Tuesday 29 May 2012

Battle of Crysler's Farm at Enfilade

Kevin, Mark and myself wanted a private game to get our heads around the Regimental Fire and Fury rules so we planned to get one in during the last game period of the convention. I knew I would be tired.  Two previous days of non-stop activity at the convention, only convention food, and drinking of scotch until 3am with Mr. Palmeroyq and lads certainly did not help! {note: the 'q' is not really a typo...but that is quite another story ....}

The three of us are very much into the War of 1812 and are fascinated by this small but historical important war for North America.  One of the battles was Crysler's Farm, so we were determined to make it a good re-creation.
Mark created the ravines and cut out a piece of cloth for the muddy field while I supplied most of the troops.

Joe joined us and we plowed through the rules having agreed to up all movement by 150% and ranges by 200%.  It seemed to work.  For the test of the rules we gave the Americans too much credit for the quality of the troops and the results of the actual battle which the British effectively dealt with the American numerical superiority was not evident in our tabletop affair as the Americans, while a little tardy at times, shot up and successfully charged the British units.
 
We ended the game as we were virtually the last ones left in the room at 6pm!

The confident British regiments have advanced but so too have the more numerous Americans

"Onward Boys!"  Later War of 1812 Americans by Old Glory with American General by Old Glory on a Front Rank horse.  These troops are substitutes from my 1814 Niagara collection (and thus why in gray) The Americans in this battle would have worn an early version of the "tombstone" shako probably with a larger front plate and a blue coatee perhaps with red facings.

These are my 49th Foot which wore their greatcoats during the battle.  I also gave a Victrix artillery crew overcoats (seen on the left) 



Barnes' command of veteran troops (Old Glory Napoleonics)

The Americans move up to one of the ravines which Mark did such a good job creating for the battle.  The now infamous disorder marker of the slain with the Stars and Stripes draped over as noted in previous posts is also shown.