"Battle of Blandensburg" Topic

Well, 201 years ago today, the British defeated the US at the Battle of Bladensburg and went on to capture and burn Washington.

Anyone planning on gaming this battle soon. If so, what rules are you using.

Mark

I've looked at using the scenario from Rockets Red Glare, but I used the GAG Rules, available from the Gettysburg Area Gamers website. It's listed as F&I, but we use it for FIW to 1812 with no issues.

Eric

I am in the process of researching the order of battle for Bladensburg, which we will probably game in about nine months. There is so much American militia to paint.

We use General de Brigade (20:1 in 28mm) with a growing addendum to reflect War of 1812 aspects. GdeB is ideal for War of 1812 scenarios, which are generally division level and below.

Chuck Smith has a great War of 1812 blog and has recently posted some info on Bladensburg. He also uses GdeB.
link

So, what is your plan to game Bladensburg.

P.S. If you are using the Osprey War of 1812 Chesapeake Campaign book for OOBs, caution there are errors in the OOB for Bladensburg and North Point.

Rod

We gamed this once, back in the 1970's, and it was a total waste of time. Peninsular War veterans, including some Light Division "supermen." American Militia could not even change frontage while the British stayed in column behind an active skirmish screen, and marched all around the militia, on to Washington.

GdeP

We've done this one a couple of times. To really do it right, you need to have a US Cabinet member (Monroe) riding around the battlefield countermanding orders and moving units. And, of course, Admiral Cockburn pulling rank and giving totally clueless orders on the British side.

I am thinking about using Regimental Fire and Fury in 15mm. I seem to recall that Rich Hasenauer did a game on the Battle at an HMGS con a while back. However, I can find anything on it on the Fire and Fury site.

Mark

I used to do Bladensburg years ago, using French Naps for American regulars and AWI militia for their 1812 successors. The Americans kept winning until we stacked the rules heavily against them.

If I did it again I would have multiple American players, and have those commanding militia receive victory points based on casualty minimization.