Somewhere in the New World : FIW : Bolt Action

For all my previous FIW battles we have used Muskets and Tomahawks, a very enjoyable ruleset for small skirmish games but I have wanted to try something different for a while. Looking for something to plug a gap we tried a simple battle using a quickly adapted set of Bolt Action rules. The French Forces supported by a strong native Indian contingent are looking to raid a local settlement. We had three objectives equally spread across the table.

French regular infantry advance down the road with their officer in support

In the woods Natives move towards the church where the unsuspecting residents are in danger of being captured

British regular infantry supported by local militia

More natives have their eye on the locals cattle

Coming under fire the French spreadout into the corn field to get some cover

British regulars form up and fire down the road but come under (inaccurate) fire from natives beyond the church yard

In the church yard a fearce hand to hand combat will seal the fate of the Reverend and his two female companions 

Long range fire down the road, the objective in this part of the battlefield are the beer barrels close to the house

Puffs of smoke and musket fire can be seen all over the battlefield now

Under orders “capture le beer” some of the French make a dash for the barrels

It isn’t looking good for the locals as a single ranger remains to defend them

Looks like beef is back on the menu but now they have to get the cattle away

A final unit of bow armed natives moves up through the wood

Despite the Muskets balls flying around their heads the French start to roll the beer away 😀

Hot work no doubt !

British grenadiers and natives in hand to hand combat

Uh oh ...in a desperate attempt to  save the locals the British Captain runs towards the church yard

Slow work moving the cattle

Merde ......the French officer has to charge in as the local militia manage to get their hands on the beer, let’s hope it is decent quality ?

Whilst the British Officer is wrestling in hand to hand combat the other natives leap into the graveyard to secure the locals....don’t fancy their chances now !

Despite loosing half their number the natives have the cattle

The French officer has lost his life protecting the beer, but the final militia man is chased away no doubt the French regulars will toast their lost captain when they are back in camp

The two unfortunate womenfolk are escorted away (or perhaps rescued), whilst the Reverend seems to have been left behind ?

So at this point the French/Natives had secured all three objectives and a good win. The rules worked out pretty well and gave a fairly fluid game, definately the case that I need to expand the collection with some cavalry, more regular troops and perhaps an odd cannon.