Winter 1775

The choices open to the British Commander for the winter quarter of 177' while few, are of the utmost importance. I Boston the largest British force needs to hold out, both to keep the Continent; Army in that area and to maintain the well stocked base of operations that Boston rel resents. In Quebec the choice, too, is to hold out--which shouldn't be very difficult against the undermanned American besieging force. Throughout the rest of the colonies consolidation of Tory militia should b accomplished to protect them from attack and to maintain loyal outposts. A gathering of Indians and Torries should begin around Fort Stanwix. Besiege it early to keep reirnforcements out and it will be ripe for plucking come April and spring weather conditions. Pull the Portsmouth militia back to Norfolk to hold the port and concentrate a Deep South Torries around Ninety-Six. The winter weather should keep down any major American movement. Rebel Militia will probably gather around Boston to menace that city but the troops there should be able to hold out through the winter month!

The most important move of the winter occurs when the "A" reinforcements arrive This force should appear just outside the Delaware Bay and make straight for Philadelphia, which should almost certainly fall into British hands. To try to take New York is an act of folly, as the largest concentrations of Continentals are within easy marching distance. Philadelphia is farther away and will require a major effort on the part c the American Army.

If all goes as it should, the British will have, at winter's end, bases at Philadelphia, Boston, and Quebec, with Fort Stanwix besieged and Tory positions at Norfolk an Ninety-Six.

Spring 1775

If the winter was a time of British waiting, then spring will be even more so, as the British Commander should attempt to establish his forces in strategic locations for the real fight to come. A fort should be built at Philadelphia to await the arrival of the "C" reinforcements in June. The garrison at Quebec should spend its time building Batteaux for the use of the "B" reinforcements due to arrive there in May. The Tory/Indian force at Fort Stanwix will see some action as they try to pull off what should be a 3-1 assault on the Rebel Militia garrison there. But even this force should exercise caution and fall back in the face of any American threats.

The pivotal action of the spring will be the outcome of the situation at Boston. The best odds the American Commander will be able to bring against that position will be a 3-2, so it is possible for Boston to hold out for some time, not to mention the number of Continentals it will tie down. But that course of action will result in the stagnation and loss of valuable Regular troops that could be better used elsewhere.

The most effective solution is to hold out through April to see what the American Commander will do, then board ship and sail south in May and June to a position off the coast of the South Central area. An enterprising British Commander may try bagging the fort at Portsmouth with a small raiding party in April and then garrisoning it with Tory Militia. At all events a complete evacuation of British Regulars from the New England area should be accomplished before the start of the second interphase.

This will be advantageous in terms of American replacements: nine points of Militia and Continentals vs eleven should the British remain in New England. Since there is fittle chance for the British to take the area at this time, all troops should be removed to areas that offer more potential for success.

The goal of British effort this season should be to gather a force strong enough to completely take over the entire South Central area during the three summer months. An adequate garrison, say ten points of British Regulars, one artillery, one supply, and one fort, needs to remain at Philadelphia to assure its safety, while the rest of the "C" reinforcements should be loaded on transports and joined up with the Boston garrison coming down from New England. An alternate plan is to march a strong detachmen from Philadelphia to York in preparation fo the summer offensive.

Meanwhile, the "B" reinforcement should land at Quebec, board Batteaus, and begin making their way down the St Lawrence with the object of making as big diversion as possible. It is a good idea to us, he Middle States Tory Militia, both those from Canada and the detachment around Fort Stanwix, as much as possible. The side of Americans fighting Americans, something the British never did fully employ in the real campaign, is a sound strategy and should be used whenever possible.

After two seasons of build-up the British should be ready to launch their 1775 campaign. They should be firmly entrenched in Philadelphia, awaiting more reinforcement, A movement down the St. Lawrence should be just underway, and a strong striking force should be ready to drive into the South Central colonies. Tory activity should be a maximum levels in all but the Middle States area.

Summer 1775

The summer 1775 campaign should have as its main objective the complete domination of the South Central area. An invasion force of at least twenty-five points of British Regulars plus five points of Tory Militia should be enough to crush any resistance The most effective tactic is to simply land the force where the Continentals are holding out, soundly defeat them on the battlefieldl and then occupy the surrounding countrryside.

The maximum American strength defense will be around nine points, so the British can choose from three good landing sites. If Norfolk is occupied then the major blow should come there. If that port is open, the fleet should move on up to Petersbu and put the troops ashore at that strategic point. Alexandria is, of course, then this alternative and should not be overlooked held by Rebel forces. Usually a landing party from a Battlefleet can handle the occupation of that port.

The smart American Commander will make a hasty retreat, necessitating a pursuit. A stubborn one will play into Brit hands by holding on and fighting to inevitable destruction. Once ashore, the British tactic is to quickly pursue and destroy the defending forces. As soon as this has been accomplished a move into the Deep South can be prepared.

Care should be taken at this time not to let the Philadelphia garrison become too weak. If this port should fall, then the Americans will be able to quickly re-take the South Central area while the main British Army is occupied in the Deep South. Philadelphia's status as a major port offering a winter replacement bonus and its location near the narrowest part of the map make the defense of that city a vital matter for the British.

Continentals will probably be gathering in force around New York about this time so, as the situation in the South Central allows, the encumbering artillery and a few points of Regulars should be transferred to the fort at Philadelphia. The entire "D" reinforcement can be landed there in August if need be. A good garrison to leave there while the rest of the Army moves on the Deep South is fifteen to twenty points of Regulars and the three artillery units, which should be enough to cause any American Commander to think twice before trying an all- out assault.

As for the troops boating down the St. Lawrence, it must be remembered that this force is used most effectively as a diversion. It is of crucial importance to keep the threat of a powerful force hovering over the Middle States. The American Commander must respond with defenses at Albany and Forts Stanwix and Ticonderoga to protect the northern invasion routes. Any troops the British can hold in the north will make it that much easier for the garrison at Philadelphia. It is all too easy for the Canadian force to run into large numbers of Continentals and be wiped out due to its tenuous supply status and the American advantage of interior lines, so extreme care should be taken before committing these troops to action.

If the expedition from Canada must be thrown in, then the best direction is overland towards Wyoming, Pennsylvania so that it can link-up with the forces at Philadelphia and help protect the Southern Campaign.

The coming of the third interphase should find the British in complete control of the South Central area, with a large force there poised for a fall push into the Deep South. Another striking force should be aboard ship and heading for the waters off Charleston. Philadelphia should be securely held and a large scale diversion, based on the river network in the north, should be taking place around Montreal or Fort Stanwix.

Fall 1775

British moves in the fall are very dependent upon the course of action taken by the American Commander. Ideally, after the conquest of the South Central area, the British will be able to mount a powerful drive into the Deep South that will result in the control of the area by year's end. But certain American moves will weaken this assault by drawing off large numbers of Regulars. The main threat is Philadelphia, which needs to be maintained at all costs.

The next largest threat is bands of militia and/or Continentals in the back country of Pennsylvania or Virginia. The American Commander may try to slip groups of Rebel Militia down from the Middle States via the backcountry and these guerilla groups need to be watched closely to prevent the loss of a weakly defended point in the South Central area. Another possible threat is a quick move on Montreal and Quebec should those cities remain lightly garrisoned long enough to attract attention.

Despite the American threats there will always be enough Regulars for a strong overland push in the direction of Hillsboro and Camden. There will be another group of Regulars, size contingent upon American activity, available for landing operations at either Charleston or Savannah. The maximum force the Americans will be able to muster at this time will be around a dozen points: the six points of Continentals that appear there as CA replacements, four points of Militia, plus any extra points that retreated from the South Central area.

Against this the British will be able to bring the seven points of Tory Militia generated by a maximum quarterly adjustment, along with upwards of thirty points of Regular troops.

If fortified Charleston appears too strong for the landing force, then it should be bypassed in favor of Savannah, a much more vulnerable target. Augusta and NinetySix will quickly fall to a combined drive of local Torries and Regulars coming up from the coast. Hillsboro and Camden are the primary targets of the overland force and these points should fall without much serious resistance.

Constant forced marching by the overland body will put these troops, along with any available seaborne troops, in position for an all-out attack upon Charles- ton in late December. If this attack is suc- cessful, then the entire southern half of the board will be in British hands by the - end of the first year of the war. The last turn of 1775 ends with the Continental Army winter reduction, which will further reduce any American field strength remaining in the South.

More 1776 Strategy

1776 Strategy: Introduction
1776 Strategy: 1775
1776 Strategy: Winter 1776 and Beyond