Replay 6

For this replay I wondered if Howe went wide on the NE side if he could overwhelm the colonials no matter what. I keep trying to break this game (by finding the perfect strategy), so let's see how I do.

So there is my initial setup. As you can see, Washington got a heads up. I have replaced Sullivan's Marylanders with my own personalized piece "S Strand - Minnesota". A lot of people don't realize that the first Minnesota of Gettysburg fame made its first appearance at Brandywine!

Also, you will note another little game aid that I made. It is a half width block for easily determining if half your piece is occupying terrain or not, or for quickly and accurately determining where the  middle of your unit is. You'll discover I like making bits and such for my games.

Back to the game, you will see the first turn combats. Cornwallis has entered on the NE side as predicted and since the rebels were Bogarting all the roads he had to enter in line. as per Greene's plan, the British couldn't close with Wayne's Brigade along the Brandywine, but he did make contact with two brigades. The upper one is a Cav on Cav encounter. Washington was hoping to make Cornwallis move first, but when the dust cleared and everyone had rolled to alter the turn sequence, Cornwallis moved last.

And the combat resulted in a couple of retreats. Greene is not trying to hold any ground at this time, he's just falling back. The intent is to have his line reformed by the time Howe gets organized for an attack.

                                               So, on to turn 2 (3:30 in the afternoon)

When all is said and done, Greene has rebuilt his line. Here it is late afternoon and the British seem stuck, this could be gravy depending on the gods of war (dice).

Knyphausen's Highlanders have taken Jones' Ford! Cornwallis has blasted a hole in Greene's beautiful line, this could be the beginning of the end for the rebels.

Knyphausen's cav and the Highlanders push into the Colonial center trapping Greene's Brigade. Sullivan's Division under Stirling crosses the Brandywine, but skirmishing from the opposite shore by the Hessians proves to be too much and they can't quite close on 'em.

Wheedon's Virginians fall back from Fraser's Scots and their two hand swords. Bland repulses Howe's cav attack. Still no units lost by either side!

It's 6:30 and there's not much light left. Weedon's Virginians find themselves in a target rich environment and Prescott's men charge across Brinton's ford to storm the Underhill farm. Meanwhile the colonials finally come to grips with the darn Hessians across Pyle's Ford whilst Strand's first Minnesota fixes bayonets and gets ready to charge across Chadd's Ford and into the history books.

And in a bloody turn we see the Virginians turned into a vaporous blue mist, Prescott's men and their North Carolinian adversaries battle to the last man and Lord Stirling brings down those Hessians. So far the battle is a draw, 2 blocks each and no roads controlled by the British. We'll have to see if the British can swing a victory before the moon rises.

                                                  Prescott v. Nash and the dice of death.

The last gasps of battle before night falls and shuts the book on the day's events. Even the hobbits can't succeed as they emerge from the woods into a hail of musketry. Elsewhere the British just can't find their way in the diminishing light and smokey battlefield. There is a last clash as the First Minnesota dashes across Chadd's ford and locks horns with the Hessians!

Exposing the combatants by name.

Finality, the numbers don't lie.

                All that blood and honor, all to draw. The last action so hot the map is ablaze!

That also demonstrates that a sweep wide is no guaranty of victory. I'll have to try it again with a more authentic colonial set up and see how they British fare.