The Battle of Hubbardton, 1777

This game is based upon a rearguard action (and the events leading up to, and following it) involving an élite detachment of British and German troops from Lieutenant-General Sir John Burgoyne’s army, and a mélange of Continental and militia units, including sick and stragglers, from the command of Major-General Arthur St Clair, which had formed the garrison of Fort Ticonderoga.

Historical background

By the end of 1776, the British had managed to restore some level of military supremacy in North America, having held on to Quebec – just – and then driven the Northern Army from Canada, whilst at the same time evacuating Boston and then inflicting a series of defeats on Washington’s Main Army around New York City.

Following the expulsion of the Americans from Canada, Major General John Burgoyne had returned to England to spend the winter and early spring of 1776-1777, presenting his “Thoughts for Conducting the War” to the King via the controversial Secretary for the Colonies, Lord George Germain. Between Burgoyne’s political machinations and Germain’s hatred of the Governor of Quebec, Sir Guy Carleton, the former arrived back in Canada in May 1777 not only with his plan approved, but with orders to lead the invasion of upper New York in person, whilst his erstwhile superior, Carleton, was left behind in Canada.

The entire operation involved Burgoyne moving south down Lake Champlain with 8,000 men, whilst Brigadier General Barry St Leger headed east along the Mohawk Valley. The two would converge on Albany, where they would await the arrival of Lieutenant General Sir William Howe’ army from New York City. Or so they believed: Germain had also approved a plan from Howe to attack Philadelphia, the seat of the Rebel government; but although he had sent Howe a copy of Burgoyne’s plan, Germain had included no details of Howe’s role and the latter had already decided that the garrison he had left in New York would provide any support needed by Burgoyne.

Unaware that the seeds of confusion – and disaster – were already sown, Burgoyne continued preparations for his invasion, ably supported by the fuming Carleton. However, Burgoyne’s “relaxed” attitude, bad weather and logistical problems (chiefly finding enough horses and wagons and preventing the Canadian levies from deserting) meant that the fleet carrying his army only set sail from St John’s on 13 June – a Friday. One week later, at the Bouquet River, Burgoyne issued a proclamation that he would unleash his Indian contingent on the local populace if they opposed his advance.

By 26 June, his main force had reached Crown Point, where he was delayed for three days by violent rainstorms. On 30 June his men, carrying eight days’ rations, headed down Lake Champlain towards his first major objective: Fort Ticonderoga, landing at Three Mile Point the following day.

After they had captured Fort Ticonderoga in 1775, the Americans had attempted to repair its defences and to fortify Mount Independence on the New Hampshire side of the lake. New blockhouses guarded Mount Hope and the Lake George portage, and a bridge and heavy log boom now spanned the 400-yard narrows between the forts.

However, the Americans faced three insurmountable problems: first, Fort Ticonderoga had been built to forestall an attack from the south, not the north; second, the extended defences needed 10,000 men – more than three times the number available; and finally, both posts were overlooked by the 800-foot high Mount Defiance.

On 12 June, former British officer, Major General Arthur St Clair had arrived to take command of the fort. One week later, with Fort Independence still incomplete, he and the commander of the Northern Department, Major General Philip Schuyler, agreed that if a strong British force appeared, the priority was to ensure that the garrison escaped to the New Hampshire side of the lake.

On 2 July, Fraser advanced on Mount Hope and St Clair mounted a sortie to cover the withdrawal of its garrison into Fort Ticonderoga. Luckily for St Clair, over the next three days a prisoner provided details of Burgoyne’s force and careless Indians gave away the presence of British artillery, painstakingly hauled to the summit of Mount Defiance. As Burgoyne and Fraser awaited the arrival of the Brunswick contingent under Major General Friedrich von Riedesel’s before Fort Independence, an American council of war agreed that evacuation was the only option.

Despite a full moon, and two huts being set alight (including one belonging to a drunken French officer) all of the sick who could not walk, the women and children, and the heavy supplies, were sent down the lake to Skenesboro, guarded by 600 troops. The remaining 2,500 men crossed to Mount Independence – failing to destroy the bridge – and headed south towards Castleton along a military road consisting of logs laid across the trail (sometimes called “corduroy roads”).

Alerted by the smoke of the burning huts, Riedesel investigated, but by the time his men arrived, they could only fire a few shots at the retreating enemy. As dawn broke, Burgoyne ordered Fraser to repair the bridge and rush his Advance Corps over to the New Hampshire side, whilst armed vessels chased the American flotilla south towards Skenesboro (where they later captured the boats with the women and sick).

Fraser and half of his Advance Corps left Mount Independence around 04.00 hours on 6 July, followed by Riedesel, who caught up with him at 16.00 hours. Though technically superior in rank to Fraser, Riedesel respected the Scot’s experience of North America, and agreed to march on another three miles, halt for the night, and then resume their march at 03.00 hours the next day. As they bivouacked, Fraser learned from captured stragglers that the American rearguard comprised picked men under a competent officer.

The Opposing Forces

The Americans

Rearguard – Colonel Ebenezer Francis

500 all ranks

Additional Continental Regiment – Colonel Seth Warner

300 men

2nd New Hampshire – Major Benjamin Titcomb

250 men

Stragglers, etc – Colonel Nathan Hale, 2nd New Hampshire

250 men

Total: 1,300

Not engaged:

Massachusetts Militia – Colonel Bellows

300 men

Massachusetts Militia – Colonel Olcott

350 men

Total: 650

The rearguard under Francis was composed of detachments (each probably about two companies strong) from the 1st, 2nd and 3rd New Hampshire, 11th Massachusetts, and Warner’s Additional. This last regiment is often referred to as the Green Mountain Boys, which Warner had commanded in Canada in 1775 and 1776, after the men had voted to replace the original colonel, Ethan Allen.

However, the new regiment was raised only at the start of 1777 and whilst it did include some former Green Mountain Boys’ personnel, there was no direct link between the two units. Warner’s unit also included 100 or so militia gathered up during his march towards Ticonderoga, and a company of about 50 men of the 2nd New Hampshire, under a Captain Carr.

Colonel Ebenezer Francis, 11th Massachusetts Regiment

In your early thirties and a dynamic and outspoken officer, you have been involved in this war from the start, commanding a militia company during the siege of Boston. You have now been a colonel in the Massachusetts Line for over a year, during which time your regiment has – by common consent – become the best disciplined and most efficient unit in the Ticonderoga garrison.

As such, General St Clair gave you command of his rearguard, which comprises a selection of the best companies of your own regiment and others of the garrison – and, as the Good Lord is your witness, it looks as though you will need them, judging by the closeness of the enemy’s pursuit. As you arrived at your present position yesterday afternoon, you learned that Colonel Warner is now in charge and that the rearguard now includes his regiment and Colonel Hale’s. No matter, you are happy to serve under such an experienced and well-liked officer.

Colonel Nathan Hale, 2nd New Hampshire Regiment

The same age as Warner, you are from New Hampshire, and have spent several years as a politician and public servant, as well as serving as a captain in the militia. On hearing the news of Lexington and Concord, you marched your company to Cambridge, Massachusetts, to join the Army of Observation. Later in 1775, you became major of the 3rd New Hampshire regiment, and. during the reorganisation of the New Hampshire Line last year, you became Lieutenant Colonel of the 2nd regiment. In February, you took over command of the unit when the previous colonel – Enoch Poor – was made a Brigadier General.

Given the near-impossible task of shepherding the 300-plus sick, wounded and stragglers (some of them drunk!), you arrived at the designated meeting place very late yesterday. Consequently, you had no chance to reconnoitre the ground or position your men, but you did meet with Colonels Warner and Francis and develop some sort of plan. You are not sure you like it, but they are good officers and you trust their judgment. If only you didn’t have all those shirkers and sick to “wet nurse”……

Colonel Seth Warner, Additional Continental Regiment

You and many of the men in your regiment have an association that pre-dates this war, as you once served under the famous Ethan Allen in the struggle to remove the New Yorkers from the “Hampshire Grants”. Though modest and unassuming, your quiet but firm leadership skills impress your men – so much that, two years ago, the Green Mountain Boys voted for you to replace Allen as colonel.

Your military service makes you the most experienced of the three colonels present, having seen action during the disastrous campaign in Canada, especially as commander of the rearguard, where you became adept at nursing the same horde of stragglers, sick and wounded that now plagues this army. Although ordered by General St Clair to withdraw to Castleton, the state of your men (especially the sick and stragglers), the two militia regiments blocking the road south, and the good defensive position you currently occupy, led you to persuade Colonels Hale and Francis to await the enemy here. Despite your outward confidence, your cool courage and self-possession are going to be tested to the limit.