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War in Niagara
Forward: While Europe fought the armies of Napoleon, a lesser known war erupted on the frontiers of British Upper Canada. On June 18, 1812, the United States declared war on Great Britain and her colonies in Canada. In attempt to strike at Great Britain, the US set their sights on Canada. Former President Thomas Jefferson believed: "The acquisition of Canada this year, as far as the neighborhood of Quebec, will be a mere matter of marching, and will give us the experience for the attack on Halifax, the next and final expulsion of England from the American continent." For three years, Niagara would be a war zone, the scene of American invasions and bloody battles. The Niagara frontier was a strategic link and trade route between Lakes Erie and Ontario. After several failed attempts in 1812 and 1813, the US made one last effort in the summer of 1814 to capture Niagara. If successful, the US Left Division would then board ships bound for Kingston to strike at the British headquarters, cutting off all British territories west of Quebec. It was here at that the Battles of Chippawa, Lundys Lane and Fort Erie the fate of Canada was decided. After the last shot was fired and the treaty of Ghent was signed, the greatest outcome of the war was the 200 years of peace and friendship between the US, Great Britain and Canada. The United States and Canada are now each others largest trading partners, and share 6416 km of undefended border.
The Scenarios and Army Lists: The following are 5 scenarios for use with the Black Powder miniature war game rule set. The battles for Chippawa and Cooks Mills are designed for one on one play with each player controlling a brigade of troops, while the scenarios for Lundys Lane, the siege of Fort Erie and the battle of St. Davids are designed for four or more players. Note that there was some creative licencing in regards to troop strengths in order to achieve (in the opinion of the author) greater playability. Also included are generic army lists for gamers to engage in What if scenarios.
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On the evening of July the 4th the Americans were camped at Streets Creek two miles south of Chippawa. These troops lead by General Winfield Scott were joined by more regulars and militia under Major General Jacob Brown and as well as some allied natives. Across the Chippawa river was British Major Phineas Raill with three British infantry regiments, Canadian militia, natives and artillery. Eager to engage the Americans, Riall Crossed the bridge at Chippawa and ran head strong into the US 1st Brigade commanded by Brigadier General Winfield Scott. The 1st Brigade was the best trained unit in the American Army whose soldiers wore grey uniforms because there was a shortage of the traditional blue army cloth. The two opposing armies were of almost equal strength, both being supported by natives and militia. Riall ordered a head long assault thinking that the Americans would easily
break, but the Americans held their line and with steadfast discipline repulsed the British. It was over quickly, the British lost 415 killed, wounded or missing. And the Americans lost 328 killed, wounded or missing. Riall and his remaining forces retreated back across the Chippawa creek where they dug in and awaited for an American attempt to cross the creek. Brown wasted no time in flanking the British by attempting the cross further west. Riall realizing that his position was impossible to hold, withdrew all the way back to Fort George. Brown advanced to Queenston to await for Chauncey to sail.
Grand River Natives advance through the woods to protect the British flank
Orders of Battle
------------------- The Americans-----------------Commander-in-Chief Brigadier General Winfield Scott (Staff Rating 9) Scotts Brigade 9th/22nd US Infantry - 24 figures 11th US Infantry- 24 figures 21/25th US Infantry- 24 Figures Artillery 2 smoothbore cannons (6&12 pdr) 3rd (Militia) Brigade Brig Gen Peter B. Porter (Staff Rating 7) 5th Pennsylvania Militia- 16 figures (small unit) Six Nations Warriors- 16 figures (small unit)
------------------The British/Canadians----------------Commander-in-Chief Major General Phineas Riall (Staff Rating 8) 1st Brigade 1st Regiment - The Royal Scots - 24 figures The King's 8th Regiment- 24 figures 100th Regiment - 24 figures 19th Light Dragoons: - 4 figures (tiny Unit) Artillery 2 smoothbore cannons (6&24 pdr) 2nd Brigade (Staff Rating 8) Lt. Col Thomas Pearson 2nd Lincoln Militia - 16 figures (small unit) Western/Grand River Warriors - 16 figures (small unit)
American Stats
Unit US Infantry Type Infantry Armament Smoothbore Musket Smoothbore Musket Smoothbore Musket 6 pdr / 12 pdr Hand-to-Hand 6 Shooting 3 Moral 4+ Stamina 3 Special Steady Skirmish Unreliable Skirmish Blood Thirsty 48 Range
Militia
Infantry
4+
Six Nations
Infantry
5+
US Artillery
Artillery
3-2-1
4+
British/Canadian Stats
Unit Regular Infantry Lincoln Militia Western Grand River Nations British Artillery Dragoons Type Infantry Armament Smoothbore Musket Smoothbore Musket Smoothbore Musket 6 pdr / 24 pdr Sabers Hand-to-Hand 6 Shooting 3 Moral 4+ Stamina 3 Special First Shot Skirmish Unreliable
Infantry
4+
Infantry
5+
Artillery
3-2-1
4+
Cavalry
4+
Marauders
After Commodore Chauncey failed to sail his fleet from Sackets Harbour and support the American Left Divisions advance, Brown withdrew from Queenston to Chippawa in order to resupply. Lieutenant General Gordon Drummond had now arrived in Queenston to take command of the British Army in Niagara. Along with him came various regular and militia regiments from York (Toronto) and Burlington. He ordered Raill to shadow the US withdraw as far as Lundys Lane, a hill a few miles west of the mighty Niagara Falls. There they waited. Seeing that the British were finally going to give Brown the engagement that he so desired, the American 1st Brigade march out of Chippawa on the Portage Road towards the heights of Lundys Lane. When General Riall first heard that a large force of American troops was headed his way he gave orders to abandon the British position on the Hill. His advanced
forward over running the startled British gunners and capturing the artillery. The British ranks had now swollen to 3,600 men against the American 2,800. Over the next two hours the British and Canadians made repeated attacks up the hill to re-capture the precious cannons. A horrible battle of attrition began among the already exhausted and parched armies.
The American troops straggle back to their camp at Chippawa, on the way destroying the Bridgewater Mills located in what is now known as Dufferin Islands. Arriving back at their camp they plunge themselves into the river and drank their fill before collapsing into their tents. When the Americans returned to pick up their dead, they found the British entrenched along the Portage Road leading to Lundy's Lane. Deciding not to engage, they returned to their camp in Chippawa and the next day retired to Fort Erie.
By midnight both sides were exhausted. American Generals Brown and Scott had both been wounded along with British General Riall who was wounded and now a prisoner. In the face of superior British numbers, exhausted and unable to hold the hill for which they had so valiantly fought for, the Americans retreated to their camp at Chippawa taking their wounded with them. The ammunition wagons were loaded with wounded and transported back to their camp at Streets Creek. The British and Canadians were too exhausted to harass the retreating Americans as most of the men were marched many miles on this hot July day. The American losses were 173 killed, 571 wounded and 117 missing while the British official losses were 84 killed, 559 wounded and 193 missing.
Orders of Battle
------------------------ The Americans-----------------------Commander-in-Chief Major General Jacob Brown 1st Brigade Brigadier General Winfield Scott 9th /11th US Infantry - 24 figures 22nd US Infantry- 24 figures 25th US Infantry- 24 Figures US Light Dragoons 6 figures (small unit) Artillery 6 pounder 2nd Brigade Brigadier General Eleazer Ripley 1st US Infantry 16 figures (small unit) 23rd US Infantry 24 figures 21st US Infantry 24 figures Artillery 5.5 Howitzer Artillery 12 pounder 3rd (Militia) Brigade Brig Gen Peter B. Porter 5th Pennsylvania Militia- 16 figures (small unit) NY Militia 16 figures (small unit) Wilcox Renegades 8 figures (tiny unit)
--------------------The British/Canadians------------------Commander-in-Chief Lieutenant General Gordon Drummond 2nd or Light Brigade Maj Gen. Phineas Riall 19th Lt & Prov Dragoons - 6 figures (small unit) Glengarry Light Infantry - 24 figures Incorporated Militia Battalion 24 figures 1st Militia Brigade 24 figures Artillery 6 pounder Morrison Brigade Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Morrison Companies of the 1st/8th/41st 24 figures 89th Infantry Regiment 24 figures Artillery 24 pounder Artillery Rocket Battery Western/Grand River Warriors 12 (small unit) Scotts Column Colonel Hercules Scott 103rd Regiment -36 figures (large unit) 8th/104th Regiments 24 figures Artillery 6 pounder
American Stats
Unit 1st Brigade US Infantry 2nd Brigade US Infantry US Militia Type Infantry Armament Smoothbore Musket Smoothbore Musket Smoothbore Musket Smoothbore Musket 6 pdr / 12 pdr 5.5 Howizter Sabers Hand-to-Hand 6 Shooting 3 Moral 4+ Stamina 3 Special Reliable
Infantry
4+
Infantry
4+
Infantry
4+
Artillery
3-2-1
4+
US Artillery
Artillery
4+
US Dragoons
Cavalry
4+
Small Marauders
British/Canadian Stats
Unit Regular Infantry Militia 103rd Infantry Type Infantry Armament Smoothbore Musket Smoothbore Musket Smoothbore Musket Smoothbore Muskets Smoothbore Muskets Smoothbore Musket 6 pdr/24 pdr Hand-to-Hand 6 Shooting 3 Moral 4+ Stamina 3 Special First Shot
Infantry
4+
Infantry
4+
Infantry
4+
Infantry
4+
Infantry
5+
Artillery
3-2-1
4+
Cavalry
Sabers
4+
Small Marauders 60
Artillery
Rockets
3-2-1
4+
lead and, to ensure surprise, had been instructed to remove the flints from their muskets. They were met by a withering fire from the American defenders. Unable to return fire, the Swiss panicked. In their haste to get away, they threw the companies of the 8th and 89th into disorder. It was not until daylight that the three regiments were able to reform, too late to renew the assault. The hapless advance guard were abandoned to their fate, most becoming prisoner-of-war. The remaining two columns waited, concealed in a ravine to the north of the fort, until 2:30 a.m. The sound of the engagement of the right column was the signal to advance. Lieutenant Colonel Scott was killed early in the attack, and his men became disoriented and converged with the centre column in their attack on the breach in the north-east demibastion. The combined force suffered heavily from small arms and artillery fire as they closed up to the breach.
They launched three major assaults and were repulsed each time. Finally, on the fourth attempt, the British infantrymen overcame the American gunners and broke into the bastion. They turned the smoothbore cannons on the defenders and started to clear the northern barracks but were driven back to the bastion. Here the British hung on tenaciously in the expectation that reserves would reinforce their effort. They made one more attempt to breakout soon after daylight on the morning of 16 August.
During the fighting, an ammunition chest caught fire, causing the expense magazine under the smoothbore cannon platform of the bastion to explode. Men, masonry, timber and other assorted debris were hurtled skyward in a pillar of fire. The mangled British survivors surrendered. The waiting reserves outside the fort refused to advance, convinced that the fort was mined and that a similar fate awaited them. Having lost 366 killed or wounded and 539 missing, Sir Gordon Drummond stopped the attack. Among the killed was his nephew, Lieutenant Colonel William Drummond. The assault had been a disaster. While Sir Gordon Drummond accepted responsibility for the failure, he attempted to shift most of the blame to De Watteville's Regiment. While the Swiss did break, the attack suffered generally from poor planning and inadequate siege artillery. Despite these shortcomings, the plan nearly succeeded. If the reserve troops had followed up the capture of the bastion or the detonation of the magazine had not occurred the British may have been able to pull it off.
Special Rules: Assaulting Infantry are assumed to have siege ladders and sappers to breach the defences The American defenders are sheltered behind fortifications and gain appropriate bonuses in combat (Black Powder pg 46, 47, & 68). The British Redoubt contains Siege artillery which gives the attacker +1 to hit vs. fortified targets.
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Orders of Battle
------------------------- The Americans----------------------Commander-in-Chief Brigadier General Gaines Left Brigade Brigadier General Eleazer Ripley 21st US Infantry 24 Figures 23rd US Infantry 24 figures Artillery - 6 pdr Center Brigade Brig Gen Peter B. Porter PA & NY Militia- 24 figures US Rifles 8 figures (tiny unit) Artillery 6 pdr Right Brigade (Fort) Lt. Col. William MacRee 9th/ 11th/ 22nd US Infantry 16 figures (small unit) 19th US Infantry 8 figures (tiny unit) Artillery 12 pdr
--------------------The British/Canadians------------------Commander-in-Chief Lieutenant General Gordon Drummond Siege Works Artillery 6 pdr Artillery 2 x 24 pdr smoothbore siege cannons Drummonds Column Lt. Col. William Drummond Combined Light Infantry 24 figures Native Warriors 8 figures (tiny unit) Scotts Column Lt. Colonel Hercules Scott 103rd Regiment 36 figures (large unit) 1st Royal Scotts 24 figures Fischers Column Lt. Col. Victor Fischer 8th Regiment 24 figures 1st Battalion Regiment de Watteville 36 figures 2nd Battalion Regiment de Watteville 36 figures
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American Stats
Unit US Infantry 9th/11th/22nd US Infantry 19th US Infantry US Rifles Type Infantry Armament Smoothbore Musket Smoothbore Musket Smoothbore Musket Rifled Musket Smoothbore Musket 6 pdr / 12 pdr Hand-to-Hand 6 Shooting 3 Moral 4+ Stamina 3 Special
Infantry
4+
Infantry
4+
Infantry
4+
US Militia
Infantry
4+
US Artillery
Artillery
3-2-1
4+
British/Canadian Stats
Unit Type Armament Hand-toHand 6 Shooting Moral Stamina Special
Regular Infantry Light Infantry 103rd and Watteville Regiments Native Warriors
Infantry
4+
First Shot
Infantry
4+
Skirmish
Infantry
4+
Infantry
4+
Siege Artillery
24 pdr
3-2-1
4+
British Artillery
6 pdr
3-2-1
4+
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Orders of Battle
--------------------- The Americans---------------------Commander-in-Chief Major General Brown 1st Brigade Brigadier General Scott 9th/22nd US Infantry Regiments - 24 Figures 11th US Infantry Regiment - 24 Figures 25th US Infantry Regiment - 24 Figures Artillery 6 pdr 2nd Brigade Brigadier General Ripley 21st US Infantry Regiment - 24 Figures 23rd US Infantry Regiment - 24 Figures US Light Dragoons 6 Figures (small unit) Artillery 12 pdr 3rd (Militia) Brigade Brigadier General Porter PA Militia Regiment 16 Figures (small unit) NY Militia Regiment 16 Figures (small unit) Wilcox Renegades 8 Figures (tiny unit) Artillery 1 Field Howitzer
-----------------The British/Canadians---------------Commander-in-Chief Lt. General Drummond Light Brigade Major General Raill Glengarry Light Infantry - 24 Figures Incorporated Militia Regiment 24 Figures Lincoln / York Militia 24 Figures John Nortons Natives 12 Figures (small) Artillery 6 pdr 1st Brigade Colonel Hercules Scott 8th Foot 24 Figures 103rd Foot 36 Figures 19th Lt Dragoons - 6 Figures (small unit) Artillery 24 pdr Reserve Lt. Colonel John Gordon 1st Foot 24 Figures Artillery 6 pdr
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Scenario Map:
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American Stats
Unit 1st Brigade US Infantry 2nd Brigade US Infantry US Militia Type Infantry Armament Smoothbore Musket Smoothbore Musket Smoothbore Musket Smoothbore Musket 6 pdr / 12 pdr 5.5 Howitzer Sabers Hand-to-Hand 6 Shooting 3 Moral 4+ Stamina 3 Special Reliable
Infantry
4+
Infantry
4+
Infantry
4+
Artillery
3-2-1
4+
US Artillery
Artillery
4+
US Dragoons
Cavalry
4+
Small Marauders
British/Canadian Stats
Unit Regular Infantry Militia 103rd Infantry Type Infantry Armament Smoothbore Musket Smoothbore Musket Smoothbore Musket Smoothbore Muskets Smoothbore Muskets Smoothbore Musket 6 pdr/24 pdr Hand-to-Hand 6 Shooting 3 Moral 4+ Stamina 3 Special First Shot
Infantry
4+
Infantry
4+
Infantry
4+
Infantry
4+
Infantry
5+
Artillery
3-2-1
4+
Cavalry
Sabers
4+
Small Marauders 60
Artillery
Rockets
3-2-1
4+
16
17
Orders of Battle
--------------------- The Americans---------------------Commander-in-Chief Brigadier General Daniel Bissel 1st Brigade 5th US Infantry Regiments - 24 Figures 14th US Infantry Regiment - 24 Figures 15th US Infantry Regiment - 24 Figures 16th US Infantry Regiment - 24 Figures
-----------------The British/Canadians---------------Commander-in-Chief Colonel Christopher Myers Mixed Brigade Glengarry Light Infantry - 24 Figures 82nd Foot 24 Figures 100th Foot 24 Figures Artillery 6 pdr
American Stats
Unit US Infantry Type Infantry Armament Smoothbore Musket Rifled Musket Hand-to-Hand 6 Shooting 3 Moral 4+ Stamina 3 Special Steady *
US Rifles
Infantry
4+
Skirmish Sharpshooters
British/Canadian Stats
Unit Regular Infantry Glengarry Lt Infantry British Artillery Type Infantry Armament Smoothbore Musket Smoothbore Muskets Smoothbore Cannon Hand-to-Hand 6 Shooting 3 Moral 4+ Stamina 3 Special First Fire
Infantry
4+
Skirmish 48 Range
Artillery
3-2-1
4+
18
---------------------The British/Canadians-----------------Commander-in-Chief Lieutenant General Light Brigade Brigadier General 19th Lt Dragoons - 6 figures (Small Unit) Glengarry Light Infantry - 24 Figures Native Warriors 12 figures (Small Unit) Militia Regiment 24 Figures Artillery 1 Smoothbore cannon 1st Brigade Brigadier General Infantry Regiment 24 Figures Infantry Regiment 24 Figures Incorporated Militia Regiment 24 Figures Artillery 1 Smoothbore cannon 2nd Brigade Brigadier General Infantry Regiment 36 Figures Infantry Regiment 24 Figures Artillery 1 Smoothbore cannon or Rocket Battery
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American Stats
Unit US Infantry Type Infantry Armament Smoothbore Musket Rifled Musket Smoothbore Musket Smoothbore Cannon Sabers Hand-to-Hand 6 Shooting 3 Moral 4+ Stamina 3 Special Steady *
US Rifles
Infantry
4+
US Militia
Infantry
4+
US Artillery
Artillery
3-2-1
4+
US Dragoons
Cavalry
4+
Native Warriors
Infantry
Smoothbore Musket
4+
*One Brigade of Regular Infantry can be given the Steady special ability. ** Artillery can be 6 pdr and 12 pdr.
British/Canadian Stats
Unit Regular Infantry Militia Type Infantry Armament Smoothbore Musket Smoothbore Musket Smoothbore Musket Smoothbore Muskets Sabers Hand-to-Hand 6 Shooting 3 Moral 4+ Stamina 3 Special First Fire
Infantry
4+
Unreliable *
Infantry
4+
Infantry
4+
Cavalry
4+
Artillery
3-2-1
4+
Artillery
3-2-1
4+
*Incorporated Militia Regiments do not suffer from Unreliability. **Artillery can be 6pdr and 24 pdr
20
General Porter leads the New York and Pennsylvania Militias of the 3 rd Brigade into battle
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