Report on French and Indian wars game 06/03/10

Report on French and Indian game 06/03/10
Situation:
The battle took place along a road running through a small settlement.

The English force consisted of a company of the 22nd foot, supported by a group of a dozen militiamen, and small parties of Delaware and Mohawk Indians. Facing them were a company of Metropolitan regiment Baern, a compagnie Franche, and several dozen Huron allies.

The English force started the game marching up the rough road toward a settlement, they had the militia scouting ahead, and Mohawks guarding the left and Delawares the right of the 22nd.

‘Les Francaises’ were deployed hidden, apart from the French regulars, who were advancing down the road towards the settlement from the opposite direction.

The Battle:
First contact was made when a small band of Hurons opened fire from a stand of trees into the Militia, killing one militiaman.

The militia naturally dived for cover and then began moving forward to outflank the enemy.

The Delawares on that wing advanced rapidly over a small rise to shoot in support, the first group fired their rifles killing one, and wounding another Huron, but were hit by the return fire, one of their number being killed, causing his companions to drag his body back to safety.

The rest of the Delawares moved up and fired ineffectively at the ambushers.

It was only when a section of regulars formed line and fired a volley into them that they fled! Suddenly, another party of Hurons jumped out from the left flank of the advancing militia, immediately killing their leader, and beginning a savage extended melee.

On the English left, the Mohawks had found another ambushing party of Hurons, stumbling into their flank. The Hurons bravely counter-attacked, but were no match for the Mohawks.

More Hurons appeared, baiting the Mohawks deeper into the woods, and soon they were isolated from the regulars.

The regulars, having paused to clear the frontal ambush, advanced past the militia’s melee towards the settlement, their objective.

The Mohawks were ambushed by another party of Hurons on top of a small hill, a sudden volley scattered a few of the Mohawks, but the remaining Mohawks outflanked the Huron’s position, forcing them to fall back from the hill.

The reason for them retreating became obvious, however, as behind them were several groups of Hurons massed behind the hill!

The Mohawks then understandably hastily retraced their steps, back to the regulars, before they could be attacked and overrun!

This mass of Hurons however had bigger fish to fry, and advanced to fire into the flank of the advancing 22nd!

The 22nd remorselessly continued towards the settlement, only to find the French regulars there first! – deployed in line in open ground by the settlement.

The English captain considered trying to outflank them, but their Indian allies finally persuaded them to fall back.

The Delawares covering the retreat .

The French regulars did not fire at the retreating English, preferring to leave them to the Hurons! (A few quotes from Monty Python and the Holy Grail about blowing noses seemed appropriate at this point!)

The game showed us, perhaps, why Braddock’s expedition failed, though thankfully on a smaller scale!

(Regulars by Crusader miniatures, Irregulars by Perry and Conquest miniatures)

(Pictures by Lawrence and Richard)