Attack on Fort Dale (Carrilon), An Incident from the Dog and Ferals War

Having recently received my Dog Line from Alternative Armies, I ordered additional earthworks from Paul's Modelling Shop, to support the bastion, ravelin, and star fort of Paul's that were already in hand. Paul was a pleasure to order from. Shipment was fast, and as expected the pieces are excellent.

Why this preamble? It has long been my intention to refight engagements of the French and Indian War using fantasy troops. The additional earth works now allow for other than endlessly gaming Braddock's Defeat, although, truth be told, another game of that IS in the works. 

This time around though, we find the Dwarven forces of General Schreckgestalt, set down along the shores of the Long Lake, and set the task to taking Fort Dale.

Fort Dale had been sited by Gondoggian engineers to cover the water approaches to the Lonely Mountain. As such the fort's guns could not be turned to face a landward assault.

The wiley Gondoggian general Markgraf Ruhigberg is suspected to have mounted a landward defense with a force of Gondoggian regulars, local elven forces, and hostile tribes of feral orcs.

Fort Dale

For this game I am using a scenario from Bruce McFarlane's excellent "Habitants & Highlanders" booklet published by the Canadian Wargamers Group. In this scenario I will take the role of Dwarven General Schreckgestalt (British General Abercromby), and the booklet will lay out the Gondoggian (French) defenses as I discover them.

"Charge!" by Lawford and Young will be the rules used. I scaled this game to one figure equals forty or so...ur...men. With that in mind I am also using the morale rules from Chameleon Eclectics splendid "Fields of Honor" rules to allow the smaller units to have more of a chance than "Charge!"s somewhat inflexible "half gone and your out" rule.

"Fields of Honor" also has a great system for  issuing orders and the affect your sub-commanders' personalities have on your plans so I am using those as well.

The Table. Where are those rascally dogs?

Here is how I have allocated my forces:

G.O.C  - General Schreckgestalt
Staff - Col. Langeweile (Timid), assorted couriers

By scenario rules I must maintain my headquarters in the north west corner of the table. All orders must be issued from this location making any change of plans more difficult as the battle moves eastward.

I plan to approach the large hill to my east as if it were occupied. Once that hill is secured it will be time to move on the fort. That will require some additional order but basically each column will move east from the hill.

Right Column, Col. Wildheit (Quick) commanding
Friderick Foerster - 6 light infantry
IR 60 Koeniglish Ork - 15 line infantry (orc)
IR 55 Dopple Fuenf -  12 line infantry
IR 46 Roten Federn - 10 line infantry

Right Column on the march.

Col. Wildheit has been assigned a flanking role. He is to take his force along the banks of the Long Lake to where the stream runs down from the large hill. He is then to ascend the hill at that point. On reaching the summit he is to either envelope the hill's defenders facing the center and left columns while deploying his light infantry and possibly IR 46 to defend against any enemy encroachment from the west.

The light infantry are to operate in skirmish order. The line infantry is to assault any works discovered in assault column or deploy into line to fight any enemy troops deployed in the open.

Center Column, Col. Weltschmerz (Stalwart) commanding
IR 27 Abdecker - 18 line infantry
IR 44 Die Kaempfe Vier - 25 line infantry

Center Column forms up as Right Column advances,

Col. Weltschmerz is to wait three turns on the baseline and then assault the large hill from the south center of the table. His forces are to be deployed in assault column for the ascent and to charge any works encountered. Once on the summit they are to occupy the hill and prepare to defend from the west, deployed in line.

Left Column, Col. Schadenfreude commanding
Celduin Ork-Miliz - 10 militia (orc)
Dale Ork-Miliz - 10 militia (orc)
Erebor Ork-Miliz - 10 militia (orc)

Left Column demonstrates under the watchful eyes of the G.O.C..

Col. Schadenfreude is to form his regiments in two lines and demonstrate against any enemy found occupying the hill. Once the hill has been secured he is to await further orders.

Reserve. Col. Eimer (Honorable) commanding
IR 42 Zwerge in Kleidern - 25 grenadiers

Col. Eimer is to hold IR 42 in assault column ready to move on the order of the G,O,C,. His regiment will be positioned just in from the baseline once Center Column has moved off.

The Battle Thus Far

Two turn in and it seems the hill may well be unoccupied.

Everything is going according to plan.

Friederick's rangers have just reached the stream. The opposite bank is occupied by some painted orcs, a fitting foe for the frontiersdwarves.

And that's all for now....

Will report in as more Gondoggian trickery is uncovered.

Thanks for stopping by!

Link to part 2.