Fall-In 2018: An AAR of Race Across Carolina - The Final Fury

Lard America gamers were out in force at this year's HMGS Fall In Wargaming Convention, held in Lancaster PA., 9-11 November.  Located in the Vista Windows room at the venerable(?) Lancaster Host, 15 TOOFATLardies games were on the schedule.  Among the offerings of TFL goodness was Chain of Command, I Ain't Been Shot Mum, Sharp Practice and What A Tanker!. 

Race Across Carolina - The Final Fury

The fourth and final scenario for my AWI mini-campaign, "Race Across Carolina," was played on Saturday morning starting at 0900.

Table Sign for RAC

In the third installment, played at Historicon this past summer, the British had pushed the Americans out of the small town of Freemantle, N.C. and, to add insult to injury, a group of Hessian Jaegers commandeered an abandoned beer wagon and ensured it was safely spirited away to the main British camp.

However, in this scenario the British still had to deal with elements of the Maryland Continental Line, the remnants of the 3rd Continental Light Dragoons, and other supporting elements of the colonial forces.

Morning Breaks over a peaceful North Carolina farm

Out for a morning stroll, but danger approaches.....

The British force, consisting of elements of the 42nd Regiment of Foot, the 23rd Regiment of Foot, the British Legion dragoons and the now sober Hessian Jaegers, broke camp early that morning - the peace was about to be shattered.  The horseman of the British Legion immediately began a search for extra mounts as they needed additional horseflesh after the last encounter with the Continental Light Dragoons.

Where could those extra horses be?

Pictured below are some of the early positions of the two forces.  The 23rd Regiment of Foot, led by COL Timothy Urquart, is in line heading up the road, about to clash with the Maryland Continental Line, ably commanded by COL William Bond.  LTC Hugh McFerrin leads the 42nd foot in column around the mansion house (which they will eventually occupy).  The Virginia State Line is just crossing the bridge over Little Hog Wallow Creek.   The dashing LTC Barry St. Leger and the British Legion is crossing a cow pasture and not in the photo.

The Black Watch Approaches

Wait, we found the Legion!

Deployment from the American Perspective

MD Continental Line crosses Little Hog Wallow Creek

For the first time in this mini-campaign the American riflemen and Hessian Jaegers did not factor significantly into  the outcome of the game.  They deployed into the forests, but never really engaged.  The heavy fighting fell to the infantry and dragoons of both sides.

Not much happening here...

The Marylanders and the 23rd Foot engaged in a firefight with the British taking casualties as the shock began to climb.  Both sides held their ground.  Meanwhile the Virginia State Line crossed the bridge and moved to the right rear of the Continentals - they would soon play an important role.  While the British and Americans continued to slug it out, the British Legion scurried around the action and galloped into the stable, where fresh mounts were waiting.

A horse, a horse!  My kingdom for a horse!  Whoops, wrong war.

 The Legion deployed in line and prepared to charge the Continentals.  In his haste, LTC St. Leger failed to see the Virginia State Line which had come up to support the Continentals.  Nevertheless, the Legion charged the Marylanders in the flank and sent them running toward Little Hog Wallow Creek, the bridge, and possibly, safety.

Later that same day, as evening shadows fall, a charge seems appropriate

Before St. Leger could utter "Bollocks!",  Capt. Edward Rhodes hurled the Virginia State Line into the milling Legion horsemen.  Mayhem ensued, but the vaunted British Legion turned tail and ran.  On the other side of the battlefield, the 3rd Continental Light Dragoons, employing local farmer Zebulon Freemantle as their guide, followed an old Indian trail through the woods and charged pell mell into the 23rd Foot, who having driven the Continentals from the field, were nursing their wounds and beginning to fall back.  This charge finally broke the morale of the British Force and the Colonials stood triumphant in the Race Across Carolina!

A solitary Colonial Officer crosses the bridge.

Race Across Carolina was brought to you by Lard America