We have a first hand account by an American Engineer with the US 31st Infantry Regiment.
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| the photo shows William and the author finishing chopping down a log for work on the "bridge of boat(s). The US 30th Infantry Reg't is starting to cross, drums a drumming. As the American military used the old fashioned "reversed colors" for musicians, these Americans indeed wore redcoats. A supply was even provided by a captured British shipment! |
“Dear Father,
Were the battles of the revolution such as this? I thought my regiment a splendid unit but it did not perform well today. Nor did any. But I did my part.
William and me we were tasked to cut down some trees along the river bank to allow the captured boats to ferry the Combined Light company in the very early morning. The lack of boats and lack of oars made for slow crossing. The officer of the 30th was impatient to cross.(my regiment crossed by the bridge while I was here…I do not understand the logic of the army….) William suggested we could build a bridge on the boats. (1) The officer, a new graduate of West Point, an engineer student, thought this a grand plan and soon had his regiment tearing down the nearby fences. I only a few hours we had a nice looking crossing. When Bill and I returned from refreshing ourselves, the regiment had passed and we had no orders. Thinking we did out part and exhausted, we went to the local mill and its second story afforded us a grand perch to view the battle."
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| The author's position is in the Mill, the large building on the left near the river. |
"Father, we were looking towards the enemy lands. To our left is the bridge with an artillery battery deployed on our side of the river, and the Kentucky horse crossing first followed by the 31st Infantry. closer to us was our boat bridge with a hill on the other side of the river on which the Lights deployed. To our right, the 10th Infantry made crossing by a narrow ford, They had artillery support. We could see the enemy had made field works and used abattis (sharpened tree branches facing out) This was in front of Brewsterburg, the same town we attacked before."
view from the Canadian side in front of Brewsterburg:
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| note the RIP grave marker. This is my indicator that the unit is now at 50% or under strength, which for Rebels and Patriots, is a very bad and indeed grave situation for the unit's morale. |
"The battle started in the plowed field of Cardon Towe’s farmland. Our Lights were surprised by having early opposition from some grey-clad fellows with fur caps. They stood on the far side of the field and seemed to get the better of the Lights who then broke and ran. This was earlier in the battle as they came past us before our boat-bridge was completed. Many were very wet and without arms. The 30th’s officers made some attempt at halting them and their men jeered them but as they were fully employ with us, did little. It was rumored that the officer soiled his pantaloons during the firefight" (3)
"In our view, off to the left, the Kentucky boys seemed to freeze the Redcoats in place allowing the mounted riflemen to shoot up the artillery in the fort. The artillery over there kept up a steady pounding of the fort also. Why the redcoats kept in place we could not fathom but we admired their courage."
William made the observation that every one of our regiments seemed to be glued in place trying to cross the water. It was, William said, “were be like they ‘fraid of drowning” This lasted several minutes. (2).
While the infantry came under scrutiny after the battle, the artillery was commended as the ‘B’ Battery firing into the field works did good work as was ‘A’ Battery mentioned already. The red capped locals manning the works and the sheds nearby took a pounding to be sure but only retreated very late in the day but gave enough time for some more redcoats to come up in support to face the 10th who finally attacked. William later spoke with a man of the 10th who said the officer insisted on keeping close order but unwilling to engage in frontal assault had them slowly move around the abattis and into the volley fire of the British regulars. This broke them."
"Back on the left, a rocket battery was set up. We done never seen these before and Will and I were in stitches, laughing most hardedly at the smoke trails going this way and that, usually over the grey-coated unit who were most distressed at the fiery things going close over their heads. Not one came near our boys. We could clearly see a mounted officer ride over and gesture for them to stop. Father, it was particularly funny!"
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| the hex marker shows the direction of the rocket...not good for their side, eh? |
"While the rockets didn’t come near the Kentucky horses, the artillery from the fort did and soon they galloped back to the bridge. While they tried to calm the jittery horses, my 31st which had moved past in grand style to form a close order assault column, was hit by well-aimed close range canister fire which suddenly turned our parade ground into a carnal house. I lost many friends and think myself fortunate to be here than there, truth be told. The rest of the regiment turned to flee but there was no where to run. The horses blocked the bridge, the river was deep. More losses" (4).
"While this tragedy was occurring, the 30th moved up but was met and defeated by the grey-clad unit- we later were informed this unit was the French-Canadian “Voltiguers” and a unit of redcoats who also poured a well-aimed volley into them. Of the redcoats, we learned this was the same unit that captured our ammo supply some while back. "
" At this point the battle seemed to just petter out. The British would not, could not(?) advance; our boys in confused huddled masses.
Our leadership it was said, had lost faith that any of the units could be reformed. Were your battles of the revolution like this too? "
"Your loving son, "
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Editors notes:
The General would be sacked the next day. But his After-Action Report would explain that the limited crossing of the river would not allow easy retirement of the easily spooked American troops, making traps and causing traffic jams for units entering or exiting the fray. Due to this terrain, high command deemed it impossible to conduct any more offensive actions in the area. With the Canadians not wanting to invade over the border formed by the river, the Nateville area soon will become a backwater of the war, with units slowly dispersed elsewhere. Peace thus has come back to the residents of Brewsterburg and Nateville.
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Footnotes:
(1) Nate’s ‘orders’ for the American attackers were to gain boats and cross mid-river. I took the opportunity to create a ‘pontoon’ with a boat as the support.
(2)No Activation was made for these units all on the crossings for three turns straight!
(3)The “Rebels and Patriots” rules has a delightful “Brown Trousers” effect for a unit’s command.
(4)The rules have any unit unable to retreat in full, take losses equal to the measurement not moved and as the river and the Kentucky unit blocked the road back, the unit was essentially destroyed.