Victory Conditions for the Jackson Gamers' Revolutionary War Battle

The Battle of Bedford - August 1776

We refought the Battle of Bedford which took place on Long Island during August 1776. Our game took place at HobbyTown in north Jackson on September 1, 2001.

BRITISH SCENARIO NOTES

General Situation: General Lord Howe has advanced undetected (he believes) around the left flank of the American lines. Approaching the village of Bedford, he has deployed his army to outflank and defeat the upstart colonists. Lieutenant General Clinton is in command of the first line. General Howe is following with the second line.,

Initial Set-up: Leslie's brigade, with the 17th Light Dragoons in the lead is deployed on line approximately 36" in from the east edge of the table centered on the Bedford-Jamaica Road. One RA company supports him. The two grenadier battalions and the other two RA companies are in column on the road behind Leslie's brigade. Robertson's brigade is deployed in line (two battalions up and two battalions back) to the right of the road, while Pigott's brigade is similarly deployed to the left of the road. Clinton can be placed at the player's discretion. NOTE: Regimental precedence must be followed in all deployments, to wit:

The battle will open with the British advancing out of the morning twilight towards the unsuspecting (they hope) Americans.

British Reinforcements: During the British player's movement portion of Turn 2, the following forces will enter (in order): two companies of RA on the Bedford-Jamaica road, Matthews Guards Brigade (1st and 2nd Composite Guards Battalions) in column to the right of the road, and Smith's 5th Brigade in column to the left of the road. Howe must enter with the artillery on the road.

AMERICAN SCENARIO NOTES>

General Situation: General Nathaniel Greene is in command of the American forces deployed along a line of hills across the best British advance route to Brooklyn Heights and the crossings of the East River into Manhattan (New York City). But Greene has failed to guard the easternmost pass (Jamaica) because he believes it is too far out of the way for the British to use. The day before, British and German troops were seen advancing towards the other three passes, especially Flatbush and Bedford, so Greene expects the main assault to come there. He has gathered three brigades in the vicinity of Bedford Pass - McDougall's, Nixon's, and Heard's. All three are in cantonments awaiting the word to move forward and occupy their defensive positions.

Initial Set-up. Brigadier General McDougall's brigade (of Major General Sullivan's division) is encamped to the west of the Bedford Pass Road (deploy battalions in column to simulate this, facing south). Brigadier General Nixon's brigade (of Greene's division) is likewise encamped to the east of the Bedford Pass Road. Brigadier General Heard's brigade (also Greene's division) is likewise encamped to the west and south of the village of Bedford. One artillery company and Major General Sullivan are with McDougall's brigade. The other artillery company is manning a small redoubt on the southern outskirts of Bedford. Major General Greene is asleep in the village of Bedford.

American Reinforcements: During the American movement portion of Turn 2, Brigadier Clinton's brigade (Sullivan's division) enters in column along the Brooklyn-Bedford Road. Also Haslett's Delaware and Smallwood's Maryland Regiments enter, in column, from the west edge of the table just north of the hills. During the American movement portion of Turn 3, General Washington, Glover's 14th Continental Regiment, and Atlee's Pennsylvania Musketeers enter in column on the Brooklyn-Bedford Road.

American "Activation" of Encamped Troops: Before play begins, Greene will roll one D10. On a roll of 1-4, he receives no notification of the British advance; 5-7, notification is received but not soon enough to effect his deployment; 8-10, notification is received early enough so that the troops are awake and can begin moving in Turn 1. If there is no notification, then the British get a free move before the Americans can react during Turn 2. With late notification, each American brigade commander must roll to alert each of his subordinate units, with Greene rolling to alert Sullivan and the artillery. On a D10, 1-6, alert succeeds and unit can move on Turn 1; 7-10, alert is ignored and no movement until Turn 2.

American Victory Conditions:

1. 1 point for each British troop stand, commander, or gun stand destroyed.
2. 10 points for retaining control of Bedford until Turn 6.
3. 10 points for retaining control of the northern exit of Bedford Pass until end of Turn 5.
4. 10 points for retaining control of the western exit of the Brooklyn-Bedford Road until Turn 6.
5. Additional conditions to be determined by Gamemaster during game.

New British Victory Conditions (Given to British commander at end of turn 2):

1. One point for each American troop stand, officer, or gun stand destroyed or captured.
2. Ten points for control of Bedford by the end of Turn 6 or earlier; five points for any turn thereafter.
3. Ten points for control of the northern exit of Bedford Pass.
4. Twenty points for control of the Brooklyn-Bedford Road where it exits the west side of the table.
5. Additional conditions to be determined by Gamemaster during game.
   • Minus 1 point for every British troop stand, officer, or gun stand destroyed.
   • Minus 1 point for every non-routed American troop stand, commander, or gun stand evacuated via the Brooklyn-Bedford Road or 18" either side of it.
   • Plus 1 point for every American troop stand, officer, or gun stand left on table east of creek at end of Turn 8.

New American Victory Conditions (Give to American commander at end of Turn 3):

1. 1 point for each British troop stand, commander, or gun stand destroyed.
2. 10 points for retaining control of Bedford until Turn 6.
3. 10 points for retaining control of the northern exit of Bedford Pass until end of Turn 5.
4. 10 points for retaining control of the western exit of the Brooklyn-Bedford Road until end of Turn 8.
5. Additional conditions to be determined by Gamemaster during game.
   • Minus 3 points for every troop stand, commander, or gun stand left on table east of creek at end of Turn 8.
   • Plus 1 point for every non-routed American troop stand, commander, or gun stand evacuated via the Brooklyn-Bedford Road or 18" either side of it by end of Turn 8. NO POINTS awarded if evacuated prior to Turn 5.
   • If Glover's 14th Continental Regiment is destroyed or remains east of the creek, then the Americans automatically loose. Glover's regiment ferried the army back across the East River, so if they are lost then no one can get away!