AWI Scenario: Battle of Freeman's Farm, 1777

I've been busy with work, but more importantly with working on gaming projects.  The LOTR basing continues, printing Helm's Deep (starting to look really cool now), and other projects.

I'm planning to host a game at my place on March 27th - with my rivers shipping from Germany last week I'd like to think (hope) they arrive before the game.  Time will tell.  My plan is to run this scenario below - the battle of Freeman's Farm, 1777.

While there is lots of information out there about the Saratoga campaign and the battle itself - my research shows order of battles are all over the place.  I believe this is partly because at various points in the day reserves are still in reserve or have been committed.  Either way, I've eliminated what I call the "Breymann" option, which is to have a reserve force feeding into Fraser or Hamilton.  Instead of split up the units between the two formations for balance.  Minor liberties have been taken for game balance.

I'll see how this all pans out when we play ... should be an interesting game.

Map and Objectives

Map and starting dispositions are shown below.  

Fraser and Hamilton's brigades march on the table on turn 1.  British player has initiative and takes the first turn.  Riedesel's brigade marches on the table on turn 1 from the road in the upper right corner of the map - all units from Riedesel's brigade are in march column when they enter the table.

Units from Paterson and Nixon's brigades are considered to be in hasty defensive works (cover).

The game lasts 6 turns.

The British objective is to take Coulter Farm (on the left of the map) and Freeman's Farm (central farm), then to secure the heights where Glover's brigade is located.  The American's must attempt to hold Freeman's Farm and the heights.

Each farm is worth 5 Victory Points (VPs) for the British.  Each farm is worth 10 VPs for the Americans at the end of the game if they are either fully in control or even if contested.  Riflemen and artillery units cannot contest these objectives (requires a formed infantry unit).  The Heights are worth 5 VPs for the Americans and 10 VPs for the British.  All standard VPs apply (e.g. units broken, shaken, etc.).

British Order of Battle

C-in-C (Burgoyne)

FRASER

• Grenadier (Large)
• 24th Foot (Grenadier detached)
• 53rd Foot (Grenadier detached)
• Light Infantry (Large)
• Hessian Jagers
• Native Allies
• Native Allies

(Native allies are representing both the native and Canadian allies)

HAMILTON

• 20th Foot (Grenadier detached)
• 21st Foot (Grenadier detached)
• 62nd Foot (Grenadier detached)
• Hessian Grenadiers (Large)
• Hessian Fusiliers (Large)
• Foot Artillery (2 x 6pdrs)

RIEDESEL

• Hessian Regiment (Large)
• Hessian Regiment (Large)
• Hessian Regiment (Large)
• Hessian Regiment (Large)
• Hessian Regiment (Large)
• Foot Artillery (3 x 6pdrs)

American Order of Battle

C-in-C Left Wing (Arnold)

POOR

• Continental Regiment
• Continental Regiment
• Continental Regiment
• Militia Regiment
• Riflemen

LEARNED

• Continental Regiment
• Continental Regiment
• Militia Regiment
• Riflemen

C-in-C Right Wing (Lincoln)

GLOVER

• Continental Regiment
• Continental Regiment
• Militia Regiment (Large)

NIXON

• Continental Regiment
• Continental Regiment
• Foot Artillery (2 x 6pdrs)

PATERSON

• Continental Regiment
• Continental Regiment
• Foot Artillery (2 x 4pdrs)