LIVING FREE - THE BATTEL OF NEWPORT RHODE ISLAND 1778

This Wednesday we played the battle of Newport 1778 using the Live Free or Die rules. This is a wonderfully simple game of the American War of Independence from Little Wars TV folks and based on the Andy Callan's Loose Files and American Scramble back from 1987 Wargames Illustrated #1. If you have not seen them the rules are only four pages long but offer an amazing amount of decision making. 

The American Continentals were making a joint attack with their new allies the French on the main British naval base at Newport Rhode Island. The French intended to land four thousand troops from their navy, but when the British Fleet arrived, they sailed away. Without these troops the Americans did not have sufficient strength to continue the siege, so needed to withdraw. The battle pits the American Continentals rear guard against a combined force of British and Hessian troops attacking them to cut off the retreat. The British goal is to control both hills, while the Americans goal is to prevent this until games end on turn ten. The British are aided by both reinforcements and a naval bombardment that lasts for a few turns about midway in the game. 

The First Assault on the American Left Occurred Early in the Game with Two Line Units of British Regulars. On Both Flanks American Continentals are Pouring Fire into the British Support Troops. 

While on the Other Side of the Battlefield American Forces on the Right Flank Hold the Key Hill. British Fire has Been Effective at Pushing the Continentals Back. 

Back on the Left American Forces Have Been Pushed Back Around the Bridge, but not Before Routing the British Light Infantry and Taking Serious Toll of the British That had Been Assaulting Them. British Reinforcements can be Seen Approaching in Column.  

On the Right Flank the Americans have Counterattacked to Retake the Hill. Their Center has Been Very Weakened with only a Two Stand Unit Holding On. 

Americans and British both Begin to Pour Fire into Their Opponents. The British have Launched Another Bayonet Charge into the Tiny American Unit Holding the Center.

Returning to the Left the Americans Continue to use Firepower to Hold the British at Bay. General Glover is now Taking a Personal Hand at Rallying his Boys. He will Spend the Rest of the Day Going from One Crisses Point to the Next. 

The British have Launched Another Costly Bayonet Charge. While Successful at Driving the Americans Back Their Support Unit has Routed. Rumors That the Americans Have Stocked the Stream with Parana Fish are Being Ignored. The Hessians on the Right are not of the Same Stern Stuff as Their British Allies. 

Through Firepower and Audacity, the Americans on the Right Have Again Driven the British Back Off the Hill. 

On the Left Late in the Day the Americans Begin a Slow Withdraw. To Keep the British in Check here the Forth Massachusetts has Crossed the Steam and Begins to Laydown Fire into the British Flanks. 

On the Right the British have Advanced with Fresh Troops to Again try to Capture the Hill Away from the Staunch American Defenders. 

Continuing to Withdraw on the Left the Americans Rout more British and Hessian Forces. General Sullivan has Come Forward to Rally more of the Massachusetts Boys. Again, the British Prepare to Launch Another Bayonet Charge in an Attempt to Win the Day. 

Once Again the British have Nearly Taken the Right Flank Hill. It is not Without Cost as Yet Another Hessian unit is Routed. 

At Days End the American Redoubt on the Hill is not Under Threat. The British have given it Their All, but Where Never able to Successfully Budge the Tenacious American Defender on the Left. 

On the Right What remains of the Hessians is Only Able to Contest Control of the Hill. They are in no Fit State to Continue the Attack with Most Units Either Near Destruction, or Routing Away. 

The final outcome was a minor American victory. Rumor has it that the British had suffered a three to one casualty rate. 

The game was a very back and forth affair. The Americans were under constant British bayonet charges on the left for which they had no real counter. Heavily outnumbered they survived only by continually making their morale checks. The British here were equally hampered by poor dice. On the right both sides had their share of dynamic success and failure. As these were not the main armies for either side there were plenty of questionable troops. This proved more interesting than dealing with high-quality British Light and Grenadier forces. Overall, everyone had a great, if frustrating time.