River Assault: Rising of the Clans AAR

I ws pleasantly surprised to get a text from one of my former students asking to have a game. He was in town to visit his parents and Friday morning would work for him and our two other regulars. I had already set up a solo game, so it was easy to say yes. The scenario was a large Jacobite force was tasked with breaching a river line held by three brigades of infantry. Other units would come on during the course of the game. Neither side knew when or where their opponent's reinforcements would come on The Jacobites started with two brigades of French regulars on the table. Two regiments of veteran cavalry would be coming on right behind them on turn two. I highland brigade would come on in turn three, and finally, two brigades of lowlanders would come on in turn four. The British saw two regiments of dragoons come on in their center on turn three, and a final brigade of infantry came in on their left on turn four. Initial set up

Turn 1- Both Stapleton and the Comte du Pont advanced as quickly as possible to pin down the British. The red coat commander reacted by dividing his center brigade in two, placing two regiemtns and a battery under the command of the ADC. Mordaunt led his other three regiments off to the right to bolster Wolf.

Turn 2- The French regulars continued to advance. Fitzjames's horse came up in support of du Pont. He was ordered to the center, but was slowed by a walled field. Du Pont's battery was caught limbered on the road in front of Wolf's artillery and suffered a loss. The Royal Ecossais deployed into line at the bridge and suffered a casualty from mortar fire which also disordered them. The Jacobite commander was not pleased with this slow progress.

Turn 3- Volleys of musketry errupted along the line. The British commander could not seem to miss, adding to the frustration of the Jacobite general.

Legonier advanced his cavalry to bolster the thinned out center as Drummond's highlanders moved towards it from the Jacobite right.

Turn 4- Du Pont attempted to get into range of Wolf's men, but was taking losses. His battery suffered yet another his on the road. The Royal Ecossais were decimated at the bridge by massed fire.

Jacobite spirits were lifted however, as Drummond and Fitzjames came into charging range of the British center. Their numbers were bolstered by the arrival of Olgivly's men behind them. Stapleton was pleased to see the Duke of Perth's Atholl brigade come on to the table behind him.

The hard pressed government militia on the British left were equally encouraged to see Lascelle's redcoats coming to their assistance. Turn 5- Legionier's card was drawn first. Du Pont's unsupported right flank was too tempteing to resist. He ordered one of his regiments to charge. Woefully, the horsement only received one activation. This forced them to halt disordered across the river with their flank exposed. Du Pont tried to take advantage of Wolf's men being unloaded and chraged across the river. Two white clad regiments splashed across the waterway with numbers on their side. Once again, the British commander rolled incredibly well and the attack failed.

Stapleton's veterans poured more musketry into the Government militia, thinning their ranks considerably. However, the Duke of Perth was proving to be a great disappointment in getting his men forward.

In the center, Drummond deployed his men into charge columns in preparation to launch a devestating highland charge. Fitzjames also go his cavalry ready to attack Legonier's isolated regiment before him. Much was riding on how the cards would fall on the next turn.

Turn 6- Stapleton's card was drawn first. With time running out, he attached himself to two of his regiments and charged into the Derbyshire Blues. The militia men melted away. Stapleton took a risk to general test and passed. The French took advantage of a breakthrough movement and slammed into the flank of one of Lascelle's regiments, winning the mele but not by enough to destroy it. Stapleton had to take another modifed test. His luck failed and he was mortally wounded. His brigade would have to take a morale test at the end of the turn.

In the center, Olgilvy's lowlanders card was drawn. He ordered his namesake regiment into line and fired into Legonier's dragoons inflicting a casualty. This, however, would prove to be a hindrance to Fitzjames in his efforts to lock horns with the British cavlary. Drummond was able to drive back two British regiments. Fitzjames was only to engage the isolated dragoons with one of his regiments. He attached himself to add three more dice. The charge shattered the British horse but it cost Fitzjames his life. His brigade would also have to take a test at the end of the turn.

Du Pont tried yet again to drive back the British right and met with the same disappointing result.

At the end of the turn the brigade moral tests were taken. Both Stapleton's and Fitzjames's brigades failed and had to pull back.

Turn 7- This would be our last turn as the British commander had to leave to catch a flight back to Chicago. With Stapleton's units forced to retire the British left won a reprieve.

It would be up to Drummond and du Pont to make the breakthrough. Du Pont attached himself to one of his regiments and ordered an assault all along his front. His exhausted and decimated battalions were once again repelled. Du Pont was lightly wounded. The British right had held.

All eyes were now drawn to the center. Olgivly pressed his men forward to put fire into the line before him with meager results.

It would all come down to Drummond's highlanders. They surged forward. The frightend British infantry were not able to get off a volley in an effort to slow down the jugernaut. Desperate hand to hand fighting raged along the banks of the river. The highlanders drove back the British line, inflicting scores of casualties. Two regiments fled the field, disordering their supports, but the highlanders were spent, the breakthrough not achieved.

As the umpire, I declared it a British victory. Had the game been able to continue for two or three more turns, the Jacobite numbers could have proved to be telling. However, they had lost two brigade commanders which would have made coordinating further attacks extremely difficult. It was a great morning of gaming.

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Blocher's Knoll Conclusion

Turn 4- vonGilsa's leaderless brigade has been used up. The divisional artillery has been shredded. Ames, who has been in reserve, mounts a desperate counterattack attempting to drive back Gordon's North Carolina brigade.

Coster also comes up to secure the Union right flank. One regiment crosses the small bridge. It's caught in column of march. Hays' men mow them down. The 134th New York, however, is able to move into position on the edge of the cornfield in an attempt to hold back Hoke's brigade.

Hoke is poised to attack in mass the next turn.

Turn 5- To the east of the knoll, Dole's men are in a bad way. Their brigadier has been killed and fresh Union soldiers of Krzyanowski's brigade are advancing to attack their thinning ranks.

Gordon feverishly tries to reorganize his brigade. Their losses have been heavy and they have little to show for it. Their hearts beging to sink as Ames's two large regiments crest the knoll and prepare to charge.

Hays and Hoke hurl their regiments against Coster in a bruising attack. Coster's men are stubborn in defense, but are outnumbered and forced back.

. Early has moved to assume personal command of Dole's brigade. One of Gordon's regiments that had been held back in reserve and a battery follow close behind. Turn 6- Revived by the presence of their divisional commander, two of Dole's regiments charge Krzyanowski's right. One is able to gain the flank of the unit it is attacking. The fighting is desperate. Krzyanowski's regiments are driven back with loss. On his left flank, Krzyanowski personally leads a regiment to attack the extreme right of the Confederate line. the rebs, now down to four stands and disordered, fire off a volley in defense. They roll a "10." The charge is halted. More importantly, Krzyanowski must roll on the leader casualty table. Krzyanowski is mortally wounded. It would appear that the threat to the rebel right has been checked.

To the west of Blocher's Knoll, both Hays and Hoke continue to apply pressure to Coster's men. The 134th New York is driven back. Two small regiments are completely destroyed by Hays. A few broken and disorganized regiments are mulling about at the southern base of the knoll with a host of general officers. Ames is still in firm control of the summit, but his position is untenable. He will have to withdraw or be completely cut off and forced to surrender.

In attempt to hold Ames in place, Gordon once again orders his men to charge up the bloody slope. A deadly blast is unleashed in defense (a 10). the charge is stopped in its tracks. Gordon is lightly wounded. His brigade has suffered grievous losses. Its lusterous reputation has been tarnished almost beyond repair.

It was at this stage that I decided to end the game, declaring it a Confederate minor victory. Early had captured the knoll and driven back Barlow's command, but he would is no condition to follow up his victory, let alone make credible attack on Cemetery Ridge. It had been awhile since I had played RFF. The rules came back to my memory quite quickly. I like the feel of it. One thing I might do is experiment with using cards to activate brigades rather than Union goes and then Confederacy goes. Especially for solo games, this would add a greater degree of uncertainty. I'll have to figure out how other brigades respond. I am invisioning a regiment being able to move and fire before being fired upon, or firing and charging. A big part of RFF is that moving units receive defensive fire before they can fire back. Often times the moving unit is disordered which cuts their fire in half. It will take some experimenting. Units being charged would certainly have the opportunity to issue defensive fire before resolving the charge. If anyone has thoughts about this I'd love to hear them. Please leave a comment.