MWAN Associate Editor Robert Haworth has recently published the third in a trilogy of American War of Independence (AWI) game booklets. He Has Waged Cruel War: Still More AWI Scenarios for Busy People is available from Stenhouse Game Productions (Box 92 McLean, VA 22102, $11.95 postpaid). Below is one of the six scenarios appearing in the booklet. An explanation of key terms and concepts follows the scenario. SUMMARY: Turns: 10 Patriots: 1-2 British: 1-2 Attackers: British Men/Fig. 20:1 Total Figures: Foot: 291 Mtd: 12 Cdr: 4 Arty: 3 BACKGROUND: Acknowledging the loss of New York City, George Washington withdrew north toward higher ground and, if need be, a more secure crossing of the Hudson River. Bypassing Fort Washington, which still barred the passage of British shipping up the Hudson, British GEN Howe concentrated on the retreating rebel Main Army. Howe pursued with caution: not only were the rebels still showing fight, [1] but more than half of his own troops had recently arrived from Europe and needed to shake off their sea leg. [2] It took the British 10 days to cover only 17 miles. Washington finally went to ground among some hills near the village of White Plains, NY. His left was covered by a millpond and marshes; his right, by the narrow but tricky Bronx River. A short distance beyond Washington's right loomed Chatterton's Hill, 180 feet above the Bronx. Washington realized that his entire position could be undone if the enemy captured Chatterton's Hill; therefore, he immediately dispatched two small militia regiments to fortify it. The following day he supplemented these with the reliable Delaware Regiment, and the next he moved in a 1,200-man Continental brigade. Washington felt he could gamble on holding the Hill with such a small force because he had already spotted another, nearly impregnable position a couple of miles farther back to which the army could repair if outflanked. In the meantime, he would try to lure the British into another Bunker Hill. When on 27 October he was advised that the enemy army was practically atop the camp at White Plains, Washington was on his way to reconnoiter the fallback position (at Castle Heights) more thoroughly. He simply said, "Gentlemen, we now have other business than reconnoitering. Repair to your units, and do your best." The enemy's advance was contested at every step by several hundred New England infantry under MG Joseph Spencer. Spencer's stubborn delaying action, and a barrage of wind- driven rain prevent battle from being joined that day. At 9 A.M. on 28 October, however, following a quick conference of officers, the British attack stepped off. TERRAIN NOTES Refer to the table layout on the following page. Chatterton's Hill is covered with cultivated fields enclosed by low stone walls and rail fences. The edge of the Hill directly bordering the river (indicated by the dark line) is impassible cliff. The scattered stands of woods located on the Hill's lower slope, and at its base, cast a line-of-sight (LOS) "shadow" relative to figures attempting to sight/fire across them from any higher point on the Hill. This shadow is equal in length to the distance between the sighting figure and the center of the tree model. [3] The Bronx River itself is fairly shallow and snagridden: leaders, foot, and mounted stands can cross it at a cost of but 1/2 move (rounded up), while artillery must pay an entire move to cross. [4] The rebels' scratch fortifications on Chatterton's Hill are considered Hasty Works; those fronting White Plains itself are heavier-duty Field Works. [5] The structures making up the part of White Plains depicted are both of two-story stone, but begin the game unprepared for defense. BRITISH UNIT COMMAND [7] #FIGS SETUP CLASS 17 Lt. Dragoon Regt. C-in-C 12 m Special 2 Grenadier Regt. von Rall Hessian Brigade 28 E 3 Musketeer Regt. von Donop Hessian Brigade 24 E 2 Fusilier Regt. von Lossberg Hessian Brigade 28 E 3 Bty., Hessian Field Artillery [6] Hessian Brigade (4) E 3 Bty., Royal Field Artillery C-in-C (4) F 3 28 Regt. of Foot British II Brigade 24 F 3 35 Pegt. of Foot British II Brigade 24 F 3 5 Regt. of Foot British II Brigade 24 Reinf (1) 3 49 Regt. of Foot British II Brigade 24 Reinf (1) 3 Commander Name Command Rating BG Alexander Leslie C.-in-C/British II Brigade Fair/Fair COL Count Karl von Donop Hessian Brigade Fair/Fair PATRIOT UNIT COMMAND #FIGS SETUP CLASS Brooks' MA Militia Inf. Regt. Right Wing 8 A 4 Graham's NY Militia Inf. Regt. Right Wing 8 A 5 DE Cont. Inf. Regt. Right Wing 15 B 3 Hamilton's Bty., Cont. Lt. Artillery Right Wing (2) B 3 Smallwood's MD Cont. Inf. Regt. McDougall's Bde 12 B 3 1 NY Cont. Inf. Regt. McDougall's Bde. 12 C 4 3 NY Cont. Inf. Regt. McDougall's Bde 12 C 4 Webb's Additional Cont. Regt McDougall's Bde. 12 C 4 3 CT Cont Inf Regt Putnam's Division 16 D 4 26 (CT) Cont. Inf. Regt. Putnam's Division 20 D 4 Commander Name Command Rating BG Alexander McDougall McDougall's Bde Fair/Fair COL John Haslet Right Wi 2/DE Regt. Fair/Good More Battle of White Plains: 28 October 1776 Introduction, Terrain, Units Set Up, Special Rules, Hints on Play Historical Outcome Key Conepts Back to MWAN #106 Table of Contents Back to MWAN List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 2000 Hal Thinglum This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com