AWI Campaign : ‘Old Molly’ Part 1

Having had a couple of introductory games of Rebels and Patriots with my AWI collection we decided it was time to play a mini narrative campaign. Really in simple terms a set of three linked battles with a clear narrative with some carry over between games.

Background

It’s early in the war and both sides are looking to strengthen their position. Somewhere in Virginia reports have reached both sides that an old French Indian War cannon known locally as Old Molly has been discovered in the small town of Oak Tree. This valuable artillery piece needs to be captured or at least prevented from falling to the enemy, so two small forces have been sent to secure the gun and bring it back. The patriots under Major Jessop Callahan have ordered all the local forces to converge at Oak Tree but they are a mixed bag of troops and will be arriving from a number of different directions. The Loyalists dismissive of the Rebels will be marching in good order under Colonel Archibald Watts. The majority of his force are well disciplined redcoats but he also has under his command some local loyalist militia. Green they might be but at least they are fighting for the King.

Scenario One : Capture Old Molly

The gun must be secured and or the enemy forced to withdraw. The Patriots will enter from three random location on their baseline the British in a single column down the road 

The quiet scene at Oak Tree, Old Molly (the gun not the old lady !) has been abandoned at the cross roads. The town can be seen in the distance.

A closer shot of the two Old Mollys and the Oak tree for which the town is named.

The patriots advance first knowing the countryside better than the British, but immediately the skirmishers are reluctant to advance into the small orchard by the forge. Two regiments the 1st and 2nd Delaware move through the muddy pig field towards the cornfield

Major Callahan  has attached himself to a regiment of Virginia woodsmen who are better than average shots with their hunting rifles.

More skirmishers and the local Oak County militia arrived from the town. Residents at this stage slightly bemused by the noise

Ah ha the Redcoats arrive and spread out, their commanding officer Colonel Watts waves them forward he looks very dapper in his new uniform !

Jessop has other ideas and deploys by the cross roads

The British start to fan out

With the Guards occupying the gardens on the edge of the town. They have a very high morale boosted by a random event roll and will be almost unbreakable.

Looking good at this stage , Rebels are still deploying 

But over confident Archibald allows the Rebels to get the first shot off and the redcoats are temporarily stunned

The British have driven back the Delaware skirmishers but are now facing a strong American line

The Guards work their way through the gardens driving the enemy back

But on the British left there is a danger of being outflanked, the broths light infantry fail an activation at a crucial stage

Rebel militia are either brave or foolhardy advancing towards the British line

They are sent running back by a well timed volley

But despite their superior morale the British are starting to loose numbers and thin out 

Jessop takes the initiative advancing towards the objective

..........only to be sent back temporarily shaken/broken, this was very close to disaster for the Americans. Luckily for them they rallied next turn !

Another Delaware unit is now threatening to outflank the British who have little left to respond with

 Archibald orders a last ditch dash for the objective by the militia, but they can’t close on the gun in the face of the Enemy fire, the British having taken significant losses at this point decided to withdraw, in some sense of order before they are routed. 

Victory almost turns to disaster for the Americans when in the last turn, in the confusion of battle, one of the Delaware regiments mistakes the Oak County Militia for loyalists and gives them a volley they rightly flee deciding perhaps next time they will fight for the King! The Americans manage to stave off any potential panic and secure the gun

Hoorah much waving of tricorn hats Major Callahan orders Old Molly limbered up. He knows the British will be back in force so he must make speed if he wishes to get away with his prize.

A jolly good game, the British were resilient but should have closed with the enemy rather than opening ineffective long range fire, this might have stopped the Americans getting all their troops into the battle where numbers eventually won through. Great to get the AWI on the battlefield, enjoying the rules although that is two games in a row where the expected collapse hasn’t come !

Scenario two will see the Americans ambushed as they attempt to cross Oak County with the gun.