"Favorite Battle from the American Revolution" Topic

What are your favorite battles from the American Revolution? I had a difficult time with this list. I had to leave out too many smaller but tactically interesting actions so went with the bigger names. If you like Please feel free to add a battle no listed. Please have fun and I look forward seeing the results.

A. Lexington and Concord
B. Bunker Hill
C. Long Island
D. Trenton (1st or 2nd) and Princeton
E. Hubbardton
F. Freeman's Farm (1st Saratoga)
G. Barber Wheat Field (2nd Saratoga)and
H. Brandywine
I. Germantown
J. Monmouth Court House
K. Springfield New Jersey (1st or 2nd)
L. Camden
M. Kings Mountain
N. Cowpens
O. Guilford Courthouse
P. Yorktown

E & N.

D

C, and perhaps H

A B D M

F

That is a tough one. I am leaning more towards the early war right now so A B and C would be my vote. Though H I and J are also good. I am just now digging into the war in the South so my answers might change!

Chris

N with a little I thrown in for seasoning.

O

A,B,D,E,F,G,J,L,and N

Q = The Battle of Chelsea Creek.

Our first naval victory of the war too with the sinking of the HMS Diana, and General Putnam didn't even have a ship in the fight.
link

Small, but also a very nice size for gaming!

R – Blue Licks
S – Fort Sackville campaign (Vincennes)
T – Siege of Fort Laurens

Q – Moore's Creek Bridge

L. Quality over quantity.
O. Same reason to a certain extent but a very finely balanced situation.

Ones I like but missing from that list.
White Plains, Hanging rock, Eutaw springs and Oriskany.

I have gamed
A
B
D1
D3
F
G
I
K
L
N
O
Q

You left out
R Bennington

Favorites
Trenton, Cowpens, Germantown
I have a long queue of battles I want to do. Some will be repeat battles.

F, H, O

M & P (the only two AWI Battlefields I have visited), so I am bias.

J

All of them

P

E. Hubbardton
O. Guilford Courthouse
D. Trenton (1st or 2nd) and Princeton

Eutaw Springs

Oh, I forgot to add Peckawe as well. George Rogers Clark in Ohio.

N, O

B, C, H & I

j

I always thought it was the most interesting

I am a fan of Harlem Heights, a patrol action that spun out of control, went wrong at certain points for both sides, and when both sides had returned to their starting positions was spun fervently, in the modern sense, by both sides in an attempt to claim the day.

42flanker, thanks for bringing up Harlem Heights, that will go on my list.

Chris

Oriskany

How could I forget the Wyoming Massacre?
Three miles from my house as the crow flies, and I've run the game 5 times!

Cowpens

Thank you for taking part in this. If this is ever done as a poll I would hope that all the battles mentioned be added to the list.

Why don't we skip the discussion and just cut to the chase. Set up the poll with all the battles listed and then vote. No need for this discussion.

A. Lexington and Concord
B. Chelsea Creek
C. Bunker Hill
D. Long Island
E. Harlem Heights
F. White Plains
G. Trenton (1st or 2nd) and Princeton
H. Hubbardton
I. Bennington
J. Oriskany
K. Freeman's Farm (1st Saratoga)
L. Barber Wheat Field (2nd Saratoga)and
M. Brandywine
N. Germantown
O. Monmouth Court House
P. Wyoming Masacre
Q. Springfield New Jersey (1st or 2nd)
R. Camden
S. Hanging Rock
T. Kings Mountain
U. Cowpens
V. Guilford Courthouse
W. Eutaw Springs
X. Yorktown
Y. Blue Licks
Z. Fort Sackville campaign (Vincennes)
AA.Siege of Fort Laurens
BB. Peckawe
CC. Moore's Creek Bridge

And I've gamed CC too.
Slight difference in that the Patriots spent their overnight "engineering points" on earthworks instead of taking up the planks on the bridge.

Isn't discussion half the fun? This is a forum after all. What do you do with a bald result?

42flanker, which is why I have posted this and other questions. I enjoy the different opinions and people bringing up battles I had not thought of. I like viewing items from a different point of view (in other threads) and have learned a lot. It is why I enjoy this board and stay here at TMP.

I looked up Chelsea Creek. Boy, does that look like fun.
A different link than provided above
link
gave 5 important results of the battle.
My favorite:
"4. Promoted Israel Putnam to General and was the first of many slights to John Stark."

I have a blue vinyl mat to cover the table. Geo-Hex to make islands. A green coat faced red Loyalist regiment that will turn coat and be the 1st New Hampshire. A nice fat sloop. Marines. Tons of militia. A barn. Livestock.
And plenty of beer.

This is why I value the AWI board so much. Obscure gaming scenarios, that may have actually existed! As the foreword to the movie American Hustle said, "Some if the events here actually happened."

Bunker Hill

Guilford is the only one I'm interested in.

Camden and Guilford make good "What Ifs" for each other. The armies in both actions were roughly the same size, and the Rebels have roughly the same percentage of Continental infantry. Aside from the Rebel mounted arm it would almost be possible to swap armies out for each other.

@Winston: yes, that is a good summary of the results of Chelsea Creek!

You will also find super detailed maps and other helpful info in the 'Final Report' pdf here: link
I went to a talk on this report at the Boston Public Library by the head archaeologist on the project, it was outstanding work.

So considering what AWI battle to do at the next convention. We ran Germantown, which is a good battle as it has lots of commands on both sides.

Thinking of Guilford, but really only two British commands and the American commands are a bit complicated since they are behind each other. Maybe two commanders up front, but you hate for the other commanders to stand around and wait till the Brits get to their line (if they even do). At best, using BG rules, a four player game that takes a lot of turns to resolve.

I used to use Guilford Courthouse to playtest new rules.
The variety in size and quality of the units made for good tests.
However, I found that the American commanders of the 2nd and 3rd lines often had as much to do as the fabled convention Napoleonic player who was playing unfamiliar rules and was put in 5th turn reserve.
You need lots of time to do justice.
Or let the rear lines wander up front to where the action is.

I've run Germantown twice, and each time it was great fun. The Americans may show up where you want them; the British just might activate and not fight disordered. That's the key, I think. Rather than not be able to fight, let "surprised" troops have to rally. And the GM can modify the rules for rally to fit the occasion.

A good convention game should have a one page cheat sheet.
He should not take more than 10 minutes to explain the Rules.
The GM should not be afraid to make rulings ex cathedra, being infallible and all that.
All players should be engaged from Turn One.
A player should not be required to get to an objective that is farther than he can march without opposition. It's amazing how many GMs fail to grasp that.
The battle should be RELATIVELY even. A player familiar with a historical battle who wants to play the losing side because he feels he could do better should have that chance.
What if? should be encouraged.

All of the above are why I like Germantown. There are so many variables, it can be played often with different results.

Winston, outstanding advice there. I am thinking of putting on a game at Cold Wars and you have given me a lot to think about. Thank you.

Winston…..

Where does the Wyoming Valley Massacre and Craft Fair fit into all this?

Just asking…

Eric

I mentioned it above.

Sorry. I missed it.

Mea culpa.

Or not.

Eric