I had a fantastic, if tiring day yesterday at The Other Partizan in Newark. The standard of games was excellent as always and the show seemed to be very busy with people enjoying themselves. Thank you to everyone who made the trip, going double for those who stopped by the table to have a chat and make encouraging comments.
My game at the show was a demonstration of the Battle of Eutaw Springs, September 1781. As I have mentioned in my YouTube video of a few years back, this was the subject of an article in the first wargaming magazine I ever bought (Practical Wargamer, Summer 1988):
So, this is a game almost 40 years in the planning and making!
There was very little opportunity to get away from the table so I'll not try to describe the other games at the show. There are already a few videos up on YouTube and I am sure more to follow, so you'll not be short of options.
Here is the "blurb" I wrote to explain the battle to onlookers:
The Battle of Eutaw Springs was fought on September 8, 1781 in South Carolina. It was the last major field engagement of the American War of Independence in the southern colonies, occurring mere weeks before Lord Cornwallis surrendered his army at Yorktown, Virginia.
The rebel army was commanded by Major General Nathaneal Greene and numbered around 2200 men. Greene deployed his force in three successive lines, placing militia, a 3-pounder section and South Carolina state troops to the front, supported by a 6-pounder section, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina Continental regiments in the second line and holding a reserve of Henry Lee’s Legion, Colonel William Washington’s Continental Light Dragoons and Kirkwood’s surviving Delaware Continentals.
Opposing the rebels was Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Stewart, a veteran of the Seven Years’ War in Europe fighting his one and only battle in North America having only recently arrived at the head of the 3rd Regiment of Foot. Stewart’s force was a little smaller than Greene’s but with a high proportion of seasoned soldiers, both British regulars and experienced Loyalists. On the morning of the battle a “rooting party” dispatched to forage for sweet potatoes ran into Greene’s advancing army, with some being captured and the others dispersed for the rest of the day, including a small relieving force of loyalist cavalry and light infantry. Stewart would therefore fight with a weakened force and only a handful of horsemen. The defenders had a small number of light artillery pieces and a pair of swivel guns.
Most of the battlefield consisted of light woodland, bounded to the north by the Santee River and the east by a large clearing where Stewart’s men had encamped among plantation fields, beside a stout brick mansion, stable and palisaded garden. The British line was protected to the south by a ravine and swamps which provided a significant obstacle to any outflanking attempts. The close nature of the terrain would impede the movement of troops and negate any significant use of roundshot. The battle was fought at close quarters and proved to be exceptionally bloody despite both forces being exhausted after several months of chasing each other around the Carolinas back country.
Stewart deployed his men in woodland well forward of his camp. Recent research suggests that this was the along the line of a road running to the south from the main route, which is at odds with many maps of the battle (including the one shown here). On his right flank he placed a composite battalion of British light infantry and grenadier companies under Major Marjoribanks (pronounced Marchbanks). Next came Stewart’s 3rd Foot with Cruger’s brigade of loyalists in the centre of the line, supported by elements of the 84th Highlanders. The left flank of the army consisted of the understrength but veteran 63rd and 64th regiments of Foot, a provisional battalion of provincial light infantry companies and the surviving cavalry of the South Carolina loyalist light dragoons under the command of Major Coffin.
The battle opened with Greene’s militia and state troops advancing to musket range of the defenders and defying expectations by fighting stubbornly before being pushed back. Stewart countered with an attack at bayonet point but this was blunted as the Continentals of the second line came forward. The North Carolina regiments bore the initial brunt of the fighting, with the Virginia and Maryland brigades then smashing into the British and loyalists, forcing a chaotic retreat back through the camp. The day was saved for Stewart by Marjoribanks holding the northern flank with his men, ultimately at the cost of his life, and loyalist troops garrisoning the mansion, turning it into a defensive bastion that inflicted disorder and casualties on the continental troops moving through the camp. This delay enabled Stewart to reform his units while Greene ordered a tactical withdrawal with his ammunition running low, his troops scattered and casualties mounting. The redcoats held the field but as so often this was a pyrrhic victory for the Crown and the army soon retreated to its last refuge, Charleston.
ooOoo
Set up was on Saturday and is a good time to get the terrain layout sorted and ease the pressure on Sunday morning. Here is how it looked before being encumbered by troops and tents. Compared to the map above the west-east axis is a bit compressed so I could fit in all the key features without needing telescopic arms. If I'd changed the orientation I don't think I'd have fitted in the full width of the armies without a real compromise on aesthetics; and where is the fun in that?
First we see the terrain from the south, with the western half of the table consisting of light woodland, with some marsh and a creek in a ravine to protect the British left flank to some extent.
Next looking from the northern end of the battlefield, with the brick mansion to the east and a large open area of fields where the British encampment would be placed. Eutaw Creek is in the foreground and close to its bank is the area of dense "blackjack" where Marjoribanks deployed his flank companies to anchor the British right:
Lastly, from the east showing the terrain that the rebel lines will attack through:
After a pleasant evening of a curry and the Blu-ray version of Quatermass and the Pit, it was time to head off to the showgroud and array the miniatures.
Deployment didn't take too long and we stuck to the historical plan. Stewart placed the British and Loyalist troops in a line alighed with the dirt road heading south towards Roache's plantation, with the 2nd/84th in reserve in the centre and Coffin's dragoons and light infantry behind the left flank. With all the trees it wasn't easy to take photos showing the entire battle but I did my best and there are plenty of closer-up views. I started with a tripod and a slow shutter, but there was still quite a lot of movement on the solid concrete floor so I did move over to a more conventional setting on my phone, with the stabiliser activated.
On Greene's left we find Henderson and the South Carolina State Troops, facing Marjoribanks' grenadiers and light companies. It is not great cavalry country so the horsemen need to take care!
Moving along we see the junction of Henderson's command and Pickens' front line of militia, facing the 3rd Foot (The Buffs) under the direct control of Lt Col. Stewart, with DeLancey's Loyalists to their left.
Here we see the rebel centre with militia leading the way and Continentals in support, Virginians the the left of the road and North Carolinians to the right. Greene's reserve of Washington's dragoons and Kirkwood's Delaware company were off table (and stayed there all day). The British camp has now been pitched, along with all manner of wagons and civilians
Otho Williams and the Maryland Brigade on the left of Greene's second line, with Picken's militia visible to their front
Jethro Sumner and the three small regiments of North Carolina Continental infantry on the right side of the second line.
Light Horse Harry Lee's legion deployed on the far right of Greene's position, behind Marion's militia. Light dragoons to the fore and the light infantry behind, waiting for the opportunity to work their way around the flank
From behind the British left (southern) flank we can see how far forward Stewart has chosen to defend the camp
Similarly from behind the British right, looking over the formal garden of the mansion
A closer look at the house and garden, with interested civilians looking on...and praying
The camp is bustling as preparations are made to receive the first casualties
Action began with a random event. Henderson saw his mounted state dragoons charge forward very unwisely toward Marjoribanks in the blackjack thicket, taking heavy casualties and falling back in disorder
The remainder of Henderson's command exchanged volleys with the grenadiers
Pickens and his militia similarly engaged the 3rd Foot and Cruger's Loyalist brigade in the centre while the Continentals were held back
After the first turn, the fighting was already building in intensity. Here we see the southern end of the fighting with Marion's militia facing off against the 63rd and 64th Foot, supported by a section of Royal Artillery 3-pounders. At the road junction a 6-pound section is engaged in a duel with rebel artillery.
Viewed from the other flank the action is no less fierce. One of Henderson's state battalions has moved to engage the Buffs, leaving a gap in the line that the 1st Maryland has moved into. Intermingling two brigades could be problematic though. On the extreme northern flank a forty-man troop of Carolina state cavalry are attempting to pick their way through the trees and get around Marjoribanks' flank.
The Buffs are now being tacked by state troops and militia, with the 2nd Maryland Continentals in a second line of attackers. So far though, Stewart's regulars are holding steady
Henderson still tries to keep up pressure on Marjoribanks, but the redcoats hold an enviable position, almost fortress-like
In the centre, Picken's militia are holding firm in the musketry exchange with Cruger's loyalists
Cannister blasts forth from the 6-pound section of the Royal Artillery between Cruger's Loyalists and the 63rd of Kelly's brigade
A view from behind Stewart and the Buffs
On the British left, Major Coffin holds his small unit of South Carolina Loyalist horsemen as a reserve. They are the only mounted troops available to Stewart's army (The unit is made up of Wargames Foundry Continental Light Dragoons with head swaps and other conversions)
On the same end of the field, Lee has brought up the light dragoons of his legion hoping to target the 64th Foot if Marion's militia can disorder them with musketry.
Unexpectedly but plausibly, the morale of the of New Jersey Loyalists and they run from the field leaving a gap in the very centre of the redcoat line. Kelly responds by withdrawing his left-hand brigade to line up with the 2nd/84th and begin to solidify a second position in the hope that Cruger and Stewart can coordinate with them and not leave a dog-leg for Greene to exploit
Stewart has problems of his own, but the discipline of the Buffs holds steady and they are giving at least as good as they get for now
Meanwhile those state cavalry on the left still have an a cunning plan...
...which is foiled as Marjoribanks' light infantry cooly about face, deliver a volley and charge the cavalrymen who are still negotiating the trees and undergrowth, heavily disordered by their exertions. The fight is very one-sided and the cavalry are now a mere memory.
Stewart and Cruger are finally able to disengage from their initial position and the army is now aligned along a new position about 80 yards back from where they started. Marjoribanks continues to hold the blackjack thicket on the right. More views of the new positions below:
Just as the British were regaining their stability, Lee was presented with the opportunity he had sought. A volley from Marion's milita shook the 64th Foot and Lee's dragoons launched a charge with devastating impetus. The veterans of the 64th were swept away with the horsemen pursuing towards the camp.
In the centre, Cruger's remaining loyalist unit (DeLancey's) withdrew further towards the camp while the 2nd/84th continued to suffer losses and disorder. Even the Buffs were beginning to show some fatigue.
Marjoribanks did however continue to anchor the British right flank, frustrate Henderson's efforts and the determined musketry of the grenadiers eventually wore down the 1st Maryland who broke and ran! Williams ordered up the 2nd Maryland to take the vacated position in the line.
With the show and our energy starting to wind down this is where we called the game. The battle was far from over. Coffin's cavalry were well placed to charge Lee's dragoons in the flank and most of the British and Loyalist infantry were in good enough shape to fall back to a third line and continue the defence. The attackers had taken casualties too and everything was becoming rather attritional for everyone.
The turns we played (six?) probably represented around 90 minutes of "real time" and the battle was proceeding is a fairly plausible and historical manner. The real battle did see around four hours of bloody fighting with heavy casualties, including the British fleeing through their camp before reforming and counterattacking. I think if we continued playing we'd have seen something similar.
The rules continued to hold up well with nothing sticking out as needing a change.
Planning for Partizan MMXXVII starts now...
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