Rebels & Patriots - the War of 1812 test games.

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A little while ago, myself and Gav had a chance to play another test game of Rebels and Patriots; and with my newly finished Americans raring to go, it was a chance to get the War of 1812 ball rolling again.

The main issue was going to be the rather more limited British forces I would be able to present.  I obviously had a handful of Natives and some Glengarry Rifles, but for the time being at least any other models would need to proxy from my Peninsular British.  Thankfully the lights companies of my original British regiments were singly based, and with the addition of a commander and some artillery, one of the scenarios in the rules was easy to play. 

We set up for the Mendenhall's Battery scenario, with the British placing two guns on a hill in the centre of the board, which the Americans were to storm. 

Our field of battle

The battery was accompanied directly by a platoon of Light infantry, with the Glengarry militia and Natives in reserve.

The battery and camp to the rear

Natives and militia

The Americans placed their main force of a large platoon in the fields aiming to cover their advance.  Ohio Militia  were nearer the far itself, whilst two sections of the 4th Rifles were in open ground close to woodland.  

The Ohio militia  ruin some Canadian potato seedlings

I took command of the Americans, and Gav the British.

Mid game

It was, as it turned out, not a success for America.  If ever a scenario required two things, more cover and cavalry, this was it.  As it was the battlefield played into the hands of the British, with the artillery raking the American ranks with fire before they were able to close even to musketry range.  

The US rifles were unable to make a significant dent in the British light troops, meanwhile the Ojibwe pounced on the militia and defeated them in a swift exchange.

New model syndrome

Which was about the point I conceded.  In less than an hour we had thoroughly break-tested the scenario, and perhaps found it wanting (short of forcing them to set up 6 inches in from of a forest, I can't see how one wins as the attacker).

Time to go!

That however meant we had plenty of time on our evening for a second go.  I quickly adjusted the British list to a couple of sections of good quality Light infantry, and a single gun, and set up a version of Lament ridge, as the bridge over the Lament river.

Deep in the woods, a river runs...

Potential for a similar American disaster was apparent, when Gav deployed his cannon to the road, with the bridge effectively covered by its' fire.

Scary.

However with the river deemed fordable along its' length, much denser woodland, and the priority not being the gun itself, it would be possible to circumvent it's threat.

Gav hurried for the Bridge, whilst I had to redeploy to avoid gifting his gun with soft targets.  The Ohio militia used the hill to cover themselves and laid withering fire into the natives, who eagerly advanced on them across an open field.

Give fire!

US rifles crossed the river and held up the British left flank.  Their fire kept the light infantry at bay and diverted the British artillery, whilst the US line conducted a largely unassailed advance on the bridge.

Cross now, they are unguarded

The US line swept over the bridge and in a succession of attacks took the Glengarry, Light infantry and Artillery by turns.  Delivering a spectacular blow to the British.  the natives by this point had charged the Ohio militia, and been thrown back, only to find their way barred by a flanking section of Rifles.  Who effectively finished them off.

A last hurrah!

So the bridge fell easily to American hands.  Overall we shared honours for our evening.  Rebels and Patriots like many of the Rampant engine games can stand or fall based on how balanced your force selection is to the scenario in hand.  For this second game the armies were well matched, but luck went more the direction of the Americans.

So far I'm really linking the way the rules play, and they operate at an ideal scale for both the smaller battles of 1812, and for my intended sizes of forces.

Very pleasing.

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