Battle of Rocoux October 11, 1746

Rocoux anyone? It sounds like a French dish, which begs the question is it better served hot or cold and with a Bordeaux or a crisp Chardonnay?
This was part of Marshall de Saxe's campaign. It pits the French against the British, Dutch, Hanoverian and Hessians.

The article I have from Minature  Wargames is only half, this was from issue 195, August 1999. I must have bought the issue before I left for Japan, gee 20 years already.......
Anyhow, I shall be working on an order of battle.

the French line

Looking towards the Hessian and British lines

The British left wing made up of a composite Grenadier Battalion with a strong Highlanders contingent 

The Allied horse waiting to smash into the French

the Royal Artillery on the Allied right.

the French Horse begin to advance

the French cavalry attempt to hit the Allied left

The last of the Brunswick and Hessian troops

French musketry is punishing the Allied line 

Royal Artillery desperately attempts to move the guns to support an assault. Eventually the Allied force suffered so many casualties. The French emerged victorious 

French attack on Harburg Castle December, 1757

A French army has assembled in Hanover. At the town Harburg, the French are to invest the town and capture the castle for their winter quarters.
And with actual winter too cold for gaming in the garage, this may have to wait a month or so until the temperature is closer to 0c.
I have also been taking stock of my 18th century figures, having been in storage. I need to do some small repairs, but otherwise, ready to go.
First warm day of  2018, 2/15 allowed for some manovering but still not shots taken or fired.

 the castle area by moonlight. 

Prussian allies begin to deploy

the French begin to deploy

More shots will be taken when the sun is up.

Using the Gentlemen of France Fire First rules, the French force begins to hit the Prussian lines

the first redoubt falls after artillery fire clears out the defenders. 

This area of the battlefield proved to be the lynchpin of the entire Brunswick/Hanoverian line. The French cavalry proceeded to roll up the entire line. The French are set to over take the camp. 

Due to the cold weather, it took me four months to play this game.

The French horse and Wild Geese flank the line.

Saratoga Campaign:American push on Sword's House, September 17, 1777

In this action, Gates, sends his army to push Burgoyne's Army back into the Hudson river.

The Americans quickly push off the British and American artillery occupy the redoubts which are in turn overrun by British Light Infantry 

British and Brunswick troops assault on mass

 The Americans attempt to form lines 

which keep being blown apart by concentrated musketry

in the end, the Americans are driven off. The British camp is saved

Saratoga Campaign: Brunswick Dragoon Regiment Prinz Ludwig Ernst

It's taken me close to three years to build this unit due to my move back to Canada and finding a set of Dragoon figures.
Zeveda produced an excellent set which I have used the dismounted figures to build this Regiment.
The Regiment was equipped for mounted service but were unable to acquire horses upon arrival in Quebec in 1776. Thus it fought dismounted for the whole campaign.

From Osprey MAA 39 The British Army in North America 1775-83 (1974,1998,)

The regiment was raised at 1698 and was designated as a dragoon regiment in 1772, and was commanded by Maj-Gen Friedrich Riedesel who was in command of all Brunswick units in North America. Its field commander was Lt-Col. Friedrich Baum who would die at Bennington.

The Regiment had 20 officers and 316 men. It was organised into four troops of 3 officers and 75 men.

The entire regiment was either killer or captured at Bennington  on August 16, 1777

Saratoga Campaign 1777: Battle of Freeman's Farm

American army begins advance on the British Army, far left

centre position of both armies

American right

New Hampshire Regiment

The British Army advances

Pickets of the 21st mixed in with Loyalists

Canadian Militia, RAFM figures

New York Regiments

The Battle begins

The Americans decided to try and smash the Crown forces in one battle. The American right advanced quickly to block the crossroads while the American left attempted to flank the Crown right. The American centre then advanced straight at the British and Loyalist troops in the centre.

The Canadien milice were initally scattered, but recovered and with Loyalist support, used their old tactics to smash apart the American lines. The Brunswick troops pushed down on the American left and were able to surround General Arnold! 

Despite their best efforts, Morgan's Rifles were unable to push back the Loyalist Rangers, or Canadien milice. The Mohawks, gave a half hearted attack due to the fact they still were low on supplies from their attack at Fort Stanwix and Oriskany. 

The Battle ended with the Crown sweeping around the American left flanking the entire Patriot line. Seeing that they would be unable to push ahead, the Americans withdrew, but not before smashing the British regulars.

So a historical replay, not by plan, I was actually trying to see if the Americans could win.

Saratoga Campaign: Battle of Bennington 1777

Burgoyne has sent his Brunswick troops towards New Hampshire to forage and disruption of the Patriots.

The battle began with the Brunswickers taking positions on the field. The main last stand was upon the hill, the baggage at the bottom covered by a gun, another position covered by another gun on a slight rise, two houses held by Canadian militia, and an earthwork held by Jessup's Corps. Amerindians held a small position on the Brunswicker's left flank.

The Americans under Stark begin their attack.

The first obstacle is to cross the bridge which proves to be difficult. Eventually, the Americans ignore the fire coming from the small hill to the left and sending their rangers to take out both houses, and a militia brigade to skirt to the right of the lower right cabin begin to flank the Loyalists position.

The Mohawks attempt to drive back the American Assault but are in turn shot down in droves. they break and run.

The Loyalists in the centre hold their ground until the main American line flanks them on the left. 

The Brunswick Grenadiers holding the baggage park, see the line beginning to crumble and prepare to fall back.

The position on the hill soon becomes untenable and they flee.

The Queens Rangers also fail their moral and fall back.

The Americans under Stark, advanced straight on, taking the bridge head on, which meant all the defenders fire concentrated on that position. Consequently, an entire militia brigade was destroyed.
The next attempt was for the Americans to try and assault the houses, which cost them time and casualties, but they persevered.

After clearing the first position, the Americans then had to contend with the Loyalists and main Brunswick position.

The Americans win their first victory in the campaign.

Saratoga Campaign: The Siege of Fort Stanwix

The next action for the campaign, the attack on Fort Stanwix

The Americans hold their fort with Militia, Rangers and a few regulars

A battalion of the King's Royal Regiment of New York begin to deploy

RA batteries begin to lay their guns to bombard the fort.

Amerindians allied to the British prepare to take vengence against the Yankees who are stealing their hunting grounds

Their yells and cries add to the Americans panic.

The Loyalists began to fire on the fort, driving in the Americans to shelter from their fire. Eventually, an all out assault occured which drove the Americans in half the fort to surrender.
With the rest of the fort holding what was left of the American command, it would take some time to pry them out, perhaps hot shot from the Royal Artillery?

With a furious amount of musketry and a final bombardment, the American garrison surrenders. The British continue their steamroll advance to crush the rebellion of their deluded colonists.