"Battle of Brandywine" Topic

A group of us here in Peoria, Illinois got together for a fun game. Still working on my terrain collection, like my miniature collection its a never ending process. lol
We used the American War of Independence Rules: link
The miniatures are a mix of 15mm.
We started at noon and finished up the game by 4:30pm

Chad's Ford is in the background on the left.
link

Cornwallis Command is advancing against Sullivan's Division.
link

17th Light Dragoons on the flank of one of General de Borre's regiments.
link

The Germans pushing across Chad's Ford.
link

Here's a pic from our Battle of Cowpens back in October.

link

Were the Germans, etc, allowed to cross the ford in line of battle? Games look fun. :-)

Is there a specific figure scale (1:20?) for "American War of Independence", or are the rules flexible in scale?

Also, what do you think of the rules in general?

Jeff

Considering the OP published the rules, I would think he thinks a lot of them… ;)

D'OH!!!!

Okay, I'll try again. Please tell us a little more about what the rules are like. Thanks!

Jeff

For as many times I have driven through there never stopped. Keep saying next time I drive through Paoli I stop too.

historygamer: The German Brigade took a pounding trying to cross Chad's Ford. By the time I took the picture, I believe that was the last German Regiment still able to advance. British side still had more Regiments (Brigade) moving up behind them. By this time most of the American units on and around the hills were worn down and failing morale.

Jeigheff: One miniature represents approx. 20 – 30 men. So a two fig stand would be a company. A four fig stand would be a division (2 companies). A regiment has 20 figs. Four Division stands and One Command stand. You can use either inches or centimeters for range, based on the scale of your miniatures, but one = five yards. I'm biased since I wrote them, but yes I like them… A Lot. lol

I was tired of playing black powder rules where each player moved their units. Each player fired their units, each side rolled morale and then repeated until there was a winner. So I didn't re-invent the wheel or anything like that, I just wanted to make the player a commander on the table and give them more options to lead their units around on the gaming table. So here is a brief run down of the rules.

Each Regiment or Unit has three actions they can spend to move, shoot, rally, reload, charge or melee. (There are more options but those are the basic ones) The turn is broken down into three phases. So if you are in command of a brigade of three regiments. In your first phase you can move one regiment, shoot another and reload the third or any combination you choose. In your second phase you again decide what you want to do with each unit you command and same for the third phase.
Shooting is based on the quality of your troops (Veteran, Regulars, Green, Trained or Untrained),the distance and any modifiers that effect your shooting.
Most units start out at a Morale status of Steady, but as they take casualties and get worn down. Their morale status drops to Disordered, Shaken, Fatigued to Panic. As a units morale degrades, it effects their shooting and how many actions the units has to continue and its harder to pass morale when required to roll for it. Based on their morale units can keep fighting until they panic, but they won't be as effective and might not follow all of your orders.

here is a youtube link with a couple videos that can provide some examples of play and the different units. YouTube link

Thanky for all the questions, if you try them out I hope you enjoy them.
Rusty

14Bore,
I live in Illinois but every couple years we make a trip out east to visit the AWI and ACW battlefields. Between trips, we're stuck reading up on the battles from home. lol

"The German Brigade took a pounding trying to cross Chad's Ford."

I'm not sure, but that wasn't my question. My question was whether they were allowed to cross in line of battle, which would historically be incorrect for crossing a ford. The hazard of crossing a defended ford – especially if defended by artillery – is that you have to do so in column. The picture shows what looks like the unit displayed in line at the waterline, thus why I asked.

Accounts of the battle indicate that the storming of the ford was done in column of companies--there was no way to cross otherwise.

IIRC, in the historical battle 4th of Foot went across first.

Historygamer: I understand what your asking now. No the German battalion had crossed in open column. Dave (player) was in the process of changing formation from column to line when I took the picture. So he pulled his hand out of the way, I took the pic and then he finished lining up his figs.

The rules make it possible for a cannon ball to bounce and continue on and cause more casualties. The first two German Battalions that tried to cross were in column and were chewed up with the artillery on the hills firing down on them. Twice, cannon rounds bounced along the column! With the British using their artillery against the Americans on the hill, plus infantry along the edge of the river shooting across. They were able to start causing the Americans to check morale.

Virginia Tory: You are correct on the historical battle. In the AWI rules, you can place your battalion in close order column, open order column or extended order column. Extended order in the rules would be comparable. Dave (player) tried sending his first two battalions across in open order column. They were chewed up and didn't succeed. He changed his tactics pretty quick after that. lol

Each player was given historical commands but they could choose their own strategy when attacking or defending.

Thanky for the post and questions.

Ironwolf--Good stuff!

Also shows why it was a long time before Knyphausen ordered his men to force the creek. If there are any significant numbers of Rebels there, especially artillery, it can be a tough day for the Crown Force.

It helped when Washington started taking off brigades to go defend his right flank. Not sure the crossing could have been done otherwise – though the goal was to feint, not necessarily attack.

Its a very interesting battle to read up on. Plus its a fun battle to put on at game cons or game days in our local shop. Normally how I set up the game is the British have two commands (Chad's Ford & the Flank attack) Americans have the same two commands. Then throw in a third command under Washington. It really puts the pressure on the player running Washington's command on where and when to reinforce.