The French and Indian War, Rebels and Patriots, 28mm

I offered to run a game this week, and I gave the guys a few options. They opted for the French and Indian War, where m Huron warriors were out looking for scalps, and British settlers  feared for their lives. This game was an French and Indian raid on the small British settlement of Little Arcadia, somewhere in the disputed lands of the Ohio Country, west of the Appalachian Mountains.In this, the settlement had three houses – the residences of the Smith, Jones and Hare families. Each family conveniently consisted of six members, some armed with guns, others with brooms and sharp tongues. They were led by the county magistrate William ‘Mad’ Hare. Nearby were some British troops – a 12-figure blue-coated unit of the 3rd Virginia Independent Coy., a 6-figure unit of  green-coated Rangers, and a 12-figure unit of red-coated light infantry from the  48th Foot. They were commanded by Major Werb of the 48th.Skulking in the nearby woods were the French and their savage Indian allies. These were made up of a 12-figure blue-coated unit of the Compagnies Franches de la Marine, another 12-figure unit of Quebec militia, and two 12-figure warbands of native Americans  (one Huron, the other Shawnee), led by Chief Dripping Beaver. Major Héroux of the Marines was in overall command.It  kicked off when the French marines emerged from the woods to the north of the Smith house. The family lined the fence, hoping their neighbours would come and save them. They stood their ground, raggedly firing at the  French, until the Huron warband approached from the west. Outnumbered, the Smiths decided to flee!The French pursued as they escaped across Weasel Creek, while the Hurons headed towards the Jones house, on the far side of the road. this time the family tried to make a stand, but it didn’t end well. The Hurons picked some off with a rolling skirmish fire then finished the rest off inside the house (below).Within minutes the two farmsteads were put to the torch. Alas Smith and Jones. That was the crux of the French victory conditions – burn down all three  houses in the settlement. Their aim was to drive the British settlers back across the Appalachians. In this, Chris commanded the British, Nick the French and Indians, while I ran the settlers, their actions decided according to the whim of the dice. Nick was now two-thirds of the way to victory!Then the situation changed. The column of British troops arrived from the southern table edge, headed by the men of the Virginia Coy. They wisely decided not to cross the creek, and instead formed into a close order line on the south side of it, at the fort close to the Hare house. The Rangers entered behind them and moved off to the right, in skirmish formation, to face the Quebec militia, while the men of the 48th light company formed the reserve.As the French commander, Nick only had to raze the Hare house to win. The trouble was, it was on the far side of the creek, the British Light Infantry were defending the settlers, now huddled inside the Hare House. The Provincials covered the ford, while the Rangers were holding off the Quebec militia to the eastStill, the Shawnee warband were now firing on the Hare house from the woods on the far side of the creek, and the Quebec militia were skirmishing with the British Rangers, in the south-east corner of the table to the south of the creek. The French and Indians had taken a few casualties, but they could still win this, if nhey could wear down the British  a bit. The fight between the Rangers and the Quebec Militia was a fierce one, but although the British were outnumbered – six figures to twelve – it was the Canadiene militia who suffered the most. By the end of it both of the rival units were down to half strength, but unlike the Rangers, whose morale held, the Quebeq militia broke off the fight and retired into the woods to lick their wounds. Time was now running out for Major Héroux. The Huron warband and the Compagnies de la Marine kept failing to activate, and were being picked off by the Provincials. Meanwhile the British had moved the Light Infantry into the Hare House, just before the Shawnee charged across the creek to attack it. The assault was easily rebuffed, and so the French commander decided to withdraw, to try his luck another day. All in all, though, it was a fun little game for us all!

Tags: Rebels and Patriots