The Sixteenth of our 2011 games
The Battle of German Flat
Charles Canfield drove over from Shreveport LA to run this game at Jay Stribling's home in North Jackson on July 16, 2011. We also used Charles' 15mm armies and the Koenig Krieg rules.
The The game is set in New York in 1757, a month after the fall of Fort William Henry. The British are pushing north along the road from Fort Edward in some strength. The French are falling back, attempting to delay the British while their engineers demolish Fort William Henry.
John Murdaugh was quicker off the mark than I was and has a large number of photographs of this battle on his web site: NOMADIC OLD SCHOOL GAMER . Please click on that link to view them, and much more.
Photo by John Murdaugh.
The suspiciously "empty" village of German Flat, as first viewed by the British advance guard. A cleared space in the trackless forest!
Photo by John Murdaugh.
Jim Pitts prepares to photograph the British forces while Charles Canfield makes an important point about the rules.
Photo by Jay Stribling.
This is part of the French Garrison at "German Flat." A similar brigade of French line troops is in an attached stone-walled field. A brigade of grenadiers is also hidden in the town. Some of you may notice that the flags and uniforms seem more like Hanoverians than French. Deal with it. We played the game with what we had.
Photo by Jay Stribling.
General Pitts, commanding the British advanced guard, leans over to move a battalion of rangers. The game-master, Charles Canfield grins ominously in the background.
Photo by Jay Stribling.
The head of the British line forces moves through a small stream on the barely improved road. There are no limbers, the small "battalion guns" are being pushed along by their artillerists..
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The British Instructions and order of battle September 1, 1757 To: General Daniel Webb Since the fall of Fort William Henry to the French, they have closed the area to all attempts by our forces to obtain any information about the enemy activity at Fort William Henry. You are ordered to conduct a Reconnaissance in force north from Fort Edward to Ford William Henry and etermine the intent of the enemy. You are authorized to use your best Judgement as to engage any enemy force you may encounter to accomplish your mission. Your forces will be the following: 1st Brigade, British Line, with Four battlions
God's Speed to you,
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Photo by Jay Stribling.
The British forces struggle along the forest road. The Light Dragoons and the two ranger units were deployed in skirmish order at the head of the column. They later had to be reinforced by line units deployed into open order..
Photo by Jay Stribling.
The French forces in the village await the British. The French light troops were in action for 8-10 turns before the first British neared the village.
Photo by Jay Stribling.
Get those men into ranks there Serjant! You can do better than that! One of the British brigades has exited the woods and is moving to their left to brush away the Indians and circle around the town.
Photo by Jay Stribling.
Through the dark woods across small unbridged streams the British column marched. On each flank the noises of gunfire and the war-whoops of the indians told of the bitter fighting of the British and French light forces..
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The French Instructions and order of battle September 1, 1757 To: General Francois Gaston Our scouts have reported that a strong British force of 24 battalions is preparing to leave Fort Edward. We assume that the intended target of this force is our army here at fort William Henry. Since the enemy great outnumbers us, it is my intent to destroy Fort William Henry and retreat north to Fort Carillion. You are ordered to take a blocking force south on the Fort Edward road and delay or turn back the enemy. This will buy time for our demolition work and cover our withdrawal. Boats will be left at Fort William Henry so you may rejoin my forces at Fort Carillion. Your forces will be the following: 1st Brigade, French Line, with Four battlions
Go with God
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Photo by Jay Stribling.
The French first brigade, in the town watches as the British march around to their right flank, intent on bypassing the town. The French did not know the British victory conditions and the reverse was true for the British.
The Blue-tinted transparent "stone" behind many of the units is a marker that the unit has been "activated" for that turn, and has had it's chance to move and/or fire.
Photo by John Murdaugh.
A very good photo of our game-master Charles Canfield. We are proud to list Charles as an "extended range" Jackson Gamer. He must enjoy our company, as he drove from Shreveport LA to run this game for us!
Who were the players in this game?
The French Players were Bill Hamilton (the Indian War leader), Jay Stribling (commanding the French Light units) and Phil Young (as Francois Gaston - the French Commander).
The British were Jim Pitts (commanding the Rangers, the Light Dragoons, and the first Brigade), John Murdaugh (commanding the 3rd Brigade, the Provincial Brigade, and the baggage train) and Ed Sansing (General Webb, commnder in chief, and personally commanding the 2nd Brigade and the Grenadier Brigade.
Photo by Jay Stribling.
The last of the British brigades begins its march across the French front and around the French right. In the woods can be seen some of the six battalions of British provincials, Highlanders and Grenadiers that had to be deployed to push back the French woodsmen and Indian warbands.
Photo by Jay Stribling.
This is the walled field in which the second of the French brigades was delplyed. Eventually half the infantry and the gun began to move to the main part of the village when the British moved around to the right of the houses.
Photo by Jay Stribling.
So, who won this game?
The French fell back, delaying the British advance and giving the forces at fort William Henry plenty of time to delstroy the works. Therefore they claimed victory.
The British felt that their reconnaissance mission had been a success as they located all of the French forces, beat back and drove off the French Indians and light troops and roughly handled the French line units that came out of the town and opposed them. They also claimed victory.
Although this was the first experience with the Konig Krieg rules for most of us, we enjoyed the game tremendously. We are ready to battle again with these rules!
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