American

Only to be read by the American players and the umpire

MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE

This is your first independent command since coming to America and you are anxious to prove your military capabilities to yourself and the Americans and hopefully obtain more commands for your fellow Frenchmen. For two months you have been evading the British army but now that your army has been reinforced to an almost equal size you are keen to engage them. The British have been retreating from Williamsburg to the James River and a couple of deserters have come over to inform you of a superb opportunity to attack the British at a great advantage to yourself.

The British have been ferrying troops and supplies over the river near Green Spring's Farm but a large number of wagons and stores are still on your side of the river guarded by a small rearguard which is admittedly in a good defensive position and the attack will have to be frontally but if you move quick enough you will have thc element of surprise and can overwhelm them before Cornwallis can ferry reinforcements back over to help.

You have set out with Wayne's Pennsylvanians in the lead, followed by Muhlenburg with the Light Brigade, Campbell's riflemen, Steven's militia and the cavalry, Lawson's militia and finally Febiger's Brigade. You have the element of surpise, use it.

BRIG. GEN.ANTHONY WAYNE

Ever since your troops mutinied because of lack of pay and terms of enlistment in January, you have been keen to wipe the slur from their fine reputation. From your original brigade of 2,500 only 1,200 rejoined to be formed into three new regiments but you know that they are experienced dependable troops.

You have been given the command of all the continental troops, your own brigade and Muhlenburg's. It is imperative that the attack goes in as quickly as possible before the British can reinforce their rearguard, it is already 3 pm and darkness will set in at 7 pm. Remember you have the element of surprise on your side, use it.

AMERICAN ORDER OF BATTLE

It is extremely difficult to make an accurate assessment of the forces involved in the battles of this or any other period, numbers can vary considerably between sources, even the numbers on regimental rolls are not necessarily those fit for duty. An example is Wayne's Brigade which varies in strength in different references from 1,200 to 800 men, therefore I have tried to steer an even course and given an average number from all sources I have had available.

ADVANCE GUARD

BRIG. GEN. ANTHONY WAYNE

WAYNE'S BRIGADE

1st Pennsylvania 350 men continentals
2nd Pennsylvania 350 men continentals
3rd Pennsylvania 350 men continentals + 3 Light Guns

MUHLENBURG'S BRIGADE
(The Light Brigade)

1st Battalion 325 men continentals
2nd Battalion 325 men continentals
3rd Battalion 300 men continentals

MAIN FORCE

MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE

CAMPBELL'S BRIGADE

600 Riflemen Veteran Militia probably in 3 or 4 units

STEVEN'S BRIGADE

800 Veteran Militia probably in 4 units
4th Continental Dragoons 60 men
Armard's Continental Legion Dragoons 40 men

REARGUARD

BARON VON STEUBEN

LAWSON'S BRIGADE

800 Veteran Militia probably in 4 units

FEBIGER'S BRIGADE

450 Militia probably in 2 units
7 Guns and the baggage train

TROOP GRADINGS

The American Continentals and Artillery were every bit as good as British regulars by this stage of the war and should be classed as 2nd class. The Veteran Militia were experienced, hardened troops under tried officers and probably only lacked unit drill in manoevering, I would class them as 3rd class. The Militia were unreliable, inexperienced troops and should be 4th class.

Of the Generals, Lafayette and Wayne should be classed as above average in capability and Wayne should also be classed as an impetuous commander. The other Generals seemed to know their business with no idiots amongst them, I would make them average.

British

BRITISH BRIEFING only to be read by the British players and the umpire

LT. COL. CHARLES CORNWALLIS

For the past two months you have been unsuccessfully attempting to engage the American forces under Lafayette who has so far managed to escape every time, you have just received orders from Clinton in New York that you must set up a naval post on the Chesapeake Bay then transport the remainder of your troops back to him at New York as he is expecting a siege by the American army.

To carry out these orders you are marching to Portsmouth where transports are waiting, but you intend to make one final attempt with your army before it is split up. You have sent a large amount of your baggage over the James River guarded by Lt. Col. Simcoe's Queen's Rangers and North Carolina Volunteers. The remainder of your army is hiding in woods on either side of the crossing point, except for the 43rd Foot which are guarding the baggage on this side of the river, Tarleton's Dragoons are on picket duty near Green Springs Farm.

To entice the Americans on, you have paid a couple of men to act as deserters and inform Lafayette that all the British army is on the far bank and the baggage is still on his side of the river guarded by a small rearguard. At 3 pm you are aware that the Americans have taken the bait and are slowly pushing Tarleton's dragoons back from the farm, you must try and hold your men in position until the rebels are in the trap.

Make a show of trying to hold up the Americans with your cavalry whilst trying to ferry the remaining wagons over the river to safety. You will personally command the left wing of the army and Tarleton's dragoons, Brig. Gen. O'Hara will command the right wing and the 43rd Foot in the centre. Remember the element of surprise is on your side, don't waste it.

BRITISH ORDER OF BATTLE

There is some difficulty in accurately assessing the correct number of troops for the British army as regiments could be split up and companies detached for various duties. Wickwire gives quite a good description of the British dispositions but even they don't mention a couple of regiments which are known to be with Cornwallis at this time. The list below is compiled from the various sources at my disposal along with my estimates of sizes and positions of the missing units.

RIGHT WING

BRIG. GEN. CHARLES O'HARA

300 Light Infantry
480 Guardsmen in 2 battalions
280 men Hessian Regiment von Bose
430 men Hessian Regiment von Fuchs
70 Hessian Jagers
2 Light guns

CENTRE

200 British Legion Dragoons, can be used in 4 detachments
320 men 43rd Foot
3 Light guns

LEFT WING

LT. COL. CHARLES CORNWALLIS
LT. COL. DUNDAS' BRIGADE

600 men 80th Foot
630 men 76th Foot
300 Light Infantry

RESERVE

LT. COL. YORKE'S BRIGADE

210 men 17th Foot
250 men 71st Foot

BAGGAGE GUARD

LT. COL. JOHN SIMCOE

250 Queen's Rangers Dragoons
200 Queen's Rangers Infantry
300 North Carolina Militia

TROOP GRADINGS

The British Guards, Jagers and Light Infantry were excellent troops and should be rated as 1st class. All the British regulars, artillery and Hessians were good dependable troops and should be 2nd class. The British Legion and Queen's Rangers were well drilled and officered units and should be 3rd class. The militia were recently raised and not too keen on fighting without their own state and suffered from desertion and should be classed as 4th class.

All of the British Generals acted with considerable skill in restraining their troops from attacking too soon, then leading from the front when the ambush commenced, they should all be classed above average.

UMPIRES BRIEFING

only to be read by the umpire

Your main job is to control the players to ensure they obey their orders correctly, and to control any messengers. During the American advance there could be a chance of them spotting the British ambush, throw a percentage dice, 5% is needed each move, do not tell British players if they have been spotted. As the Americans advance there could be a chance of the British attacking too soon, when the Americans come within 2 feet a 5% would be needed, at 1 foot 10% would set them off.

Throw the dice for each British wing. During the real battle Lafayette went on a reconnaissance and did spot the Bridsh ambush but it was too late as Wayne was already committed to the attack. After the third move dice for Lafayette spotting them 50% needed, on the fourth move 60% etc. depending on how many moves he spends lookigg. Remember he still has to pass the information to Wayne either by courier or go himself.

You should also attempt to make it look like panic in the British wagon park with wagons being loaded onto ferries and shipped over the river, the baggage guard can even be brought up to the ferry to force the Americans to speed up but they must not be allowed to cross the river, there should also be some delay between the American Advance Guard and the Main Body coming on the table. Remember when the ambush is sprung you will command Brig. Gen. O'Hara's troops.