[This article, by the author of Partizan's SKIRMISH BATTLES OF THE AWI, is in two parts. This first is the historical background. The second will appear in C18th MN&Q 9 and will comprise the secret briefings for wargamers and Umpire to enable the battle to be re- fought]

Throughout the history of warfare the most potent weapon at a general's disposal was the element of surprise. This can take many forms, from night or dawn attacks, hidden movement or a forced march to overwhelm a weak enemy position with a superior force, or the most usual form of surprise, ambush from a carefully selected concealed position, this is usually the favourite form of surprise for guerilla or irregular forces.

I wish to use the battle of Green Springs during the American War of Independence as an example of surprise being used at its very best to obtain an unobtainable strategic position. One of my main reasons for picking this action from many others is that it is relatively unknown therefore you are more likely to achieve the element of surprise on the wargame's table and the numbers involved are not beyond the reach of most wargamers. I also wish to publicise a sadly neglected period of military history which deserves greater credit for the diversity and number of small actions which took place throughout the colonies most of which can easily be transposed to the wargame's table, involving no more than 3-4,000 men per side, usually even less. This battle works out admirably as a multi-player game and if possible should be fought by at least two players per side, the junior commander on the British side can also act as an umpire, he is the only player that should read all of the briefings.

A general synopsis of the historical background leading up to the battle should be enough to give the players a perspective of the campaign so far.

Throughout the previous year the British under Generals Clinton and Cornwallis had been attempting to destroy all American resistance in South Carolina without much success. A major victory at Camden virtually destroyed the only American army in the Carolinas at that point which should have left the south defenceless, but guerrilla leaders such as Francis Marion, Thomas Sumter, William Davie, Issac Shelby and Jack Sevier came to the fore and threatened lines of supply and communication, forcing the British to dissipate their forces throughout the state to various strong points. What followed was months of raid and counter raid (see Skirmish Battles of The American War of Independence by the author, Partizan Press) which produced no successful outcome to the conflict and only served to embitter local feelings through lack of food and terrorisation. Any support there had been for the British rapidly deteriorated and Loyalist recruiting suffered as a consequence.

Invasion of NC

To attempt to alleviate the problems Cornwallis, who was now in charge of all British forces in the south, proposed an invasion of North Carolina from where he assumed the rebels were obtaining supplies and reinforcements, with his subjucation of the north his assessment was that all guerrilla activity in the south would cease. The invasion commenced in September 1780 but was terminated by a combination of the destruction of Maj. Patrick Ferguson's force at King's Mountain and a severe outbreak of sickness amongst the British troops.

A second attempt in the January of 1781 was more successful, although Cornwallis lost most of his light troops and two battalions of regulars at Cowpens. His pyrrhic victory at Guildford Courthouse where almost one quarter of his army became casualties forced the American army out of North Carolina and into Virginia.

His success left him in a quandry as to the best method of continuing the war, his weakened army was in no state to pursue the rebels into Virginia nor had he the strength to return back into the south to knock out the patriots who were still operating as aggressively as ever. He left his second in command Lord Rawdon to maintain the status quo with the extensive forces left behind, whilst he decided to extend the range of the war by joining forces with Maj. Gen. Phillips and his 5,000 men which were operating in the Chesapeake Bay area of Virginia.

The defeat of the American army at Hobkirk's Hill by Lord Rawdon, finally persuaded Cornwallis that the south would be safe while he marched north. This move was a personal decision made by Cornwallis without orders from Clinton the British Commander in Chief in America. His main reason for doing so seemed to be the same as his reason for moving into North Carolina, if he controlled Virginia then the Carolinas would automatically fall into line, he obviously hadn't learnt anything from his recent campaign.

Sir Henry Clinton was furious when he eventually received word of Cornwallis' plans and swore that the south was now lost, but by then it was too late, Cornwallis had already joined forces with Phillips' troops in Virginia. Phillips had died the week before Cornwallis reached him and the American turncoat Benedict Arnold was now in charge, the only American forces ranged against him were a small group of continentals and militia led by the Marquis de Lafayette.

Following his usual tactics, Cornwallis chased after the rebels who were camped around Richmond, Lafayette realising he wasn't strong enough to stand and fight wisely retreated but kept an active rearguard skirmishing all the way back to the Rapidan River. Cornwallis eventually gave up the chase and turned back into South Virginia to create as much havoc as possible. He dispatched Lt. Col. Tarleton with a mounted force to Charlottesville where the State Assembly were sitting and took a few members prisoner. He just missed capturing the State Governor Thomas Jefferson (the author of the Declaration of Independence) who only just escaped in time.

Meanwhile Lt. Col. John Simcoe had been sent out with a mixed force to try and capture von Steuben, he caught up with him at Point of Fork, the Americans retreated intact after a sharp skirmish but left behind a large supply of stores and artillery. With no major success for his actions Cornwallis decided to return to Williamsburg to await any orders that might be forthcoming from Clinton.

Lafayette had also been reinforced with the joining of his force with von Steuben's and a Pennsylvanian continental brigade under Brig. Gen. Anthony Wayne which brought his strength up to the equal of the British, this made him keen to get his troops into action and push the British out of Virginia. The first major action of the campaign took place outside Williamsburg at Spencer's Ordinary, where the American advance guard showed considerable skill and good morale, only falling back when Cornwallis brought up the rest of his army.

Awaiting Cornwallis at Williamsburg were a number of communications from Clinton deploring his unauthorised actions in Virginia and ordering him to form a naval station on the James River and to send his surplus troops back to Clinton at New York where he was expecting to be besieged by General Washington. Cornwallis made a reconnaissance of the area and picked Yorktown at the most favourable site for the station but first he would march to Portsmouth where transports were waiting to return his troops to Clinton.

It is at this point where we move back to the wargame's briefings for each side, players should only look at the briefs and maps pertaining to their own army.

The Battle