French Indian War Campaign Game 4 Report

The 3rd battle of Fort William-Henry has a British defending force against a similar sized French force.

For a campaign background and lead up to this battle see Jonathan's blog - Palouse Wargaming Journal.  Units on the table are:

British - Commander Monckton

6 regulars
2 militia
2 Rangers
1 artillery piece in fort

French - Commander Dieskau

6 regulars
2 militia
2 Huron war-band
1 artillery unit

On to the game report...

As the French advance the fort gun opens fire. Fairly accurately for an opening shot.

British regulars push forward in a somewhat disorganised fashion.

Huron war bands move quickly forward to engage the rangers in the hills and their to harass the advancing French line.

The British finally manage to organise their line and are soon engaged by a combination of regulars and militia in the French line.

The Huron war band gets support from French regulars. Their combined fire is taking a toll on the ranger unit.

Meanwhile on the other flank French and British lines are exchanging volleys.

With one ranger unit eliminated the war band moves up swiftly to engage the second ranger unit.

Casualties were mounting on both sides.

Both Huron war bands to move on the remaining ranger unit and free up the supporting regulars so they could move on the flank of the British line.

The French lose a militia unit before the British line prudently retire as their casualties mount.

The rangers are taking heavy casualties, but are able to eliminate one war band unit.

The orderly retirement of the British line proves problematic with some units failing to retire in unison. One unit is left exposed to French musket fire. 

On the British right flank militia units move up to support a hard pressed ranger unit.

The British lose another regular unit. Their army resolve was starting to waver.

A second ranger unit is eliminated and the militia are now facing a couple to advancing regulars and the remaining Huron war band.

The British regulars prepare to retire to the fort.

Militia with supporting fire from the fort hold steady.

British regulars retire to the fort.

Militia units retire after successfully eliminating one of the advancing French regular units with the support of fort artillery. French resolve is weakening, but British army resolve is at the brink of failure.

The loss of a militia unit sees a collapse of British moral and negotiate the surrender of fort William-Henry.

A victory to the French force and their commander Dieskau. The plan to eliminate units outside the fort before moving on the fort proved successful. The Huron war band proved particularly effective in clearing out the ranger threat. Allowing more French regulars to move across and attack the British line, eventually forcing it to retire.

Both sides finish the battle with depleted units, but no destroyed units, and they will be available for future activity in the campaign.

In terms of poor dice rolling. The French artillery shooting was spectacularly ineffective, while British army resolve was quickly whittled away with some high dice scores for each unit eliminated.

So back to Jonathan and the campaign operational moves. I wonder if there will be a 4th battle of Fort Willian-Henry?