The British Rifles in British North America 60th and 95th Regiments

For my War of 1812 project my Rifles are taking shape.
The 95th took part in the New Orleans campaign and I believe that they were in Canada during 1813-1815.
From my research, the 95th Regiment served in Louisiana during the 1814-1815 campaign.
However, the 7th Battalion of the 60th Regiment served in Nova Scotia and Maine from 1814-1817.
I have them painted I just need to take pictures of them. Once the weather cooperates and I remember to

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.

Battle of Barren Hill May 20, 1778

This battle was a part of the Monmouth campaign in New Jersey in the early summer of 1778. Howe was attempting to take his British army back to New York with Loyalists. The Americans attempted to try and destroy the British army.
Barren Hill was Howe's last chance to defeat the American army, and threw almost his entire force against the position.

The American forces consisted of 4 brigades under the command of Lafayate, his first battlefield command.

Photos of upcoming battle will be posted in the near future

 

 

The British troops consisted of:

Grey's Brigade: 15th Foot/17th Foot/42nd Foot, Black Watch:two battalions/44th Foot

Grant's Brigade: 5th Foot/23rd Foot/28th Foot/49th Foot/5th Foot/10th Foot/27th Foot/55th Foot

Howe/Clinton: Hessians, Loyalists, Grenadiers, Light Infantry

 

 

 

 

This battle is to be refought on March 28, 2013 as a farewell party with my co-worker whose off to his first solo teaching position. 

Howe and Clinton's column: The Grenadiers with 23rd Regiment, Light Infantry and Hessians. During the game, this section was fought over very hard. The Grenadiers took heavy casualties. The Light Infantry were destroyed by the American Riflemen.

Grey's column: 15th/17th/42nd X 2/33rd/37th/46th/64th. This column then deployed into line to attack....

Poor's Militia Brigade of 1st New Jersey Militia. This battalion suffered greatly from concentrated artillery fire.

McLean's pickets of Rifles, and Light Infantry and Oneida warriors. This small unit put up a hard fight and only disperesed after they had taken heavy casualties. 

Grant's column deploy into line with RA gun support 4th/28th/49th/5th/10th/27th/55th. This strong unit opened up with artillery fire to soften up the militia, then advanced calmly up the slope.

Potter's militia brigade: 2nd Militia battalion from New Jersey. This unit was pounded by the RA and broke when the British got within volley range.

Poor's main Continental line regiments holding the village on the ridge. 1NH/2NH/3NH/2NY/4thNY. These units attempted to hold but on seeing the militia break and cut down, they too lost heart and ran to.....

Poor deploys a gun with a militia battalion to guard Matson's Ford. The British objective of the game was to try and encircle the Americans with a Pincer movement. Unfortuantely for the British, the American rifles and lights destroyed the 17th Light Dragoons who were to have rushed ahead with gun support to take the bridge.

All in all, it was an interesting battle. Mr. Coombs took the American army while I had the British. His experience playing D&D helped with his gaming.

 

 

 

 

Battle of Newton 1779

This battle was played following an article from Wargammes Illustrated.

The Loyalist troops behind their breastworks on what eventually became called Sullivan's hill.

The Mohawks deploy into the woods and swamp.

The American's advance towards the Loyalist position.

The American militia take the left flank.

The New York brigade form up.

The American right made up of mostly Continental Units.

The American artillery.

Ian begins his advance, Morgans rifles lead the way.

The Mohawks attempt to flank the American right and destroy the artillery.

The Loyalist militia and Brant's White volunteers probe the American left.

The King's Royal Regiment of New York deploy off the hill to take on the advancing Americans.

The Americans just before deploying into line, and decimating the Mohawks with concentrated musketry.

It was a battle fought by Loyalist Troops and American Patriots. They had been neighbors, then became mortal enemies. This battle was the main action of the campaign. The losers were the Mohawk nation who were forced to flee first to Fort Niagra, then into Canada following the American Revolution. Their decendants now make up the Kanawake reserve in Quebec.

Happy New Year the year of the Snake, British Regiments and Talavera 1809

Happy New Year to readers of my blog.
Here in Japan, New Years is a big event, but my wife and I usually like a quiet one, as Christmas to us means a bit more.
I had planned to include a Battle of Quebec 1775 video but it failed.
I did however take some shots of my British regiments. I'm having some trouble uploading pictures but may have figured it out with the new google system.

British troops in Nova Scotia trying to stay warm in the winter

Composite Light Infantry at Louisbourg

The 42nd Royal Highland Regiment, whowere the only British unit to break into Montcalm's defences at Ticonderoga.

The 78th Fraser's Highlanders whe were raised as cannon fodder but proved their worth as one of the toughest regiments in North America.

The 17th Regiment, one of the more experienced Regiments in Nova Scotia from the early 1750's

The 28th Regiment

The 40th Regiment, the most senior regiment in Nova Scotia having been in the colony since 1717.

The 1st Regiment The Royal Regiment

The 55th Regiment which was at Ticonderoga

The 60th Regiment

The British Army at Quebec

Our battle of Talevera was an interesting little adventure. My buddy Trevor came over again and took the place as the French commander.
Ian was the Spanish commander while I took the British troops.
Unfortunately for Ian and I, Trevor had had some experiences playing D&D back in the day, thus was able to advance his troops as collums. As the British player, I attempted to form line and blast the French with musketry. The Royal Artillery fared well in taking out the French artillery, but the French cavalry charged into the Rifles and Light Infantry.
Eventually, the French right charged into the Spanish who broke and ran. As the British were unable to hold their line against the French, they then fell back.
Trevor won the day.
Next time, we'll meet on an American battlefield.

 

 

The Battle of Garcia Hernandez July 23, 1812

This refight was to see how the action would play out.
This battle is known in military history as one of the few chances where cavalry have broken and infantry square!
During the refight, one French battalion formed square, survived some infantry then were able to flee to the heights above the village of Garcia Hernandez.
The 1st and Light Divisions then advanced into the village having chased the French 6eme into the alleys. After a brisk volley from the 60th Royal American Regiment, the French 6eme fled onto the ridge. The British 12th Lt. Dragoons then charged through the village to block a French retreat. The 42nd Royal Highland Regiment, the Black Watch and the 79th Regiment, Cameron Highlanders then formed line and charged the ridge. The Black Watch took heavy casualties but took out the French guns. Finally, with the Cameron Highlanders levelling their bayonets, the remaining French infantry fled. The only change to this battle, the King's German Legion heavy dragoons were decimated by French musketry when the German's attempted to block the French retreat.

(photo courtsey of Wargammers Illustrated)

Assault on Fort Washington

Battle of Ft. Washington November 16, 1776

Composite Battalions of Guards, Grenadiers, Lights, 4^th, 10^th, 15^th, 23^rd, 27^th, 28^th, 38^th, 42^nd, 43^rd, 52^nd, 71^st Hessians vs 3^rd Penn, 5^th Penn, Rawlings Maryland, Virginia Rifles, Bucks Co. Militia

 This was refought twice once in April, 2012 and 10/14/12. Due to the casualties the British suffered in the battle of Long Island, some of the troops used were almalgamated into composite battalions. As well, the 17^th Light dragoons added support to this action.

The British light infantry had scouted out the fort prior to the assault. The Lights took up position on the left, the Dragoons deployed forward of them, while the other battalions deployed as though to conduct a frontal assault on the fort. The Royal Artillery provided gun support to the lights and dragoons, while the Hessian gunners provided fire support for the fient in the front. The actual main attack was being carried out by the Grenadier companies and Royal Irish Artillery on the rear of the fort, where the Americans had neglected to place any artillery. The British guns began an artillery duel whereby their superior training took out most of the American guns. The dragoons charged the American militia horse but were badly shot up in the flank by a well crewed American gun. The American horse did well, scattering the 17^th Light dragoons but eventually the British were able to destroy the patriot horse with artillery fire. The Light infantry and battalion companies advanced to contact and were taking casualties from the remaining rebel artillery and musket fire. But once again, British courage with bayonet charges cleared out the Americans after brisk volleys of musketry. Eventually, the Americans surrendered but could console themselves with the fact that they delayed the British once again.

The second refight was to test the morale of the American militia. The Light Infantry battalion stayed out of the action leaving the highlanders, regulars and Hessians to assault the fort.

(photo courtsey 2nd Battalion DeLancey's Brigade, New Brunswick, Canada)

The British commander made a tactical error by screening his guns with infantry. This meant that he was unable to concentrate artillery fire onto the American fort. Consequently, the American artillery tore great holes into the attacking British columns until the RA could fire. The Hessian artillery fared little better, being taken out early in the action by the American artillery. As the British Grenadier battalion charged in, the militia fled, leaving the American riflemen to hold off the attack. The militia spent most of the battle attempting to climb back into the fort, which the fort commander refused. The Hessians were within a whisker of breaking through when the militia finally found their courage and blasted them away. This gave heart to the rest of the defenders who then counter attacked on the advancing Loyalist and 55^th Regt brigade which was destroyed. The Black Watch broke into the fort once but due to the lack of supporting RA fire were driven back by the American guns. The supporting advance by the 17^th Regiment was also blunted. Eventually, the entire British attack fell back and retreated, leaving the Americans victorious. Note to the British commander to always place the guns first.

(photo courtsey of Flintlock and Tomahawk)

 

Battle of Long Island 1776

The American riflemen take aim at the advancing Crown forces. This summer, I plan on recreating the 1776 New York campaign. This game depicted the initial British landing on Long Island. The figures in the foreground represent various rifle companies including Knowlton's Connecticut Rangers. The Crown forces included British troops from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Hessian mercenaries, Loyalist refugees enlisted as Royal Provincial units. More pictures to follow.

photo courtsey of the 17th Regiments website