Bunker Hill: Gentlemen Pensioners Sunday Game

 Traditionally, Steve hosts a game for the Gentlemen Pensioners on the Sunday following the Phalanx Show.  This year it featured Bunker (or Breed's) Hill.  He used his own version of the Patriots and Loyalists rules which used d20's instead of percentage dice.

Alasdair, Dave, John and Will commanded the 'rebel' forces, with Andy and Chris commanding the Crown forces.  None of the participants were familiar with the rules, so Steve and I acted as advisor/umpires.  Andy decided that the main effort would be made against the left hand (from the rebel side), corner of the earthworks and the fleches which covered the area back towards the fence on the rebel left.  Pigot and Clinton (once he arrived) were to demonstrate against the earthworks and hold the units defending there in position.  The rebels had Stark's brigade (3 units of foot and a light gun) behind the fence where they could fire at long range against Howe's attack and also two units of riflemen on the outskirts of Charlestown who could also fire onto the flank of any force attacking the earthworks.  The earthworks themselves, together with the fleches, were defended by six units of foot plus a light gun.

The Crown forces consisted of Howe with four battalions, Pigot with one battalion, a unit of light infantry skirmishers and two light guns and Clinton with two line battalions.  Off table artillery could fire  on the rebel left and also the right.  Steve introduced two rules specifically for this scenario; firstly the rebels had limited ammunition (each unit had only 10 rounds) and also any crown units under fire needed to take a test before carrying out any actions, if they failed, they had to fire a volley and reform before attempting to move.  This was to simulate the crown units in the actual battle tending to fire rather than keep advancing once under fire.

The crown forces as the attackers had the initiative and began their advance.  Once they came in range of the defenders' fire the pace slowed as units stopped to fire a volley rather than keep moving 

The demonstration against the earthworks begins

The main attack develops

As Howe's attack developed Stark saw that the main effort was against Brewer (defending the fleches) and Prescott (defending the earthworks)  and therefore he decided to send a unit forward across the fence and threaten the attack from close range.  It was a brave move, but when Howe detached one unit to face the rebels the ensuing exchange of volleys definitely favoured the crown and the rebels routed back over the fence and in spite of Stark's best efforts they kept on running.  Even worse, they carried him away with them.

In front of the earthworks, Prescott's men were trying to drive back Pigot's skirmishers, but the skirmishers hung on.  It was Pigot's line battalion which was forced to retreat, succumbing to the fire from Robinson's riflemen who having had to leave Charlestown as it was set on fire by the British artillery firing heated shot.

Forward the light companies

The supports come under fire from the riflemen

Next to suffer was Clinton, whose two units arrived late and soon came under fire from the rebel riflemen.  One unit routed as the concentrated fire from two units of riflemen caused heavy casualties.  Clinton was unable to prevent it fleeing back towards the transports and when he joined his second unit to try and rally them, he too was felled by a shot from the riflemen.  This proved too much for his men and they also routed.

One of Clinton's battalions driven off
by the concentrated fire of the riflemen

With his two units from Charlestown getting low on ammunition, Robinson brought forward his third unit and this targeted Pigot's artillery.

Howe's grenadiers, having suffered heavy casualties, had at last reached a position where they could charge the earthwork.  Surging over the defences they forced one unit to rout and a second one to retreat, giving themselves space to form up to resume the attack.

The grenadiers enter the works

The Grenadiers prepare to advance again

The defenders of the fence had by now been driven back and Brewer's men behind the fleches had also fallen back.  Running low on ammunition Prescott gave the order to fall back.  The crown forces, nursing heavy casualties decided against a pursuit. 


A most enjoyable game, providing problems for both sides.  Many thanks to Steve for organising the game and also the Gentlemen Pensioners for their part in making it a success.