the edge of the hill held fast, and drove back the von Riedesel Battalion. The 3rd Pennsylvania Battalion had been placed behind the militia as a backstop, and as the militia routed back it was already in position to seal the gap.
Lord Percy sent the 4th Foot up against the Chesnutt Hill Redoubt, and one wing of broke in, now that the majority of the guns here had been silenced. The 1st Brigade regrouped along the Old Yorke Pike in the hopes of supporting the Brunswick attack on Edgehill, but it was not to be. The 38th Foot was ordered to march toward Chesnutt Hill to support the 4th Foot, while the 5th Foot attacked the western edge of Chadwick Hill. There, however, Webb's Regiment continued to hold their ground, and sent the 5th Foot back down the slope in disorder.
Grant realized that the hope of any British victory depended on his command, and ordered his remaining troops forward. The 1st Battalion of the 42nd Foot climbed up to the Chadwick House yard, and replaced the 2nd Battalion. The last elements of the Dover County Militia were driven off the hill, but the guns and Webb still held out on the eastern edge
The light infantry concentrated on Kelly's Knob, with Grant concentrating the fire of all of his guns from three directions in an attempt to carry that position. If he could carry that position along with Chadwick House Hill, the American line might be broken yet. The light infantry sharpshooters began to take a toll of Continental gunners on the knob, but the 1st Virginia Brigade held fast.
On the far right Cornwallis halted his attack and stared to pull his troops back to the Wirsing farmyard to use its stone buildings and walls as a redoubt. The two battalions of Guards were still effective, but the remainder of his force was exhausted. Cornwallis hoped that Greene might be tempted into following up, and being able to bloody Greene's nose in turn.
In the American turn, events continued to shine on the American cause. With Moultrie having already driven von Knyphausen Hessians back across Whitemarsh Creek, Sullivan concentrated on sealing the breech on the center of Edgehill. The 2nd South Carolina moved up to cover one side of the breech, while the 3rd Pennsylvania went stationary while the 1st Pennsylvania Battalion shifted to cover the other flank. Von Rhetz was not only contained, but placed in a position where it would be involved in a firefight at heavy odds.
Worried about the Chesnutt Hill Redoubt, Gates had moved the 14th Continental Regiment (Glover's Marbleheaders) into the redoubt to replace the lost guns. The 1st New York was ordered to take up a position covering the Bethlehem pike. His remaining Continentals continued to cover the Old Yorke Pike, and their appearance was able to prevent Lord Percy's redcoats from advancing towards them.
Lord Stirling was suddenly able to catch his breath, as the 1st New Jersey had returned to secure the woods behind the Chadwick House. Webb's Regiment continued to hold the eastern edge of the Chadwick House Hill as well as a lodgment in the farmyard. Supporting fire from Kelly's Knob exhausted the 1st Battalion of the 71st Foot, and the 1st Rhode Island advanced to drive back the Highland light infantry that had advanced into the gap between Chadwick House Hill and Kelly's Knob.
On the far left flank, Greene shifted from a defensive mode to an offensive mode, though he ignored troops that Lord Cornwallis was gathering about the Wirsing farmyard. Instead he screened those troops with the remains of Morgan's command and elements of the 2nd Virginia Brigade, and shifted the remainder of the Maryland Delaware Brigade towards the Bliss farm. The 1st North Carolina Regiment charged into the Bliss wheat field catching elements of the 2nd Light Infantry Battalion in skirmish order, and caught formed elements of the 2nd Battalion in the flank.
As the British turn started on turn six, they made one last attempt to crack Washington's line. Offensive operations ended on von Knyphausen's front as his troops continued to fall back, with von Rhetz retiring from its position on Edgehill before it lost its firefight. Lord Percy sent the 4th Foot against Chesnutt Hill, and part of the regiment managed to get over the walls of the redoubt into the works, though the majority of the 4th fell back in disorder. The 5th Foot attacked Chadwick House Hill in cooperation with the 1st Battalion of the 42nd Foot, and drove Webb's Regiment off the hill exhausted, as well as over running the American guns there. However the Highlanders were exhausted in the process, and the 5th Foot took heavy losses.
Grant's attack on Kelly's Knob faltered s the battle for Bliss's wheat field broke out anew. His light infantry was forced to counterattack in turn the 1st North Carolina, and though he stopped that unit's advance, it ended any chances of a concentrated assault on Kelly's Knob by his command. Cornwallis continued to hold his position, though he shifted one of his remaining Guard's battalions to threaten the Bliss woodlot.
Turn six of the American turn proved to be decisive as both Gates and Greene launched limited counterattacks. Gates ordered the 14th Continental to drive the 4th Foot out of the Chesnutt Hill Redoubt. The regiment not only drove the British out of the redoubt, but also charged into the disordered troops of the 4th Foot at the foot of the hill. The remains of the 4th failed morale, and routed back through the 38th Foot, which had moved up to support the 4th. The 14th Continentals carried out a breakthrough, which brought them into contact with now disordered 38th Foot, which routed as well, falling back through the British gun line. Gates also sent the 1st New York to help Lord Stiring's command out, and in a quick firefight the 5th Foot went exhausted as well. The British held Chadwick House Hill at last, but both battalions of the 42nd were exhausted, and the 1st Rhode Island was advancing on the hill from the east.
On Greene's front the Delaware Regiment and 1st Maryland advanced into the Bliss wheat field, and drove out the 2nd Light Infantry Battalion, exhausting it and sending it back in disorder. The 1st Battalion of Light Infantry was close to exhaustion from fire from Kelly's Knob, and the Brigade of Guards was close to exhaustion as well. Howe realized that his attack had failed, and withdrew into the works covering Philadelphia, with the hope that Washington might be tempted to attempt to storm the British works.
After regrouping according to the V&B campaign rules, British casualties were reported as follows:
Von Knyphausen's Wing 1,450 men, 1 gun (37.6%)
Lord Percy's Wing 845 men, 1 gun (24.4%)
Grant's Wing 1,105 men, 2 guns (35.6%)
Lord Cornwallis' Wing 750 men, 2 guns (31.9%)
Total 4,105 men, 6 guns (32.2%)
Washington's losses were as follows:
Sullivan's Wing 400 men, 6 guns (5.4%)
Gates' Wing 600 men, 4 guns (16.4%)\
Lord Stirling's Wing 700 men, 2 guns (26.4%)
Greene's Wing 875 men, 5 guns (20.8%)
2,575 men, 17 guns (18.4%)
RECAP
In the end it was much closer game then the casualty total above would indicate. The British plan should have worked, though Van Knyphausen's push on his front was not part of it. Cornwallis and Grant started well, but ran into opposition that they had not counted on. The British had assumed that Washington would hold the Marylanders in reserve in the center, and move them as needed. The key to the British failure was the fact that the American artillery was tasked with shooting at British infantry and rolled well for the entire game. On three consecutive turns, the American artillery had a hit ratio of 75% or better, even with the British use of "Fog of War" cards against the American guns. Add to that the fact that the British had several key units collapse at the wrong time, and their attack failed to crack the American line.
On the American side, Washington's plan to use the militia as his first line proved to be successful. A number of units did break and run, but others managed to stand and trade volleys from behind redoubt walls and other obstacles. In fact, the New Jersey militia managed in fact to prevent the Highlanders from breaking through at the Chadwick House Hill, and purchase the time needed for the 1st New Jersey and the 1st Rhode Island to get back in position.
The fact that the majority of the Continentals were classified as PT (Poorly Trained) meant that Sullivan was not willing to launch a counterattack except under ideal conditions. Gates claimed that his defense of the Chesnutt Hill position was key to the American victory, though his failure to support Stirling was noted by the rest of the American commanders. Greene's used his troops skillfully and broke the best that the British Army had on the field. However the key American commander was judged to be Lord Stirling, for while he lost Chadwick House Hill in the end, his defense bleed the Highland Brigade dry, and prevented it from breaking Washington's line in two.
So it's Howe back into Philadelphia, and Washington is looking for winter quarters having heard about a good position at a place called Valley Forge. The campaign will continue in the spring, though it may be a different American army that takes the field next year as the handicap of being PT (Poorly Trained) for the Continentals may soon be a thing of the past.
The Battle of Whitemarsh
December 5th, 1777
The American Army:
General George Washington
Sullivan's Wing
Major General John Sullivan
Wing Troops
1st Continental Artillery 4 3# field guns 2 x 2-5 Lt
2nd Continental Artillery 4 8# field guns 2 x 2-5 Fd
Southern Continental Brigade
Brigadier General Moultrie
2nd South Carolina Regiment – 300 men 2 x 3-5 PT
5th South Carolina Regiment – 300 men 2 x 3-5 PT
Georgia "Brigade" 350 men 2 x 3-5 PT, 1 x -1-5ss
Continental Marines 250 men (@) 1 x 3-5 PT, 2 x 1-5ss
4th South Carolina Artillery 2 4# field guns 1 x 2-5 Lt
2 6# field guns 1 x 2-5 Fd
Pennsylvania Continental Brigade
Brigadier General Wayne
1st Pennsylvania Battalion 400 men 2 x 3-5 PT, 1 x 2-5 PT
2nd Pennsylvania Battalion 350 men 1 x 3-5 PT, 2 x 2-5 PT
3rd Pennsylvania Battalion 300 men 2 x 3-5 PT
4th Continental Artillery 2 6# field guns 1 x 2-5 Fd
1st Militia Brigade
Brigadier General Stevens
Prince William County Militia 300 men 2 x 3-5 PT
Middlesex County Militia 300 men 2 x 3-4 PT
Orange County Militia 300 men (@) 2 x 3-4 PT, Mi
Halifax County Militia 300 men (@) 2 x 3-4 PT, Mi
Culpepper Rifle Battalion 200 men 4 x 1-5ss, rifle
Virginia State Artillery Regiment 2 3# field guns 1 x 2-5 Lt
Gates' Wing
Major General Horiato Gates
Wing Troops
3rd Continental Artillery 2 8# field guns 1 x 2-5 Fd
2 6" howitzers 1 x 2-5 How
2 4# field guns 1 x 2-5 Lt
New England Continental Brigade
Brigadier General Hand
2nd Connecticut Regiment – 450 men 3 x 3-5 PT
8th Massachusetts Regiment – 450 men 3 x 3-5 PT
2nd Continental Artillery 2 4# field guns 1 x 2-5 Lt
Northern Continental Brigade
Brigadier General Clinton
14th Continental Regiment 400 men 2 x 3-6, 1 x 2-6
Warner's Additional Regiment 350 men 1 x 3-5 PT, 2 x 2-5 PT
1st New York Regiment 350 men 1 x 3-5 PT, 2 x 2-5 PT
3rd Continental Artillery 2 6# field guns 1 x 2-5 Fd
2nd Militia Brigade
Brigadier General Lawson
Prince George County Militia 450 men 3 x 3-5 PT
Gloucester County Militia 300 men 2 x 3-4 PT
Henrico County Militia 300 men (@) 2 x 3-4 PT, Mi
Lancaster County Militia 300 men (@) 2 x 3-4 PT, Mi
Augustus Rifle Battalion 200 men 4 x 1-5ss, rifle
Virginia State Artillery Regiment 2 3# field guns 1 x 2-5 Lt
Lord Stirling's' Wing
Major General William Alexander, Lord Stirling
Wing Troops
1st Continental Artillery 2 6" howitzers 1 x 2-5 How
2 4# field guns 1 x 2-5 Lt
2nd Northern Continental Brigade
Brigadier General Varum
1st New Jersey Regiment – 400 men 2 x 3-5 PT, 1 x 2-5 PT
Webb's Additional Regiment – 450 men 3 x 3-5 PT
1st Rhode Island Regiment 350 men 1 x 3-6, 2 x 2-6
2nd Continental Artillery 2 4# field guns 1 x 2-5 Lt
3rd Militia Brigade
Brigadier General Caswell
Dover County Militia 450 men 3 x 3-4 PT
Ulster County Militia 300 men 2 x 3-4 PT
Dublin County Militia 300 men (@) 2 x 3-4 PT, Mi
Glasgow County Militia 300 men (@) 2 x 3-4 PT, Mi
Tyron County Battalion 200 men 4 x 1-4
Greene's Wing
Major General Nathaniel Greene
Wing Troops
2nd Continental Artillery 2 12# field guns 1 x 2-5 Hy
2 4# field guns 1 x 2-5 Lt
1st Virginia Continental Brigade
Brigadier General Hugar
4th Virginia Regiment – 300 men 2 x 3-5 PT
5th Virginia Regiment- 300 men 2 x 3-5 PT
1st North Carolina Regiment 300 men 2 x 3-5 PT
1st Continental Artillery 2 6# field guns 1 x 2-5 Fd
2nd Virginia Continental Brigade
Brigadier General Muhlenberg
3rd Virginia Regiment 450 men 3 x 3-5 PT
Crockett's Western Regiment 300 men 2 x 3-5 PT
Virginia State Regiment 350 men 2 x 3-5 PT
1st Continental Artillery 2 6# field guns 1 x 2-5 Fd
Maryland-Delaware Continental Brigade
Brigadier General Smallwood
Delaware Continental 450 men 3 x 3-6 shock
1st Maryland Regiment 450 men 3 x 3-6
2nd Maryland Regiment 450 men 3 x 3-5
1st Continental Artillery 4 6# field guns 2 x 2-5 Fd
Corps of Light Troops
Colonel Daniel Morgan
Tate's Rifle Battalion 200 men 4 x 1-5ss, rifle
Shelby's Rifle Battalion 200 men 4 x 1-5ss, rifle
Campbell's Rifle Battalion 200 men 4 x 1-5ss, rifle
Dearborn's Light Infantry 300 men 6 x 1-5ss
American Notes
PT = Poorly Trained slow movement, no free facing, -1 dice to combat
Shock = Shock ability
ss = Sharpshooters
rifle Rifle armed
@ – no unit commander present must be commanded by brigade or wing
British Army
General Sir William Howe
Von Knyphausen's Wing
Lieutenant General Knyphausen
Wing Troops
von Wurmb's Jaeger's 250 men 3 x 1-5ss, rifle
2 x 1-5 ss
Ewald's Jaeger's 200 men 3 x 1-5ss, rifle
2 x 1-5 ss
Hessian Musketeer Brigade
Brigadier General von Stirn
von Bose Musketeer Battalion – 450 men 3 x 3-5
von Ditfurth Fusilier Battalion – 600 men 3 x 4-5 si
1st Regiment, Anspach-Beyreuth 600 men 3 x 4-5 si
Hessian Artillery 2 6# field guns 1 x 2-5 Fd
Hessian Grenadier Brigade
Brigadier General von Donop
Lengerke Grenadier Battalion 400 men 2 x 4-5 shock, si
Linsing Grenadier Battalion 400 men 2 x 4-5 shock, si
Minnigerode Grenadier Battalion 600 men 6 x 4-5 shock, si
Hessian Artillery 2 6# field guns 1 x 2-5 Fd
2 4# field guns 1 x 2-5 Lt
Brunswick Musketeer Continental Brigade
Brigadier General von Specht
Hinrich's Jaeger Detachment - 150 men 3 x 1 5ss, rifle
von Riedesel Musketeer Battalion 600 men 3 x 4-6
von Rhetz Musketeer Battalion 600 men 3 x 4-5
Brunswick Artillery 2 6# field guns 1 x 2-5 Fd
2 3# field guns 1 x 2-5 Lt
Lord Percy's Wing
Major General Lord Percy
Wing Troops
Royal Artillery 4 12lb field guns 2 2 x 2-6 Hy
1st Infantry Brigade
Colonel Webster
7th Regiment of Foot 300 men 2 x 2-5
9th Regiment of Foot 300 men 2 x 2-6
23rd Regiment of Foot 300 men 2 x 2-6
43rd Regiment of Foot 450 men 3 x 2-5
Royal Artillery 2 6# field guns 1 x 2-5 Fd
2nd Infantry Brigade
Colonel Stuart
27th Regiment of Foot 450 men 3 x 2-6
63rd Regiment of Foot 300 men 2 x 2-5
64th Regiment of Foot 300 men 2 x 2-5
Royal Artillery 2 6# field guns 1 x 2-5 Fd
3rd Infantry Brigade
Brigadier General Pigott
4th Regiment of Foot 450 men 3 x 2-5
5th Regiment of Foot 450 men 3 x 2-6
38th Regiment of Foot 450 men 3 x 2-5
Royal Artillery 2 6# field guns 1 x 2-6 Fd
Grant's Wing
Major General Grant
Wing Troops
Royal Artillery 2 6lb field guns 1 x 2-6 Fd
2 5.5" Howitzers 1 x 2-6 How
Highland Brigade
Brigader General Leslie
1st Battalion, 42nd Regiment of Foot 550 men 3 x 3-6 Shock, 2 x 1-6ss
2nd Battalion, 42nd Regiment of Foot 500 men 3 x 3-6 Shock, 1 x 1-6ss
Grenadiers, 42nd Regiment of Foot 150 men 1 x 3-6 Shock
1st Battalion, 71st Regiment of Foot 550 men 3 x 3-5 Shock, 1 x 1-5ss
2nd Battalion, 71st Regiment of Foot 550 men 3 x 3-5 Shock, 1 x 1-5ss
Royal Artillery 4 3# field guns 2 x 2-6 Lt
Light Infantry
Brigadier General Grey
1st Battalion, Light Infantry* 600 men 4 x 3-6 Shock, or
2 x 3-6 Shock, 6 x 1-6ss
2nd Battalion, Light Infantry* 600 men 4 x 3-6 Shock, or
2 x 3-6 Shock, 6 x 1-6ss
Royal Artillery 4 3# field guns 2 x 2-6 Lt
Cornwallis' Wing
Major General Earl of Cornwallis
Wing Troops
Royal Artillery 2 6lb field guns 1 x 2-6 Fd
2 5.5" Howitzers 1 x 2-6 How
Grenadiers
Brigader General Mathews
1st Battalion, Grenadiers* 600 men 4 x 3-6 Shock,
2nd Battalion, Grenadiers* 600 men 4 x 3-6 Shock
Royal Artillery 4 6# field guns 2 x 2-6 Fd
Brigade of Guards
1st Battalion, Brigade of Guards 350 men 2 x 3-6 Shock, 1 x 1-6ss
2nd Battalion, Brigade of guards 350 men 2 x 3-6 Shock, 1 x 1-6ss
33rd regiment of Foot 450 men 3 x 3-6
Royal Artillery 4 6# field guns 2 x 2-6 Fd
British Army Notes
Shock = Shock ability
ss = Sharpshooters
rifle Rifle armed
si = slow infantry movement rate
* – Battalion has two UC present so can fight as two separate wings.
paints brigs for the British fleet.
