In late 2022 and early 2023, I dug out my old 28mm American War of Independence collection, played a few games with the lads at the Carmarthen Old Guard, painted a few new units and even bought some more troops (my word, haven’t 28mm figures got expensive!). However, it’s taken me a while to catch up, so here’s my much-delayed report from our refight of Cornwallis’ flank-attack at the Battle of the Brandywine, 11th September 1777, once again using my mate Eclaireur‘s superb British Grenadier! rules. Eclaireur also wrote the scenario, which is taken from his first British Grenadier! scenario book.
This is a scenario I’ve played quite a few times before and I posted one of our previous refights of the scenario here in April 2019. It’s a fun, straightforward scenario to play that pitches you straight into the action (follow the link above for the orders of battle). For the British, you get the chance to put almost the entire British-Hessian Elite Corps onto the table, while for the Rebels, you get to watch truly enormous quantities of artillery ammunition fly down-range at the approaching redcoats…
Above: The opening deployment as it appeared on our table.
Above: Another view of the opening deployment, aligned with the scenario map above. I would be commanding the forces of Freedom, Monarchy and Stability on this occasion, with Kirk French and Anthony Oakley taking the Damned Rebels.
Above: My first problem was that Cornwallis (i.e. me…) has decided on this occasion to re-live his glory days as a brigadier instead of actually commanding the army and entrusting brigades to subordinates.
Above: The Rebel right wing. Woodford’s Brigade forms the first line; the 7th Virginia are nearest the camera, then a battery of 6-pounders and the 11th Virginia, with the 3rd Virginia skirmishing forward of the line, along with Spencer’s Regiment from Alexander’s Brigade.
I should add at this point that these are 28mm figures, being mostly Perry Miniatures or Wargames Foundry models. For the most part these are from my own collection and were painted by me, though a few units (such as those green-shirted riflemen) belong to our NZ exile Jase Evans and Anthony Oakley also provided some units from his own collection (painted by Gareth Beamish of this parish) and also provided the lovely model house used to represent Birmingham Meeting House.
Above: Opposite them is the British left wing, consisting of Cornwallis’ Advance Guard Brigade; the 16th Light Dragoons, the 1st & 2nd Light Infantry Battalions, the Hesse-Kassel Jäger-Korps and the detached Light Company of the 42nd Royal Highlanders (Black Watch).
Above: Forming the second line of the Rebel right wing is Scott’s Brigade; the 4th Virginia are on the right flank, then a reserve battery of 6-pounders and a combined unit formed from Grayson’s and Patton’s Regiment. The combined 8th/12th Virginia form a third line.
Above: The centre of the Rebel line is formed by De Borre’s Brigade; the first line of which is formed by the brown-coated 2nd Canadian Regiment, the blue-coated German Regiment and yet another battery of 6-pounders, while the 6th Maryland are deployed forward in skirmish order and the 2nd/4th Maryland form a second line.
The centre is already in the process of being reinforced by Alexander’s Brigade; Spencer’s Regiment is already deployed forward as skirmishers, while the 3rd New Jersey, 3rd/6th Pennsylvania and 9th/12th Pennsylvania are marching past the Birmingham Meeting House.
Above: On the Rebel left flank is Stone’s Brigade, consisting of the 1st/3rd Maryland, a battery of 3-pounders and the 5th/7th Maryland deployed as skirmishers.
Above: On the British right flank is Meadow’s Brigade of Grenadiers, consisting of the 1st and 2nd Grenadier Battalions.
Above: Surely nothing can withstand this glorious line of furry hats (and furry rucksacks)?!
Above: To complement the furry-hats, here come the Hessian pointy-hats!
Above: General von Donop leads his three grenadier battalions forward, along with a supporting battery of 4-pounders. The battalions are each named for their Commanding Officer; from right to left, these are Lengerke, Minnigerode and Linsing.
Above: In the centre of the British line, adding Tone to what would otherwise be merely a vulgar brawl, is Matthew’s Brigade of Guards, consisting of the 1st & 2nd Battalions of Foot Guards (these are actually composite units formed from detachments taken from the three Regiments of Foot Guards) and a very small Flank Battalion, which is deployed forward as skirmishers.
Above: Well that escalated quickly! The great concentration of Rebel artillery tears great lumps out of the approaching battalions of Redcoats, which slows the British advance quite considerably as they attempt to re-order their lines. However, units are able to advance where the artillery fire is lesser.
Above: Harassed by the Hessian Jägerkorps, the 7th Virginia, on the right flank of the Rebel line move forward to engage the enemy more closely. The 2nd Light Infantry are having none of it and charge the impudent Virginians!
Above: The 1st Light Battalion meanwhile, are taking a pasting from the Rebel artillery.
[The marker with three dots shows ‘Disruption Points’ (DPs). In British Grenadier!, the first three hits (or disorder caused by movement) become DPs, which are then translated as negative modifiers on morale and combat. Once 3 DPs have been accumulated, any further hits become casualties.]
Above: Similarly, the Light Company of the 42nd Highlanders are losing badly to the skirmishing 3rd Virginia and Spencer’s Regiment.
Above: The Guards Flank Battalion meanwhile, seems to be dishing it out pretty well to Spencer’s Regiment.
Above: However, while the Guards skirmishers are shielding the 2nd Guards from enemy skirmisher fire, the 1st Guards are being hammered by the enemy artillery, who seem incapable of missing!
Above: On the British right flank, the 1st Grenadiers have had a difficult approach march, being disordered by a tributary of the Brandywine Creek and then being further discomfited by a battery of Rebel 3-pounders and the skirmishers of the 5th/7th Maryland.
Above: Back on the opposite flank, the 7th Virginia don’t fancy their chances in a bayonet-fight and instead break and run. The 16th Light Dragoons show remarkable restraint as they canter forward, opting not to charge the fleeing Virginians, but rather to keep them running.
Above: As the 16th Light Dragoons take over the pursuit, the 2nd Light Infantry wheel right to engage the main Rebel line. The Jägerkorps follow up, hoping to extend the flank.
Above: Ignoring events on their threatened flank, Woodford’s 6-pounders keep hammering away at the 1st Light Infantry.
Above: With casualties rapidly mounting, the 1st Light Infantry open their files in an effort to reduce the effect of enemy fire. At some considerable risk to himself, General Cornwallis is in the thick of it, taking personal control of the situation… But while Cornwallis relives his glory days as a Lieutenant Colonel, who is commanding the army?!
Above: Meadows’ battery of Royal Artillery 6-pounders bangs away ineffectually… The Hessian 4-pounder battery meanwhile moves to the flank, hoping to provide some badly-needed close artillery support to the two Grenadier brigades. “Why can’t the cheapskate schweinhund buy us some verdammt limber team models?!”
Above: On the far British right flank, the 1st Grenadiers also deploy into open order, to reduce the effects of enemy fire. However, this will reduce the battalion’s impact when/if it finally charges the enemy line.
Above: Stone’s Brigade makes every round count as the Grenadiers close the range!
Above: A cheer ripples across the Rebel lines as General Washington arrives to take personal command of his most-threatened sector.
Above: Alexander’s Brigade has now fully deployed in the Rebel centre, which from the British point of view, looks unassailable.
Above: Washington reviews Alexander’s deployment.
Above: With Alexander filling in the centre of the line, Scott is able to redeploy his brigade further out, to secure the right flank.
Above: To further stabilise the right flank, Washington orders Weedon’s newly-arrived brigade (2nd/6th Virginia and 10th/14th Virginia) to deploy to that sector.
Above: Reinforcements have also arrived on the British side of the battlefield; Agnew’s Brigade consists of the 33rd, 37th, 46th & 64th Regiments of Foot.
Above: Agnew’s Brigade also includes a badly-needed battery of 6-pounders.
Above: Conrwallis orders Agnew to march to the left flank, as that is currently where the only success is occurring.
Above: Cornwallis meanwhile, personally pushes the 2nd Light Infantry up the slope and their charge succeeds in driving back the 4th Virginia! However, the remaining Rebels manage to hold their ground and the 2nd Light Infantry are now subjected to murderous 6-pounder canister fire from Scott’s battery and a single section of guns from Woodford’s battery. The Hessian Jägerkorps meanwhile, sprint out to extend the flank and engage the gunners with rifle-fire.
Above: The 16th Light Dragoons meanwhile, complete their task in keeping the 7th Virginia running, but now come under accurate flanking fire from the newly-arrived 10th/14th Virginia of Weedon’s Brigade and are forced to withdraw out of range.
Above: In the meantime, things are heating up on the opposite flank! A fierce firefight has developed between the 2nd Grenadiers and the Rebel German Battalion, with losses being suffered on both sides. De Borre rides up to steady his Germans, but a fiercely-accurate volley from the Grenadiers sees him fall wounded from his horse!
Above: On the right flank, the 1st Grenadiers charge the 1st/3rd Maryland and throw them back!
Above: Brigadier Stone is carried away by the retreat, but quickly manages to rally the Marylanders.
Above: The 2nd Grenadiers meanwhile, are wavering and are refusing all of Meadows’ encouragements to charge the German Battalion! De Borre meanwhile, binds his wounds, remounts his horse and continues the job of destroying the British Grenadiers.
Above: The Royal Regiment of Artillery is truly living up to its motto today. ‘Ubique’; which of course means ‘All Over The Place’… Their counter-battery fire is consistently having no effect, as now Linsing’s Hessian Grenadiers can attest, having now become the latest victim of Woodford’s Rebel 6-pounders. General Donop rides over to urge Linsing to get his battalion moving.
Above: Agnew’s Brigade continues its deployment to the left flank.
Above: The 2nd Light Infantry, their ranks shredded by canister fire but encouraged by the personal example of General Cornwallis, somehow manage to fire a disciplined, devastating volley into their tormentors.
Above: Dozens of Rebel gunners are cut down around their pieces! Brigadier Scott himself falls dead, but the surviving gunners heroically stick to their guns! “Hurrah! Onward, my boys!” Cornwallis urges the 2nd Light Infantry on up the slope…
Above: At last, Linsing’s column of Hessian Grenadiers arrive in the thick of the action, only to get a double-six of canister in the face… The battalion is immediately broken and the Hessian grenadiers flee.
Above: Minnigerode’s Hessian Grenadiers meanwhile, have been stalled by De Borre’s 3-pounder battery and Donop rides over to steady them. Lengerke’s Grenadier Battalion continue marching forward in the wake of the British 1st Grenadiers.
Above: However, things are slowly beginning to fall apart for the British… The officers of the 2nd Grenadiers finally manage to urge their men forward with the bayonet, but the fire from the German and 2nd Canadian Battalions rises to fresh intensity and the Grenadiers are first halted, then routed!
Above: The 1st Grenadiers are also coming under pressure, as Stone rallies his Marylanders and throws them back into the fight. In the meantime, Muhlenberg’s Brigade (1st/5th Virginia, 9th Virginia, 13th Virginia and yet another battery of 6-pounders) has just arrived and is immediately ordered to support Stone on the left flank. De Borre has also shifted his reserve battalion, the 2nd/4th Maryland over to the left, to cover his flank should Stone collapse.
Above: Speaking of collapse… Cornwallis’ Advance Guard Brigade suffers a disaster, as first the Hessian Jägerkorps are routed by the combined efforts of the 3rd Virginia and 2nd/4th Virginia and then the 2nd Light Infantry are broken by a final whiff of grapeshot from Woodford’s flanking gun! The 16th Light Dragoons meanwhile, find their voluntary withdrawal suddenly turning into a rather more involuntary one… Cornwallis somehow survives the mayhem and rides back to the decidedly-shaky 1st Light Infantry.
Above: The 2nd Grenadier Battalion’s casualties are colossal and the battalion quickly loses all cohesion and flees the field!
[It will come as little surprise to know that the 2nd Grenadiers and 2nd Light Infantry were the two most freshly-painted units in the collection and were in their first game…]
Above: Disaster follows disaster as the 1st Guards, having finally managed to push forward while Woodford’s guns found other targets, suddenly become the target once again! Again suffering heavy losses, the 1st Guards can take no more and shamefully flee the field! The skirmishers of the Guards Flank Battalion have also been destroyed.
Above: With the departure of the 2nd Grenadiers, the Hessian Lengerke Grenadiers now find themselves in a bitter, all-German firefight with the German Battalion and the Hessians seem to be getting the worst of it. However, Stone’s 3-pounder battery is also suffering losses from musketry. In the meantime, the Hessian 4-pounder battery have managed to find a model limber (of sorts). Wunderbar!
Above: Stone’s charge against the 1st Grenadiers fails and Stone’s entire brigade breaks and runs, disordering Muhlenberg’s freshly-arrived brigade in the process. The deeply-irritating 3-pounder battery is also now forced to pull back from the line, disordering the 2nd/4th Maryland as they do so.
Above: George Washington rides over to steady the late Brigadier Scott’s Brigade, but actually finds the situation on the right wing much improved, with most of the British units on that flank broken or retreating. Only the 2nd Guards are still engaged in a musketry firefight on this wing. More British units are approaching, but Washington is confident that the right wing will hold.
Above: The 16th Light Dragoons steady themselves following their precipitous withdrawal and the rout of the Jägerkorps and 2nd Light Infantry. Agnew’s leading battalions begin to deploy nearby as Agnew’s artillery finally opens up on the Rebel lines.
Above: Cornwallis prepares to repeat the same mistakes with the 1st Light Infantry…
Above: Brigadier Matthew, with the 2nd Guards, has been locked in an unequal firefight with the 11th Virginia and 3rd New Jersey Regiments. With the departure of the 1st Guards, the skirmishers of Spencer’s Regiment also now flank the Guards…
Above: This is the last straw for the Brigade of Guards, which now completely breaks and runs!
Above: On the British left flank, Agnew continues his deployment, but Cornwallis is already writing his letter of resignation…
Above: Weedon, on the far right flank of the army, warily watches the distant Redcoats, wondering what’s going to happen next.
Above: Cornnwallis collects hastily-written letters home from the officers of the 1st Light Infantry before ordering them forward in the same old way…
Above: Grey’s Brigade (the 15th, 17th, 44th & 55th Regiments of Foot) have now arrived, but it’s all very much too little, too late.
Above: By some miracle, Linsing’s Grenadiers have managed to rally. Yay.
Above: As Muhlenberg’s Brigade firmly slams the door shut on the 1st Grenadiers’ breakthrough and with the Hessians making no progress while rapidly losing a battle of attrition with their fellow Germans, Generals Meadows and Von Donop send urgent messages to Cornwallis, begging his permission to withdraw…
Above: As the shattered remnants of Cornwallis’ ‘Elite Corps’ disengages, covered by the two fresh brigades, Washington watches with grim satisfaction at this fine victory and calls upon the commander of the artillery to award him a field promotion to Major General…
So another hoofing of truly legendary proportions and I am once again forced to ponder the question “Is this really the hobby for me…?”
With that in mind, we have another Napoleonic game coming up on Saturday and in order to avoid yet another defeat, I’m hoping to be able to assume my customary role of Holy Roman Umpire (“Neither Roman, nor Holy and least of all an Umpire…”)