I had gone out of town for the long weekend and therefore concluded the British would, lacking a plan, at least continue the bombardment of the fort with naval gunfire.
I allowed this bombardment to have some effect - a dice roll concluded that one of the American batteries was damaged.
The British had also landed trained light infantry to the landward side to invest the fort and prevent any reinforcements or provisions. The naval fire also prevented any gathering of fresh water from the river. Thus four days and nights of this relentless cannonade had rendered the garrison demoralized and fatigued.
On the very early morning of the 10th, the Americans sought to break the siege by taking half the infantry to move out by cover of darkness. An artillery piece was to fire canister into the woods to clear the way.
As the Americans prepared to form up for the 'sortie', an alert sentry along the beach side, saw dark shapes moving in the night and a glint of silver and a good dice roll later - Alarm!
The British choosing sailors for their night vision and adeptness of the boats, made this same evening for a night assault on the fort!
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| 'Lt. Abrey' leading my newly painted sailors |
Hearing the alarm raised, Lt. Abrey, reacted by increasing the pace to a run (Gallant leader and 'Fresh' adding to make a 'Double Quick' effect for maneuver).
Onward the sailors came, the few and shocked American infantry only offering (with a poor roll) desultory fire.
While the sailors raced up the beach, the 150 or so American regulars had noisily formed column (again a die roll) while the British skirmishers formed an extended line along the tree line only to be raked by shots of canister by the US artillery covering the column. Obviously well-sited during the day, (a roll of a 10 while in the dark!) the cannon hit the British with 'Galling Fire'.
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| An American battery offering fire support for the sortie column |
The disordered American column formed up in the darkness and moved out slowly. (again, die roll) The disordered British still managed to bring 'Telling Fire' upon the Americans causing casualties and more disorder. The resulting melee had the British, with the advantage of being 'Fresh' and terrain advantage, holding off the Americans who faltered and fell back in confusion.
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| The American artillery firing upon the British naval flotilla |
The sailors meanwhile, with minimal fire against them - the American artillery either assisting the column or firing out upon the harassing ships - charged over the abattis and using cutlass, pistol and musket, overwhelmed the defenders.
Fort Lindsay is now in British hands.
