Our club Christmas game on 29 December was from the American War of Independence. A garrison of Hessian mercenaries tried to withstand Washington's hungry army on Boxing Day of 1776 at Trenton, New Jersey. Patrick was hosting at the War Room using his and Philip's 28mm figures, and British Grenadier rules.
Trenton was a town near the Delaware River, surrounded by creeks which were crossable only by multiple bridges. Philip, Brian and Pete were the Hessians holding the town (1,500 men), while Rob, Joel, Doug and Richard were the Americans (2,400+) arriving in two divisions to capture the town and/or force the Hessian surrender; Washington's intention being to boost his army's morale after various recent defeats.
Before the Battle
The Americans chose the 'early attack' option over a slower concerted advance by both divisions, but then rolled in a 1 which meant that Greene's division had no artillery present. This would restrict tactical effectiveness.
The Hessians went for the 'patrols' option rather than building a redoubt, which gave them additional skirmishers and a unit of Light Dragoons, besides six infantry units and skirmishers (all derived from three regiments), and three artillery companies.
Hessian Deployment
Brian's Hessians lined the western side of Trenton, anticipating the main American assault.
Philip marched out of town and occupied the hill to the north, holding the bridge there with skirmishers and artillery, with infantry just behind.
Greene's Division arrives
Skirmishers and infantry from Doug and Richard's division (12 battalions in total) appeared on the northern table edge, and approached Philip's position. Skirmish fire between the two sides began in earnest.
Sullivan's Division arrives
Elements of Rob and Joel's American division, consisting of 12 battalions, 10 skirmishers and four artillery batteries in three brigades, now came on facing Brian's side of town, beside the Delaware River. Meanwhile, the Hessian guns unlimbered...
Skirmishing outside Trenton
Hessian pickets and American skirmishers from Sullivan's division engaged in a firefight and melee outside the town. However the American lights were forced to retreat.
First Assault on the Bridge
Pushing back the Hessian skirmishers, Rob launched a swift assault on Brian's Hessian-held bridge. But he took heavy losses from the artillery and was eventually repulsed.
Pete began to redeploy his Hessian infantry from Trenton to the front line...
Greene arrives en masse
Accompanied by Washington, Greene's division was now arriving in great numbers, as infantry secured a bridge allowing it to communicate with Sullivan's division. Yet it lacked the artillery to pierce the Hessian line on the hill and along the creek to its front.
Linkage of American forces
Sullivan's division (Rob and Joel) and Greene's division (Doug and Richard) linked up near the woods, secured by Doug's skirmishers...
...and began to form a reinforced battle line of men along the creek facing Trenton.
Americans face Hessian artillery
Meanwhile, as Rob and Joel's Americans approached the creek they faced brutal artillery and skirmish fire...
Hessian reinforcements arrive
Pete's Hessian command, originally based in the town, now began to filter through Trenton to the front, further reinforcing the German position behind the creek...
Richard pins Philip's Hessians
With bridges into town covered by Hessian guns and infantry, the only option for the Americans seemed to be to pin and wear down the mercenaries; which fell to Richard in the northern sector, while more of his battalions and Doug's infantry rendezvoused with Sullivan's division in the centre.
Rob's Americans repulsed
Having lost half its strength in the bridge assault, Rob's infantry battalion now failed a morale test, which led to a brigade test. Knowing his luck, Rob rolled a double one. The entire brigade (three battalions, artillery, and skirmishers) now had to retreat 4d6 inches...
Joel and Brian face off at the creek
But Joel now brought up his American brigade and lined it up against the creek facing Brian. The rearward battalion was shaping up to storm the bridge. Fierce exchanges of musketry and a Hessian artillery onslaught, continued...
Another US brigade retreats
Even so, another American brigade now retreated having seen the first one do so. American frustration was rising and Rob's apparent bad luck had returned! (Had it ever left?)
With attacking so difficult due to accrued disruption points (DPs) and the Hessians standing still (thus rolling them off easily), the game seemed to be effectively over. However Patrick allowed Rob to deploy another brigade at the southern bridge...
Trenton assaulted from the South
We played three more turns, as Rob advanced over the bridge into the southern part of Trenton.
Hessian skirmishers flee
Rob quickly degraded the Hessian skirmishers guarding the southern bridge and then forced them to flee as he crossed over. However, Brian still had infantry in town, occupying a nearby building. Fortunately for the Americans, its fire proved ineffective...
Americans rally
Meanwhile, near Joel's command, two of the three retreating American battalions rallied and returned to play facing the western bridge.
Hessian cannonade
Joel's infantry was soaking up short-range canister fire while pinning Brian's artillery and infantry at the main bridge. Nevertheless, he moved up the recently rallied infantry in support...
Light Dragoons' flying column
Perceiving the threat of Rob's infantry crossing into Trenton, Philip detached his Light Dragoons from the hill and sent them south towards the town...
Hessian artillery shaken
In a key moment, Joel's infantry fire finally dealt a casualty and 2DPs to one of Brian's artillery batteries at the main bridge. However, the other battery continued to decimate the American foot to its front...
Charge of the Light Dragoons
By this point, while holding all bridges on the western side of Trenton, the Hessians had lost 36 casualties (9 bases). While seemingly not at risk of collapse to their front, their rear was at risk from Rob's infantry column, so Philip's Light Dragoons charged into them inside the town.
Hessian withdrawal?
Brian pulled back one unit from the creek near the bridge to tackle Rob's incursion. At the same time, Pete began to withdraw his infantry from the Hessian centre, northwards. The outflanked Hessians were starting to think of retreat...
Second Assault on the Bridge
With the Hessian artillery weakened and supporting infantry withdrawing, Joel launched an attack upon on the bridge. The American infantry stormed the position and the Hessian gunners ran away, although the Americans took further casualties on the other side of the creek.
Hessian artillery disrupted
In the face of the successful assault on the bridge, and further American fire, the Hessian guns were out of sorts, as the Hessian infantry continued its evacuation. The German battle line in the southwest was disintegrating...
More US infantry cross southern bridge
Meanwhile, right on cue, more of Rob's infantry crossed the southern bridge, consolidating his hold over part of the town.
Light Dragoons defeated
Finally, the melee between Rob's infantry and Philip's charging British Light Dragoons ended in the defeat of the latter, who fled the town, thus opening up the main street to American forces. These were now in a position to surround and trap the remaining Hessian units to the west.
Conclusion
Despite some frustration for the Americans (including the loss of Greene's artillery and the initial lack of progress against the bridges), the game ended with the key bridge taken by Joel, and the southern bridge traversed by Rob. The Hessian position was untenable, and the town would have fallen, so this was an American victory.
As a spectacle this was the most enjoyable AWI game I have seen using British Grenadier rules, and in my opinion the best hosted by Patrick so far. The rules require careful handling of units and regulation of DPs incurred, as well as tactical foresight to capitalise on tipping points in the game. While both American divisions initially attacked aggressively, they both had to rethink their approach. In this respect, the game was challenging and the tide of battle unpredictable.
Thanks to Patrick for umpiring a great game, based on background research and combining two separate scenarios. Both Patrick's and Philip's figures looked marvellous against the winter townscape, and it was good to see the Hessian figures get a run out. Thanks also to Rob for hospitality. Overall, a friendly day's play in a cosy War Room atmosphere. Looking forward to more AWI in due course!
More pictures below...
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