French and Indian War campaign - Game 2 set up

This weekend I will be playing the next game in my French and Indian War mini-campaign. I started planning this campaign a few weeks ago. The details on how the campaign was set up can be found here.

The French preparing Fort Robert.

Campaign Background

General William Colchester, commanding the British forces, has orders to attack on Fort Orleans. His plan involves advancing along the coast, using naval support for amphibious landings whenever possible.

French General Lucien Duvall quickly learned of the British intentions after his forces suffered a defeat at the settlement of St. Paul, where the British launched an amphibious assault to strike the French defenders from the rear. This setback has left the French with little time to fortify Fort Robert, which has fallen into disrepair over the years.

Campaign map showing progress

A closer view of Fort Robert. The campaign map is using Scenario 14 - Static Defence - from the book "One-Hour Wargames" which will be set up on a 5 x 4 foot tabletop.

Game Background

Fort Robert is situated on a rocky stretch of coastline. The Royal Navy have informed General William Colchester that amphibious landings will not be possible. With limited time before the British forces arrive, General Lucien Duvall has ordered the garrison to strengthen the fort’s defences. This includes establishing some prepared positions on a nearby hill, as its capture would allow the British to deploy their artillery on an elevated position overlooking the fort, allowing them to bombard the fort and cut off any supplies or reinforcements.

The tabletop setup.

Order of Battle

French

• 6 x Regular Infantry
• 4 x Militia
• 2 x Guns

The French defensive plans require them to have 4 units with 12 inches of the fort and another 4 units within 12 inches of the hill. The remaining 4 units are a mobile reserve and available to move around the table freely.

Prepared positions on the hill.

British Forces

• 7 x Regular Infantry
• 4 x Militia
• 1 x Gun

All the British units arrive from the south on game turn 1.

A view of the British arrival. I realised after this photo that they were one unit short and quickly rectified that. I am obviously struggling to count to more than 10 when I run out of fingers!

Victory Conditions

To secure victory the British must capture and control either Fort Robert or the hill.

Off the painting desk

This week's painting has two units completed to add to my Napoleonic collection. A Hussar unit (Spencer Smith miniatures) and a unit of light infantry (HaT 28mm miniatures). All very simply painted and glossed.

I am slowly replacing my existing light infantry which are Spencer Smith miniatures with HaT miniatures, so a can rebase the Spencer Smiths with their uniform pose as line infantry.

Hussar Unit

Light Infantry