Providence part 2

The post last week closed with the British and Hessians in control of what had been the American front line; now they have to push on and breakthrough the American army and reach the defile.
Von Seedorf decided to occupy Providence Chapel with musketeer regiment Mirbach and  concentrate fire on Cooper's men on Prospect Ridge.  Initially, the plan seemed to be working. On Prospect Ridge one of Cooper's militia regiments was driven back and forced to rally, whilst his riflemen sustained such losses that they were forced to leave the field.  Even the continental infantry seemed to be wavering.  When Von Seedorf sent his fusilier battalion through the woods to try and outflank the American right, Cooper was forced to commit his remaining militia battalion to fill the gap.

Desmond and Bell on Green Ridge

Arbuthnot decided that speed was of the essence and that a rapid advance down the road between Green Ridge and Jones' Peak would fracture the American line, opening the way to the defile.  The Light Companies would lead the advance, supported by the 55th Foot.  Their flanks would be "in the air", but if pressure was maintained by the other infantry battalions, no American units would be able to redeploy to threaten the advance.  Matters began well when the 28th foot drove back one of Archer's continental regiments extending the gap in the American line.  Volleys from the Light Companies drove the Americans back again,  almost to the defile itself.  The door seemed to be swinging open.

Arbuthnot's advance

 From Green Ridge, Desmond saw the danger.  Only one reserve remained a single regiment of Continental infantry from Cooper's brigade.  Riding up to the colonel, Desmond said, "The fate of the battle is at hand, follow me!" and led the regiment across the ridge to flank the road threatened by Arbuthnot's advance.  Archer had rallied his riflemen and sent them into the wood flanking the road and they began to fire at the advancing British infantry.  Desmond also commandeered two units of militia and ordered them to block the road near the defile and fire on the advancing British.  Archer had his hands full trying to hold back the grenadiers.  Their steady advance from Jones' Peak threatened to overwhelm his remaining infantry; but two close range volleys stopped the redcoats in their tracks and forced them back to reform.

For Von Seedorf, Providence Chapel was proving to be a poisoned chalice.  Although he held it he could not bring enough fire to bear on the Continental infantry lining the wall by the road, to drive them back.  They meanwhile were bringing their full strength to bear on the Hessian defenders.  His fusiliers finally managed to reach the edge of the wood facing Prospect Ridge, but were met by telling volleys from the militia and they were forced to retreat.  His grenadiers and the Trumbach Musketeer regiment were also driven back by volleys from Prospect Ridge. To cap it all, Mirbach were driven from the church by American volleys, the Hessians were in dire straits.

The militia prepare to drive off the Hessian fusiliers

While Knollys galloped over and helped to rally the Hessian troops, Arbuthnot continued his advance. His Light Companies pushed on down the road with the 55th  in support.  At first they were able to shrug off the American volleys, but as the range shortened, losses increased.  First to flinch were the 55th, who were forced to fall back by fire from the riflemen in the woods.  The loss of the this support was crucial when the Light Companies were swept by two quick volleys from the Continentals on Green Ridge, followed up by two more from the militia further down the road.  It was enough to cause the Light Companies to break and they quickly retreated back down the road away from the defile.  This was not the end of Arbuthnot's woes; the grenadiers were once again driven back over Jone's  Peak by the fire of Archer's men. 

the 55th driven off

The end of the Light Companies advance

For his part Von Seedorf , having rallied his men was willing to try one last attack.  He saw that the number of Americans covering the road between Prospect and Green ridges had been reduced by Desmond as he countered Arbuthnot's attack.  One more push might just be enough.  The fusiliers plodded through the woods once more, fire was directed on Prospect Ridge and the Von Lossberg Musketeer regiment was sent up the road to try and get on the flank of the men defending the lane behind Providence Chapel.  Once again the American volleys caused havoc.  The fusiliers were driven back again with heavy losses; Hessian fire did not suppress the fire from Prospect Ridge and Von Lossberg were scythed down by American volleys.

The fusiliers driven off again

Von Lossberg's fatal advance

With losses in his brigade approaching 75% Von Seedorf felt he could do no more.  Arbuthnot was of the same opinion, his brigade was also severely weakened.  Knollys could only call a halt and a slow withdrawal; perhaps reflecting that a single squadron of cavalry could have made all the difference.

For his part Desmond was relieved that he had managed to hold his position, it had been a close call and losses amongst his best troops, (the continental infantry) had been high.

A really enjoyable scenario from Steve, which could have gone either way.

Providence; an AWI scenario

Our latest game was set in the AWI.  An American force had been besieging a British-held port, but  the arrival of Lord Howe's naval squadron had 'encouraged' the French commander to abandon plans to assist in the siege and sail away to a more secure anchorage.  This means General Desmond, (the American commander has had to lift the siege and fall back towards his supply base.  To buy the time for the siege and supply trains to pull back and pass through a narrow defile, Desmond has taken up a defensive position near Providence Chapel.  Emboldened by the American retreat, (and some reinforcements), General Knollys has opted to pursue the Americans and two brigades of infantry, (one British, one Hessian),  are moving towards Providence.  Desmond needs to hold his position and prevent the British from exiting the table in pursuit of the siege and supply trains.

View from behind the American position, 

View from behind the British right flank

In the picture above, taken from behind the British right flank, you can see Providence Chapel with Pike's Hill nearer the camera.  Beyond the chapel can be seen Prospect Ridge, Green Ridge (between the roads), and on the far right Jones' Hill.

Desmond deployed his three infantry brigades with Cooper on his right deployed on Prospect and Green Ridges and riflemen in the wood in front of Prospect Ridge.  Brigadier Bell was in the centre, holding Providence Chapel and Pike's Hill, with his reserve deployed in the lane connecting the two roads.  On the American left was Brigadier Archer, deployed on and around Jones' Hill and with riflemen in the woods nearer the British position.

Archer's regiments on Jones' Hill.

Knollys deployed with Arbuthnot's British brigade on his right and Von Seedorf's Hessians on his left.  His orders were simple, break through the American position and make for the defile.

Initial moves by the British and Hessians were rather hesitant as the brigades manoeuvred to broaden their front.  The riflemen took the opportunity to take pot shots  from the safety of the woods and eventually their fire led to battalions being directed to drive them off.  This fitted nicely with Desmond's plan, any units blundering through the woods pushing back the riflemen would be unavailable to attack his main defensive line.  With his battalions ready, Knollys ordered the advance and the allied ranks moved forward.  The Hessian battalions facing Providence Chapel had definitely drawn the short straw, their advance soon slowed in the face of sustained volleys from the continental infantry battalion lining the wall surrounding the chapel.  One musketeer battalion took such a battering that it had to fall back to rally.  Von Seedorf tried sending two battalions against the chapel but Cooper's artillery on Prospect Ridge and volleys from a second continental infantry battalion shredded that attack as well.

Defending Providence Chapel

Von Seedorf's advance

Arbuthnot had made some progress.  He had directed his combined grenadier battalion to displace the riflemen who had been sniping at them and the grenadiers' sudden advance had unsettled the skirmishing riflemen.  A quick volley from the grenadiers, followed by a charge with levelled bayonets was sufficient to send the riflemen tumbling back through the trees.   To the left of the grenadiers, the combined light companies had pushed up the road, exchanging fire with Bell's riflemen.  Eventually, the British light infantry gained the upper hand and the American unit pulled back to the lane behind Pike's Hill.  On Pike's Hill Bell's infantry waited for the inevitable British attack.  It was led by the 55th Foot who moved up the gentle slope with colours aloft.  As they crested the rise they were met by volleys and close range artillery fire which stopped them in their tracks.  A rather ragged volley was offered in reply by the British, but the American response drove them from the hill and Arbuthnot hastened to rally them.  The second British battalion climbing Pike's Hill met a similar fate and Knollys galloped forward to aid Arbuthnot.  So far, Desmond's plan was working.

The light companies advance

The first British attack up Pike's Hill

Originally Knollys had thought that he would pull the grenadiers out of the wood and send them down the road against Archer's position on the American left, but seeing the light companies' success he instead ordered the grenadiers to continue their push through the woods and then move on Jones' Peak.  In their path stood a militia battalion, but they did not offer much resistance beyond a feeble volley.  A point blank volley from the grenadiers severely thinned the American ranks and rather than wait for the inevitable bayonet charge, the militia fell back behind Jones' Peak.  Archer's main position on Jones' Peak now came under heavy pressure.  Volleys from the grenadiers and fire from Arbuthnot's artillery began to take their toll.  Particularly hard hit was Archer's artillery and the cres fell back, leaving their guns.

View from Jones' Peak along the American position

Von Seedorf had now organised a third attack on Providence Chapel.  Three battalions now concentrated their fire on the defenders of the stone wall.  Although the gallant defenders inflicted casualties on the Hessians, the weight of fire eventually told and with losses mounting the colonel felt he had to fall back to the line of the lane.  However, he still held the chapel with a militia battalion.  Unfortunately, the militia, perhaps unnerved by the retreat of the continental infantry, were soon driven off by the Hessian volleys.  In the woods on Cooper's left his riflemen were being pushed back by the Hessian musketeers, soon the main American line on Prospect Ridge came under fire.  Cooper's prospects were not helped by his artillery running out of ammunition and having to withdraw.

One of Bell's counter-attacks against the Light Companies is driven back

The grenadiers take Jones' Peak

On Pike's Hill, a third British attack rolled forward.  This was aided by fire from the Hessian Jaeger and in spite of determined resistance the summit was reached.  Bell's artillery crew stood by their guns and were cut down by the British infantry avenging the losses sustained by their comrades in earlier attacks.  His infantry were forced to fall back to the line of the lane.

Knollys had taken the first line of the American position, did he have the strength to break through the second?    Hopefully, Steve and I can finish the battle thus coming week.