Wargame Scenarios Involving Indians

Senecas: Wyoming Valley
in Pennsylvania. July 3 1778

by Rudy Scott Nelson


The SENECAS often conducted raids with the Butler Rangers.

Background

Though classified as a massacre by the Patriot Press. It was in fact a standard battle with the Indians giving no quarter. No non-combatants were killed during the battle. It was a classic situation where an area was divided in loyalties.Each side had built a fort at one end of the valley. Both sides left their respective forts to meet in open battle. The Patriots initiated the battle and were very close to the Loyalist fort before the battle started. The extreme distance from the safety of their own fort resulted in an extreme number of Patriot casualties after their lines broke.

Forces

Loyalist = 120 Butlers Rangers under Maj. J. Butler (CnC) + 120 Johnson's Royal Greens + 350 Senecas under Chief Gein-gwatoh + 100 other Iroquois. Patriots = 60 regulars under Cpt Hewett + 300 militia under Col Z. Butler (CnC) and Col Denison.

Troop Deployment

Historical deployment had: LEFT= The Rangers facing Butler's militia; CENTER= The Greens facing Hewetts Regulars; RIGHT= Iroquois facing Denison's militia.

Board Setup

Place the Loyalist fort in the center near a board edge. Woods are placed on one flank ( Indian flank). A stream and farms are on the other flank (Ranger's flank). If playing with long flank edges a Patriot fort can be placed by the Patriot's base end-edge. If one side breaks, its troops can only find safety by retreating into a fort.

Wargame Scenarios

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© Copyright 1999 by Rudy Scott Nelson
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