A day late for Independence Day, however a small skirmish set in the AWI with Lt John Waine's American's launching a dawn raid against Captain Davidson Cameron's small but tough British and Hessian command.
Cameron's men have retreated with their booty to a small uninhabited settlement to the North East of Munger Shaw. During the night, Waine's forces have moved within striking distance of the British camp and aided and abetted by a young farmhand who once lived in the settlement, have loosed the Dragoon Captain's horses in the night.
Waine's Command
Lt John Waine with 3x 8 man Regular Continental Line Groups with muskets
Sgt Humphrey Bogcart with 2x 8 man Conscript/Volunteer State Line groups with muskets
The Right Honourable Ronald Raegun with 2x10 man Militia Infantry groups with muskets
Cpl Marlon Brandy with 1x6 man Continental Light Skirmishers with muskets
Cameron's Command
Capt Davidson Cameron with 1x8 man dismounted Dragoons with muskets
Cpl Henry 'Big Smoke' Holborn with 1x6 man British Light Infantry Skirmishers with muskets
Sgt Frederick Frickadellan with 2x8 man Regular Hessian Line groups with muskets
Sgt Willy 'Weiner' Schnitzel with 1x6 man Hessian Jaegers with Rifles
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Realising the horses are missing, Cameron's sentry sounds 'Stand To!'
Frickadellan's Hessians are the first unit to react. |
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Schnitzel's Jaegers move into the cornfields to cut off
any American deployment at the foot of the hill and 'Big Smoke's'
Lights engage the Continental Skirmishers |
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| The Continental Skirmishers reel under very accurate fire |
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Such is the weight of the fire they are laying down, 'Big Smoke's' Lights
are forced to move to open a clear lane of fire. The pall of gunsmoke
they created would linger long after the battle had ended. |
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| The fire from the British Lights wounds Cpl Brandy |
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Raegun's Militia move through the cornfield as Waine's Continentals
attempt to outflank the settlement. Out of the line of fire, Brandy's Lights
move up in support. |
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The State Line arrive as Waine's Continentals look to shake out into
line, however Frickadellen's Hessians make the snake fencing. |
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| And immediately rattle Waine's men with a powerful volley |
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Raegun's Militia engage the British Lights and the sheer weight of fire
begins to tell immediately as the lights take casualties. |
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Convinced the militia are about to break, 'Big Smoke's men
pile over the fence to charge their opponents..... |
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The Hessian's continue to pour misery upon the Continental Line, but Raegun's Militia,
supported by Brandy's Lights are winning the firefight with the British Lights. |
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| The Continental Line in complete disarray. |
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In his enthusiasm to beat off the American's Sgt Frickadellan
wanders in front of his men and in doing so takes one for the team.... |
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| Raegun's Militia lay down a steady stream of fire |
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| Schnitzels Jaegers get into the fight but struggle to find their range |
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The State Line move up in support of the Continentals whilst Raegun's Militia and Brandy's
Lights force the British Lights to retire into the foremost building. Cameron's Dragoons
move up to fill the gap left by the Light's withdrawal |
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Not to be outdone by Frickadellan, Cameron takes one for the team too.
Or was it one of his own men that saw an opportunity to put an unpopular officer down? |
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| Waine's Continental's break under the intense volleys of the Hessian's |
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| Colonial Morale plummets as a second Continental Group breaks |
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Thankfully for the Colonial's Raegun's Militia have performed
small miracles and have forced Cameron's Dragoons to withdraw in disorder. |
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Cameron's Dragoons come under pressure from the Colonial Militia.
Schnitzel's Jaegers appear mere spectators. |
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The State Line shake out into line, but not before the Hessian's
can unleash further volleys which once again disrupt Colonial Progress.
Waine's remaining Continentals seek to outflank the Hessian's but their lack
of numbers results in desultory fire. |
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Colonial Morale slumps forcing a chaotic withdrawal as the Hessian's
deliver the 'coup de grace' to Waine and his Continentals. |
Another crushing victory for the British and Hessian's as Waine's mixed force once again comes unstuck against a professional army.
Frickadellan's Hessian's heaped misery on the Colonials right from the outset and fittingly delivered the volley's that broke Colonial Morale.
In the days that followed the engagement Cameron took full credit for the victory earning himself promotion and a posting to the rear. Despite his disappointment at being overlooked as the real hero of the battle, Frederick Frickadellan consoled himself of being rid of the hugely unpopular British Officer. Maybe now he would find himself under the command of a German Officer?
The Right Honourable Ronald Raegun performed minor miracles with his Militia preventing a complete humiliation of the Colonial forces. His Militia found themselves becoming known as 'Raegun's Dependables'.
