Recently I caught up with some of the guys locally for a 40mm game set in the French & Indian War. The game was played using a locally homebrewed variant of Lion Rampant, dubbed “Hatchets Rampant“. It’s 1757, the British have got their hands on a French sympathiser, who was being held in a nearby farmhouse. He had disclosed the presence of a large stash of French supplies in another nearby farmhouse…
This second farmhouse was opposite the British extreme right and marked by the presence of a windmill for pumping water (the first farmhouse with the prisoner was behind their left flank). The British had planned to surprise any French forces nearby, but the French having got wind of the missing sympathiser had already stood to intending to begin a search suspecting the British presence; and soon learned that he was being held on a local farm. There were more French than the British had perhaps expected (thanks to their accompanying Huron Indian Allies), resulting in a classic encounter battle by roughly evenly matched forces, and both sides somewhat stumbling into each other without any advantage.
The Forces for the British were:
- 2 Veteran Infantry Companies (1 Light, 1 Line Highlanders)
- 5 Regular Infantry Companies (all Line)
- 1 Regular Provincial Infantry Company
- 1 Mohican Indian Scouting Party
The French consisted of:
- 2 Veteran Infantry Companies (Guards & Line)
- 4 Regular Companies (Line incl. a few coureurs de bois)
- 3 Huron (Wyandot) Indian War Parties
The British had both Veteran units concentrated on their right flank, including the light Infantry who were in the woods accompanied by the Mohican scouting party. Opposite them were just 1 Huron Indian War Party in the woods, and the French Veteran (Guard?) Company opposing the Veteran British Highland Company. The bulk of the Line Companies on each side lined up in the centre, with the second French Veteran Company being opposite the second from leftmost British Regular Company. The last British Regular Company was on the far left, holding an improvised defensive position facing woods through which the other 2 Huron War Parties were advancing.
The British were commanded by Chris B (right flank) and myself (left flank); the French by Jon K (right) and Gavin B (left); and the Umpire (and rules and scenario designer) was Dave H. Some inspiration and ideas around the forces and rules came from Rebels and Patriots, which was then incorporated by Dave into a homebrew version of Lion Rampant modified for the F&I War period (and potentially in future the American Revolution as well). The figures are from the collections of Dave H and Jon K, and the terrain was also provided by Dave (the buildings are actually 28mm scale). The figures are Trident Designs distributed by Triguard Miniatures here in NZ (with SYW, F&IW & AWI ranges).
The battle started as pictured above, the French got the early initiative and began an advance, both sides were being aggressive on their respective right flanks, to advance on their chosen objectives (in the farmhouses), while refusing their lefts’. On the right things went poorly for the French, their Huron Allies being quickly out-numbered and over whelmed, while the musketry from the nearby French units was rather desultory. Chris’s British pretty soon established a morale and accuracy ascendancy over Gav’s French and they steadily advanced and slowly turned the French flank.
On the left my flank company was faced with an aggressive advance by the two Huron War Parties, making use of the trees and their superior speed and difficulty to be hit, although the Brits landed a few hits prior to the Hurons charging into melee… The company was shaken and took casualties before retiring a short way from its position; but did enough to hold the Hurons, who retired back into the trees, whereupon the company rallied and move back up into it’s original position.
The balance of my companies focussed their fire on the two end French Companies (their right-most), especially the Veteran unit and began to steadily whittle both of them down, although not without the my end company taking a few casualties in return…
On the French right Jon managed to rally the Hurons for another brave charge into melee, this time against my second from left unit – even while his Veteran unit showed ongoing disinclination to advance so was present to support them. Once again my company held its ground by the skin of it’s teeth and saw off the War Party assault. Meanwhile over on the British right Chris was rapidly rolling up the French line and Gav (of the “roll anything that’s not a 5 or 6”) was steadily having his forces chewed up by this inexorable advance!
And pretty soon the musketry by my unit stook it’s toll and Jon’s units started to break, first the Huron’s and then the French Veterans and Regulars; and then it was all over – with only a couple of French Regular Companies left on the field and the British force essentially intact (albeit with 2-3 companies having taken heavy casualties), it was declared a resounding British Victory.
It was a great, fast game, the 40mm figures looked fantastic (so kudos to Jon & Dave for those) and the homebrew Hatchets Rampant seemed to be the winner on the night.
P.S. For those not aware, the 1992 “Last of the Mohicans” movie (set in 1757 at the peak period of the French and Indian War) was based on the 1826 novel of the same name by James Fenimore Cooper, and its subsequent 1936 film adaptation.
P.P.S. Remember to click on the images to see larger versions if you wish.