Battle for Fort Washington 1776

For our next virtual battle, tracking through the history of the American war of independence we have the battle for Fort Washington. 16th November 1776. One of the great joys of this project is learning more about the AWI especially about these smaller less well know battles. Once again I will only provide a shortened history if you are interested in more search the web. Anyway having fought the indecisive battle of White Plains the American forces were encamped on the heights at Fort Washington over looking the Hudson River. Suggestions were made to evacuate the fort but these went unheeded, general Howe perhaps remembering the outcome at Bunker Hill decided to go ‘full on’ to take the fort. The complex planned assault would take place from three directions with a fourth feint attack as well.

Despite being a smaller scale battle there is plenty of information and some useful maps. However, it is perhaps a difficult battle to gain a balanced scenario as the Americans were very significantly outnumbered and pretty much on the back foot.

A very nice period picture of the Battlefield from the north

There are several nice old maps of the battle and I suspect the full battle would make an interesting and larger battle given space and troops, you could even include elements for the British ships which were engaged in the battle

However, given my space and collection limitations I focussed our battle mainly around the Hessian assault under Knyphausen and the flank assault under Mathew/Howe. 

This converted into the battlefield above before the troops were set up. This would give an interesting battle for both sides, the Americans would be spread out and face the choice of pulling back to the fort to defend or picking off the advancing troops as they attempted to close. We decided that victory for the British/Hessian forces would be eliminating over 2/3 of the Americans or getting into the fort.

The Hessian forces prepare for the assault, here they are using Dyckmams Bridge but historically they were taken I believe over by boat.

Margret Corbin with her husband on the heights with Maryland and Virginia Riflemen

Gen Magaw in the Fort with Bucks County Militia

The Americans also have a number of small skirmish units amongst the defensive works and some Pennsylvania Volunteers on Laurel Hill. The only other scenario detail of real worth is the British contingent will only arrive on a random die roll, to represent them being delayed by the tide historically. As we have seen in previous battles attacking can be tough so the allies have about a 3 to 2 advantage in numbers. Would this be enough ?

The Hessian jägers immediately open up with a volley and cheer as the first rebel unit is forced to pull back

The rest of the Hessians fan out

A second volley from the jägers …hoorah 

The Maryland Riflemen look on with grim determination they may prove a tougher nut to crack

Hessian grenadiers are now pushing upto the first defence 

The rest of Knyphausen’s command is pushing up the valley towards the south

After turn three the British would roll to test for arrival and luckily they came in turn five, they immediately push their skirmishers forward who start to fire at the Pennsylvania Volunteers 

Battle now widespread and the allies are making good progress

Then suddenly the British have a dreadful turn, failing to activate and their assault on Laurel hill stalls allowing the rebels to bring up some additional defenders

The Maryland Riflemen have pushed forward feeling the moment has come to take the battle to the Germans

But still progress is being made even if the Germans are getting slowed down

Margret Corbin (you’ll have to google it) fires another blast, the American artillery on the ridge is very effective

A sense now the german attack is stalling but hopefully the British are now starting to get moving 

The light infantry blast away at short range

Finally the allied cannon is able to open up to some effect driving the Maryland regiment back

A glimpse of hope the British grenadiers easily push through the earthworks

The hessians now waiting for their moment to renew the assault

Driving the skirmishers back 

But Magaw has lined up his Regiment across the ditch and the grenadiers are exposed

The British combined light infantry somehow manages to fail to chase the American skirmishers away

The Americans have started to pull back and the allied gun falls quiet

The final nail in the British coffin, a tremendous first fire volley into the Grenadiers over the road/ditch. In one turn the British grenadiers are decimated 

We called the battle here, the allies just don’t have enough fire power to push forward the assault and the Americans have started pulling back to the main fort defences. The Americans win, which in this case means they have enough time to evacuate the bulk of their forces rather than surrender them which is what happened historically.

Once again a very fun battle, a couple of key turning points when the British stalled early on and then when the British grenadiers were wiped out. We discussed the balance of the scenario and came to the conclusion that on average the attacker needs a 2 to 1 ratio rather than the 3 to 2. It would be fun to play this one again with that extra balance ? Of course we won’t be implementing this balance until after Trenton ! I do think Fort Washington would make an excellent larger battle as long as the victory conditions for the Americans are achievable. Buying time to escape.

Thanks as always for taking the time to scroll through 👍

Matt