Categorie: Internetblog

Battle of Brandywine at Historicon

Gepost op door JurjenB in Internetblog

I ran my Brandywine, September 11, 1777, scenario Saturday afternoon and evening at Historicon this year, using Field of Battle 3rd edition rules, by Brent Oman. .
The Americans are defending the line of the Brandywine and its 6 fords, trying to slow or stop Howes advance upon Philadelphia from the Southwest. 

While fighting took place at all f the Fords (including an ambush by Morgan’s Rifles, Howe dispatched a flanking force which made an early arrival on the Birmingham road. British players were Jim, Ted, and Jeff; Adam had to bow out at the last minute due to feeling unwell, but we had a replacement player. On the Patriot side were Chris V, .Paul, Mike, and 2 Matts!

Action at the Southernmost ford, Pye’s Ford, which is fronted by a clif!

The American rifles and artillery have really disrupted the British attack at Chad’s Ford; meanwhile, the American reserves march North to counter the British flanking march

Heavy fighting at Brinten and James’ Fords. 

The British have broken across the Northernmost Ford, Wistar Ford, and the flanking attack has reached Birmingham. 

Simcoe’s Rangers

We had to call the action after 4 hours, because I had just an hour to reset the troops for game 2. I would have loved to have played another hour!

Game 2 saw a lot of old friends, especially on the British side – Milton, Ken, Tim, Thomas Newhart, and on the British side, Thomas’ dad, Alex Newhart, Connall, Steve, and Gary. 

For these two games I tried quite a bit of pregame planning, giving the players their choice of side in advance, and considerable latitude to determine where their forces would be deployed, and who would command them. The Patriots, led by Gary “Washington”, adopted a plan to concentrate their troops in the South, and plkanning to establish a strong defensive position on Chad’s ridge. 

They figured that the British would be unable to defeat them before nightfall

The British had fair success crossing the Brandywine in the North, but the Americans were expecting Howe’s flank march. “Rommel, you magnificent bastard, I read your book!” The Americans are seen above pulling back from Birmingham ridge to Chad’s ridge. 

Farther and son battled it out across the Brandywine at Pye’s Ford. 

The British flanking force and the columns crossing at Brinten and Wistar Fords are closing on the Patriot position, but the clock is running out on Howe’s attempt to defeat Washington; doubtless he will slip away in the night to fight another day!

Battle of Brandywine River,
September 11, 1777  – Scenario

The Brandywine is 6+ feet deep except
at the fords (where it is still at least 3-4 feet deep. It may ONLY
be crossed at the five designated fords. To cross, a unit must stop
on contact with the edge of the ford. It takes a full MOVE segment to
cross to the other side, and the unit must be March or Skirmish
formation.. If in combat with a unit on the opposing bank, the enemy
will get the benefit of the Superior Position modifier.

March formation can only be used for
movement along roads or across fords. Units may always expend a MOVE
segment to change into or out of Column for such purposes, ONLY.

Artillery may only expend MOVE segments
to limber and/or unlimber on Won – Even MOVE actions. It may of
course limber or unlimber on a LEADERSHIP card as per the usual
rules.

American Infantry may not initiate
Melee on a Won – Even MOVE, but British and Hessian infantry in
Line may do so.

Hills are class 2 terrain, except Rocky
Hill, which is class 4 terrain (impassable cliff face) where it
fronts the Brandywine River, and Class 3 terrain elsewhere.

Woods are Class 3 terrain, except the
Orchard, which is Class 2. ALL American troops treat woods as though
they were Light Infantry (as do British Light Infantry and Hessian
Feldjagers) – Class 2 counts as class I, and Class 3 as class 2.
Conversely Cavalry and Artillery treat Class 3 woods as impassible,
and Class 2 woods as class 3. Visibility into Class 2 woods is 4”,
2” into Class 3 woods.

Buildings and fences/walls are all
class 2 terrain for movement and cover; stop on contact unless acting
on a Won – Even MOVE, in which case no penalty.

Fields are purely decorative and have
no effect upon play.

Regardless of the LD rolls, the British
player will go first on the first initiative of the game.

The game ends at the end of the
initiative in which the British play their 7th MOVE card
(The game will start with a fre British MOVE), and the first
imnitiative will go to the British as well regardless of the LD
rolls.

Victory Conditions:

If the British exit any un-routed
units from the Eastern end of the tables along the Middle or Great
Post roads it will be at least a minor British victory. (addded after
the games).

If the British fail Army Morale it is a
Major Victory for the Americans; Decisive if the Americans have more
Morale Points than they started with. If neither side fails Army
Morale it is a minor victory for the Americans. I the Americans fail
Army Morale it is a minor victory for the British; Major if they have
more Morale points than they started with at the end of the game.

British briefing and forces:

General Sir
William Howe: After landing your army at the apex of Chesapeake Bay
(transport courtesy of the Royal Navy and your Brother, Admiral
Richard Howe), you have moved North and to the West of the Delaware
River to threaten the Rebel capitol at Philadelphia. In so doing, the
Rebels will feel morally obligated the Rebels to make a stand before
you reach that city, lest the morale of their cause collapse. General
Washington and his rag – tag “army” has taken up defensive
positions along the Brandywine river. He hopes your army will bloody
itself attempting to force the position. But there may be other
options…

You must assign at least one command to
attack at least 3 of the Fords (you can attack all 5 if desired, and
with as many more commands as desired). Such commands may start on
the table up to 6” on, but no closer than 4” any of the Fords.

You may designate up to 3 commands as a
flanking force, to arrive later from the North via the Birmingham
Road. Such a force will not arrive until at least the second MOVE
card, and possibly later.

TURN D 10 roll to enter

2 7+

3 4+

4 Automatic

Any remaining commands can be
designated as Reserve, and may enter from the East via the roads to
Chad’s, Brinten’s and/or Jones’s Ford on any MOVE card starting with
the first, and Pyle’s or Wister’s Ford on any MOVE card after the
first.

Lieutenant
General William Howe LD 10

Average Sequence Deck

Major General Charles Cornwallis LD
10

Wing Commander

Lieutenant General Wilhelm von
Knyphausen LD 10

Wing Commander

Major General
Charles Grey LD 10

3rd
British Brigade 1000

52nd
Foot D 6 C 10

Orange Rangers
D 4 C 8

King’s Royal
Regiment of New York D 4 C 10

64th
Foot D 6 C 8

6# Foot
Battery D 6 C 10

Brigadier
General James Agnew LD 8

4th
British Brigade 1400

21st
Foot D 6 C 12

24th
Foot D6 C10

47th
Foot C 6 D10

62nd
Foot D 6 C 10

6# Battery D
6 C 10

Brigadier Edward
Mathews LD 8

British Guards
Brigade 1000

Guards #1 D 8 C
12+1

Guards
#2 (9th
Foot) D 8 C 12+1

Colonel Sir
Robert Abercrombie LD 10

British Light
Infantry Brigade 1300

Light Infantry
#1 D 6 C 8

Light Infantry
#2 D 6 C 10

Colonel Henry Monckton LD 10

British Grenadier Brigade 1400

1st
Grenadier Battalion D 8 C 12+1

2nd
Grenadier Battalion D 8 C 12+1

Ferguson
LD 8

42nd
Highlanders D 8 C 12

71st
Highlanders D 8 C 12

Queen’s
Rangers (Rifles) D 6 C 10

16th
Light Dragoons D 6 C 10

Brigadier
General “Smith” LD 10

First British
Brigade 1400 [Hessians]

Von Lossberg
Fusiliers D 6 C 10

Von
Knyphaussen Fusiliers D 6 C 10

Von Ditforth
Fusiliers D 6 C 10

Erbprinz
Fusiliers D 6 C 10

3# Gun D 6 C
10

Major General
James Grant LD 12+1

2nd
British Brigade 1300

5th
Foot D 6 C 10

30th
Foot D 6 C 10

Foot Battery
D 6 C 12

16th
Light Dragoons D 6 C 10

Major General
Johann von Stirn LD12+1

Hessian
Brigade 2200

Von Donop
Musketeers D 6 C 10

Von Trumbach
Musketeers D 6 C 8

Von Wutginau
Musketeers D 6 D 8

Leib
Musketeers D 6 C 10

Feldjagers ®
D 8 C 12

6# Gun D 6 C
8

Colonel Karl
von Donop LD 12

Hessian
Grenadier Brigade 1300

Grenadier #1
D 8 C 12+1
Grenadier #2 D 8 C 12

Grenadier Von
Rall D 8 C 12



American brirefing and forces:

Having revived the
sagging spirits of the Patriot cause with timely victories at Trenton
and Princeton this past winter, the enlistments of most of the army
expired, with the few remaining troops wintering in Morristown, NJ.
In July of 177, the bulk of the British army departed new York by
ship, Their destination was uncertain, but a plan to attack and seize
the capitol of your new nation at Philadelphia was suspected. This
indeed proved to be the case, , with the British making a long voyage
all the way down to the mouth of Chesapeake Bay, and then sailing all
the way up to it’s apex. They are now marching Northeast towards
Philadelphia. You have managed to recruit a force roughly equal in
size to that of General Howe’s army. While the men have gained some
valuable experience in various skirmishes with the enemy in New
Jersey, the majority of them are untested in battle, and certainly no
match for them in a one on one fight in the open field. However,
honor, the Continental Congress, and the morale of the Patriot cause
all require that some attempt be made to prevent Howe from just
marching straight in to Philadelphia. You have taken up defensive
positions along the Brandywine River, which can only be crossed at a
limited number of Fords. You expect Howe to make the most direct
approach to Philadelphia, along the grandly named Great Post Road (in
reality a one cart wide dirt road), crossing at Chads and/or
Brinten’s Fords. However, prudence dictates that the other Fords must
be guarded to some degree as well.

You may deploy
your forces anywhere East of the Brandywine River and South of
Birmingham Ridge, except that up to 2 commands each may be deployed
within the 12” East of James and Wister’s Fords, respectively

Notwithstanding the above,you may place
any or all of your Rifle units hidden in ambush in any woods at the
start of the game. Write down their location(s) and give it the GM.

The Redoubt on Chads’ ridge is Class 3
terrain; it can target both Chads’ and Brinten’s Fords..

Add the “Sniper” card to the
British deck.

Lieutenant
General George Washington LD 10

Major
General Nathaniel Green LD 10

2500
Virginians Good Leadership

Pennsylvania
Continentals D 6 C 10

Maryland
Continentals D 6 C 10

2nd
Virginia Continentals D 6 C 10

Rhode
Island Continentals D 6 C 10

Easton
PA Continentals D 6 C 12

1st
Virginia Continentals D 6 C 10

Brigadier
General “Mad”Anthony Wayne LD12+1

2000
Pennsylvanians

2nd
New Hampshire D 6 C 12

1st
Connecticut D 6 C 10

Seth Warner –
Green Mtn D 6 C 10

Massachusetts
Militia D 4 C 8

3# Gun D 6 C
8

Major General John Sullivan LD 8

1800 Maryland/Delaware

3rd New York D6 C 10

Congress Owen Regiment D 6 C 10

NY Militia D4 C 12

6# Battery D6 C 12+1

Brigadier William Maxwell LD 10

1000 Light Infantry (includes 200
local Chester Co Militia)

1st PA
Rifles (R, only 2 UI) D 8 C 12

2nd PA
Rifles (R, only 2 UI) D 8 C 12

1st
Virginia Rifles (R, only 2 UI) D 8 C 12

2nd
Virginia Rifles (R, only 2 UI) D 8 C 12

Major General
Adam Stephens LD ??

(good
Leadership but often drunk) 2100 Virginians

Virginia
Continentals D 6 C 10

Pennsylvania
Continentals D 6 C 10

New York
Continentals D 6 C 10

Connecticut
Continentals D 6 C 10

Major
General William Alexander (Lord Stirling) LD 10

1400 New
Jersey troops Good Leadership

Sherbourne’s
Additional Continental Regiment D 6 C 10

Massachusetts
Continentals D 6 C 10

New Jersey
Continentals D 6 C 10

6# Gun D 6 C
8

Brigadier
General Francis Nash LD 10

1000 North
Carolina

North Carolina
Rgt D 6 C 10

South Carolina
Rgt D 6 C 8

Brigadier
General John Armstrong LD 8

1000
Pennsylvania Militia

Patriot
Militia #1 DD 4 C 8

Patriot
Militia #2 DD 4 C 8

Casimir
Pulaski LD 8

600 Light
Dragoons

1st
Light Dragoons D 4 C 10

3rd
Light Dragoons D 4 C 12

Militia
Cavalry D 4 C 12

Marston Moor at Historicon 2026

Gepost op door JurjenB in Internetblog

 

I ran my Scenario for Marston Moor, July 2, 1644, twice at Historicon, on Thursday morning and afternoon, with  For King and Parliament rules. The village of Tockwirth is in the foreground, whilst  Long Marston is at the far end. 

Parliament and the Scots are to the left, and the King’s men are to the right, with their center anchored behind a hedgerow fronted by a deep, water-filled drainage ditch, and thus impassable to Horse. 

Parliamnet presses the attack on their left; red discs denote veteran units, and green discs are raw. 

Few things are more impresive than lines of pikes!

Parliamentary horse is handling their opposites on the Parliamentary left pretty roughly. 

Attacking the hedge line on the Parliamentary left center. 

Royalist Horse crumbling on their l;eft.

More even action on the Royalist Right. 

“Saint Andrew!” Covenanter Foote has turned the left of the Royalist center – this cannot be good!

Still anyone’s battle on the Royalist right (the Cavaliers dispatched their reserve troops of Horse to bolster this flank. 

Opposing Dragoons fight it out in some woods. Overview from the Royalisr right. 

Overview from the Royalist right. 

There’s huge gap in the Scots/ Parliamnteary center; the Cavaliers try to capitalize upon it!

Situation at battles’ end – a hard won victory for the King!

I was so engaged in the action (and resetting the game in 1 hour’s time) I plumb forgot to take any pictures of game 2; in this action, the Scots and Roundheads held back on the infantry assaults until later, and let their superior cavalry get the upper hand on both flanks – victory to Parliament and the Covenanters!

Sections of the water filled ditch that i made for this game. 

Historicon 2026 – Saturday games

Gepost op door JurjenB in Internetblog

 

I’m not sure who runs these fairly large Napoleonic games with big units, but I recognize the plain green cloth year after year!  🙂

Some shots of my frien Jim Mauro’s game with To the Strongest!. 

Battle of Ain-Jalut 1260 AD
The Battle of Ain-Jalut pitted the Mamluks of Egypt over the invading Mongols of the Ikhanate. The battle halted the westward expansion of the Mongol empire, securing Egypt and the Islamic world.
I know Jim had some of his own tweaks to the TtS! rules for this game, where there was no infantry!

15 mm figures with Sabot bases. 

Just who is flanking whom here?
Jim also ran The Battle of La Forbie 1244. with TtS! on Friday: The Battle of La Forbie was fought between a coalition of Crusader forces and allied Muslim troops against the Ayyubid Sultanate of Egypt, reinforced by Khwarezmian mercenaries. This battle is notable for the crushing defeat of the Crusader coalition.. I was too busy Friday to catch any shots of it!

My freind Mark T ran several games with Light Bobs 2nd edition (by Chris Parker, with a major assist by Mark); here he is running The Assault Across Doulcon Woods, Sept 1st 1914:  The German invasion proceeds, and French artillery are causing casualties. Lt. Rommel leads 7th Co, 124th Regt, trying to reach an enemy battery to take it out. Can French infantry keep them from crossing the Doulcon Woods?  {Yes, THAT Rommel}

Everyone looks peretty engaged here!

The Shadow Syndicate…

the famous (because of Sir Charles Oman) small battle if Maida:  July 4, 1806 in Calabria

Hexon terrain!

The Pueblo Revolt 1680
100 years before the American Revolution this lesser-known revolt took place between the Pueblo Indian tribes of New Mexico and the Spanish who settled in the region. This unique mesa-top siege battle takes place on a highly detailed table that has been featured in Wargames Illustrated Magazine.
 

Frostgrave

Hobby University

One of quite a few Carnage and Glory games (note Computer!). 

Beautiful troops and table. 

More C&G

More C&G

Still more C&G.  

The lighting in the new Common Ground (Basement) area is spectacular, and the carpet helps keep down noise. I wanna run my games there next year!  🙂

Historicon 2026 Friday Games

Gepost op door JurjenB in Internetblog

Outside the Dealer Hall. 

King’s Mountain, by David Manley

One of 6 (!) sessions of Wagram. 

Board/Miniatures WW2 combo game 

Princeton by Jim Purky – note the Grenadier Miter!

Milton’s 15 mm FoB3 Lutzen game, Friday version – I played in the Thursday night version as French (we got stomped). 

More Lutzen

I played in the Friday AM  Princeton game, on the far left of the Patriot front. 
I had 3 units of Continental infantry, but no artillery. 

We advanced upon their position fairly aggressively. 
Rest of the battle.
Back to my corner of the field; my first volley was very lucky – something like 5 hits on 6 dice. 
The British and hessians seemed to have the better of it on pour far right. 
Elie converged British Grenadier and Light companies were tough, but our numbers were pretty compelling. 
British are very hard pressed on our left. 
Action on the near and far right.
One of my units fails morale – hardly shocking with over 50% losses… but they di their job. 
My British opponent charges my line!
Patriots are prevailing in the left center. 
Action off n the Patriot Left again.
The British right center has been vaporized; shortly after the British unit with its refused left will retreat after tasking volleys from 2 of my Patriot units. 
Checking in at Lutzen near the end. 
HMGS Next Gen action. 

Circle the Wagons!

The new space downstairs was awesome – much bigger than before the renovations were completed, great lighting, etc. 

Sea Peoples and foes. 
This Colosseum is just awesome with the myriad of spectators!

Hobby U; note the assortment of Scotches belonging to the Little Wars TV guys!
For Adolfo… look, whale boats (inside joke), and none other than Moby Dick. Calling Captain Ahab!

Historicon 2026 Wednesday night and Thursday games

Gepost op door JurjenB in Internetblog

Historicon 2026 was great – much more space and no real table crunch like there was in 2025; more about that anon.  

Modern Afghanistan

Alternate Battle of Trenton by Jim Purky, aka “Der Alte Fritz”. 

Setting up for a big Napoleonic game

Another Trenton, I Believe. 

Terreain boards set up Wedenesday night without the troops, for the Little Wars guys SIX episode Battle of Wagram (GM MIles) with modified General d’ Armee rules.

King’s Mountain, AWI. 

Old freind from Denver, John Mumby in the left rear. 

Joe Swartz classic attacking Hadrian’s wall, I believe. 

Troops at eleven…

Set up for the first of my two Marston Moor games with “For King and Parliament” Thursday – more on that later.

Thursday night I played in Milton Soong’s 15 mm Lutzen game with Field of Battle – longtime freind Ken Baggaley (center) was opposite me. More on that later, too.