Saturday 3 July 2021

Another Jacobite Skirmish - Song of Drums & Shakos AAR #9

Our group played a second Jacobite themed Song of Drums and Shakos game last Monday! We chose the Reinforcements scenario from the More Song of Drums Rulebook. Maurice and I girded up our loins and reprised our roles as the Redcoats from the last game while George and Alan did a bit of Caber tossing in preparation to take up their positions as the Leaders of the Jacobites!

The Situation

A British Detachment eager for revenge after recent Jacobite successes attacked a group of cornered Highlanders in a picturesque Glen. They suspected these were the men who had successfully raided a supply convoy recently in the area, little did they know this handful of defenders were but part of a larger force most of whom were foraging when the battle began. The scene was set for an exciting action!

The Forces

Attacking:
The British 414 points
1 Leader (Lieutenant Maurice) 60 Sword Pistol Q3 C2
1 NCO (Sergeant Darling) 42 Musket Sword Q4 C2
12 Infantry 26 = 312 Musket Q4 C2

Defending:
The Jacobites Initial Force 160 points
1 NCO (Alan McDreamy) 32 sword Q4 C2
3 Clansman 32 = 96 Musket strong Q4 C2
1 Clansman 26 = 32 Sword strong Q4 C2
Jacobites Reinforcements 338 points
1 Leader (Leader of the Clan McGalloway) 48 strong sword Q4 C2
5 Clansman 32 = 160 Musket strong Q4 C2
5 Clansman 26 = 130 Sword strong Q4 C2

The AAR

The British with the initiative entered the Glen marching in magnificent formation and advanced steadfastly toward their foes who were cowering in a stone walled enclosure. The defenders Leader Alan McDreamy roused his lads into action and they scored early success flooring a couple of Redcoats from Lieutenant Maurice's Detachment! Undaunted the British continued on and their volley fire was devastating cutting down three of McDreamy's four defenders.
Unfortunately for the Highlanders their fellow Clansmen were slow to react to the sound of battle and came to their aid in dribs and drabs and while Lieutenant Maurice's men entered the Rebel 'Redoubt' Sergeant Darling's stout fellows stopped all but a couple of the returning Highlanders from assisting McDreamy!
It was soon fait accompli and the British succeeded in their objective and held the Rebels position!

Okay at this point the British had won the game by the scenario victory conditions but as the night was young and there were still kilted fighters entering the play area and eager 'to have at the British' we played on! It was not pretty the Highlanders were soundly beaten!

Some Pictures

Alan McDreamy rallies his stout men to face the oncoming Redcoats!

The Redcoats in impressive formation and ably led (from the rear) by Lieutenant Maurice approach the Rebel Stronghold!

The Jacobites last stand in the 'Redoubt'...McDreamy and McHairy fight to the last!

Well not quite the last, once McDreamy is struck don by several Heroic British Privates, three actually! Mc hairy flees from the position! Game over...

Positions when we decided to play on...

McHairy tries to recapture the 'redoubt' single-handedly and fails!

The widely spread returning Highlanders are easily repelled by the British...

...but not before taking a couple of casualties...all in all a good day to be British!

This was like all our Song of Drums and Shakos games fast paced and full of action. We have played this scenario before with the defenders being successful however this time the Dice Gods were against the Jacobites their reinforcements came on in small numbers (the best they managed once was three out of the available five per turn) and they entered widely spread out! So our Jacobite games tally stands at One Win for each side out of our Two Games!

I still have a couple of reports to write up for our Blucher Waterloo and an Iron Cross WW II games, I’ll get them up as soon as I can! Oh and we're up for some ACW action on our 5th of July get together!

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