It's taken me a while to get back to the computer to write this column, so the news from Historicon '96 will not be as timely as my usual convention reports. I guess I can blame part of the delay on Hurricane Fran, which just blew through North Carolina and Raleigh, leaving me without power for six days and blowing down several big trees on my property. I'm thankful that it was just some property damage, but it could have been much worse.

Also, part of my delay in reporting on Historicon stems from a sense of unease about the present condition of HMGS East. On the surface it was another successful convention, with reportedly over 3,000 attendees.

The only unpleasantness of the weekend was over the scheduling of the large 25mm American Civil War game that our wargaming group organized. In previous columns I have described Second Day of Gettysburg game that Chris Hughes was organizing. The game involved much work from Chris in organizing, painting, coordinating the painting of figures by other, making the terrain and generally worrying.

A critical part of the plan for this game was coordination with HMGS over the site for the game. Contact was made with the Historicon convention organizers at Cold Wars in 1995. Our primary request for was the use of one of the many separate rooms available at the Lancaster Host Resort. I understand that these rooms have become very popular, I request them extensively, but I think we had a very good case for being assigned a separate room.

We were planning on running two 8-10 hour games, using 2,500 25mm figures on two 6'x12' tables. These tables would have first quality terrain, complete with buildings, fences, trees, etc. It was imperative that we had a secure and relatively quiet environment in which to put on the games.

We thought we had made the necessary arrangements to run the game in a separate room. We had talked to the organizers on several occasions and we thought that everything had been arranged. We did our part by assembling the necessary figures and Chris prepared some of the spectacular and most historically accurate terrain I've ever seen used for wargaming. You can imagine the disappointment when we got to the convention and found that the games had been scheduled for a dark corner in the main room. There seems to have been some confusion over what had been requested.

While the game certainly was "visable" in that it was in the main room, the lighting in our corner was terrible and as usual the sound was also terrible.

Other Rooms?

What about those other rooms. There were some games that deserved to be in them, but then there were others whose need for separate rooms was questionable. In one case, a WWII street fight game had a room all to themselves for three days!. They appeared to have taken the room all day on Thursday just to set up and then used it all the next day to run a game that could have been run in the main hall or as part of another room.

They only used a small portion of the entire room, most of which was devoted to storing the tables they moved aside because they didn't need them. There clearly is a desire on the part of more and more gamers for the separate rooms. These rooms offer better lighting, somewhat better security and less noise. If those are the things that wargamers are interested in, then I think HMGS should make a committment to providing them in the main ballroom.

Chris' game attracted so much attention that we had to rope off the tables to keep interested gamers away from the tables while we put out the troops. Although I wasn't able to see every game put on over the four day convention, based the comments I heard from people who stopped to chat, this game deserved to get the best of the show award. As of this writing, late September with Hurricane Fran just a distant memory, I don't know which game won the best of show award. The most recent HMGS newletter did not mention a best of show award, so perhaps they don't award them anymore.

The only other game that I heard about from several people was a 25mm Seven Years War game that unfortunately I did not have an opportunity to see.

Other News

In other news from Historicon, I was surprised by how little activity the main gaming room had on what should have been the busiest nights, Friday and Saturday. On the other hand, the Tennis center, to which the various tournaments and flea market has been banished, also had a good deal of open gaming on both nights. Perhaps the HMGS staff should take a lesson from the growing popularity of that building.

Unlike the main ball room, which has low ceilings and dim lighting, the Tennis Center has high ceilings that dissipate the noise and very bright lighting. I heard many people suggest that the dealer area should be moved into the Tennis Center, giving the dealers what they seem to want, more room and better lighting. It's also air conditioned! I have been told by at least two convention organizers that most dealers would jump at the chance to move the dealers to the Tennis Center but that the opposition from a couple of big dealers has stymied HMGS's efforts to move the dealers. These dealers are comfortable with the space they currently have and aren't willing to take a chance on a move.

Enough of that, just another Historicon, now, on with the campaign!

1777 Campaign

When we last left the British commander Howe had just ordered the British to concentrate at Chester on the Delaware River. Generals Cornwallis and Grey had just pushed Washington and the Americans out of Westchester. American General Nash's small division moved south to join Washington, while General Sullivan's division which was covering Philadelphia was ordered to move towards Washington.

Game Day 9

Howe ordered Cornwallis and Grey to rest for 48 hours after their victory at Westchester. Knyphausen, moving up parallel to the Delaware was also ordered to rest for 48 hours while Howe, with several supply columns and a Hessian escort marched from Head of Elk to Wilmington. After two days the three columns should concentrate at Chester.

Washington moved the main American Army to retire five miles, but stop and try and recover stragglers. He placed General Sterling with a strong force in advance of the main army to guard against what he expected would be a British pursuit. Washington still did not know just what the British objective was and was concerned that Grey and Cornwallis were going to threaten his supply bases to the west. Because of this concern Washington changes the orders of a Continental Dragoon regiment that had been marching to Head of Elk to determine whether Howe was still there.

Washington wants this regiment to go to Warwick to protect the large supply base. The American Dragoons had been marching on a path that would have collided with Howe marching away from Head of Elk with his supply trains. Washington's orders were received and implemented by the Dragoon Regiment just two hours before it would have march into Howe's column. Although they probably couldn't have captured Howe's force, they could have gathered important intelligence and caused Howe even more paranoia about American movements, as if he needs any more. As it was Howe was left to march unmolested.

Game Day 10

Although Cornwallis and Grey got their orders and rested, Knyphausen misinterpreted his orders and began to march towards Chester. Washington, who was becoming frantic because he didn't know where Knyphausen was, ordered Pulaski with two regiments of Dragoons to march to Wilmington from Marcus Hook. Naturally Pulaski ran into Knyphausen and was pushed back.

He joined a small force of militia at Marcus Hook and vowed to defend it to the last to allow the supplies at Chester to be removed. I think Washington was confused at this point, not knowing why Cornwallis and Grey weren't moving against him from Westchester. He ordered the Philadelphia Light Horse to make a reconnaissance in force towards Westchester. At the same time, Kynphausen, who had been marching and fighting all day came upon Pulaski's position at Marcus Hook. Sniffing at the rebellious rebels Knyphausen ignored the pleas of his of ficers that their men are exhausted and ordered an immediate attack.

Battle of Marcus Hook

Knyphausen with 3,500 men and 8 cannon attacked about 1,000 American militia and dragoons. The Americans had posted themselves behind a small stream and erected crude fortifications. Although the American cavalry was tired from series of running battles, the infantry was fresh. Knyphausen's command was exhausted and his cannon could not support the assault due to delays in getting their ammunition. The exhausted Hessians advanced cautiously and in several instances refused to charge. After two hours of fighting Knyphausen finally pushed Pulaski out of his position and back towards Chester. American loses were 111, while the Hessians lost 466 men, dead, wounded and missing.

Game Day 11

Howe ordered Cornwallis and Grey to march immediately toward Chester. Cornwallis led the column towards Chester, followed by Grey with both their supply trains. Cornwallis and Grey made no attempt to pin down the position of the American army, which was just 10 miles up the road and began marching parallel to the American position. Washington discovered the march of the British during the day and decided to attack the end o fthe column. He ordered an attack for dawn the next morning on the unsuspecting British.

During this day Knyphausen had delayed his advance on Chester to reorganize and rest and wait for Howe to catch up with his force.

Day 12

This turned out to be the most eventful day of the campaign so far, witnessing two battles, one of which was fought out with miniatures at Historicon, 1996.

Battle of Dickinsons Farm

The British were allowed to deploy around their position at Dickinson's Farm where they had encamped for the night. Washington ordered Sterling's division, which was deployed in advance of the main American force to march against the left flank of the British, while he organized his army into several divisions.

He created a force of light infantry under General Maxwell and separate divisions under Wayne, Lafayette and Greene. Maxwell's light infantry and cavalry led the advance, supported by Wayne with the strongest division, followed by Lafayette. Greene's division was rather weak and only organized to provide for a rearguard if necessary. Maxwell and Wayne were ordered to advance against the main British position, followed by Lafayette and Greene. The key to the American strategy was to coordinate the attacks of Maxwell, Wayne and Sterling. Because he was making a flank march, Sterling' s time of arrival was randomized.

Grey, who had been warned by a loyalist about the advance of the Americans, sent an urgent message to Cornwallis that he was under attack and needed reinforcements. Cornwallis, concerned about Grey and his supply train, directed his cavalry and two brigades to march to support Grey. Their time of arrival was randomized.

With so much uncertainty involved in the game I had to caution both American and British commanders not to panic! I believed the victor of the battle would be the side which panicked least. The Americans showed signs of panic first. Although Wayne and Maxwell entered the table as scheduled and began to deploy, Sterling was nowhere to be seen.

The American commander began to mumble about ordering a retreat just as Wayne deployed and engaged the center of the British line. General Maxwell moved his light troops towards the British right flank, trying to put troops between Grey's forces and any troops Cornwallis might send as reinforcements. The British commander extended his line to the right, to cover his flank and to maintain contact with the road that Cornwallis might use. This began to seriously weaken the British center as troops were shifted to the right. Wayne engaged the British center but wasn't strong enough to break through.

All through this time the British left was completely unengaged and the British commander ordered his left to pivot towards the center and strike Wayne's exposed right flank. A small hill on the British left, which they had not occupied, screened the arrival of Sterling's division. On the turn that the British left flank got its orders and began its advance, Sterling's division burst onto the board. The British were in trouble. It would take at least 30 minutes, two turns, for orders to be sent recalling the left flank.

Sterling took advantage of his opening and pushed the British aggressively, threatening to roll up their line from the left. Luckily the British did recall the units of its left flank and stabilized their line, using the Dickinson Farm buildings as a strong point. A series of cornfields and fences slowed down the Americans just enough to allow the British to reform their left flank.

Although they had stemmed briefly the American tide, they were hard pressed and Lafayette's division arrived on the table. The British then panicked. Although several hundred British 17th light dragoons from Cornwallis appeared on their right flank, no infantry had arrived. General Grey ordered a general withdrawal, abandoning their supply train.

What the British didn't know was that Lafayette's division was tired from its march. Just seeing them was enough to cause Grey to order a retirement. Unfortunately for the Americans, Wayne didn't have the reserves to break the British line and Lafayette didn't have the strength. Lafayette tried to mount an attack, but his troops were too tired to break through. When the British retreat was ordered General Sterling got reckless and thought British were weaker than they were. He threw several regiments into charges against reorganized British regiments and received a bloody nose in return. He quickly backed off and allowed the British to retreat.

As the British began their retreat Cornwallis' first brigade arrived on the field, but the retreat could not be reversed and Cornwallis' troops covered Grey's retreat.

The final results showed that the Americans suffered 791 total casualties, including the loss of one cannon, one standard and the death of Brigadier General Maxwell. Wayne's division, including the light infantry force that Maxwell commanded, suffered the most casualties, being heavily engaged throughout the morning.The British lost 549 men and two supply trains.

So ended the Battle of Dickinson's Farm. Had the British held on a little longer I believe they could have completed a slow withdrawal, taking their supply train with them. They might have even beaten the Americans, who had no reserves. In the end it was the fog of war that defeated the British. Quite understandably the British commander, still reeling from Sterling's unanticipated appearance on his flank, lost heart when Lafayette's division arrived. How many more American divisions were there and where were they coming from? Where was Cornwallis?

The Philadelphia newspapers chronicled the Battle of Dickinson's Farm, highlighting the meeting of Grey and Cornwallis after the battle. At that meeting Cornwallis confronted Grey and berated him for losing the supply trains, and in particular Cornwallis' supply of silk underwear.

Battle of Chester

At Chester, while the Battle of Dickinson's Farm was unfolding, Kynphausen pushed Pulaski out of the Town, mauling the American militia units and capturing some much needed supplies. The battle was resolved using the Carnage and Glory Strategic System major battle simulator, resulting in 435 American casualties, including 90 men missing. Knyphausen's casualties were 197.

All in all, the British inflicted over 1,200 American casualties during the course of the two battles, while only suffering about 750 themselves. The loss of two supply trains to the British evened the balance and suggested that the American's gained the biggest strategic advantage.

Game Day 13

This game day shows why I love these campaign, particularly when different individuals are commanding various elements of the same army. General Howe seemed to be in shock after the unexpected attack on Grey and the loss of two supply trains. He issued orders to Cornwallis, Grey and Knyphausen to concentrate at Chester, rest and recover stragglers. He did suggest to Knyphausen that a cautious advance should be made in the direction of Darby, pursuing Pulaski and gathering intelligence about the supply base there. Well, old Knyphausen, who has not been doing too well in the course of the campaign, decided to throw caution to the wind and ordered an aggressive movement towards Darby.

This type of movement was clearly not what Howe had in mind, but since Knyphausen is a separate command, I felt compelled to implement his orders. At dawn he ordered a force of jagers to advance towards Darby. They were quickly repulsed by Pulaski, who still stood between Knyphausen and Darby. Later in the day Knyphausen ordered a brigade of Hessian grenadiers to reinforce the jagers and push into Darby. They were successful in pushing aside Pulaski, whose cavalry and militia were exhausted by three days of running battles and captured Darby late in the day.

In the process of occupying Darby, Knyphausen also captured a significant amount of supplies, which Howe desperately needs. Howe also got good news from loyalists who reported that his brother the Admiral and his fleet had been sighted in the Delaware, sailing towards Chester.

On Day 13 Washington was focused on regrouping and positioning the army to meet whatever movement Howe made. I don't think he expected Howe to move as quickly as he did to Darby, which has now uncovered Philadelphia. Washington ordered Sullivan and Nash to join the main army and cover each flank. At the end of the day the main American army was located west of the British. The British were concentrated at Chester, with part of Knyphausen's command in Darby 10 miles to the north. Philadelphia, defended by Pulaski's depleted force is only 10 miles further north from Darby.

Both Howe and Washington have serious decisions to make. Howe does not know where Washington is, while Washington is only too well aware of Howe's position. Howe's next move will probably dictate Washington's response. Because Fort's Mercer and Mifflin, on the east bank of the Delaware have not been captured, Howe's main supply base must remain at Chester.

If he moves against Philadelphia, which has no real strategic value and some supplies, he must take a force big enough to deal with Washington if the Americans choose to disputing his advance. Howe must also leave a force large enough to defend Chester from an attack from Washington. Howe cannot afford to lose any more supply bases or supply trains. Howe might also decide to just sit tight and wait to see where Washington is and what he will do.

Howe can also concentrate on capturing Forts' Mifflin and Mercer. If he chooses that option, Washington is not in a good position to reinforce the forts or to disrupt the British siege. In order to support the forts Washington would have to march in a wide arc around the British and cross the Delaware above Philadelphia. If Howe does decide to advance against Philadelphia or detach a force to capture the forts Washington could decide to strike against the depleted British forces at Chester.

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