A Weekend of 18th Century Military and Civilian Life

Scenarios

There will be at least five scenarios, and two of them will be a major engagements with all of the forces available on site all in the field at the same time.  These are the “Convoy” scenario on Saturday and the “Flank Attack/Counter–Attack” scenario on Sunday. The other scenarios will feature selected troops doing what they do best—grenadiers assaulting walls, Rangers and Indians fighting in dense terrain, Cavalry foraging, Artillery battering away… Every unit will participate in at least two, and I hope three.

In each of these scenarios, we have tried to balance the fun and adrenaline of the participants with safety and education—every one of these should provide the public with a little more understanding of 18^th century warfare.

Scenario #1 — Coup de Main

A Coup de Main is an attempt to storm a strong place by surprise. This scenario will open the fighting part of the weekend and will be run Friday afternoon. Elite elements of the Continental Advance Guard will attempt to seize the fort‘s main gate by surprise. Almost all fighting will occur inside the fort and will feature some exciting “house to house” action as well as skirmishing. We would like to know who is intending to be present, set up and available for a fight at 3 PM on Friday, July 30^th, 2010!

Scenario #2 — Opening the lines

The “opening of the lines” was the moment at which a siege formally commenced. While some gabions and entrenchment areas may have been pre-prepared by Saturday morning, this scenario will mark the opening of the siege, as the Continental artillery is rolled from camp into their prepared positions and opens fire on the walls. Royal Artillery units inside the fort will answer, and skirmishing will commence between the lines. (Artillery, Line Infantry, Boats)

Scenario #3 — The Convoy

Hard pressed by the Continental bombardment and undermanned, with insufficient powder to stand a lengthy siege, the Crown forces will be facing desperate times by Saturday afternoon. But help is at hand — a convoy full of military supplies, more guns, and reinforcements. Can the convoy pass the Continental lines and enter the fort? This scenario will involve all of the participants, and we ask all those with civilian impressions to make themselves available for crowd control and commentator slots.

Scenario #4 — Escalade

A night assault by elite Continental forces on a bastion that has been breached. British attack on a Continental battery. (Saturday 8:00 PM) (Continental elite troops, British 2^nd Bde line, Boats)

Scenario #5 — Flank Attack

Loyalist troops attempt a wide outflanking motion to surprise the Continental camp. Congressional Militia and rifles slow them in dense terrain, and the attack fails—or does it?(Sunday 12 Noon) (Rangers, Indians, Cavalry, Riflemen)

Scenario #6 — Counter-Attack

With all the militia and light infantry out of camp covering the rear, British regular forces launch assaults to clear the bastions and spike the Congressional guns. They meet with mixed success, and despite their best efforts, real victory eludes both sides as exhaustion sets in. (Sunday 1:00 PM) (Full armies)