Tom’s American warof Independence

1775 – 1783

(Played 2014)

Intro

• In my campaign, American war of independence, I will be playing battles related to the time period of the war such as battles at the beginning of the war will usually be fought with only small numbers of troops whereas battles later on in the war may contain 100 to 200 soldiers per army.

• The American war was set in stages and there were many sides involved. The 5 sides which will be involved in this fight for power will be the British, the Spanish, the Indians, the French and of course the Americans. To win the campaign either the time limit must be reached or one side must rule America.

The first battle

• The year is 1774 and British settlers have landed in America and made a home for themselves in Jamestown, a town a few miles north from the eastern seaboard. They want more land but cannot get to it because Jamestown is blocked from America by a long stretch of French fortifications. These forts are vital if they are to control America so they send a large army of soldiers to demand that the French leave.

• When the British arrive and speak their demand the French refuse and on the way back the British are ambushed by Indians and French soldiers, this is where my first battle begins. The French Indian wars have begun.

“Ready, aimFIRE!”

• The British column is steadily moving along when gunshots can be heard as confident French and Indian forces fire their deadly weapons into the English ranks. As soon as the British realise they are under cannon fire as well they begin to fire back with their own muskets taking down a few enemies hidden in the trees but the right flank is wavering.

• British forces under fire.

Red coats and retreat.

• On the British right flank the red coats keep up a steady stream of fire and on the left the cavalry manage to defeat the Indian horse men. Slowly the tide begins to turn. The other 2 battalions of infantry fight off the rest of the Indian infantry but take very heavy casualties in doing so. After some heavy fighting the French troops are finally forced back into the woods and the British are victorious!

On the offensive

• After the success against the French ambush the British decide to wait for re-enforcements so they can assault the French fort and turn the tide of the war in their favour. An army is sent to assist the survivors to take over the fort . 5 days after the defeat the army arrives and they prepare for battle.

• British forces outside Can’e ready to attack.

“Kill them all.”

• The trumpets of battle are sounded as British cannons bombard the fort gates and line after line of infantry advance. With some lucky rolling and terrible French wood work the gates are blown open in the first go inspiring men around them to keep marching. Muskets begin to shoot and as the British swarm over the walls with difficulty an officer shouts to his men “Kill them all! Leave none alive!”

• Soon in the third go the British cavalry charge in through the gates taking no casualties from the French artillery. At the end of the fourth go after a desperate struggle the French troops give up under a white flag of surrender. After the battle the general comes in to see his prisoners and with a voice of cold merciless hate he orders “Shoot them!” No French soldier is alive when the British depart.

YorktownApril 1775

• So far the British have fought with continuous success and now they approach Yorktown the place where the first uprising began. The defending villagers amount to forty men all strong and ready and on the other side of the river are 50 skilled British soldiers all ready to die for their country.

Crossing theriver

• As the first go begins the British send their skirmishers forward to attack along with one battalion (20 men). The skirmishers are soon routed by the shooting of an American battalion but the British re-enforcements aren’t far behind. The British manage to kill seven enemies in one volley and the other battalion which was on the other side of the river kills five more.

“To the houses!”

• After a few more rounds of fire the militia leader instructs both of what remains of his battalions to fall back to the houses where they would not take so many casualties and fortunately his plan worked. The British advanced over the bridge but took heavy casualties in trying to kill the militia and were forced to withdraw.

The Americans claim victory over the British.

Bloody Boston

• Now with the minor defeat in Yorktown the British send a small force of men to besiege Yorktown until they finally surrender whilst the rest of the army is sent to capture Boston and kill anyone or anything that gets in their way. Boston under attack!

Ranks and ruthlessness

• Shot after shot send men dropping to the ground.

• One battalion and ten skirmishers are sent to capture the bridge whilst two other battalions are sent to destroy the other threat to the West. All of the units hold as volleys of fire ripple into their ranks but some men start to get a little shaky.

New technology!

• After the defeat at Yorktown two weeks ago the British decided they needed a better tactic then hoping to win by brute force and luckily people back in London had just created a new type of shot which went into a cannon. Canister shot. Canister shot was lots and lots of bullets all stuffed into a cannon and fired in a single shot. • Just look at the effects.

“Like a boss!”

• The house on the West flank of Boston is soon under fire from British and when they get into melee combat only one American soldier is left but he has killed 13 enemy soldiers! The officer withdraws to help the other troops.

“If we can’t have it,no one can!”

• In one final struggle the Americans force two battalions to fall back leaving only a battalion and the cannons but instead of risking more troops dead the British general orders Boston to be burnt to the ground and all the Americans can do is watch.

Bunker hillJune 17th 1775

• On the outskirts of Boston, on the high grounds of Bunker hill, the Boston militia is ready to make a stand led by their beloved leader George Washington! George Washington's

army surrounded by the British.

The first wave.

• The British advance their frontline troops towards the hill. At first they storm forward without many casualties then suddenly when the British troops are close all hell brakes loose. Volleys upon volleys of bullets ripple into the enemies ranks.

A call for Cavalry

• When the Americans start to waver the British cavalry is called forward.

• Heavy American casualties.

• English sword cavalry charge towards the frightened militia.

To the last!• The American forces

launch a counter attack in a desperate melee fight.

• In the end with nearly one hundred men dead George Washington wins the day. But at what cost?

Independence

• After retaking the ashes of Boston the revolutionary leaders meet in Florida. On July 4th 1776 The Continental Congress representing America declares independence.

• But not only have they declared it but they’ve decided they’re going to fight for it and so all across the colonies armies are recruited.