1755 VICTORY TO THE FRENCH

1755 ended in a resounding victory for the French who continue to lead in their efforts to secure the North American Continent.  I wanted to wrap up 1755 with some of the late submissions before I record the results of our 1756 Campaign efforts at the Fall In convention.  It is now 1756 and we concluded the third campaign year (1755) for our World-wide Muskets and Tomahawks Campaign Game with even more players than for previous Campaign Years.  Below is a summary of how things concluded for 1755.

The French gain the 10 extra victory points for the 1755 Battle for the Wilderness bringing the totals to:

French - 224
British - 161

Here is the Map at the conclusion of 1755.

And here are the final player scores.  Remember your natural talent is based on the type of officer you have leading your force.  Promotion points can be used for actual promotion and/or one promotion point can be spent to provide you officer an additional talent rolled randomly.


French Players Player               Character's Name         Points      Total Promotion Points 1754 & 1755
Nick G              Squinting Dog*                1              0 (*Died in Battle)
Pat H                Lieut. Hillaurd                  1              0  One more round to complete
Nick N.             Lieut. Nestericue             0              0 Two more rounds to complete
Todd                 Lieut  Tee*                      0              0 (*Died in Battle)
Tristan               Egushwa                        9               2 + Natural Talent
Brian/Jim          Lieut Lipscomb               4               0  One more round to complete
Dillon                Indian Leader                 0               0 Two more rounds to complete
Tom K.              Lieut. LeBouty              10                2+Natural Talent
John M.             Niz Alemos                   16               2+Natural Talent
Leigh W.           Lieut. Templar              14                2+Natural Talent
Jim G                Lieut. de Gande            8                 2+Natural Talent
Don K.               Lieut. Regent *             12               0 (*died in battle)
Gary C.             Monge Tu II                  12               1 + a Natural Talent
Mike S.              Lieut Le Pue                 2                 0 + Natural Talent
Mark M.         Lieut DeGaul            2              0 + Natural Talent
Tom G.          Breaking Wind          6              0 (Died in Battle) 


British Players
Luke D                Lieut. Dixon               8                0 One More rounds to complete
Ranger Bob        Wolf with Two Kills    0                0 Two more rounds to complete
Roy                     Lieut. Williams           1               0  Two more rounds to complete
Jeff W.                Lieut Wiltrout            10               1+ Natural Trait
Oskar/Maanus    Lieut Goldsberry         5               1+ Natural Trait
Bill/John              Lieut Hawks                4              0   One more round to complete
Larissa                Lieut Larissa               4               0  Two more rounds to complete
John K.               Lieut McBean             2               0  Two more rounds to complete
Rich T.                Lieut. Frederickson*   6                0 (*Died in Battle)
Russell M.           Lieut. Bawls*              0                0 (*Died in Battle)
Barrie M.             Lieut. Lee-Jackson *   1               0 (*Died in Battle)
Mark O.               Lieut. Dover  II            2               1 + Natural Talent
Mike K.                Lieut. King                 6                1+ Natural Talent  
Bob C                  Lt Devonish               6                 Natural Talent
Tony B.            Lt. Gage                8              0+Natural Talent
Philip A.           Lt. N. Hobart         8              0+ Natural Talent
Willow P.         Indian Leader       10             0+Natural Talent 

Campaign Update 1755

Compagnies Franches de la Marines
 led by Capt. LeBouty (pictured center w Pistol) lie in Ambush. (Sept 1755)

As the campaign year 1755 comes to a close for our campaign using Muskets and Tomahawks I wanted to give a quick overview of the situation followed by the individual results.

On all fronts the French have turned back the three British Attacks.  In the West (Round 1 Expedition vs Ambush) the French defeated the British 30 victory points to 24.  In other words Braddocks defeat was still a defeat but not as devastating as it had been.  In the Lakes region (Round 2 Pursuit vs Rear Guard) the French 26 VP dominated the British (13 VP).  Finally the Acadia incursion (Round 3 Engagement vs Hasty Defense)  by sea has been repulsed with French securing 39 victory points and the British gaining 21 VP.  Overall results are shown below.



Results as of 4 October 1755

 

The French gain the 10 extra victory points for the 1755 Battle for the Wilderness bringing the totals to:

French - 214
British - 135


Next up are the rules and scenarios for 1756.  Individual results below.  We had several players who had a hard time getting in all three games this time.  Remember your natural talent is based on the type of officer you have leading your force.  Promotion points can be used for actual promotion and/or one promotion point can be spent to provide you officer an additional talent rolled randomly.


French Players Player               Character's Name         Points      Total Promotion Points 1754 & 1755
Nick G              Squinting Dog*                1              0 (*Died in Battle)
Pat H                Lieut. Hillaurd                  1              0  One more round to complete
Nick N.             Lieut. Nestericue             0              0 Two more rounds to complete
Todd                 Lieut  Tee*                      0              0 (*Died in Battle)
Tristan               Egushwa                        9               2 + Natural Talent
Brian/Jim          Lieut Lipscomb               4               0  One more round to complete
Dillon                Indian Leader                 0               0 Two more rounds to complete
Tom K.              Lieut. LeBouty              10                2+Natural Talent
John M.             Niz Alemos                   16               2+Natural Talent
Leigh W.           Lieut. Templar              14                2+Natural Talent
Jim G                Lieut. de Gande            8                 2+Natural Talent
Don K.               Lieut. Regent *             12               0 (*died in battle)
Gary C.             Monge Tu II                  12               1 + a Natural Talent


British Players
Luke D                Lieut. Dixon               8                0 One More rounds to complete
Ranger Bob        Wolf with Two Kills    0                0 Two more rounds to complete
Roy                     Lieut. Williams           1               0  Two more rounds to complete
Jeff W.                Lieut Wiltrout            10               1+ Natural Trait
Oskar/Maanus    Lieut Goldsberry         5               1+ Natural Trait
Bill/John              Lieut Hawks                4              0   One more round to complete
Larissa                Lieut Larissa               4               0  Two more rounds to complete
John K.               Lieut McBean             2               0  Two more rounds to complete
Rich T.                Lieut. Frederickson*   6                0 (*Died in Battle)
Russell M.           Lieut. Bawls*              0                0 (*Died in Battle)
Barrie M.             Lieut. Lee-Jackson *   1               0 (*Died in Battle)
Mark O.               Lieut. Dover  II            2               1 + Natural Talent
Mike K.                Lieut. King                 6                1+ Natural Talent  
Bob C                  Lt Devonish               6                 Natural Talent 

Campaign Update 1755

Volley Fire In the woods by British Highlanders

Results for the 1755, "Battle in the Wilderness" year of the World-wide Muskets and Tomahawk Campaign are beginning to roll in. As a refresher here is the background and basics to the 1755 campaign.

On April 14, 1755, Governors of the British Provinces met in Virginia to determine a strategy to force the French from North America. It was determined that three separate expeditions would be launched against the enemy.  Collectively these three expeditions have some similarities.  All three entailed an expeditionary effort through remote wilderness areas.  Both land expeditions ended up being ambushed.  Additionally, during this year there were efforts on both sides to erect  and improve the fortifications that protected the wilderness frontier for both sides.  This required men, supplies and significant transportation effort to bring the needed supplies to these frontier forts.  Often called the “battle for the Wilderness”, Commanders during 1755 had to make tradeoffs between escorting supplies, scouting, defending or launching an attack against an enemy expedition.  Finally there were several instances where forces had to mount a hasty defense, conduct a pursuit of fleeing enemy or conduct rear guard actions.  To reflect the nature of the conflict during 1755 five new mission objectives are created and the following tournament guidelines are provided to fight the battle of the Wilderness Campaign 1755.      

Round 1:  Expedition vs Ambush

Round 2:  Pursuit vs Rear Guard
Round 3:  Engagement vs Hasty Defense

Force Construction:  Force point totals for 1755 are to be between 225 and 230. 

Results Thus Far (as of 15 Sept 2014):  Below are the results.  We do have several players with incomplete set of rounds, but I decided to post the situation as it looks right now.  Some of these players are new and may not complete all three games before the end of the campaign year. 

French Players
Player                       Character's Name          Total Points     Character's Promotion Points
Nick G                      Squinting Dog                      1                               Died in Battle
Pat H                        Lieut. Hillaurd                      1                One more round to complete
Nick N.                     Lieut. Nestericue                 0                 Two more rounds to complete
Todd                        Lieut  T                                0                     Died in Battle
Tristan                       Egushwa                            9                     2 + Natural Talent
Brian/Jim                   Lieut Lipscomb                  4                 One more round to complete
Dillon                         Indian Leader                     0                Two more rounds to complete
Tom K.                     Lieut. LeBouty                     10                          2+Natural Talent


British Players
Luke D                     Lieut. Dixon                          8                 One More rounds to complete
Ranger Bob             Wolf with Two Kills                0                Two more rounds to complete
Roy                          Lieut. Williams                      1                 Two more rounds to complete
Jeff W.                     Lieut Wiltrout                        10                       1+ Natural Trait
Oskar/Maanus         Lieut Goldsberry                   5                        1+ Natural Trait
Bill/John                   Lieut Hawks                          4                 One more round to complete
Larissa                     Lieut Larissa                         4                 Two more rounds to complete
John K.                    Lieut McBean                        2                 Two more rounds to complete

French Allies Charging up a hill in "Pursuit"

Updated Results as of 13 Sept 2014:

1755 Round 1: Expedition vs Ambush objective.
French Points: 7 
British Points: 16 (British victory)

1755 Round 2: Pursuit vs Rear Guard Objective.
French Points: 8 (French victory)
British Points: 5
1755 Round 3: Engagement vs Hasty Defense
French Points: 10
British Points: 13 (British victory)

Here is what the campaign game overall situation looks like leading into the next round.



British have a slight lead in the 1755 results.

Pictures of our M&T Games Day at Barrage 2014:




Early Morning. All four tables set up.
  I'm in the red shirt running the demo in the distance.

Two players playing the demo.

Table 2 starts the Expedition vs Ambush Scenario.

A unit of Goreham's Rangers (with Pursuit Obj) fires on French Regulars serving
 as a Rear Guard.

British Regulars open fire at French Marines
Pursuit vs Rear Guard

Everyone had a great time.  I think we've recruited a few more players to the M&T system and perhaps to the campaign.  



Visit to Fort Loudoun 1756 British Fort

Along Braddock's Road in Central Pennsylvania is an important fort built in 1756 on land donated by Matthew Patton.  Fort Loudoun was one of many "frontier forts" that popped up during 1756 as the French Allies of the Ottawas, Mississaugas, Wyandots, and Potawatomis tribes conducted raids throughout the Cumberland Valley to "break the backcountry" of the British possessions in central and western Pennsylvania.  Mr. Patton donated the key piece of property to the British Army after his own homestead was raided by such a group the previous year and his house burned to the ground.  My Brother and I had a chance to visit Fort Loudoun a few weeks ago. 

My brother and I walk the interior.

The fort was built by Colonel Armstrong in a hurry during the month of November and had to be finished before the winter set in.  It was a simple fort measuring only 127' x 127' and set along side a stream.  The location was strategic in that it protected the "New Road" and was at a key intersection of several valleys that served as key avenues of approach for the Indian raiding parties to enter the valley.  See the map below.  The red dot in the lower left corner is Fort Loudoun.  Notice the mountain valley to the north feeds directly into the position of the fort.


Its construction lacked much of the elegance of a typical fort of the era.  The picture below shows a current day replica of the fort and its unique firing platforms.  These were much criticized but apparently Colonel Armstrong had to make some compromises to erect the fort in a timely manner.

Inside picture of firing platform.

External view of firing platform with Parnell's Knob in the background.

In a letter from Colonel Armstrong to the Governor dated November 19, 1756, COL Armstrong describes the location of the fort. 
    "According to yr Honour's Orders I have...fixed on a place near Parnell's Knob where one Patton lived, the spot I hope will be agreeable to your Honour as it is near the New Road......I am making the best preparation in my power to forward the new fort as well as prepare the Barracks, &c, all the others for the approaching Winter and today we begin to dig the cellar in the new fort; logs & roof of a new house having there been erected by Patton before the Indians burns his old one.  We shall appraise this house, and then take the benefit of it, either for Officer's Barracks or a store house, by which means the provisions may the sooner be moved to this place (referring to McDowell's Mill) which at present divides our strength."



Patton's House is approximately 200 feet Southeast of the fort.
  You can see the palisade of the fort just beyond the house.

My brother and daughter and I had a grand time exploring the area in and around the fort.  Below are a few additional pictures.  I highly recommend you visit the fort if you get a chance or at least visit the website where there are many other pictures for your to enjoy.  Historic Fort Loudoun Website

The well is located in the Northeast corner of the fort.
When archeologists excavated the well they found a fully formed bucket at the bottom along with many other items.

Trace of the "New Road" as it leads away from the fort

Standing next to the well looking Southeast towards Parnell's Knob.  Notice the front gate.

View from the edge of the stream looking up at the fort.

The stream, the "Conococheague"  Easily fordable about 2 feet deep at its deepest point.

New Road trace heading back in the direction of the fort.

Fort Loudoun in the foreground with the mountain range to the north.
During the FIW the other side of those mountains was "Injun Territory"   

Campaign Page Updated

General Braddock and his staff make their way across the Monongahela River

Monitoring some of the comments I've received from emails and some of the discussions over at this group Diefestung Group Discussion , I decided I really needed to update my original idea to create a tournament system.  Most people are not interested in setting up a M&T tournament but are very interested in the idea of linking games and in the system that allows for their "character" to progress in Talents and promotion. 

So I've changed the blog page that used to be titled "Tournament Format" to "Campaign Ideas."  I also cleaned up the comments there to clarify how characters earn "Talents" not "Traits."  Talents are officer capabilities whereas Traits are unit capabilities.  So I think I have cleared up some of those ideas. 

As always I enjoy your comments and the ideas you share with me.  Please keep them coming. 

1755 has started.  I sent out the Campaign rules for 1755 as well as the scenarios for this campaign round.  If you were expecting to receive them and you did not please let me know. 

As the picture above indicates, Braddock is on his way to Fort Duquesne.  Will the French and Indians successfully spring the ambush or will he escape?  You decide the fate of the F&I War this time around by playing more Muskets and Tomahawks.  There is a great write up about Braddock's Defeat that you can read about here Braddock's Defeat

Play more Muskets and Tomahawks!

1754 Coming to a Close

The 1754 Campaigning season is rapidely coming to a close.  There are only a few more days left before I close out the first part of the worldwide Muskets and Tomahawks Campaign on 30 June.  

Ive updated the results as of 27 June below.  With 23 players submitting results so far things have heated up here at the end.  All input has followed the 1754 rules I published in March for the Cold Wars Tournament.   Here is the breakdown of the players, their force alignment and final scores.  A max of 6 points was available for each of the three rounds.  3 points for accomplishing the round's objective, 2 points for accomplishing your subplot and 1 point if you prevent your opponent from accomplishing his objective.  Tie breaker for individual tournament champion determined by kills during all three rounds.

French Players
Player                       Character's Name          Total Points     Character's Promotion Points
Nick G                      Squinting Dog                      10                             Natural Talent
Croft                          Lieut. Fontainbleu                 2                             1 + Natural Talent
Tim H.                       Lieut. Temps                         9                              1 + Natural Talent
Kevin S.                     Lieut Chiroc                          9                             1 + Natural Talent
Tristan                       Egushwa                               12                             1+Natural Talent
Matt S.                      Lieut Pierre Eux                     5                              0  Died in Battle
Gary C.                      Monge Tu                              0                              0 -Died in Battle
Tom K.                     Lieut. LeBouty                      16                             1+Natural Talent
J Gandy                    LT DeGande'                        14                            1+Natural Talent
J. Mumford              Niz Alemos                            18                            1+Natural Talent
L. Watson                LT Templare                         14                             1+Natural Talent     

British Players
Tom M.                     Lieut. Weatherby                   9                                    0
Jeff C.                       Stalking Elk                          10                             1 + Natural Trait
Matt D.                     Lieut. Dalton                           8                             Natural Trait
Jeff W.                     Lieut Wiltrout                          8                              0 - Died in Battle
Oskar/Maanus          Lieut Goldsberry                     8                             Natural Trait
Ralph P.                   Lieut Burns                            12                             0 - Died in Battle
Bob C.                      Lieut Jenner                          16                             1 + Natural Talent
John K.                    Lieut McBean                         4                              1 + Natural Talent
M. Oakford               Lt Dover                                 2                             0 - Died in Battle
R. Maltham              Lt Bawls                                   0                             Natural Talent
R. Taylor                 Lt Frederickson                       0                             0-Died in Battle
B. McDonald            Lt. Lee-Jackson III                  0                             0-Died in Battle  

Campaign Results.  For those that may not be familiar with the Campaign format of these games please take a look at this Campaign format discussion  French & Indian War Campaign Game Format
Each battle of the year's scenario has an impact on the following round and on the overall Campaign Game.  This first phase of the M&T campaign game reflects the opening year 1754 of what would become the French and Indian war and each round was reflective of objectives and sub-plots that would likely characterize the French, British and Indian maneuvers in the Ohio River Valley 1754 on the eve of this great conflict.  The 1754 rules and scenarios can be found here  Ohio River Valley Tournament Rules

Updated Results as of 19 June 2014:

Round 1: Testing the waters: Scouting Objective vs Scouting Objective. 
French Points:  37  (French victory)
British Points:  24
  
Round 2: War Begins – Raid!: Raid Objective vs Defense Objective.
French  Points: 40  (French victory)
British Points:  20

Round 3: It’s time to battle: Engagement vs Engagement. 
French Points:  32
British Points:  33 (British victory)

Here is what the campaign game overall situation looks like leading into the next round.

RESULTS FOR 1754 AS OF 27 JUNE

Those last results were a devastating blow for the British.  With only a few more days left in 1754 it is unlikely enough games will be played to swing the results back into favor for the British.  

The next phase of the World-wide M&T Campaign will begin on 15 July.  I will provide a copy of the 1755 rules to any interested party.  The 1755 Campaign will introduce five new mission objectives that will not have buildings as a function of the mission objectives.  In fact all the terrain boards for 1755 are without man-made structures.  After all 1755 is the "Battle for the Wilderness".  The five new mission objectives are:

                                          Ambush
                                          Expedition
                                         Rear Guard
                                         Pursuit
                                         Hasty Defense

Its not to late to get in on the fun.  1755 Force totals will increase up to 225 points and since only 50%  of the officers survived 1754, you will not be at to much of a disadvantage if you enter the campaign now.  Just post a comment below letting me know you want to join and I will forward you the campaign rules and the scenarios for 1755.