Atkins Wargames

For those times when 100 D6 and fifty tables is too damm much

Battle of Crooked River in P&C

The Battle of Crooked River

1838 saw an escalation in tensions between the members of the Latter Day Saint church and their neighbors in northwestern Missouri. Ray County was located immediately south of the Mormon Caldwell County. The two counties were separated by a no man's land 24 miles wide and 6 miles high, known as "Bunkham's Strip" or "Buncombe Strip." This unincorporated strip was attached to Ray County for administrative and military purposes. The citizens of Ray County and their neighbors to the west in Clay County, first began to have concerns about the Mormons to the north when a group of "dissenters" from the church was expelled from Caldwell County. These dissenters, including David Whitmer, William Wines Phelps, John Whitmer and Oliver Cowdery had been the leaders of the Latter Day Saint church in Missouri. They relocated their families to Richmond and Liberty, the county seats of Ray and Clay, respectively, and claimed that their lives had been threatened and their property had been stolen by the Mormons (Peck, pp. 27-28).

Conflicts between the Mormons and non-Mormons in Carroll County and Daviess County throughout the summer put settlers in the more settled counties of Ray and Clay increasingly on edge. This unease reached a bursting point when Thomas B. Marsh and Orson Hyde of the Mormon Quorum of the Twelve Apostles arrived in Richmond and reported that the Mormons had invaded Daviess County and sacked the county seat of Gallatin. They also charged that a Mormon group known as the Danites planned to burn Richmond and Liberty to the ground. This testimony sent the worried citizens into a near frenzy. Women, children and property were ferried across the Missouri River for protection against an imminent Mormon invasion, and the state militia was put on alert.

 Lead Up to the Battle

General David R. Atchison, of Clay County, commander of the state militia in northwestern Missouri ordered a company led by Captain Samuel Bogart of Ray County to patrol Bunkham's strip to "prevent, if possible, any invasion of Ray county by persons in arms whatever" (Document, p. 108). Bogart was not necessarily the best man for the job. According to Peter Burnett, a resident of Liberty, "Captain Bogard was not a very discreet man, and his men were of much the same character" (LeSueur, p. 132). Bogart had previously participated in a vigilante group that harried the Mormons in Carroll County.

Bogart and his men began visiting the homes of Latter Day Saints living in Bunkham's Strip, forcibly disarming them and ordering them to leave Ray County. Bogart then apparently penetrated into Caldwell County and began to similarly harass Mormons there, advising them to remove to Far West, the county seat (Baugh, p. 100). Returning to Ray County, his men captured three Mormons — Nathan Pinkham, Jr., William Seely, and Addison Green — who may have been acting as scouts against a potential invasion from Ray County.

Exaggerated reports quickly made it to Far West to the effect that a "mob" had captured and intended to execute a group of Mormon prisoners. About midnight, the Mormons assembled an armed rescue party. Although Colonel George M. Hinkle, head of the official Caldwell County militia was available, Joseph Smith placed Apostle David W. Patten in charge of the force (Document, p. 127). Patten, who had come to be known as "Captain Fear-not," for his part in the attacks in Daviess County, was apparently a leader in the Danite organization, and the choice of him over Hinkle may indicate the rescue was planned as an unofficial excursion. The Mormon force quickly moved south along the main road connecting Far West and Richmond.

 

The Battle

On the night of October 24, 1838, Captain Bogart's unit had camped along the banks of Crooked River in Bunkham's Strip. Patten and the Mormon rescue company approached from the north along the main road, having traveled the 12 or so miles from Far West in the five hours since midnight. At daybreak on the 25th, the Mormons encountered the militia's sentries. A brief firefight ensued with each side testifying that the other had fired first (Baugh, p. 103). One of the sentries, John Lockhart, shot Patrick Obanion, the Mormons' scout. Obanion later died from this wound. Lockhart and the other guards then fled down the hill to the militia camp which took up a defensive position (Document, p. 142).

The Mormon company approached the camp of the Ray militia and formed a battle line in three columns, led by David W. Patten, Charles C. Rich, and Patrick Durfee. Rich later recalled that soon after the Mormons had formed their lines, the militia "fired upon us with all their guns" (Baugh, p. 104). A general firefight commenced, but the militia were situated behind the riverbank and held the strategically superior position. Patten decided to charge the militia position, shouting the Mormon battle cry of "God and Liberty!" The Missourians were without swords and so broke their lines and fled across the river in all directions. During the retreat, the Mormons continued to fire and one of the militiamen, Moses Rowland, was killed.

During his charge, however, Patten was shot and mortally wounded. Ebenezer Robinson recalled that Patten had been "brave to a fault, so much so that he was styled and called 'Captain Fearnought'" (Baugh, p. 104). Although it was not immediately realized, Gideon Carter had also been killed, making a total of three Mormon fatalities and one militiaman fatality. The Mormons collected their wounded as well as the baggage Bogart's unit had left in the camp and made their way back to Far West (LeSueur, pp. 141-42).

Aftermath

Although the battle resulted in only four fatalities, the effect was a massive escalation of the Mormon War. Exaggerated reports of the Mormon incursion into Daviess County and the battle (some claiming that half of Bogart's men had been lost) made their way to Missouri Governor Lilburn Boggs who responded by calling out 2,500 state militiamen to put down what he perceived to be open rebellion by the Mormons. In the end, the leaders of the church were captured and the bulk of the membership were forced to leave the state.

 

 

Crooked River in Port & Cigars

Missouiri Militia

1X Poor General (Captain Samuel Bogart)

1X Platoon Foot Poor/Line//Poor Shots/Extra -1 in melee

1X platoon Foot Poor/Line/Poor shots/Extra -1 in melee

1X Platoon Armed Parishoners Foot Poor Line Poor shots (Low morale -1 on tests)

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints

1X Poor general (Apostle Patten)

1X Mormon Elites Foot /Poor /Line /Poor shots

1X Mormon Devouts Foot/ poor/ poor shots

2X Mormon Parishoners Foot/poor/poor shots/Low morale (-1 on morale tests)

MAP

Table size is 2ft X 2ft

 Ridge is steep and difficult terrain

Ford is clear terrain , otherwise river is difficult.

Fields house can accomodate one platoon as cover.

 

 

Port & Cigars

Port & Cigars

Howdy, Howdy, Howdy. It's the Port & Cigars page. I would like to ramble on a bit but CBA TBH so heres Brigader Fromage du Lapin to fill you in.

Ello my leetle eeeenglish chums! It is moi! Brigader Fromage du Lapin, although I wear ze uniform of a Colonel to deesguise moiself!! I am 'ere to tell you 'ow to get zee best out of P&C.

For zee rest of the page i shall drop the frog accent so its a little more legible.

ARTILLERY

Napoleons daughters are a vital part in winning any of your battles. In a 200 point game, you definatly need at least 2. A Army without artillery is going to be seriously outgunned and your cavalry will not pose the threat they could  if you lack the ability to bombard  the stuff the cavalry has pinned in square.

With artillery dont waste your time in counterbattery. French artillery can pick off the allied guns eventually , but theres usually better things to be doing. Obviously place your artillery on a hill so it has good feilds of fire. Try to spread your batterys in self supporting feilds of fire so that if you only have a  frontal shot on one target, youll get that sweet bonus for enfilade fire with the other. The other option is La Grande Batterie! Stick two batterys together and fire at the same target. It you get lucky , they'll be routed long before they reach mufketry range.

Great Scott! Grapeshot! In the odd occassion your foes might hang around at less than 100 paces (1") from your cannons, if so then give them a whiff of grapeshot, for it will solve the problem, generally speaking you will only use grape against the rash who charge into contact with your supporting infantry and who hesitate. I.E fail a morale test and end up in grape range.

Horses for forces. Horse artillery have a  great trick if you can time it right and protect them. Gallop over to a enemy foot unit in line, unlimber and wait. If they reform to face you, hit em in the flank with your regular artillery. If they dont reform, blast em at +5, if they go square, send in your own foot in line and outshoot em. Horse artillery are great., and they have the best uniforms.

Cavalry:

In the days of be-whiskered arisocracy, cavalry were an elite. They also had a actual battlefield role. Now obviously someone waving a bit of sharp steel is going to get owned by a guy with a mufket, but despite this the psychological effect , speed, momentum and mobility all combined to make cavalry the arm of exploitation. When a unit of foot lost order or ran or stood in line exposing its flanks, it was a  open invitation to nearby cavalry to give them some schooling in the university of Hurt. A well ordered line will blow away a cavalry charge to the front, a steady square will present a impregnable barrier to cavalry. However, let those same cavalry loose on shaken or routing units and they will enjoy a most agreeable mornings pig-sticking. What jolly sport.

Against Artillery, cavalry will need to manouver around the flanks and keep well out of the guns arcs. Ask Lord Raglan about this. Being a utter senile old giffer he totally wrecked the Light brigade. Bah, It might have been magnificent , but it was not war. it was bad dice. Once upon the guns , you will make short work of their crews. This aint warhammer where guncrew can throw back an assault.

Cavalry vs cavalry is a recipe for stalemate. Your Heavys may have a  slight advantage but unless you specifically are countering a threat, these clashes are a waste of time.

Infantry.

Infantry are the Destroyers of your enemy's army. They operate in 3 modes.

Line. Line is the usual formation. It gives the battalion the ability to conduct full volley fire which can tear apart enemy formations. Actually , it dosnt tear em apart, it shatters their cohesion and willingness to fight. When all three stands of a unit are removed, you havnt killed 700 men. you have killed about 50 and wounded 170. The rest just dont fancy fighting anymore. Line has very vunerable flanks, beware of presenting these to any opponent, but especially cavalry and artillery. Choosing the time to pull back your skirmishers and open up with a line is the art of napoleonic warfare.

Column. Column is used primarily to break a opponent with the bayonet. Column is faster than line and hits harder in melee. Its also a wonderful target. If you do however have to manouver across a enemys frontage, the column's lack of flanks is less vunerable than doing so in line. column is also handy for getting accross limited spaces or bridges. Units marching up to the front should be in column and stay clear of artillerys fire arcs.

Square. Square is immobile and lacks fighting power, it's also the RoXXor at defending against cavalry or for keeping steady troops steady.

Skirmish. Umm..I said 3 modes diddnt I. Ok well light troops can also skirmish. Use your skirmishers to disorder and delay your enemys units. they also screen the main battalions. Seperate them freely into 1 strength units each covering all three stands of a  battalion. once the opposing unit is disordered, pull them back and let fly a volley. Generally speaking they are best evading if charged by non skirmishing opponents. In densly wooded or urban areas they can move rapidly to get on the enemys flanks or rear, and if kept together in Battalion strength they will be a  thorn in your foes side.

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With Yer 'Ayrick 'Ead Of 'Air

 

Port & Cigars in the Colonies:

 

 

Rule addendums:

 

Movement:

 Turning to the flank by threes. Light Horse may make a reverse move at full speed if not to charge.

Divisional squares may move 1” towards any facing. Any artillery forming part of the divisional square must be limbered.

 

 

New Formations:

 

Extended order:

Extended order is skirmish order in all respects. All Battalions that are trained may use Extended Order,

Extremely Open Order:

E.O.O is skirmish order but there must be at least a 1" gap between stands.

EOO costs one extra PIP to give orders to. EOO troops may if equipped with Breach Loading Rifles “Go to ground” at the start of their movement phase, which until they move again gives them a -1 fortifications roll from the cover they find . Troops may go to Ground in any terrain other than Flat Open Desert.

Divisional Square: Units within a division may form Divisional square. This is the Battalions of the division forming one giant triangle as in Square formation. The Square may move as noted above and may have artillery and foot forming the perimeter. Horse must remain within the Divisional Square or act independently.

Divisional squares give Square benefits and negative factors to all units within that divisional square.So the Square only counts as steady if all its units are steady.

Units forming divisional square however may fire as Line and have no flanks or rears as long as the square remains in its original position. So if a face of the square or part of it withdraws, it will open the flanks and rear to other faces.

Horse within divisional square may Sally by making a non charge move straight through a face without disordering that face or themselves for 2 PIPS.

Cavalry Dismounts. Cavalry may Dismount/ Mount for 1 PIP each and whilst dismounted may act as infantry in all respects.

Mass: Mass troops are treated as Column in all respects and cannot make any other formation.

 

Mufketry.

Minie Ball Rifles: Act as Rifles out to a range of 6”

Breach Loading Rifles:  Troops with these have a shooting roll modifier of +1 and a range of 10”

Magazine fed Breach Loading Rifles. Troops with these have a shooting roll modifier of +2 and a range of 10”

Rifled Artillery. Rifled Artillery has a Range of 20”

Breach Loading artillery. This has a Firepower modifier of +1

French artillery. No longer gets a +1

Shrapnel Rounds. Artillery may be Equipped with Shrapnel rounds at +5 points per battery. Shrapnel can be fired up to 5 times per game and at troops in Line , Column, square or divisional square May remove 2 stands on a total musfketry roll of 8+

Gatteling Guns. Count as artillery in all respects exceptions; Cannot fire shrapnel. Have a range of 10” and  on a roll of 1 jam for one turn. Any unit taking effective fire from a gatteling is shaken.

Cavelry carbines and pistols: horse may if listed as carrying carbines or pistols shoot with a range of 5” with a -1 modifier.

Maxim Guns: As gattelings but with +2 on mufketry rolls.

 

TROOP TYPES:

Fanatical. Fanatical troops only take morale checks when down to one stand.

Dervish: Move an extra inch when charging. in the movement phase.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECOND EDITION!1!!

STEADY LADS STEADY

After much soul searching and hand wringing, pouring over feedback and consulting the very bottom of a full 2 litre bottle of Frosty Jack white cider. I have realised that units that are disordered need to be slightly more fragile.

To this end all Port & Cigars rules now have a additional modifier in the melee modifier table of +1 for fighting a disordered unit.New copies have this added to the table. All you Grizzled veterans should write it in with Biro.

This will make melee more bloody representing the historical trueism that if a unit was in disarray it rarely stood its ground.

Commanders will have to address disorder even more closely than before. Fresh reserves will be more useful to replace units in the line.

 

Scenario

SHARPES BATTLE

 

 

BRITISH BREIFING

 You are Major Richard Sharpe of the South Essex at ‘yer service ma’am.

 You are In charge of Training the Royal Irish Company the personal bodyguard

 of his majesty the King of Spain. The Royal Irish are getting some training from

old Dan Hagman and his faithful Baker rifle “Bess”.

You know that they can fire 3 rounds a minute…but can they stand?

 They are led by Lord Kylie a REMF who looks like he’s a bit of a loser.

The Royal Irish suXXor and have no skillz. Fortunately you have the chosen men

with you from the 95th rifles, and they are a veritable powerhouse.

Colonel Runciman is along as demolitions expert, but he’s soaked

on Port and Cigars and isn’t much cop.

The Spanish partisan fighter, Dona Juanita de Elia has gone on reconnaissance

 with her band of light cavalry. You expect her to return in the mid morning.

 That’s your command. There are some old crappy cannons in the fort; they

might make a hole in a French attack.

 

 

 You suspect that your current deployment to defend a fortified outpost has

 been selected by Wellington for its difficulty to defend and more importantly

the utter lack of Local hot chicks to bed, (The Spanish partisan chick seems

 a bit snotty, and Chosen man Perkins is with the only fit peasant gurl)

this changes when you meet Lady Kylie. W00T!

 

 

Recently you had a duff up with the fearsome French commander,

Brigadier General Guy Loup and his Wolf brigade, you and your men

 come across a scene of devastation in the town of Casa Antiga.

The town has been sacked

Chosen man Perkins rescued a young woman from two of Loup's soldiers

and they are arrested. When Loup rides into town demanding they be released,

 you replied “’Arper…get them Frogs outta T’barn…were gonna have us sens a 

 firing squad”. Loup vows revenge. He has a big moustache and talks in an

 outrageous Froggie accent. He looks like a  mean Mo-fo.

 

 

Its Dawn and as you walk from Lady kylies bed to the FEBA you see the Frogs approach.

 Its your time of reckoning! Hopefully the cavalry will arrive to save the day.

 

ORBAT: BRITISH SPANISH IRISH

 

ROYAL IRISH COMPANY

Three strength 3 IRISH FOOT /POOR /POOR Shots/LINE

 

RICHARD SHARPE & the CHOSEN MEN detatchment of the 95th rifles.

Two strength 1 BRITISH FOOT /ELITE /GOOD Shots / LIGHT /Grenadier.

 (do not count as strength 1 for firing and  have  a saving roll (heh) if destroyed of 3+,

 to represent that these guys really don’t die, and if they do they are only pretending

or get their wounds healed by the next episode. Even though they are skirmishers

they can reduce targets strength by effective fire.)The chosen men do not have

to pay for actions, they may make any action for free as they are under direct

command of Sharpe.

 

Lord Kylie and his HQ (General-Poor)

One strength 1 BRITISH Horse Elite/ Heavy /Sword

 

The Knackered Cannons firing pebbles

One Strength 1 IRISH Artillery Poor Foot.. (May not move at all, even to pivot,

 must be set up in the fort , roll a d6 every time they fire on a 1 the unit blows

itself up. destroying it)

 

 

Spanish Partisan Chick and her Partisans (start off table, may arrive from

 turn 6 from east edge)

 

Two Strength 2 SPANISH Horse Poor Light Swords

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ORBAT: FRENCH SPANISH

 

‘Allo my leetle eengleesh chums..it is I Colonel Lupe! (It means zee Wolf!) I am

 ze lover of  The Spanish partisan fighter, Dona Juanita de Elia, oo as informed

me zat ze Eeengleesh Major Richard Sharpe, oo killed my men after they ‘ad

some sport is oop on zee ‘ill in zee crappy fort. She is a double agent pour moi

 and the foolish eeenglish think she is fighting for them. LOL, LOL!

 

My men all wear lovely wolf skin cloaks and wolfy tails on their ‘ats. Magifique!

 

My mission is to capture zee fort and ravish Lady Kylie. To gain total victory

 I will keeeel  Sharpe.

 

It is dawn. Alles mes enfants! pour la glorie of Frogland!

 

Colonel Lupe (Average general)

Three units of 3 FRENCH HORSE /Average /Heavy/Sword

 

The Wolf Brigade!

Three Units of 3 FRENCH FOOT Average /average shots/Line

 

Spanish Partisan Chick and her Partisans (start off table, may arrive from

turn 4  from west edge)

 

Two Strength 2 SPANISH Horse Poor Light Swords

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UMPIRE INFO

Brits set up first. Hand the briefings to the players. Obviously the Brits think that they

 have reinforcements a-coming. LOL! The Spanish are only going to add to the utter

owning that they will receive. Like a baby seal they’re gonna get spanked. Or are they?

Just to confirm, take no notice of the Spanish partisans as being on the Brit side.

When they turn up on turn 4 under frog command just give a Gallic shrug.

Table is 2ft X 2ft

 

 

                                                                  British deploy on hill or within 6”

 

 

 

 

 

The Fort is a  mess but its still a fort and counts as fortifications -2 for melee, except

for the rubble like front of the fort which is fortifications -1.

 

Several special rules apply.

  Night falls at turn 15. Plenty of time to force an issue. I

f A French unit is within 1” of the front of the fort Runciman can explode his powder

 charges once per game. (if he’sawake) On a d6 roll of 4+ he is asleep and the

charges don’t explode. If they do explode then roll d6, a score of 3+ will remove

 one French stand as they throw their arms about and fly through the air ,

 landing on soft stunt mats.

   At the start of each Brit turn roll on the Sharpe table.

SHARPE TABLE

D6 Score

 

1

A sword is not a pretty thing in a  hand like mine” Chosen men are +2 to melee this turn

2

At yer service ma’am” Sharpe heads off to the nearest females bed. The chosen men must use command points as normal this turn

3

Dan, get that Bugger” Hagman wobbles old Bess about and fires, disorder a French / Spanish unit immediately within 5” of the 95th

4

Why! Major Sharpe! Sharpe strips off his shirt to wash in a well. The Spanish chick, if she’s on table, is so overcome she changes sides to the brits for the rest of the game.

5

Harpers volleygun +2 this turn to the 95ths fire attacks.

6

Never unloaded. The British and Irish seem to be able to fire every few seconds without having to reload whilst the enemy stand there stamping their feet slowly forward. Fire all Brits and Irish TWICE this turn.

 

If Sharpe dies, IE the 95th are destroyed and don’t save themselves with their save roll, then all

brit / Irish have -1 morale.

If Lupe gets into the fort and the French/ Spanish outnumber the enemy. They win.

 

BATTLE REPORT! BRANDYWINE

Knyphausen twirled his moustaches as he watched the brigade form up in line opposite Chad's Ford. Riflemen extending in skirmish order and the Queen's Rangers, followed by two British brigades (4th, 5th, 23rd, 49th, 10th, 27th, 28th, 40th Foot and three battalions of Fraser's 71st Highlanders) and the Hessian brigade.

"Vos ist dis? Meine gott! The shame and dishonour that I should lead a spoiling attack! Vhy vos I not chosen by General Howe to lead the main attack to ze north?"
Major Patrick Ferguson Trotted over. "Hey, dude, It's like totally no problem, Once the boss rolls in from the north, takes Birmingham and outflank's em, we can do one of your suicidal frontal attacks over the river"
"Nein! The shame is too great! I kill myself now!"
Snatching the flintlock out of his hand Ferguson slapped him delicately with an embroidered ‘kercheif. "Take a chill pill dude, wait for Howe".

Knyphausan sulked over to where the rifles were deploying. Over the river he could see Washingtons wagged webels. The Pennsylvania militia were posted to the left of the Chad's Ford position where little threat was perceived. Wayne's Pennsylvania Continentals with Weedon's and Mulenburg's brigades in the centre opposite Chad's Ford, under the command of Major General Nathaniel Greene who sat in full view of the British eating a prototype Big Mac Quarter-pounder.
"Form up! Form up! Let me see a tidy line, for a battle was never won by soldiers who could not keep their ranks Tidy!" shouted the Colonel of the 5th. The battalion shuffled into order and advanced behind the rifles screen.


"Well Howdy, Howdy, Howdy", Said General Washington. "It dun gone look like the Limeys are a- Comin', time to get me mah wooden teeth in so ah kin better give the order to open up with the ole' cannons…ahh love cannons me…"
Moments later the Continental Artillery opened up sending a desultory fire into the scattered light troops. Nathanial Green watched for a while musing that this was going to take some time. The Brits were being very cautious; their main divisions keeping out of range seemingly content to lob the occasional ball from the Royal artillery battery's at the Militia, Which wasn't the most sporting thing, definably un-British.


Far, Far to the north. The 16th Light dragoons ,15th Foot ,17th Foot 33rd 37th Foot 44th Foot,46th Foot ,55th Foot & 64th Foot under Howe were marching tiredly towards Birmingham.
"What Hey? Eh, Charles? We have the rebel's in our grasp; soon they'll be Taxating without representating out of their sorry backsides."
"Sir, that's a really bad metaphor…dosnt make any sense…"
"Sense? Sense? You don't win a battle with sense dear boy, you win it with PLUCK! Pluck is the thing our brave lads have and the Yankee's have none.."
" I don't even think theyre "Yankee's yet sir…That terms some way off…"
"Ahh but Damm my eyes, don't our lads look well today! I wish you Joy of the day Brigadier!"
"Whatever, you freaking nutcase"

Washington spat out his chewing tobacco. "Well gosh durn it if our artillery cant hit me a Hessian on his nut if he's a standing 200 yards away….."
"Your Presidentship sir, a scout from the north! Sullivan says there's a shed load of redcoats heading south across Wistars Ford which we failed to know about, cos you suck so much at recon, and that this hitherto unknown force has turned our flank and is approaching Birmingham or something."
"Well wrap me in molasses and call me a waffle! We have two choices, either send Green and stephen's divisions to back Sullivan and hold Birmingham in a delaying action…..Or We can move the WHOLE FREAKING NORTH HALF OF OUR ARMY SOUTH, ABANDON BIRMINGHAM AND PWN KNYPHAUSAN!!1!!
" Yeah, lets do that sir."


Bland's light cavalry came rolling down the west bank of the Brandywine causing the 5th foot some surprise. Their Colonel dropped his snuffbox. "ZOMG!!! It's the Quaint Homespun's on horseys!!! Form Dodecahedron!"
"Square sir"
"Yeah that too! We must hold them here at this ford or they shall roll up our flank this very day and beat us like baby seals". The 5th formed a tight square bristling with bayonets as the continentals galloped up and hove short of the battalion.


Sullivan Green and the whole of the Rebel north wing now spun round and headed towards the ford held by the 5th foot as Knyphausan's other battalions settled into a comfy position of getting the snot beaten out of it by rebel artillery which found the range. The 4th and 23rd formed column and wheeled to head north to support the 5th but annoyingly kept having iron shot smashed through their ranks. They started to cry like girls and withdrew back into the main battle line.


Howe's force arrived in Birmingham. " Ahh, at last , we hold a vital city in this war Charles!"
"Yes sir! This will open the way to phillidelphia or somewhere wont it..?"
"Absolutly, but whilst we command Birmingham we command Dudley and Wallsall, therefore have access to the "Merry Hill" shopping center and UCI Cinema"
"Wrong Birmingham Sir…"
"Oh Pants…"


To the south a combined attack of Militia and Dragoons smashed into the 5th's square.
"Die Hard! 5th Die Hard!" Shouted their mortally wounded Colonel. The Battalions Major of Number 1 company knelt by him,"Which one sir? The first one or "With a Vengence?"

Back at Chads ford, enthused by the artillerys success, the Pensy militia Colonel ran excitedly up to his battalion.
"LOLZ! KK guys, I've had this idea..right? Lets all form a column and march straight at those Brits formed in line , across the ford, on our own, to see what effect a formed British battalion has! Whaddaya think?"
"SIR YES SIR!" they cried, and a few moments later the bloody remnants of their Unit staggered back into the woods.

The 5th held fast as night began to fall and Knyphausan was heard to say " If It wasn't for the pub shutting in 40 mins, we would have the rebels this day"
But Night did fall, and the day was undecided