"By 8:00 a.m. the French army was in motion. The scene was one to inspire the romantic. The French soldiers, frontier militiamen and their remaining Indian allies, in the mind of a later historian, formed the 'forlorn hope of France in the heart of the continent'. He was their march as 'the last great on-coming of the French over the waters of the Lakes which they had discovered and explored, and had dominated for more than one hundred years'. At the very leastthe coming battle would decide the fate of Fort Niagara." [1] The French marine column rushes toward the clearing of La Belle Famille, discovers the British in greater strength than anticipated and attempts to form line. Imagine yourself as a member of the column; 12 wide flanked by a forest more dense than shown, the press of your fellows from behind and the approaching smoke and noise of battle. 30mm Willies from the collection of Bill Protz. Photo by Bill Kojis. My favorite tabletop wargame for the era of the French and Indian Wars is La Belle Famille; July 24, 1759. My reasons are: 1. It does inspire the romantic. In the summer of 1759 a tiny British and American Army came to Fort Niagara and besieged it. A successful end would cut off French communications with the interior of their colonial holdings, the Ohio. The fort commander, Captain Pouchot of the Beam Regiment summoned assistance from far away Venango in the Ohio to break the siege. A force was assembled and traveled by boat and foot hundreds of miles in the North American wilderness to relieve the fort. La Belle Famille is a classic relief column battle. 2. Over the past three years I have presented La Belle Famille about ten times at several wargame conventions. [2] Due to fog of war principles at work (such as variable arrivals of units) plusthe balancing effect of a larger force attempting to assault a partially protected position, each side has won as many games as it lost. 3. It has the excitement of colonial wargaming in that a smaller force of determined British must await the arrival and plans of an eager and larger French force, each seconded by allies of dubious loyalty. 4. It is a brigade level wargame. It is therefore easy to assemble, organize, transport, judge and play, There is no need to present an historical analysis of La Belle Famille within the scope of this article. For same refer instead to "Action at La Belle Famille" by Brian Leigh Dunnigan elsewhere in this issue. [3] However some details of an organizational nature are germane at this point. Scale Ratio: 1 miniature to 5 historical men. [4] 1 miniature cannon to 1 historical cannon. Miniatures: The author uses 25-30mm; 15mm will work well. Table Size: Six feet wide and 12-16 feet long for 25mm. The battle will be fought up the table length. Rules: Any rules suitable for North American warfare of the Seven Years Warwhich caterto regulars using linear close order and open order formations and which allow Indians to interact in their unique ways. [5] . Terrain: Lots of trees, not dense. One road. No hills. A breastwork. Turns: Time is considered solely as a mechanism to bring on reinforcements. Turns represent fifteen minutes. Players: Player characteristics must fit the needs of the scenario. The French marine officers MUST be played by energetic wargamers who do not cringe at adversity, poor odds and unspoken perils. Militia should be played by wargamers who run the gamut from careful to bold. British officer players should be imperturbable. Indian players usually have to be coached; reminded that they are not stalwart allies of the European side with which they fight. Indian interests of careful fighting, scalps, honor, and disengagement when odds are poor must dominate thinking.  The wargame session begins with selection of seven players, four French and three British in a 1:5 scale ratio battle. It has been my habit to try to find two players to be the French marine officers first, keying in on the need to find 18th Century Pattons, Rommels, J.E.B. Stuarts or Murats. Their personal style of play will make or break the scenario. Once the marine officers are found, each side determines what the other players will be. This usually works out well and is not critical to the success of the scenario. Once the command structure is established, the players who are to be Indians are reminded to discard European concepts of warfare and honor. Indian style combat and conduct are their new credos. Finally, the playerwho is Captain DeLancey is told he may disobey superior officers should they order him to abandon his breastwork. He does so by tossing a six-sided die adding a +1 modifier versus the senior officer. If DeLancey's score is higher, he will not leave the breastwork. Now the game can proceed. It is not my habit to get into descriptions of the combat rules at this point. As an aside, I only point outthe movement rates and later when various types of combat arise, I run through same once or twice and ask that the players do these procedures for themselves afterwards. They always do. Handouts are given to both sides at this point describing the scenario and each player group goes off to have a council of war after reviewing the wargame table set out before them. Table size should be approximately 6'x 12-16' for 25mm wargames. The rules the author uses, "Drums of War Along the Mohawk" allow generous movement rates. For example, a column moves 12' but this is boosted 8' more if a road is used. Rules systems utilizing slower movement rates should shorten table length accordingly so that the head of the marine column arrives at the beginning of the clearing in 2-3 turns. The van of the French marine column has emerged from the woods and formed line. Casualties have already been suffered from British defensive fire in the form of 25mm casualty figures from Front Rank Miniatures. Three are on the ground and two others are about to fall. Otherwise the rest of are 30mm Willies. From the collection of Bill Protz. Photo by Bill Kojis. French Hand Out TO: FRENCH RELIEF COLUMN: CAPTAINS DE LIGNERY AND AUBRY FROM: THE UMPIRE SUBJECT: BREAKING THE BRITISH SIEGE OF FORT NIAGARA What You Know You have been ordered by a superior officer, Captain Pouchot, commandantof Fort Niagara, to raise the siege there. Pouchot wrote to you a week ago as follows: Capitaines de Lignery and Aubry, It is my order that you assemble the soldiers of New France under your command with such native auxiliaries as you can muster including militiamen also present and that this body proceed at once to break a siege put around Fort Niagara by the forces of His Britannic Majesty's Brigadier General Prideaux. The enemy is in two corps, one to the eastward of the fort in and about the siege lines and is in a great number while the other is posted upon the route you may choose to march on south of the fort though I am reliably informed this body is weak. The first corps of the enemy is very near the fort and will dare not give up its trenches for fear of the embarrassment that they surelyknow must ensue. If you think yourself strong enough through the eyes of your scouts, I am hopeful you will march directly overland from the south and break the siege which I would be compelled to assist therebygaining a victory for France. At this distance I cannot advise you exactly what course to take but 1 assure you that I will give my approbation to whatever course you take in pursuit of the wishes of our Most Christian Majesty. The orbat of the enemy is greater than our combined strength but the enemy is discomforted by being dispersed in many posts which I presume is to our advantage as I remain, Your Obedient Servant Pouchot Captain of Beam Commandant of Fort Niagara Order of Battle (ratio 1:5) a. Compagnie Franches de la Marine (6) 108 b. Illinois and Detroit Militia 40 c. Savages #1, #2 and #3 34 d. Savages of the Far West, 15 e. TOTAL 197 What You Must Do a. De Lignery and Aubrey will position the Compagnies Franches de la Marine in a column 3 miniatures wide organizing this body into 2-5 grand divisions (companies) beginning on the southern edge of the table stretching northwards along the road. This column will occupy approximately 36". The militia and savages may be posted to the rear off the table and/orto the side(s) orthe column. The Compagnies Franches de la Marine may operate in open or closed order in the woods. The militiaand savages can only be in open order wherever they are. b. The savages have been talking with the redmen (Iroquois) of the Engleesch who are trying to convince your savages to be neutral. c. The enemy is definitely much weaker than you. d. Your savages fire with poor discipline (-1). There are no other fire modifiers for your force. e. Do not think and act like a 20th Century man with the advantage of hindsight. Also act only on what you know above and on what you can see or are told. The umpire will not tell you anything further about the enemy. Remember, there is fog of war. Enjoy the game, take things easily and don't be too serious. Have fun! IMPORTANT: Please act in accordance with the instructions above. Make plans for 10-15 minutes. Place the column on the road on the table and those in the woods should be noted on a sketch of the area and given to the umpire; not placed on the table at this time. Your entire marine column will be on the road at 7:15 but it may try to arrive 15-30 minutes earlier by tossing a six-sided die twice versus the umpire. If you win one toss, arrival may occur at 7:00 a.m, and if you win both tosses, you may arrive at 6:45 a.m. which commences turn 1. British Hand Out TO: HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S ARMY IN NORTHWEST NEW YORK. MAJOR GENERAL SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON. Note: This player is also Lt. Col. Massey. FROM: THE UMPIRE SUBJECT: PREVENT THE FRENCH RELIEF COLUMN FROM BREAKING THE SIEGE OF FORT NIAGARA. What You Know You arrived before Fort Niagara under Brigadier General Prideaux, now deceased in an unfortunate accident; a premature mortar detonation. As second in command, Sir William Johnson, you thereafter assumed command of the whole. The Army was divided into two corps. One corps (by far the largest) was posted to the eastward of Fort Niagara in the siege lines and in reserve while the other was just posted to the south of Fort Niagara recently to cut communications to the south and to barthe way of a French relieving force now said to be upon its march from the Ohio Country. You cannot spare many men forthis post until the attack comes because the French under Captain Pouchot in Fort Niagara would very likely embarrass you by making a sortie to destroy your siege works. Fort Niagara is too strongly held to storm and if you did so, your losses could prevent you from further duties required by your Commander in Chief, General Amherst. If you defeat the relief column, you believe the fate of Fort Niagara will be totally in your hands. Incidentally, on good evidence, the savages formerly adhering to the French cause are deserting them as the arms of England continue to be successful. You are the greatest Indian mediator of the era; respected and well-known by both sides. You have been fair, just and honorable with then ?nd you definitely understand their customs. Order of Battle (and arrival times) Captain DeLancey (Already in position in the breastwork) 44th Foot 10 Light Infantry 46th Foot 10 Light Infantry 60th Foot 10 Light Infantry Captain Bayly (6:45 a.m. in column adjacent to the breastwork on the road) 44th Foot 10 Line Infantry 46th Foot 10 Line Infantry New York 10 Provincial Infantry Lieutenant Colonel Massey (7:30 a.m. in column adjacent to the breastwork on the road) 46th Foot 28 Infantry 46th Foot 5 Grenadiers Iroquois Confederation (7:45 a.m. to the sides and rear of the breast works) Mohawks 12 Braves Stockbridge 10 Braves Others 40 Braves TOTAL 155  What You Must Do a. You may optionally send an Indian Sachem (leader) the day before the battle to talk to the Indians in the service of New France to convince them to be neutral and await the outcome of the battle. If successful any French Indians so affected will not fight for the French. Tell the umpire. Procedure: Each British Indian warparty will toss a six-sided die versus a French Indian warparty but the British add a +1 modifier. Every higher British toss neutralizes both the French and British warparties for the battle. Remove such warparties from the field of battle. b. July 24, 6:00 a.m. Captain DeLancey constructs a log breastwork big enough and only for his converged light infantry in secret on a map to be immediately given to the umpire and Lt. Col. Massey. DeLancey is solely responsible for design and is not to consult anyone about its shape except the referee who may veto undesirable configurations. The enemy is not in sight and is far to the south. The breastwork looked as at right. c. 6:15 a.m. Captain DeLancey considers obtaininga 6 pdr. cannon. If he does, this is solely his idea and he may only consult the referee. Assign soldiers for the task and consult the referee. The cannon in question is to the west across the Niagara River. The detail assigned this duty will have to go south to obtain boats to perform this mission. The enemy is far to the south and the detail can be back by 7:15 a.m. d. 6:30 a.m. Captain DeLancey see the referee. The umpire will know by now then the French column arrives on the table. If by 7:00 or before, the British artillery detachment is taken but the cannon is not be be used by the French. e. 6:45 a.m. Captain Bayly arrives. f. 7:30 a.m. Lt. Col. Massey arrives and assumes command. g. 7:45 a.m. The active Indians arrive. h. Line infantry must operate in close order and may operate in sparse woods. Others may operate in open order anywhere. The Indians may not be in close order. i. Indians will fire with poor discipline (-1). British line may fire with good discipline (+1). Grenadiers fire good discipline (+2). Now discuss the situation with your officers for 10-15 minutes and begin the procedure as outlined above. IMPORTANT: Do not think and act like a 20th Century man with the advantage of hindsight. Act only on what you know above and can see or are told. Do not ask the referee for details other than as specified. Remember, there is fog in war. Take things easily, do not be too serious and enjoy your game. Fog of war ensure that variables occur to change the dynamics of the La Belle Famille scenario so that each wargame will be different. It is a fun scenario and because the number of miniatures is relatively small, the game is highly manageable. The siege of the La Belle Famille scenario was inspired by SIEGE - 1769 The Campaign Against Niagara by Brian Leigh Dunnigan. FOOTNOTES [1] From SIEGE -1759 The Campaign Against Niagara by Brian Leigh Dunnigan quoting An Old Frontier of France by Frank H. Severance. [2] Milwaukee Historical Wargame Weekends, Little Wars, Seven Years' War Association Meets, Gen Con and Origins. [3] The Courier Volume VIII, No. 5. [4] Actually scale ratios of 1:3 to 1:10 should work. [5] The author naturally uses his own rules entitled, "Drums of War Along the Mohawk". However there are several other sets of rules with which I am familairwhich you oughtto try such as "Warfare in the Age of Reason" by Tod Kershner and Dale Wood, "Tricorne" by Ken Bunger, "Rusty's Rules" by RSM Miniatures and "Gentlemen of France Fire First" by Frank Chadwick and Greg Novak. There are undoubtedly more. 6. The Compagnies Franches de la Marine were also known as marines, colony troops and colony regulars. They were soldiers of the French Navy. Their duty in North America was to garrison and police French colonial possessions. The rank and file came from France but all officers were Canadians which gives this body a character different from true European regulars in terms of forest fighting. 7.1 do not field all of the possible French and British Indian allies since all but 30 remained neutral. 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