"Battle of Bladensburg" Topic

All

I am looking to give the New General de Armee rules a run out in 18mm scale, so new rules, new figures. I'm interested in the Battle of Bladensburg but do you think there is anyway I can avoid it being as one-sided as it was in real life?

Figures wise I will be mostly looking to use Blue Moon, but may mix in some AWI or FIW figures to give some variation to my American Militia – thoughts?

Regards,

J

If you gave the Americans free deployment with troops in position at the start of the action as they should have been, they'd be pretty hard to beat. In fact the battle is a first-rate demonstration of the difference between actual bad generalship and bad staff work and typical wargame rules for the same.

In between, give the Americans free deployment, but have the last of the militia infantry and Barney's flotillamen coming up too late to occupy the earthworks. You may also need a special rule to make sure all those gathered up squadrons of militia light horse can't act like a trained regiment.

Or just have Jimmy Madison riding around countermanding the orders of the generals (he really did)!

It wasn't Madison who screwed up General Winder's dispositions, but rather Secretary of State James Monroe who took it upon himself to alter the deployment. Madison was on the field however, but retired before the actual battle commenced.

My opinion is that the Americans would have won, even with the same force consisting almost entirely of militia, if they had an experienced, forceful, and determined commander. Winder had none of those qualities, although he did try hard. It was his own fault that most of his force was only just arriving on the field at the last minute.

add more US Marines.

I have been researching and planning for this battle for over a year and as per my previous methodology; first we game the battle as historcially accurate as possible. Then we conduct a redux version of the battle that changes the sceanrio somewhat.

In the Bladensburg redux version, Major General Samuel Smith (hero of Baltimore) commands (at the highest leadership rating) all Maryland troops in an independant command. He is allowed to deploy his Marylanders any where on the battlefield (not restricted to Eastern side of the East branch as Stansbury was. Also, Smith will not tolerate any polical interference a la Monroe.

Or the wounded Windfiled Scott (who is nearby)has dramtically recovered from his wounds re Lundy's Lane and is appointed by Madison to command all troops. More/better (leadership/command) use of the militia cavalry. There are many variations that be can realistcally applied to make the American troops to be better lead.

A great battle to game and I am looking forward to gaming it in a couple of weeks. Have fun with your game.