The Battle for Cooch’s Bridge : American War Independence

We have reached September 1777 in our AWI campaign and the small battle of Cooch’s Bridge, apparently the only battle to take place in Delaware in the AWI. Not a huge amount of info on what was a small engagement. But most of the details are available if you dig about. 

A perfect sized scenario for Rebels and Patriots

Our setup, the Americans are on Iron Hill and their objective is to get as much of their army off the table over the bridge as possible. The British advance will be phased as it was historically. The swamp is very difficult terrain so will both slow and force minus 1 activations.

The bulk of the American army formed up on Iron Hill watching the advance of the British !

Hessian dragoons by the church and jaegers lead the way on the attack

Historically Maxwell the American general had handpicked some Light infantry who were sent out to skirmish/ambush the advance which they did very effectively close to the roadside tavern

The Americans start to move for the bridge but unfortunately a couple of units are sluggish to get moving failing early activations

As the American lights skirmish with the Hessians more Mercian skirmishers are sent forward to slow the advance and give time for the Americans to escape

Still a couple of units languish in camp ?

The next wave of British arrive, mainly redcoat light infantry.

As the British forces build up the American light infantry make a huge blunder, failing an activation with a Double six they choose to charge forwards, caught in very heavy crossfire they are wiped out. One of the major American roadblocks removed !

British surge forward on the right and open fire to clear away the remaining American skirmishers

The final British infantry arrive down the road led by Gen Cornwallis himself

The position midway in the battle, the Americans now have troops in and around Cooch Farm and are trading volleys with the British light infantry

To the sound of drums the British advance in column down the road

Battle rages many of the Americans are now behind the farm heading for the bridge which is not far away

Ominously the British move out into line formation

Oops while leading the defence and in the thick of the fighting Maxwell is shot from his horse ! The Americans morale wavers a little 

The British close in, the American run for the bridge, the red markers indicate first fire which means some of the Rebels haven’t even discharged their weapons during the battle !

They still Farm but British light infantry is closing in several American units are captured or broken as they are caught around the bridge

The British finally cut off the scape and the final two American units are trapped around the farm.

You haven’t heard this often during the campaign but a resounding British victory, hurrah ! almost all the rebels are killed or captured. It was of course a fun battle and the Americans have had it their own way for so long it was nice to turn the tables. Early failed activations, the loss of the light infantry on about turn two, the loss of Maxwell all contributed to the victory, the British failed remarkable few activations. I had made them veterans as seemed appropriate and felt the fact that Cornwallis would never really be able to add his leadership bonus balanced this out. Next for the campaign is Brandywine so we are just planning how we might manage this remotely.

Finally just received this update from Perry miniatures and I’m looking forward to getting a couple of boxes when they come out 😀

Thanks all for checking in

Matt ♥️