Playtesting the 1st Line scenario at the Triangle Simulation Society Spring Fever convention.

Historical Miniature Battles ran a playtest of the Guilford Courthouse, 1st Line scenario at the Triangle Simulation Society Spring Fever convention. The game ran as expected, with the British methodically advancing towards the militia line, taking fire from both the American 6lb section and the nervous militia. Once within charge range the 71st Highland, Von Bose Hessians, 1st Guards and Guard Grenadier company all successfully drove the militia from the fence and punched holes in the 1st line. All that was expected.

What wasn't expected was for Colonel Light Horse Henry Lee to notice that Tarleton's British Legion cavalry had shifted to the British far left flank, leaving the three artillery section deployed in the middle of the line exposed. He promptly advanced with his cavalry and charged a section of 3lb guns, overrunning the battery and sabering the crews before a troop of the British Legion was able to respond and drive him off.

After 6 turns, or 1 1/2 hours of game time the militia line dispersed. American casualties were about 22% while the British suffered 10% casualties, about the same percentage as they did historically assaulting the 1st line. Although the British lost a 3lb battery, they did overrun the American 6lb battery in the center of the American line. Hard to tell how any of this might have impacted the next assault on the 2nd Line or ultimately on the 3rd Line...of course that's why we play the game!

We'll be running the 1st Line scenario at Historicon in July in preparation for the complete Guilford game, featuring all 3 lines at the TSS Southern Front convention next November.

The pictures show the American deployment at the 1st Line, the British deployment as they began their advance and the location of the British troops just prior to their assaulting the militia line.

The American Deployment

The Initial British Deployment

The Battle Begins