Bunker Hill At HAVOC XXV Shrewsbury MA 3/28/2009
Here is the report from the two games of Bunker Hill we ran at Havoc this year. The first battle the 38th were chasing Robinson's skirmishers out of Charlestown and the 43rd advancing straight up Breed's Hill with the 6pdr guns. The Light Infantry, Grenadiers and the 5th/52nd advanced along the road the east of the hill. The colonials move Reed's New Hampshire Regiment to support the Massachusetts Troops on the hill and held their position. The 38th attempted to charge Robinsion's but they failed to make contact. The Light Infantry brook two companies into skirmish order and moved to harass Woodbridge's and Stark's Regiments. The 5th/52nd swung onto the hill to support the 43rd you had made it to canister range. The 12 pdrs on Molton's hill had little affect on Prescot's and Littleton's & Nixon's Regiments in the fortifications. Next the 38th tried to shoot Robinson's out of the way to little effect, but the slow pursuit had allowed Robinson's to get on the flank of the 43rd and take a few shots. This was starting to get hard for the 43rd with canister and volleys coming from the front and skirmish fire from the flank and they soon raced past their 25% and 50% casualty marks. At this point they decided that it was better to volley back at Prescot's in the fortifications than to try and charge home. The Marines and the 63rd arrived and with 6 pdrs opening up the right size round shot stared to hammer Littleton's & Nixon's. Charlestown went up in a blaze however there was no one in the town so it ha little effect on the game. The 5th/52nd charged into the breastwork and drove Littleton's & Nixon's out but took significant casualties. The 38th charged and caught Robinson's who fled the field but left themselves lined up to be enfiladed from the colonial 3 pdr in the redoubt. The colonials rushed as many regiments as they could into the gap left by Littleton's & Nixon's and launched a counter attack with Stark's Regiment at the flank of the Light Infantry. The colonial 3 pdr fired down the length of the 38th with canister but failed to cause any casualties, fighting was occurring all along the line as the 38th charge into the redoubt. The 43rd finally disinterred in front of the redoubt allowing Prescot's to turn and face the 38th to their rear. So final turn and the 38th is in the redoubt and the 5th/52nd hold the trench line and Stark's Regiments is advancing on the Regulars right flank. The 38th failed to drive Prescot's out of the redoubt and the rest of the regulars fail to make any further advances exect the Grenadiers driving Woodbridge's back. Colonial minor victory as the redoubt was contested and the wall still held. In the second game the 38th when after Robinson's again but this time the 43rd followed along the road by Charlestown. The Light Infantry, Grenadiers and 5th/52nd advanced along the road east of the hill and the 6 pdrs went straight up the hill. The first rounds from the 12 pdrs targeted the colonial 3 pdr but it became clear that trying to hit a gun and crew behind fortifications at long range was not really an option. Robinson's Fell back in front of the 38th and seemed happy to just take a few shots as they fell back. After a brief exchange of fire the 38th decided that the only way was to charge. Reed's moved into position along the fence line at the base of the hill but collected a disruption point as did Woodbridge's as they shuffled along the same fence. Knolton's maneuvered to give extra fire over the heads of Woodbridge's Troops but also picked up a disruption point. Colonial Officers ran all over the place trying to their troops back in order. The Light Infantry made slow progress through the fields adjacent to the beach with the Grenadiers and 5th/52nd following along. The 12 pdrs changed their target to the infantry in the redoubt but to little effect. The 38th continued to chase Robinson's but did not catch them. As the Regulars approached the hill on both sides the colonials moved Knolton's towards the redoubt as it look as if the 38th would be able to attack across the undefended colonial right flank. The Light Infantry broke up into skirmish order to cover the advance of the Grenadiers and harass Stark's Regiment behind the rail fence. The 38th and 43rd advanced on the colonial right flank as the 5th/52nd advanced on the left. The six pdr guns set up just of range of Prescot's muskets in the redoubt and waited for the right size ammo. Assaults started on both fronts however Knolton's made it to the redoubt to meet the 38th as they charged in. Littleton's & Nixon's held the 5th/52nd and Wodbridges stopped the Grenadiers in their tracks! In the redoubt it was not going so well for the colonials as the 38th drove back Knolton's and the 43rd took the 3 pdr. The 6 pdrs opened up on Prescot's and did some damage. The Marines and the 63rd advanced up the hill from their landing point with smoke pouring out of Char lestown. In the secound round of the assult the 43rd drove Prescot's back but not out of the redoubt, but the 38th managed to push Knolton's out. The Light Infantry formed up and assulted the Stark's Regiment behind the rail fence and pushed them back. The 5th/52nd took the trench from Littleton's & Nixon's and the Grenadiers surged over the fence to take the position held by Woodbridge's. Into the final turn and it was looking bad for the colonials but they were still in the redoubt. The colonials took the offensive and attacked all along the line Prescot's were driven out of the redoubt by the 43rd and the 38th continued to force Knolton's back. The 5th/52nd held the trenches but only just and the Grenadiers were driven back over the fence line by Woodbridge's. Strak's Regiments charged into the Light Infantry and chased them back across the fence! So this time it was a minor victory for the Crown forces as they only hold the redoubt, but so nearly a major one. Rich.

Here is a link to the photo bucket location of the photos from the battle. http://s191.photobucket.com/albums/z41/sarchasm101/Bunker%20Hill/Havoc_2009_03/ Rich.

Dear God! Those figures are exquisite!

Nice looking table an miniatures! Are you bringing it along to Historicon? Mike B

Okay, I've now had a chance to flip through all 91 photos and I remain stunned. The figures are exquisite and the terrain is brilliant! I love the smoke and fire treatment on the buildings ... and the buildings look wonderful -- style, paint colors, everything. Wow. Just wow.

Charles well done looks + sounds like an excellent game ! :D I am sooo pleased BG has evangelists like yourself on that side of the Atlantic. EC

Fantastic stuff. Figures brilliant and the terrain absolutely awesome. Looking forward to more of the same. Paul

Thanks, This has been our club project over the past few months and we will be bringing it to Histricon this year. We have another house that is in production based on one in Halifax MA. The smoke was synthetic pillow stuffing spray painted and weighted down with a few ring washers so it conformed to the roof line. The fur was only glued to the largest piece of the base so we could have it overlap the seams. Rich.

Very well done.

Absolutely stunning. Very impressive set up. Lovely figures and terrain. I'm going to have to step things up a few gears! :) Look forward to seeing more. Very impressed with the photos as well. I've still to master my camera! Thanks for sharing. Andy

From which manufacturer are the militia? I've been looking for a good set of militia in tricornes. I particularly enjoy their portrayal in the 9th photo. The paint colors look spot on, and it's difficult to imagine the shadows rendered any better -- delicate, understated, and convincing. The striped stockings are another enviable detail. I will have to try that.

Cornet - those are Foundry figures and can be found here:- http://www.wargamesfoundry.com/collections/AWI/2/index.asp and http://www.wargamesfoundry.com/collections/AWI/4/index.asp Packs AWI 2/1, 2/3 and 2/4, and 4/7 and 4/8. From right to left, the figures in the photo are militia/minuteman firing (in long coat), uniformed militia firing line, various Continental command and a uniformed militia man standing, and uniformed militia marching.

The militia are a mix of Foundry AWI2/1 Advancing Continental Command AWI2/2 Uniformed Militia at the Ready AWI2/3 Uniformed Militia Firing Line AWI2/4 Uniformed Militia Marching AWI4/7 Minutemen Skirmishing AWI4/8 Minutemen on the March Neil at the war store has a good range in stock and has been very efficient in getting them to me and at better prices than direct. He also stocks Perry Miniatures too. Rich

Vienlen Dank.

Are they 28mm? Unfortunately, I think I know the answer to this.