Turn 5 (8:08 PM)
Hamilton: Order: Continue hand to hand combat
Argument: +1 for Continental
morale
1. The Americans see how much
they outnumber the Brits
2. The Americans are standing
on the parapet over the Brits and have the advantage of height
3. Hamilton is quite inspired
in leading his me, seeing glory dance in front of his eyes.
Umpire: argument is rated average.
Die roll 3, argument fails
Redoubt 10: Orders : Drive
them off!
Arguments 1- Hamilton’s orders to block the
rear of the Redout were not followed.
2- Cornwallis hearing gun
volleys sends reinforcements to Redout 10.
Results : Morale goes up on
Parapet.
Umpire: argument rated very weak. Scenario states that the
Redoubts cannot be flanked, hence the rear cannot be blocked. The short time
this fight lasts makes it unlikely that a messenger from Cornwallis could reach
reinforcements before it is over, much less allow time for such troops to make
their way in the dark to the fight. This is the 18th century, things
move slowly.
Die roll 1, argument fails
(if it’s any consolation, a very strong argument would have failed)
Since this argument failed, any
further arguments for reinforcements will be rated impossible.
Deux-Ponts: Bah, a minor setback. Charge the parapet again!
We'll have +2 to morale
because:
- Christian Graf von Forbach
himself is leading the charge, with a rousing monologue cribbed from
Shakespeare's "Henry V."
- The success of Hamilton's
attack encourages our attack. If these amateur yankees can do it, certainly a
bunch of professional soldiers will have no problem.
- Our leader is clearly a
genius as evidenced by his idea for us to climb quickly out of the ditch into
the redoubt by standing on each others shoulders.
Umpire: Argument rated average, downgraded to weak because of
large increase to morale. Argument also rated highly amusing. Umpire tips his
hat.
Die roll 4, argument fails
Redoubt 9: Move: fire at
the Deux-Ponts regiment
Argument: +1 modifier to our
attack
1-The enemies are still in
relatively close range and their movement is restricted by the ditch.
2– my troops’ morale remains
high, not only because of the protection provided by the redoubt, but also
because we successfully repelled their advanced last turn.
3– visibility of the target
remains good because the target is still illuminated by the torches that we
threw last turn.
Umpire: argument rated strong.
Die roll 6, argument succeeds,
assuming argument is for fire modifier.
Final resolution, Turn 5.
Hamilton and his Light
Infantry continue fighting at the parapet. Rumors of British reinforcements
evaporate in the night. The Light Infantry melee die roll is 6, the British
garrison is 2. Final Melee odds are 3 – 1, modified to 2 – 1 because the
British are defending the parapet. Final melee die roll is 2. Each side loses a
strength point and the fight continues at the parapet.
Led by their Colonel, the
Deux-Ponts charge back up to the parapet through withering musket fire. British
musket die roll is 5, modified to 6. The Deux-Ponts lose a strength point and a
morale point. French melee die roll is 6, British garrison is 5. Final melee
odds are 1 – 1, modified down to 1 – 2 because the British are defending the
parapet. Final melee die roll is 5. Each side loses a strength point and the
fight rages at the parapet.
Both Redoubts are now
embroiled in a desperate hand-to-hand struggle at the parapets. No movement is
possible as all are locked into the fight. Arguments for turn 6 (8:10 PM) are
due.
Note: an error by the umpire gave a copy of Hamilton's status report to the British commander of Redoubt 10. That player had recently gave away his unit strength in an argument. I suspect the main import of this latest gaffe will be to show just how badly outnumbered the British are. My apologies to Hamilton. I will strive to avoid repeats of this in the future.
Note: an error by the umpire gave a copy of Hamilton's status report to the British commander of Redoubt 10. That player had recently gave away his unit strength in an argument. I suspect the main import of this latest gaffe will be to show just how badly outnumbered the British are. My apologies to Hamilton. I will strive to avoid repeats of this in the future.
Turn 6 (8:10 PM)
Hamilton: Order: continue hand to hand combat
Argument: the Brits lose the
modifier for being behind cover
1. Hamilton outnumbers the Brits by almost 3-1 and the
Americans have spread along the redoubt walls in a single rank thereby
extending past where the Brits are stationed and allowing many (but not all
Americans) to get to the top of the parapet
2. Even if the Brits are spread out over the entire parapet and
the Americans cannot extend past the Brits, this leave gaps in their ranks and
the fighting has been going on for four minutes, which has given many of the
Americans the opportunity to get to the top of the parapet.
3. After four minutes and taking two sets of losses, some of
the Brits are becoming terrified that they are outnumbered and are backing away
from the parapet in preparation for fleeing or surrendering.
Umpire: argument rated very weak as this is an attempt to
bypass the basic melee rules. Win or lose,
Die roll 2, argument fails. This
is the last argument that will be allowed to challenge the defensive bonus for
the parapet. The proper way to nullify the bonus is to force the garrison back
in melee.
Redoubt 10: Orders: Push them back!
Argument: Morale is holding!
Umpire: intriguing, another preventive argument just in case
the enemy argues that morale is fading. Argument is rated very strong. But if it
fails, morale will drop.
Die roll 6, argument
succeeds. Morale remains steady.
Redoubt 9: Move: Charge the Deux-Ponts regiment and engage in
hand to hand combat.
Argument: +1 to combat
1. My troops have an uphill
advantage.
2. As the fighting moves down
the slope, the Deux-Ponts regiment is forced down into the ditch, limiting
their mobility.
3. The Deux-Ponts regiment is
still reeling from the devastating volley unleashed upon them last turn and
thus is putting up less of a fight than they might otherwise have.
Umpire: the move is
impossible as both sides are locked in hand-to-hand fighting. It was stated
previously that no move is possible. Since the argument is based on a charge,
it is rated impossible.
Deux-Ponts: Orders: Push! Push! Push! Take the parapet down! (+1
to morale)
Arguments:
- We use the torches the
british threw at us to light their wall on fire pushing them back from the
wall, and creating smoke to cover our advance.
- Our bayonet attacks have
been known to terrify Hessians into soiling their lederhosen and surrendering.
- Smelling the blood in the
air has inspired the pride and glory of Forbach and he shines as an inspiring
image at the front of the attack
Umpire: The earthworks are not flammable. Unlike the
reconstructions in the national park, they're not covered with grass because
they have only recently been built. Since the argument is based on this fire,
it is rated impossible.
Hamilton’s battalion is
locked in combat at the parapet. Hamilton’s melee roll is 6, British garrison melee
roll is 2. Final odds are 3 – 1, modified to 2 – 1 due to the parapet. Final melee roll is 2, each
side loses a strength point and the fight goes on at the parapet.
The Deux-Ponts remain in
hand-to-hand combat at the parapet. Deux-Ponts melee roll is 2, garrison melee
roll is 5. Final odds 1 – 1, down to 1 – 2 because of the parapet bonus. Final melee
roll is 1. The Deux-Ponts lose a strength point, recoil back into the ditch and
lose a morale point. The dice gods are cruel to the French.
Hamilton and the Redoubt 10
garrison continue to be locked in combat with no possible move other than continuing.
The French have recoiled into the ditch and may charge again. The garrison of
Redoubt 9 may charge. If they do, there will be a dice-off to determine if they
charge before the French. Only one side may attack. Charging out of the redoubt
will lose the parapet bonus.
Turn 7 (8:12)
Hamilton: Order: retreat
Hamilton’s men realize that
there is no way to influence the results of this melee and decide to retreat. They
see no need to take the Redoubt. It will fall in due course from British
supplies being cut off by the French navy. Why die for Hamilton’s glory? Who
cares?
Argument: The British do not
fire
1. The
British are so surprised that they gape in amazement.
2. Their
muskets are not loaded as they have been engaged in hand to hand combat.
3. The
Americans retreat rapidly and the British captain orders his men to hold fire
in order to save ammunition in the event that there is another assault.
Umpire: there is no need for this argument. Units may not
fire if they are in contact at the start of a turn, as both sides were this
turn. No die roll is needed.
Redoubt 10: Orders: Push them Back! Kill the Rebels !
Argument: Rebel Morale is weakening in the face of
stiff resistance
From hardened professionals.
Umpire: argument is rated average.
Die roll 3. Argument fails, no further morale
loss for Light Infantry.
Deux-Ponts: Once more into the breach! Charge again!
The British have -1 on their
roll as:
- They've been stewing in
this malaria infested place and about half of them are unable to fight. (The
Americans have lived here long enough that they are unaffected or the sick are
not at this battle. And the French/Alsatian troops may become stick later, but
their recent arrival and the 30 day incubation period means they are unaffected
in this battle.)
- Even after these losses the
British at Redoubt 9 are still outnumbered more than 2:1.
- The lack of rest from being
shelled all day is manifesting as early fatigue, whereas the French troops were
able to prepare by resting before the attack.
Umpire: Argument is rated average. What on earth could inspire
this disease-centric argument? The modifier is assumed to be
for the British fire die roll.
Die roll is 3, argument
fails.
Redoubt 9: Move: continue
hand to hand combat with the Deux-Ponts regiment
Umpire: I assume the garrison will fire as the French charge
again.
Argument: +1 combat modifier
for my troops
1. My troops are armed with
superiorly crafted bayonets and muskets.
2. My troops are
battle-hardened, professional soldiers.
3. The Deux-Ponts regiment is
still feeling the after-effects of the thrashing we gave them last turn.
Umpire: argument is rated average. I assume the modifier is
for the melee.
Die roll 3, argument fails.
Hamilton’s Light Infantry
break contact and fall back rapidly, leaving dead and badly wounded around Redoubt
10. The 40 remaining able British troops gape in astonishment until the captain orders
them to reload, since the Yanks may be back at any moment. Then they carry off
their dead and start tending to their wounded. In
January 2015 Lin-Manuel Miranda’s innovative rap musical “Aaron Burr” opens on
Broadway.
The Deux-Ponts charge Redoubt
9 yet again. The garrison fires (die roll 2) a hasty volley and causes no
serious damage. The French roll 3 for their melee die, the garrison rolls 3. The odds are 2 – 1, modified to 1 – 1 by
parapet. Final die roll is 5.
The French pour over the
parapet as the garrison recoils into the Redoubt interior. Each side loses a
strength point. Either side may charge next turn. If both do, dice will
determine who charges first. If either side does not charge, they may fire.
Hamilton and Redoubt 10 are
no longer in the game. Bill (Redoubt 10) is on track to be the British winner, while
the French will be the Allied winner if they carry their Redoubt, which looks
likely.
Turn 8 (8:14)
Redoubt 9: Move: Charge the Deux-Ponts regiment
Argument: +1 combat modifier
for my troops
1. My troops are armed with
superiorly crafted bayonets and muskets.
2. My troops are
battle-hardened, professional soldiers.
3. My troops pass around some
of the “medicinal” brandy before charging to steel themselves for the bloodshed
to come.
Umpire: argument is rated average.
Die roll is 5, argument succeeds.
Deux-Ponts: ORDERS: Press the attack! Let's finish this! Charge!
ARGUMENT: The British have -1
to morale.
SUPPORT:
- They're woefully
outnumbered.
- They've lost the high
ground and the enemy is pouring through their fortifications.
- "This ain't even our
home turf! Why do we wanna die over a bunch of pig farms and filthy swamp land
filled with dangerous besties and foetid disease?"
Umpire: argument is rated strong.
Die roll is 3, argument
succeeds.
British morale sinks 1 point
as the French have taken the parapet. But they fight with the courage of
despair. Both sides try to charge. British die roll is 5, French die roll is 6.
The French get moving forward before the British do. Perhaps that pause for
brandy slowed the redcoats down. The French charge into the interior of the
redoubt. There’s an engineer’s term for it that I forget.
British melee die roll is 5,
modified to 6. French melee die roll is 3.
Odds are 1 – 1. Final melee die roll is 2. The French lose one strength point and recoil back to the parapet.
Odds are 1 – 1. Final melee die roll is 2. The French lose one strength point and recoil back to the parapet.
The situation is basically
back to where it was at the start of Turn 8, save for the loss of some French
troops and British morale.
Orders for Turn 9 (8:16) are
due.
2 comments:
Intense turn, especially on the redoubts! Stay safe...
And good health to you, Phil.
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