Battle of Brandywine, 1777

My take on the Philidelphia campaign of 1777.

the centre of the American line being assaulted by the Crown forces

Americans push against the Hessians on the crown right.

Various American skirmishers supported by some Light Dragoons

The British composite Grenadier and Light Infantry battalions about to hit the American right.

and the British Left wing begins to hit the rebels

Crown lights and dragoons push through the woods

The American's eventually crumbled under the intense pressure on all their flanks.
The deluded subjects were forced to flee.
God Save the King!

East Hants the story of us

My father, Captain Robert Redden,and I and our friend, Peter Ashley were part of an event to celebrate the launch of a movie made on the history of East Hants,
We pipes and drummed in our uniforms of the 2nd Battalion, 84th Royal Highland Emigrants.
Once I get some pictures I shall post them.

Private Ashley, Drummer Redden and Captain Redden

Osprey publishing The Swamp Fox Francis Marion's campaign

My regimental history of the 2nd Battalion 84th Regiment Royal Highland Emigrants
Sent their Grenadier and Light Infantry companies to fight in the campaign. I shall see what they did.

I also remember the Disney TV series the Swamp Fox which was really annoying to watch for 2 reasons, first the actor who played Francis Marion was Leslie Neilson, a CANADIAN,  and the fact that Nova Scotia has a very large population of Loyalist descendent.
I have started to build a Loyalist, Light Infantry force with Light Cavalry with some additional Americans

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: 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.

Saratoga Campaign: Battle of Oriskany August 6, 1777

Kings Royal Regiment of New York and Brant's Mohawks prepare to spring an ambush

Herkermers force is about to be hammered by musketry

The Iroquois begin to fire

Queen's Rangers begin to fire

The Royal Yorkers begin to fire and move

The first volley destroyed two militia brigades. American Riflemen seeing the militia fall have begun to panic and are halting the advance. 

The battle continued with the Mohawks charging the American militia who surprisingly stood their ground and fought back! With the Mohawk casualties adding up, the Loyalists began to use fire and advance on the Americans, who eventually fell back under withering fire.

Johnson's men held the field.

Saratoga Campaign 1777: Battle of Hubbardton July 6

Crown Forces:
Fraser's Advanced Corps
Loyalists and Amerindians
24th Foot
Germans:
Jaegers
Pickets
Grenadier Battalion

Light Infantry Battalion

Grenadier Battalion

Light Battalion

American Forces:
2nd New Hampshire
Massachusetts Militia X2

The Americans forces.

Two battalions of militia backed up by the New Hampshire Regiment  

The Lights begin to engage the American left flank 

While the Brunswickers engage the right

The Artillery holds their ground to possibly add fire support

A birds eye view of the actioin

2nd Continental Light Dragoons, in Nova Scotia, 1992 for Mary Sillimans War filming

Brunswickers on the left continue to engage the American right

The militia beat off the Lights attack.

The battle continued with several volleys of musketry, however, when the British closed with the American left, a bayonet charge scattered one battalion while the other stood its ground and was annihilated in a melee.

The British and Brunswickers suffered some large casualties but will recover. The Americans still have scores of militia. Thus the first action goes to the Crown. Huzzah! God Save the King.

Richard Pierpoint

 More patriotism and an acknowledgement of Black Canadians commitment to the defense of Canada

Saratoga Campaign 1777: Loyalist Forces

The Loyalist forces which took part in the campaign consisted of Canadian Militia, Amerindians, The King's Royal Regiment of New York, and Rangers under John Butler who would be named Butler's Rangers in 1778.
Below are images and text from www.cmhg.gc.ca

A soldier of Butler's Rangers, 1778-1783

Butler's Rangers were uniformed in green, with red facings. This man, dressed for campaigning, wears his lapels buttoned over. There is record of a leather cap worn by the unit, but reconstruction shows an unofficial substitute - a kerchief. There is also some information that Butler's men wore green smocks on some occasions. All in all, this famous (or infamous) regiment must have presented a very mixed appearence in the field. Reconstruction by G. A. Embleton. (Parks Canada)

Iroquois chief, 1760-1790

This Iroquois leader wears the mixture of native and European items that was used by eastern woodland cultures during the 18th century. Note, for instance, the European linen shirt, worn as an overall smock. Around this man's neck hangs a gorget - a gilded crescent worn by European officers when on duty. Gorgets were considered one of the more desirable gifts an Amerindian chief could receive. Among the particularly North American items seen here are the leggings (known as 'mitasses'), the scalp hair lock decorated by feathers with other hair removed from the head, face paint and moccasins. The result is colourful and impressive. Reconstruction by G. A. Embleton. (Parks Canada)

Loyalist soldier, 1776-1783

Several corps of Loyalists connected with Canada wore this red uniform with green facings. Jessup's King's Loyal Americans, formed in 1776 to accompany General Burgoyne's expedition are noted in red faced green. The Loyal Nova Scotia Volunteers, raised by Nova Scotia Governor Francis Legge are recorded in these colours in 1783 by a German officer. Reconstruction by Gerald A. Embleton. (Parks Canada)


From www.cmhg.gc.ca

After the withdrawal of the American troops, refugees were arriving in growing numbers in Canada, primarily from New York State. They were called "Loyalists," Americans who had not espoused the cause of the majority in favour of independence and who preferred to remain loyal to the British Crown. Those who wished to remain British subjects were being persecuted. Many had been able to reach the English lines and, armed by the British, formed Loyalist regiments. Several Loyalist military corps had also been established in Canada itself.

The first significant group of refugees, approximately 200 persons, arrived in Montreal in May 1776. The group was led by Sir John Johnson, to whom Carleton had granted permission to form a regiment of Loyalists "to furnish people so circumstanced with the means of defending themselves." ^[46] Called the King's Royal Regiment of New York, it served along the Canadian border. In early 1777 the Jessup brothers arrived from Albany with several refugees to form the King's Loyal Americans. The Queen's Loyal Rangers was established from a group of other refugees at around the same time. The first battalion of the Royal Highland Emigrants was also recruited from among the Loyalists. These new troops were mostly stationed in the Montreal area.

Saratoga Campaign 1777

As my main black powder games, I plan to refight the Saratoga campaign based off of the Osprey Publishing. For the next while, I shall be noting the forces of both sides in addition to what I have already posted.

Battle of Valcour Island October 11, 1776

This was the final battle of the Quebec 1775 campaign whereby the Royal Navy and Crown forces defeated Benedict Arnold's fleet

from Osprey Publishing Quebec 1775

The Continental Navy of Lake Champlain. I could only find two vessels.

A Royal Navy sloop packed to the gunwhales with guns and troops. 

A screen of Light Infantry cover one bank

While Amerindians allied with the Crown 

The Americans take casualties from RN gunfire.

The Americans fire back taking out 3 of the ships guns.

The Royal Navy fired broadsides cutting down gun crews and boarding parties.

One whaleboat decided to clear out the Amerindians but took horrible casualties.

The Americans can't make much headway, but put one group to flight.

Broadsides lead to more casualties on each side.

The Amerindians begin to counter attack.

The Royal Navy close in to board.

The Americans flee to their whaleboat.

The Americans loose their main mast.

The whaleboat flees while the Americans are about to be boarded.

Here the Navy comes

boards and cuts down any who stand in their way. Canada is saved again!