The British and Germans
24th Foot (two companies) – Major Robert Grant
100 all ranks
Grenadier Battalion – Major John Acland MP
300 men
Light Battalion – Major Alexander Lindsay, Earl of Balcarres
300 men
Brunswick Pickets – Captain Maximillian Schottelius
80 men
Brunswick Jagers – Captain Carl von Geyso
100 men
Possibly also present:-
Corps of Marksmen – Captain Alexander Fraser
50 men
Loyalists and Indians – Lieutenant Colonel John Peters
50 men
Total: 1,000 men
Not engaged:-
Grenadier Battalion – Major Otto von Mengen
450 men
Light Battalion – Major Ferdinand von Barner
450 men
Total: 900 men
Both the British and the Brunswick troops were the elite of Burgoyne’s army, comprising the converged grenadier companies of all the British and Brunswick regiments in Canada at the start of 1777, together with the Brunswick jager company. Based on General Fraser’s report, Riedesel’s comment that Fraser had only half of his men with him, and the fact that only half of the individual companies recorded any casualties at Hubbardton, it is probable that only the grenadier companies of the 9th, 20th, 29th, 34th and 62nd Foot, and the light companies of the 29th, 34th, 47th, 53rd & 62nd Foot, were actually present.
Probably also present were half of the Select Company of Marksmen – a unit created in 1776, and re-created in 1777, by taking the best shot from each battalion company in the ten British regiments in Canada. Their commander was General Fraser’s nephew and an experienced officer with the Indian Department; some of the men may have been armed with rifles taken from Americans captured in the abortive attack on Quebec in 1775.
The 24th Foot (General Fraser’s own regiment) was particularly well trained and hence was granted the privilege of serving with the Advance Corps. It is also possible that Loyalists from Peters’ Corps, and Indian scouts (numbering up to 100 men in all) may also have been present, as there is evidence of a large raiding party causing panic in the Hubbardton area late the previous day (6 July).
Brigadier General Simon Fraser, 24th Foot
At 48, you are the oldest British officer on the field, but still retain most of the energy and dash that brought you to official notice whilst serving with the 60th and 78th Foot during the French and Indian Wars. After your successful defence of Trois Rivières, you were given the local rank of Brigadier General and placed in charge of the “Advance Corps” containing the élite of General Burgoyne’s army. As such, it is your duty to hound the Rebel forces to destruction as they retreat from Ticonderoga.
Major-General Friedrich Adolf von Riedesel
A month after celebrating your 39th birthday, you find yourself marching through this sparsely populated wilderness – not dissimilar to the dense forests of central Germany – with 200 of your best troops. Well-liked by your men because of the concern you show for their welfare, you are an experienced officer, with service in the Seven Years War (albeit as a cavalry commander) under your belt.
Despite being senior to Fraser, you recognise that he knows more than you about the different types of tactics used on this continent – some of which you spent the spring teaching your own force. You know that Fraser may attack the enemy rearguard today, and if so he may need your help as he only has half of his Advance Corps with him. Speed is therefore of the essence……
Major John Dyke Acland MP, 20th Foot
You joined the army three years ago, at the age of 27, having long opposed the damned impudence of the Rebels as a loyal Member of Parliament. After purchasing an ensigncy in the 33rd Foot, your connections allowed you to buy a captaincy one year later, and then transfer to the 20th Foot, as a major, in December 1775.
You commanded the converged battalion of grenadier companies in the 1776 campaign, but saw no action having almost died of a fever (you were only restored to health by your wife, recently arrived from England). However, you now find yourself chasing the Rebel rearguard and today promises action! Time to teach them a lesson – and disprove Lindsay’s claims that you are too inexperienced for command. If only you could take your mind off the news that your wife is now pregnant……
Major Alexander Lindsay, Earl of Balcarres, 53rd Foot
You are a 25-year-old Scottish noble who has served 10 years in the Army – five of them as captain of the grenadier company of the 42nd Foot. In 1775, you purchased a majority in the 53rd Foot, and arrived in Canada in June 1776. Your performance at Trois Rivières earned you command of the converged battalion of the British light infantry companies. A happy and even-tempered man, you believe that boldness and honour are the mark of the soldier, and can accept victory or defeat with equanimity, provided you have done your duty. You have great faith in General Fraser and Major Grant, but are concerned at the inexperience of Major Acland who has not forgiven your complaint……
Lieutenant Colonel John Peters, Queen’s Loyal Rangers*
Though born in Connecticut, you served as a judge and militia colonel in New York, and were elected to the First Continental Congress in 1774. However, the overall tone and aims of the other delegates so dismayed you that you returned home and refused to serve. Denounced as a Tory, in 1776 you were stripped of your offices and had to flee with your wife and children to Canada, where you have raised a corps of rangers from your fellow refugees and English-speaking Canadians. A month ago, you were made a lieutenant colonel and attached to General Fraser’s Advance Corps. You and your corps have been prominent in the scouting and skirmishing to date, and are determined to punish those who drove you from your homes.
Major Robert Grant, 24th Foot*
An experienced officer in your early 40s, you are back on familiar ground, having served as a lieutenant in the 42nd Foot during the Ticonderoga campaigns of 1758 and 1759. In 1762, as a captain, you served at the siege of Havanna, and transferred to the 40th Foot after the Peace of Paris. Lacking the money and influence of Acland and Lindsay, your career has progressed slowly and it has taken another 13 years to make major. However, after 30 months in General Fraser’s regiment you enjoy both his confidence, and that of your peers, who consider you a brave gentleman and worthy holder of the King’s commission – which is why your two companies of the 24th Foot are leading the advance.
Lieutenant-Colonel Maximillian von Breymann*
In your forties, you command the grenadier battalion of the contingent sent by your Duke to help his English cousin deal with the unruly and ungrateful subjects of this wild land. Unlike General Riedesel, you are of the old school and if your men think you something of a martinet – well and good! You are not impressed with this country, which is empty of everything except trees and enemy riflemen. Oh, to be back fighting the French on the plains of your native northern Germany. That’s where wars should take place – out in the open where you can see the enemy, and with established civilian communities to provide some home comforts, instead of these isolated farms full of ignorant, backward peasants.
* Officers marked thus are optional as player-characters, due to their limited involvement in the battle
The Terrain
The battlefield comprises a central area of light woods and farmland, surrounded by dense woods. Three major watercourses cut across the table, all flowing approximately northeast to southwest. The most easterly is the least tactically significant (at least historically!), but the larger two will affect and recreation of the battle.
Sucker Brook is close to the British/Brunswick entry point and flows through marshy valley between Sargent’s Hill and Zion Hill. North Breton Brook (also known as Hubbardton Brook) flows down from Pittsford Ridge across the farmland east of the Castleton-Crown Point road, and has rocky stream beds.
The two roads are not important tactically, except perhaps where the military road crosses the marshes around Sucker Brook. The Castleton road is a well-used, but not terribly well-maintained, cart-track. The wooden Selleck Cabin is the only building on the field.
The other important feature of the battlefield is its contours, whose steepness varies enormously (for example, the north side of Zion Hill rises 300 feet over almost 2,000 yards, whilst its north face rises the same amount in 750 yards). The central area of the battlefield is less extreme, except for Monument Hill which rises 100 feet in barely 100 yards.
The area around the Selleck Cabin and the Castleton road is relatively flat, but inside the log fence, the slope increases dramatically up to Pittsford Ridge. Apart from Monument Hill, which is lightly wooded at its base and open at its crest, the steeper the slope, the more heavily wooded it is (since it will be less use as farmland).
Special Rules
Movement
The central area of light woods and farmland are no hindrance to movement of either skirmishers, or formed units. However, formed units will only move at half speed in dense woods; this might seem too fast for most rule sets, but on a normal-sized table, this action has large distances and relatively small units.
Also, the British and Brunswickers, at least, had been practising special tactics for woodland fighting for many months. Both major watercourses and the marsh around Sucker Brook slow movement by 25% for skirmishers and 50% for formed units (the latter needing to spend half a move reforming after crossing either obstacle). Steep hills – say, 50 feet or more in every 100 yards – should also reduce movement by 50%, and should also add to the recovery time after a charge.
In fact, an uphill charge on a steep slope – see above – should preclude another such move for the rest of the game. Also, remember to apply terrain bonuses to units making or receiving charges, particularly crossing and defending steep or marshy ground.
Hale’s stragglers should move at two thirds normal speed (with appropriate deductions for any terrain they are traversing) to reflect their status as sick, elderly, or drunk. If a British unit moves to within charge distance – again, allowing for penalties – the group will panic and head directly away from the threatening unit (or towards the Castleton road, and then Pittsford Ridge, if more than one) at three-quarters charge speed.
