The Battle of Breedlow's Hill: The Hills Have Tentacles

Phase one of the battle had ended with Great Britorcn in possession of the Rebel earthworks on Mrs. Beasly's Hill.

Phase two of the battle started with the survivors of the first game having regrouped and rallied stragglers. In addition one more unit of Rep 3 Rebels under Captain Gnollton joined the fray. 

 His Majesty's forces quickly reorganized their line to adapt to the conditions of the battlefield.

While by military tradition it fell to the grenadiers to take the right most place in the line of battle, here General Andhow put his light infantry in this post.

For it was on the right flank that the rugged Breedlow's Hill, the object of the operation, lay. The light troops took to the slopes like mountain goats, only to find a most unwelcome surprise at the summit.

The Gibbertree with which the Rebels seem so obsessed, produced a Fiend, or perhaps the Gibbertree is merely a gateway to a hitherto unknowns world. 

 Such fine distinctions I shall leave to the Natural Philosophers. Suffice to say that an Unholy Fiend was released upon the field.

A Creature of rare Repugnance, the Fiend set the lights to flight.

Rending a few of the less Fleet to Bits as it lithely hopped down the Hill.

So Unnerving was the Beat's appearance that even the grenadiers Faltered and Retired, although it must be said they Recovered quickly and soon took their place in line again.

The Fiend seemed Irresolute in its Pursuit of Victyms, first charging one army than t'Other.  Our Demmed Country Cousins seemed completely Oblivious to the Whirling Terror that Cavorted between the lines.

For their part His Majesty's troops showed Great Presence of Mind, keeping to the Ranks and unleashing Volley after Volley into the Quivering Fiend.

Even with that Vyle Fiend of the Gibbertree loose on the Field, the battle continued apace. The Rebels, perhaps drawing Encouragement from the Gibbering Fiend, were Resolute!

At length the Fiend ran Amok amongst Gnollton's Rebels, tearing Heads and Limbs from Torsos to feed its gaping Maws. Even at this the Rebels did not Falter,

A few Thunderous Vollies more and the Fiend collapsed in a Gush of Vapors.

The Vanquishing of their Gibbertree Fiend Sapped the
Spirit  of the Rebels and with its demise, so too did Rebel Resolve Fail.

It was no Great Exertion to Drive the Rebels from the Field from this point on.

After the Battle, His Majesty's Fleet was called up on to Bombard the Edifiace of Breedlow's Hill, destroying the Gibbertree Utterly and so it is Hoped ending this Rebellion.

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Well that's what Andhow thinks anyway. I know better.

The Fiend was Rep 8 although it's Rep was reduced with each hit it sustained. It activated at the end of each turn, using a d6 to determine which of the three closest units it would charge. It was only luck that had it attack the Rebels as they were only ever one of the the three closest.

I certainly do not fault the Lights for running and am quite surprised the Grenadiers and Regulars took on the Fiend with so little disruption to their plans.

Never underestimate the value of a bayonet with some Orc behind it!

The Battle of Breedlow's Hill: Phase One

To paraphrase Winston Churchill:

"What General Andhow  called the Battle of Mrs. Beasley's Hill is over. I expect that the Battle of Breedlow's Hill is about to begin!"

This game was going to feature up to three Britorcn assaults on the Rebel earthworks on Mrs. Beasly's Hill. Of course the ultimate Britorcn objective is the more militarily important heights of Breedlow's Hill.

Decided to use Muskets and Shakos for this one as a; its on my mind, and b; needs more work anyway : ) To that end the Rebels were formed of two battalions. Their right held by Colonel Preratt's  New Albion militia with the dread "Oi! Watch it!" banner and their left held by Colonel Storc's Misty Mountain Boys. Each Rebel battalion was rated Rep 3. In order to stiffen their resolve in an attempt to mimic Bunker Hill, each battalion was given 24 orcs. As they hadn't much to do other than hold their line, I let the game system command the Rebels.

His Majesty's forces deployed two brigades initially. On my right General Andhow led the combined flank companies, one battalion of 11 grenadiers and one battalion of 11 light infantry. Both of these battalions were rated Rep 5. My left flank brigade, under General Piggy, consisted of two line infantry regiments each of 11 Rep 4 orcs.

My attack began as planned. Advancing in line did mean there was greater chance of  my forces needing to take their dressing as the photo above shows. The better trained flank battalions being able to advance faster than their not quite as well trained parent battalions.

Colonel's Preratt and Storc kept their orcs well in hand, admonishing them to not fire until they had seen the reds of their enemy's eyes.

The light battalion deployed a skirmish line, while the line battalions began firing at the Rebels.

Then the unthinkable happened! Storc's orcs fired dropping the entire front rank of the grenadiers! 

Still worse, Preratt's orcs saw off assaults by both Britorcn line battalions, routing one of them in the process. I must say that at this point I seriously considered calling off the assault and waiting for the second wave of troops to arrive.

Momentary doubts banished, I ordered the depleted grenadiers to charge. These rebels would be  no match for a bayonet with some orc behind it!

Indeed, The Misty Mountain Boys fell back with the lights firing at their retreating forms.

 Retreat became rout as Storc's command evaporated.

Having gained the Rebel entrenchments on the right, Britorcn victory seemed assured.

Still there was the small matter of convincing Preratt of this.

The New Albion militia had been so shaken by the previous line infantry assaults that Colonel Preratt could not bring them to any semblance of order try though he might.

It became a race against time as I was having organizational problems of my own. The grenadiers, weakened as they were, were proving difficult to reform, while trying to recall the light infantry skirmishers presented additional problems.

Preatt's orcs managed to beat off one more line infantry assault before, his flank now well and truly turned, he signaled every orc for himself.

Phase two of the battle will feature the remnants of the assault force braving the mysteries of Breedlow's Hill and the gibbertree that surmounts it.

Help will be on the way in the form of the second wave troops, but at the same time the enemy will counter attack with rallied survivors and perhaps some additional troops that failed to make the first phase of the battle.

Hope you enjoyed the story.

The Battle of Breedlow's Hill

This game has been in the works for over a year.  It started with Hexington and Cromford back in January of 11. At that time I had no Fencibles to stand in for Albion Regulars.  Since then the fine painters at Alternative Armies have provided the required troops.

The Line infantry have appeared before in Flintloques in the Forest.  Added a unit of light infantry to that (pictured above) and some grenadiers.

I did quite a bit of touch up on the grenadiers. Some were seconded to the Regiment Guinalea to serve Mordred's cause. The others were given a change of colour in wings, turnbacks, and cuffs, to better suit their role in the New Albion Rebellion.

Although known as the Battle of Breedlow's Hill, the Rebels actually set up shop on Mrs. Beasly's Hill. 

Breedlow's Hill is further back and higher making it a better vantage point for the blockade of Bosstown, and the Albion G.O.C. (General Orc Commanding) was delighted that the Rebels had failed to occupy so militarily formidable  position.  

 The reason was more ideological than practical. Breedlow's Hill is home to one of the Gibbertrees in which the Rebels put so much faith. At the same time it is well known to residents of New Albion that one approaches a Gibbertree at one's own peril.

The Gibbertree has been seized upon by many of the Rebels as being emblematic of their struggle against Great Britorcn ever since that Rebel Agitator, Patrorc Henry, famously quipped: "Give me Gibbertrees or give me Death!".

Hexington and Cromford: Dispatch From New Albion

Dearest Notables,

It is with great joy that I write to you of a signal victory over the Rebels in Kyng Gorge’s colony of New Albion.

Approach to Hexington

The flank companies of the 4^th were dispatched under the able command of Major Petcairn to round up Rebel supplies known to be in the environs of Hexington and Cromford Mound. 

Upon reaching Hexington Major Petcairn discovered Rebels assembled in Arms lined across the common. One of the Rebels fired and the Major quite correctly returned fire, dispersing the Rebels with a charge. Soon other detachments of Rebels were discovered sniping from cover along the route of March. In each case the demmed Rebels were dispersed.

Major Petcairn apprehended Rebel agitator Amuel Sadams hiding in a cupboard in a Tavern b’ Sentinel. According to the Major, Sadams was well out of his head and only capable of gibbering and raving of “Thyngs Orcs were not meant to Know” and “the Old Gods of this Verdant Lande”.

Rebels in Force

Rebels Dispersed

Upon reaching the, uh, “Tavern” known as Myrmidon’s House a large force of Rebels was spied approaching from the North. This force was great in number. The Major deployed the Light Company in Myrmidon’s House and fields, while the Grenadiers formed line just to the West. The now usual volley and charge with cold Steele set the Rebels running. During the fighting Myrmidon’s House was set afire. This was purely an accident of War and not the deliberate burning and pillaging of “Goode Honeft Fettlers” one may read of in certain Rebel Pamphlets.

Cromford Mound

From here the Major proceeded to Cromford Mound, and here the tale takes on the dimensions of Heresy. The Mound is a structure of great Age, and none could be in its environs without a feeling of dread so I am told. The stone work and carvings are like nothing we have encountered before and in truth to gaze upon them too long is said to court a certain Dizziness and Light Headedness not at all like that engendered by a good helping of Porte! 

Having expected to find stores of Arms and Provender the Major was appalled to find instead a veritable charnel house. Not an inch there was not covered in blood and the stench is said to have been worse than that of the lowest Rookery of Londonium! 

The Mound is cited on the land of one Squire Whately, and no amount of enquiring amongst the locals was able to produce knowledge of his whereabouts.

While the Major was engaged in this phase of the expedition, I taking the remains of the regiment and a company gun followed the Major’s trail. Leaving three companies in Hexington, I marched the rest and the gun to the sound of fighting to the West.  After some, dare I say tense, moments our forces met and I took charge of the prisoner and the casualties. The Goode Major was well shaken to say the least. Yet I left this detail out of my report to ‘Orseguards, lest it reflect badly on him.

The Major lost 18 from the Light company and 12 from the Grenadiers in this action, an action that confers upon him and the Orcs under his command, great credit.

Yours,

Col. Ivor Smithy

New Albion Field Force (Commanding)