American War of Independence

Last Monday 7 May we played an AWI game to British Grenadier rules. The game was not a specific battle but one design for an evenings entertainment.

The forces arrayed:

British 3 brigades of 4 units each some supported by artillery.

Continentals/Americans 4 brigades infantry brigades of 3 battalions each. 1 cavalry brigade and a artillery brigade.

The battle took place by an inlet from a lake

The objective was for the Americans to hold the village.and the British to capture the village.

The British brigades arrayed themselves in line on the ridge see map above.With the American units concealed in the village and beyond the river.


The British won the initative in the first turn and advanced.

To the British surprise the Americans infantry brigades 1 and 2 advanced up the ridge.

The British 1st Brigade were soon assaulted by the American 2 Brigade. The first charge went home but was rebuffed by the British combined Grenadiers casuing in a pushbback the Grenadiers pursued and after a couple of further turns caused the Americans to.eventually rout through their supporting battalion.

A change of orders meant the British Ist Brigade went rom Engage to Assualt thus being able to declare infantry charges. This resulted a cavalry and an infantry charge being declared in the next few turns causing two of the three battalions in the Americans 1st  brigade being forced to retreat.

Meanwhale the British 3rd brigade moved towards the waterfront iming for the centre of the village. under a hail of artillry fire from the far side of the inlet by the warehouses.

The Continental infantry battalion that had concealed themselves in the charch now entered the affay firing on the advancing British 3rd division.

At a similiar time the Americans moved their cavalry brigade into the villiage.

 As soon as the British lead unit began to round the corner of the church.

They were charged by an American Cavalry Squadron. The British Battalion had insufficient time to form square or fbring the lines guns to bear on the charging cavalry squadron who passed their morale test to charge home. The British with 3 disruption points failed their morale test receiving a retreat result. They retreat though the battalion behind infilicting diruption points upon them..

The cavalry then occuppied the ground vacated by the retreating unit. After much debate as to where the charge woud finish. And began to collect disruption points and casualtieds from firing.of the British battalion in line.



With more American Infantry brigdes crossing the bridge.( see picure below).

The British 2nd brigde whose orders intially wee to support the1st Brigade also had their ordes changed to permit them to advace towards the church.

With the evening drawing to a close. The game ended inconclusively. With neither side being able to claim victory.

It has been a while since we played British Grenadier and with some participants never having played the rules. there ws alot of unfamilarity with the rules inpite of their imilaritiesto General de Brigde. There are sufficient differenced to mean there was constant refernce to the rules rather than the quick reference sheet.

The fact that a unit collect "disruption points" from moving or initial casualties from firing or melee, gives the players something else to think about rather than just sending a brigade forward. These can be rallied off. but wihilst impose reduce the effectiveness of the unit.