Its The End Of The Year & The Battle Has Been Lost and Won!

Now, where were we? Ah yes, an illustrated report of a British convoy being ambushed in the jungles of (the fictional) Belmont Island in the West Indies in the 1790's. 

Not all the self freed slaves had firearms but they were eager to use whatever deadly tools and weapons that they could get their hands on. Then it was a matter of timing. With great patience, they waited the order to charge. 

Scenario. The  scenario was just an adhoc one which started with  a vague situation, then troop levels and terrain, adjusting the terrain and units as I dug about to see what I had, then arranging the defenders in random possible ambush positions. (poker chips were used, 1/2 representing units, marked as French or ex-slaves, 1/2 being dummies) then the off table supply column, and finally, a relief column coming from the far end of the table with a random arrival turn (ie 1d6 needing roll the turn number or less to arrive (they rolled a 1...sigh)).

AMBUSHED!!

Forces: The size of the forces were a mix of play balance and what I had available and ready to go. I ended up with 4 forces, each of 4 units. The convoy consisted of 4 pack animals under the control of 6 armed sailors acting as drovers.

Most of the figures were converted Prince August or Meisterzinn homecasts, or my own sculpts home cast, but some of the rebels were converted Historifigs Scruby colonial figures as well as a couple of adapted Perry Spanish guerrillas.

When a message arrived that the convoy was on its way, the commander of the main army had ordered a column to march to meet them at the bridge and escort them the rest of the way. The Redcoats were barely on table when they were fired on by French soldiers. 

Game length: The game had a 15 turn length. Why? Habit from the One Hour Wargames book and it works with my movement distances etc..

The French had a bit of trouble activating some of their hidden units with no near enemy but the unit in the stone house managed to block the road for a long time despite their lousy shooting. 

Victory: The British would win if over 1/2 the pack animals got off the far end of the road or had a clear way to it,  if 1/2 the pack animals got through it would be a tie while anything else was a victory for the French and rebels. (Note: The French & rebels were separate forces with their own commanders, and only a temporary agreement to not fight each other until the redcoats were driven off.) 

By mid-game, things were looking a bit sticky for the British. The rear of the convoy was wide open with the escort taking heavy casualties and was no longer strong enough to defend all four sides of the convoy properly. The Black Fox waved his hat to the hidden company of exslaves, armed with noting but machetes and other tools, but nothing happened, again and again!
(They had lousy dice allllll game long! )  

At last, the Fox, muttering a curse or three, rode across and called his men to come and kill the enemy! They burst out of the jungle and ran screaming at the enemy. Only a few sailors and a couple of marines managed to fallback to try to save the supply train.

The Fox rallied at least some of his machete lads but he could see the remnants of his men heading for the hills  and the French across the river doing the same. There was nothing to do now but try to gather as many of his men as possible and plan his next move.

As for the British, casualties had been light, the convoy was intact and the road to camp was open!

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I wish a great and safe 2025 to all of you who take the time to drop in and read my posts now and then and an even better year for those who add an occasional comment every now and then. 

May your dice favour you all!