The British are coming, the British are coming!!!
…to BROOKLYN???
(***NOTE: I tried including "AKA: Battle of Long Island" in the title of this post but it was just too long***)
YES! To commemorate the largest (but relatively unknown) battle of the American Revolution, I will be helping to run a refight of this important action, sometimes referred to as: "The American Dunkirk."
My friends and I first organized and played this game twice, three years ago, the second time with some nice bespoke terrain, on August 27th, 2023, the 247th anniversary of the battle.
This time we won't be playing on the actual 250th anniversary BUT we will be bringing the game to Mini-Wars 2026, the annual convention held in Orange County by the Historical Miniatures Gaming Society-Pacific South-West. I invite anyone and everyone reading this who is interested and able to please come join us on Saturday, October 10th 2026 at the Titan Student Union on the beautiful campus of Cal State Fullerton.
No prior experience of the rules (Fire And Maneuver) or the period (American War of Independence) is required -- and though it says "Adult (18+)" as the age group on the convention page, younger players are welcome if accompanied by a parent or guardian.
It's a decent size game on a very big table ()12 ft x 7.5 ft) and we can use all the players we can get!
THE SCENARIO:
August 1776: Britain assembles the largest land and sea forces to in its history at that point—30,000 British and German troops and 200 Royal Navy ships—to crush the American rebellion by seizing strategically vital New York City. Unsure where the blow will fall, George Washington divides his fledgling Continental Army between Manhattan and Long Island, fortifying Brooklyn and the approaches to the city. On August 22, General William Howe begins landing more than 20,000 troops on southwestern Long Island. Washington rushes reinforcements across the East River, bringing his forces on the Island to roughly 10,000 men. Five tense days of probing, looting, and occasional skirmishes follow. Then, before dawn on August 27, the British advance. The Battle of Brooklyn has begun.
The fate of a Global Empire and a Fledgling Nation are in your hands…
As General Washington or one off his sub-commanders, can your outnumbered forces hold the line against the Redcoats and Hessians and preserve New York City for the cause of American Independence?!
As General Howe or one of his sub-commanders, can you not merely defeat but destroy Washington's Continental Army before it can escape -- thereby potentially smothering the Revolution less than two months after the signing of The Declaration of Independence?!
HERE ARE SOME PICS FROM LAST TIME WE RAN THE SCENARIO --
SAME FIGURES & TERRAIN WILL BE USED AT MINI-WARS 2026:
Last but far from least, here's a handy LINK to reach the Mini-Wars page on the Table Top Events website, where you can register to attend the convention and (if you so choose!) to play in this game:
link
Be it as Redcoat or Rebel, hope to see you there on Saturday October 10th 2026!
