New Jersey Continentals

When we think of Continental infantry, this unit is probably what comes to mind. 

Dark Blue coats with Buff facings (cuffs, collars, and lapels), buff vests and trousers.

The regulations for the new Continental uniforms of October 1779 specified Buff facings for the Continental regiments raised in New York and New Jersey. 

The population of New Jersey was relatively small at the time of the Revolution, and thus their quota was set at only 4 Regiments (Battalions, really). 

Continental regiments raised in New York and New Jersey were to have buff facings. In reality, they pretty much wore whatever uniforms they could get a hold of, but I am going to depict them more or less as per the regulations. 

Snappy Nappy Campaign in a Day, Spain Spring 1813: Endgame

Daricau arrives at Pamplona… and not a moment too soon!

D’Erlon appears behind the British at San Sebastian; a small force is turned to contest the ground with the new arrivals. 
British protocol being followed At San Sebastián table:  Howard (Nate) sends a message to Wellington (Brandon)  about the excellent  Progress his wing commander Graham (also Brandan) is doing without specific orders.  Of course Wellington is still back at Burgos & Graham is on same table with Howard!
Leval rallies and reorganizes his Division at Calahora; the first hit on each unit cannot be rallied off. 
Vittoria itself is about to come under attack… or so it seems. 

“I am not in the mooooooo-d for this BS!” The French Booty Train appear behind the British line at San Sebastian. Oops! [The train MUST move evryy 15 minutes, whether the French want it to or not!

More booty to follow!

New arrivals on the British side at Pamplona… General Dalhousie, I believe? 

Villate adjusts his defenses. 

Boyer’s cavalry charges Leith at Vittoria!

Alten and Picton continue to advance on Vittoria.

Leval’s Division arrives near Longrono!

Dalhousie move out of his Deployment Zone at Pamplona. 

Charges of the Wurttenburg Chevaulegers and French Dragoons at San Sebastian

Another view of San Sebastian at the same time. 

Leval takes on the Portuguese garrison Longrono; its only a matter of time and die rolls!

Longrono falls; which way will Leval go from here?

Leval crosses the Ebro to take on the garrison at LaGuardia next

French cavalry charges are repulsed! More wagons enter the table at San Sebastian!

Things are getting pretty crowded at Pamplona – Vilatte and Daricau in the center, opposed by Byng and Dalhousie to the West, and Packenham coming up right behind Daricau to the South. Ouch!

La Guardia has fallen to Leval as well; 
his men hustle off to continue their march South of the Ebro. 

Vilatte and Daricau pull back to defend Pamplona. 

The Battle of San Sebastian rages on!

At Vittoria, it is General P. Soult’s turn to launch a mass cavalry charge!

French and Brirtish forces in transit late in the campaign.

Leval’s lead elements arrive on the Burgos table… as do the Portuguese survivors from Longrono. 

Soult’s charge largely repulsed, the British close in on Vittoria. 

Things ain’t lookin good for the French at Pamplona.

British press the attack at San Sebastian with vigor!

Battle on!

With one village controlled by the French, and one by the British, no one can trace supply through Pancorbo!

Byng and Packenham press the attack at Pamplona, whilst Dalhousie urges his men forwards to get into action!

D’Erlon leads a French infantry regiment in a bayonet charge!

Badeners  from Darmagnac’s Division hold the French right flank. 

Leval’s Division closes in on the shaken defenders at Gamonal… Burgos is seen in the distance. 

The French position at Vittoria is crumbling…

Leval takes on the garrison at Gamonal; it is very late in the day and perhaps he should have masked it and sent the bulk of his troops on towards Burgos.

as it turns out, the weary men at Gamonal offer scant resistance anyway. 

On to Burgos!

Leval attacks Burgos!  As a city (+3 to defenders) and with Wellington himself present to inspire them (+3 to rally), it may not be such an easy nut to crack in a short period of time!

Desperate fighting at Vittoria…

and at San Sebastian, 

and at Pamplona!

British garrisons from Santander are dispatched; perhaps they can reach Burgos?

Heavy fighting at Burgos, too!

Back to the transit tables!

The French cling to control of Vittoria. 

The defenses of Burgos are breached!

BVrgos is about to fall, and with it, Wellington is captured! Mon Dieu!

French are overmatched at Pamplona, yet still hanging on, barely!

British are making headway at San Sebastian

Fresh beef tonight for the Brits!

the French are hard pressed in Vittoria but still hold onto the city!

French solidify their lines at San Sebastian

The French retain control of Pamplona, as word spreads of the capture of Burgos, and of Sir Arthur!
This Campaign is over!

GM Mike Seibert reveals the “secret sauce” – the relationship between the tables, the transit tables, and the campaign map. 

The final results of the campaign are revealed, as the combatants swap war stories. 
Campaign Objective Scoring
 
Control the following
Burgos                        +2   FRENCH
Vittoria                        +2    FRENCH
Pamplona                   +2   FRENCH
San Sebastian            +1   FRENCH
Santander                   +1   BRITISH
 
 
Division Exhaustion
casualties exceed 75% =      -1  FRENCH (for Conroux)
 
 
Enormous Train of Booty.
French earn if wagons gets to Bayonne     +1  Nope!
 
 
Control of main road from Burgos to Bayonne
British earn if they can control 3 of the 5 tables      +1   Nope!
 
British Capture Bayonne        +10  Nope!
Final Score:  French 6, British 1

It was closer than it seems, with the British having the upper hand at the battles of Vittoria, Pamplona, and San Sebastian. We got started a bit late, and played until nearly 5 PM. 

Close up of the Master Map. 
Thanks so much to all the players,  GM Mike and  the Assistant GM’s, to Russ for the Snappy Nappy rules and doing the terrain for one of the tables, and to James for his usual excellent rules summary and doing another table’s terrain. It is truly a team effort. Finally, a huge thanks to The Portal and the staff there, without which these events would not be possible. We plan to return again next Fall!

Individual reports by the various participants  will be in a subsequent post, followed by the GM’s report, and finally the message logs. 

New York Militia

Here’s another Militia unit, this time with their coats in shades of grey with medium blue facings. 

The population of the New York Colony in 1780 is estimated at about 163,000, compared to 235,000 for Massachusetts and 184,000 for Connecticut. The colony with the largest population by far was Virginia, at roughly 447,00 people, although roughly 280,000 of those were slaves, compared to relatively small numbers in the other three states in question.

The bulk of the population of New York was found in the city and along the Hudson River.

New York militia units featured prominently in the Saratoga campaign of 1777 and others

These are Brigade Games figures once again, sculpted by Paul Hicks. 

The flag bears the arms of New York, and is once again by Adolfo Ramos. 

Snappy Nappy Campaign in a Day, Spain Spring 1813: Later Game

British forces advancing upon Vittoria

Cassagne’s Division moves around the French baggage train through Tolosa. 

French control the Pancorbo table. 

General Howard reorganizes his command, having full control of Bilbao and environs.

Joseph is back to being alone with the garrison at Bayonne. 

Cassagne’s Divison moving through the Tolosa table with all due speed. 

Byng advances on Pamplona… cautiously. 

Standoff at Tudela between Daricau and Packenham continues… but what about the Ford?

Darmagnac advances along the main road on the San Sebatstian table.

Then opposing forces are still well apart at Pamplona. 

Daricau prepares another disappearing act at Tudela. 

Cassagne has arrived at San Sebastian as well. Together with Darmagnac, they begin setting up a defensive position to block the main road towards Bayonne. What do they know that we don’t?!. 
Gazan discusses strategy with Leval at Calahora.

Leaving garrisons behind, the large British forces marches East from Bilbao. 

Some British Light Dragoons peak in at the Vittoria table from the French rear!

The Battle of Vittoria rages on!

View from the South looking towards Vittoria.

French Baggage train rumbles on through Tolosa.

Just the Fleet and British garrison at Santander.

Graham leads part o the British force from Bilbao on the Transit tables. 

Vilatte and Byng face off at Pamplona, still cautiously. 

Packenham and Daricau continue to stare one another down across the Ebro at Tudela. 

French prepare to defend San Sebastian, as French stragglers appear!

Gazan leads his small force against Cole’s left flank, while Leval puts pressure on him from the front. 

Byng starts to advance more deliberately on Pamplona and Vilatte. 

and here comes Graham (Brandan) and the British on the road to San Sebnastian!

Daricau ponders his position at Tudela. 

Getting hit in the flank by Heavy Dragoons is not an experience to be treasured, as Cole’s men find out!

The British have moved on from the Bilbao table, whilst leaving it garrisoned. 

British troops close in on Vittoria from 3 directions!

Portuguese troops garrison the Longrono table. 

King joseph has only his Engineers to keep him company at Bayonne, now!

The Wagon Train plods along at Tolosa. 

Status quo at Santander. 

and at Pancorbo.

British receive reinforcements outside Pamplona; Byng starts to push his advance more aggressively as a result.

Tudela, don’t wanna fail ya; is Packenham finally preparing to make a move across the Ebro?
British massing in greater force before San Sebastian!

Like little lost sheep, the British Light Dragoons return from their scouting of Vittoria, and follow after Howard and Ponsomby.

Form Square! Gazan’s Dragoon charge last turn succeeded at Calhora!

Back to just British garrisons at Bilbao. 
Closing in on Vittoria; General Leith tries to force a crossing of the river. 

Closer view of the British assailants. 

Tolosa; looks like some routed Frenchies making their escape from ? San Sebastian.

Back and Forth at Pamplona – Vilatte is on the far side of the river. 

Ford?  What Ford?! Packenham forces the line of the Ebro at Tudela. 

Half a league, half a league, half a league onward; into the teeth of the French marched the Grahams  and Howards.

Byng’s British cavalry trying to sneak behind Vilatte’s lines?

Packenham has crossed the proverbial Rubicon!

“How’d you like my fine cavalry to charge your flank from behind that hill?”, jests Cassagne to Howard…maybe. 

Coles troops are being ground down at Calhora, having to fight on two fronts!

British trying to close the noose on the French at Vittoria!

“Oh where are you goin’, with tails all a wagon..”

Overview of the situation at Pamplopna, Byng vs Vilatte. 

With his position turned, Daricau considers withdrawing from Tudela. 

British press their advance upon San Sebastian.

Cole’s Division is crumbling at Calhora. 

Things are getting tense at Vittoria, with the city held by infantry, supported on the flanks by some artillery and a mass of cavalry. 

Dalhousie’s Division, seeing that its numbers will add little to the outcome of tjhe battle, turns to march off for other parts. 

Byng closes upon Vilatte and Pamplona. 

Outnumbered and with his position turned, Daricau has done the shuffle off to Buffalo. Oh wait, those are beef cattle. Packenham is unopposed at Tudelo. Where will he go?

Battle is about to be joined at San Sebastian.

Coles Divison has been roughed up badly; the survivors move off to the Northwest, and Gazan sounds the recall, preparing to exit stage right, whilst Leval is left to mop up. 

The remnants of Cole’s men retreat by way of Longrono

The last of the British have been eliminated at Calahora, and Gazan has marched off with his men. General Leval pens a brief update to the French High Command, informing them of this favorable turn of events. 

Byng’s cavalry have managed to get between Vilatte and Pamplona. 

Packenham begins his advance from Tudela.

Boyers Dragoons cross the river, attempting to distract Leith and his men from Vittoria proper. 

The Battle of San Sebastian gets underway in earnest.

Only a small British garrison is now left at Tudela.

Massachusetts Militia

 
Here we have another unit of fairly generic colonial Militia, using Brigade Games figures.
The only thing that suggests that they are Massachusetts troops is the flag, one carried at Bunker (Breeds) Hill in June of 1775. It is by Adolfo Ramos in Spain. 

The overall theme of the unit is shades of grey with green facings. 
 
As before, even with the cacophony of subdued colors used, they probably appear far more uniform than would have been the case. 
Flag aside, they could just as easily be loyalist militia. 

They certainly would not be out of place at Bunker Hill or any number of clashes. In the assault upon the entrenchments at Breed’s Hill, the British suffered over 1,000 casualties, including 450 killed, with  high proportion of officers. .

Although they were pushed out of their positions after the third assault, the losses of the Americans were less than half that of the British.